Ocean Grove

Ocean Grove lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Ocean Grove's population was approximately 23,372 as of February 2026. This figure reflects a growth of 3,978 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 19,394. The increase is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 20,508 in June 2024 and validated new addresses of 528 since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 339 persons per square kilometer. Ocean Grove's growth rate of 20.5% since the 2021 Census exceeded Rest of Vic.'s 8.1% and the national average, indicating it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 64.0% 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, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics predict exceptional growth, placing Ocean Grove in the top 10 percent of national regional areas. By 2041, the area is expected to expand by 10,408 persons, reflecting a total gain of 32.3% over the 17 years based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Ocean Grove among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Ocean Grove has granted around 268 residential properties approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 1,340 homes have been approved, with an additional 71 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, approximately 1.8 people have moved to the area each year for every dwelling built during these five financial years.

This suggests a balance between supply and demand, contributing to stable market dynamics. The average construction cost value of new properties is $335,000. In terms of commercial development activity, there have been $2.1 million in approvals this financial year, indicating minimal commercial development compared to residential. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Ocean Grove has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 81st percentile nationally, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 76.0% detached dwellings and 24.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

This represents a considerable change from the current housing mix, which is currently 94.0% houses, reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The location has approximately 138 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Population forecasts indicate Ocean Grove will gain 7,541 residents through to 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Existing development levels seem aligned with future requirements, maintaining stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Ocean Grove has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 25 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include Kingston Ocean Grove Estate, Ti-Tree Village Redevelopment, 61 Powell Street Townhouses, and 57-59 The Parade Apartments.

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

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Ocean Grove ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Ocean Grove has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.9% as of September 2025, lower than the Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation stood at 64.6%, slightly higher than Rest of Vic.'s 61.4%.

According to Census responses, 28.5% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training, with the latter being particularly specialized compared to regional levels. Agriculture, forestry & fishing, however, is under-represented, comprising only 1.0% of Ocean Grove's workforce versus Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%. The area may have limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population counts.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, Ocean Grove's labour force decreased by 0.2% while employment declined by 0.5%, leading to a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. In comparison, Rest of Vic. saw an employment decline of 0.7% and a labour force decline of 0.6%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, applying these projections to Ocean Grove's specific employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates that Ocean Grove SA2 has a median income of $55,157 and an average income of $73,259. This is higher than the national averages of $50,954 and $62,728 respectively for Rest of Vic. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated median income in Ocean Grove as of September 2025 is approximately $59,707, with average income at around $79,303. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Ocean Grove cluster around the 58th percentile nationally. The distribution shows that 30.8% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, consistent with broader regional trends at 30.3%. After housing expenses, 86.4% of income remains for other expenses in Ocean Grove, which has a SEIFA income ranking in the 7th decile.

Ocean Grove is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Ocean Grove, as per the latest Census, 93.8% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 6.1% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s figures of 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ocean Grove stood at 43.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.7% and rented ones at 18.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, exceeding Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in Ocean Grove was $420, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Ocean Grove's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Ocean Grove has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 75.4% of all households, including 33.3% couples with children, 32.6% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 24.6%, with lone person households at 22.4% and group households making up 2.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

Ocean Grove shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Ocean Grove is notably high, with 33.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications as of the latest data point, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 21.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.1%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 35.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 13.9% and certificates for 22.0%. Educational participation is notably high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the latest figures available.

This includes 11.1% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Ocean Grove has 68 active public transport stops. These are served by 7 different routes, offering a total of 716 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically living 377 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 94%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 28.5% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 102 trips per day, translating to about 10 weekly trips per individual stop.

Ocean Grove's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data for Ocean Grove shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Both young and old age groups experience common health issues at standard levels.

Private health cover is high, at approximately 55% (12,948 people), compared to 50.5% in the rest of Victoria. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 8.8% and 8.6% respectively. 67.0% of residents report no medical ailments, higher than the 63.4% across the rest of Victoria. Health outcomes among working-age individuals are typical. The area has 22.8% (5,326 people) aged 65 and over, lower than the 23.9% in the rest of Victoria. Senior health outcomes rank above average nationally.

Ocean Grove is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Ocean Grove was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 88.0% of its population born in Australia, 92.7% being citizens, and 96.4% speaking English only at home. The dominant religion in Ocean Grove is Christianity, comprising 47.2% of the population. Judaism is overrepresented in Ocean Grove at 0.1%, compared to 0.1% across Rest of Vic.

The top three ancestry groups are English (31.2%), Australian (29.5%), and Irish (11.9%). Notably, Scottish (9.6%) and Dutch (1.9%) are overrepresented in Ocean Grove compared to the regional averages of 8.8% and 1.7%, respectively, while Welsh is also slightly overrepresented at 0.7%.

Ocean Grove hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Ocean Grove's median age of 44 years is comparable to Rest of Vic.'s 43 and higher than the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Vic., Ocean Grove has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (14.4%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (9.0%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 9.4% to 10.8%, while the 35-44 cohort has risen from 13.2% to 14.4%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has decreased from 13.3% to 11.7%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 14.2% to 12.9%. By 2041, Ocean Grove's age composition is expected to change significantly. Notably, the 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 46%, adding 1,384 people and reaching a total of 4,392 from the current 3,007.