Oakleigh - Huntingdale

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 is approximately 25,483 as of February 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 2,555 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 22,928. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 25,104 in June 2024 and an additional 372 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,505 persons per square kilometer, placing Oakleigh - Huntingdale in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's population growth of 11.1% since the 2021 census exceeds the national average of 9.9%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 90.9% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving this growth.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, Oakleigh - Huntingdale is expected to experience significant population increase in the top quartile of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch, with an anticipated expansion of 9,292 persons by 2041, reflecting a gain of 35.0% in total 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. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 669 homes were approved, with an additional 143 approved in FY26 so far. Each dwelling built over these years gained an average of 2.3 new residents per year, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $378,000. This financial year has seen $46.5 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Oakleigh - Huntingdale maintains similar development levels per person, consistent with the broader area's market balance. The new building activity shows 40% detached dwellings and 60% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift from the existing housing composition of 68% houses reflects decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring diverse, affordable housing options.

With around 228 people per approval, Oakleigh - Huntingdale reflects a transitioning market. By 2041, an estimated 8,913 residents are expected to be added to the area. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to meet population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Oakleigh - Huntingdale has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 50 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Suburban Rail Loop East, Sandringham Line Service Improvements (part of Metro Tunnel Network Upgrades), Summerset Oakleigh South, and VicTrack Land Release - Oakleigh Station. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Oakleigh - Huntingdale performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

Oakleigh - Huntingdale has an educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate was 2.4% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 5.0%. As of September 2025, 15,189 residents are employed at a local unemployment rate of 2.3%, below Greater Melbourne's 4.7%.

Workforce participation is similar to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. Census responses show 35.6% of residents work from home. Leading industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training, with the latter showing strong specialization at 1.2 times the regional level. Construction employment is under-represented at 7.9%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 5.0% and labour force grew by 5.1%, keeping unemployment stable at 2.3%. In comparison, Greater Melbourne had employment growth of 3.0% and unemployment rose to 5.0%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Oakleigh - Huntingdale's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 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 latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows that Oakleigh - Huntingdale SA2 had a median income of $59,714 and an average income of $77,003. This is higher than Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $64,640 (median) and $83,356 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Oakleigh - Huntingdale's household, family, and personal incomes are at the 60th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 32.1% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. This is similar to the surrounding region where 32.8% fall into this bracket. 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 above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Oakleigh - Huntingdale, as recorded in the latest Census, 68.3% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 31.8% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is similar to Melbourne's metropolitan area which had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Oakleigh - Huntingdale stood at 32.2%, with mortgaged properties at 34.0% and rented dwellings at 33.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Melbourne's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Oakleigh - Huntingdale was $415, compared to Melbourne's $390. Nationally, Oakleigh - Huntingdale's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $415 compared to the national figure of $375.

Oakleigh - Huntingdale features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 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 account for 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, aligning with the Greater Melbourne average.

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 with 42.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to 29.8% in the SA4 region and 30.4% nationally as of 2021 data. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 26.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.3% and graduate diplomas at 3.1%. Vocational pathways account for 23.5% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 13.1%. Educational participation is high, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the latest census data.

This includes 8.9% in tertiary education, 7.8% in primary education, and 6.1% pursuing secondary education.

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, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 36 different routes that collectively facilitate 11,711 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 167 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 79% of residents, while trains are used by 11%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 35.6% of residents work from home, which may be partly due to COVID-19 conditions. Bus services operate at an average frequency of 1,673 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 77 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

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 above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are low among the general population but higher than the national average in older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 57% of the total population (~14,525 people) has private health cover, which is very high. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (7.2%) and arthritis (6.2%). About 74.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 15.2% of residents aged 65 and over (3,881 people).

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 population born overseas and 48.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Oakleigh-Huntingdale, comprising 49.2%. Judaism is equally represented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (15.0%), Australian (14.3%), and Other (13.0%). Notably, Greek (11.4%) and Sri Lankan (1.3%) populations are overrepresented in Oakleigh-Huntingdale compared to Greater Melbourne's 2.7% and 0.8%, respectively. Russian ancestry is also slightly higher at 0.6%.

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 percentage of 25-34 year-olds (18.4%) but fewer 5-14 year-olds (9.6%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 12.6% to 14.8%, while the 45-54 age group has declined from 13.1% to 11.6%. By 2041, Oakleigh-Huntingdale's demographic profile is projected to change significantly. The 25-34 age cohort is expected to grow by 41%, adding 1,918 residents to reach a total of 6,610.