Oakleigh - Huntingdale
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Oakleigh - Huntingdale are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Oakleigh - Huntingdale's population was around 25,205 as of August 2025. This showed an increase of 2,277 people from the 2021 Census figure of 22,928, reflecting a growth rate of 9.9%. The change was inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 25,104 in June 2024 and validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a population density ratio of 2,478 persons per square kilometer, placing Oakleigh - Huntingdale in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The area's growth exceeded both national (8.6%) and state averages since the 2021 census, indicating it as a growth leader regionally. Overseas migration contributed approximately 90.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, they utilise VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting via weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future projections indicate a significant population increase in the top quartile of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch, with Oakleigh - Huntingdale expected to expand by 9,292 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, recording a gain of 36.5% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Oakleigh - Huntingdale among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Oakleigh - Huntingdale recorded approximately 133 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis. In the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 669 homes were approved. By May 2026, another 27 dwellings had been approved in FY26.

On average, over these five years, 2.3 new residents per year were associated with each dwelling, indicating solid demand that supports property values. The average expected construction cost value of new homes was $585,000, slightly above the regional average, suggesting a focus on quality developments. In FY26, $46.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Oakleigh - Huntingdale maintains similar construction rates per person, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. New development consists of 40% detached dwellings and 60% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points and suiting downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

This represents a significant change from the current housing mix of 68% houses, reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The location has approximately 228 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth. Future projections suggest Oakleigh - Huntingdale will add around 9,191 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Oakleigh - Huntingdale has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence regional performance. AreaSearch identified 45 projects potentially impacting the area. Notable initiatives include Sandringham Line Service Improvements, Amara Oakleigh South, Summerset Oakleigh South, and VicTrack Land Release - Oakleigh Station. The following list details projects likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Oakleigh - Huntingdale ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Oakleigh-Huntingdale has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.4% and it experienced a 4.2% employment growth in the past year.

As of June 2025, 15,012 residents are employed at an unemployment rate of 2.2%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%. Workforce participation is 66.2%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Education & training has a particularly high representation at 1.2 times the regional level.

However, construction is under-represented with only 7.9% of the workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. From June 2024 to June 2025, employment levels increased by 4.2%, labour force grew by 4.4%, and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points in Oakleigh-Huntingdale. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.5%, labour force growth of 4.0%, and an unemployment rise of 0.5 percentage points. State-wide, Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year to September 2025, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5%, and Victoria's employment growth outpaced the national average of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Oakleigh-Huntingdale's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows Oakleigh - Huntingdale has high national incomes. The median assessed income is $55,798 and the average is $71,476. In comparison, Greater Melbourne's median income is $54,892 and average is $73,761. By March 2025, estimates suggest median income will be approximately $61,439 and average will be around $78,702, based on a 10.11% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census indicates Oakleigh - Huntingdale's household, family, and personal incomes are at the 60th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows 32.1% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 (8,090 individuals). This is consistent with broader regional trends where 32.8% fall into this category. High housing costs consume 15.9% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 63rd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Oakleigh - Huntingdale displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Oakleigh - Huntingdale, as per the latest Census, 68.3% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 31.8% being semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. Compared to Melbourne metro's 69.6% houses and 30.4% other dwellings, Oakleigh - Huntingdale had a slightly lower proportion of houses. Home ownership in Oakleigh - Huntingdale stood at 32.2%, with mortgaged dwellings making up 34.0% and rented ones accounting for 33.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,383. The median weekly rent figure was $415, compared to Melbourne metro's $440. Nationally, Oakleigh - Huntingdale's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Oakleigh - Huntingdale features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.2% of all households, including 33.5% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 10.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.8%, with lone person households at 23.4% and group households comprising 6.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.7.

Oakleigh - Huntingdale shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Oakleigh - Huntingdale shows a significant advantage over broader benchmarks. As of the latest data, 42.8% of residents aged 15 years and above hold university qualifications, compared to 29.8% in the SA4 region and 30.4% nationwide. The area's most common university qualification is bachelor degrees at 26.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.3% and graduate diplomas at 3.1%. Vocational pathways account for 23.5% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above, with advanced diplomas making up 10.4% and certificates 13.1%.

Educational participation is high in the area, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.9% in tertiary education, 7.8% in primary education, and 6.1% pursuing secondary education. As of the data source, there are seven schools operating within Oakleigh - Huntingdale educating approximately 3,511 students. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement, with an ICSEA score of 1109. Education provision is balanced with six primary schools and one secondary school serving distinct age groups.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Oakleigh-Huntingdale has 151 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus routes. These stops are covered by 33 individual routes, offering 15,742 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 167 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 2,248 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 104 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Oakleigh - Huntingdale is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Oakleigh-Huntingdale shows better-than-average health outcomes.

Common health conditions' prevalence is low among its general population but higher among older and at-risk groups compared to national averages. Private health cover rate is high, about 55% (around 13,938 people). Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 7.2 and 6.2% of residents respectively. About 74.1% report no medical ailments, compared to 75.3% in Greater Melbourne. The area has 14.9% (3,747 people) aged 65 and over, lower than the 17.5% in Greater Melbourne.

Oakleigh - Huntingdale is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Oakleigh-Huntingdale has high cultural diversity, with 44.3% of its residents born overseas and 48.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Oakleigh-Huntingdale, accounting for 49.2% of the population. Judaism is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 1.0% versus 0.4%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (15.0%), Australian (14.3%), and Other (13.0%). Some ethnic groups have notable representation differences: Greek at 11.4% (regional average 5.6%), Sri Lankan at 1.3% (2.1%), and Russian at 0.6% (0.5%).

Oakleigh - Huntingdale's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Oakleigh-Huntingdale has a median age of 36 years, nearly matching Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and slightly below Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Oakleigh-Huntingdale has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (18.6%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.6%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 12.6% to 14.7%, while the 45-54 age group has decreased from 13.1% to 11.8%. By 2041, Oakleigh-Huntingdale's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 41%, adding 1,909 residents to reach a total of 6,610.