Clayton South
Clayton South's defining feature is its scale of migration: 65.5% of residents were born overseas, 43.9 percentage points above the national figure, while 53.5% hold a university qualification, 23.4 points above national. The suburb has 13,381 residents, a median age of 34 and a high 10.9% vacancy rate. Between nearby Clayton and Clarinda, it reads as a more residential, migrant-majority pocket because detached and semi-detached housing still dominate despite strong rental demand.
Population
13,381
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,630/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
55
Median House
$932K
Apr-Jun 2024
Buyers face a median house price of $932,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, sitting 5.1% below the 2021 peak of $982,500 but 77.1% above the 2013 level. Housing choice is practical rather than apartment-led: 56.0% separate houses, 32.9% semi-detached homes and 11.0% apartments. The stock suits families because 51.9% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 20.4% have 4 or more, while mortgage costs equal 28.3% of income, below common stress thresholds.
For Buyers
Buyers face a median house price of $932,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, sitting 5.1% below the 2021 peak of $982,500 but 77.1% above the 2013 level. Housing choice is practical rather than apartment-led: 56.0% separate houses, 32.9% semi-detached homes and 11.0% apartments. The stock suits families because 51.9% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 20.4% have 4 or more, while mortgage costs equal 28.3% of income, below common stress thresholds.
For Investors
Clayton South has a large rental base, with 40.8% of homes rented and a median rent of $381 per week. The caution point is vacancy: 10.9% is higher than a tight rental market, so tenant selection and property quality matter. Demand is still supported because the forecast migration driver is overseas migration, with average net overseas inflow of 668 people a year, while only 12 development applications in 12 months suggest limited near-term supply pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
70
Last 12 Months
55
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+816.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Clayton South iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Fitra Community School
Prep-6 · 68 students
St Andrew's School
Prep-6 · 319 students
Westall Primary School
Prep-6 · 309 students
Clayton South Primary School
Prep-6 · 102 students
Westall Secondary College
7-12 · 710 students
Demographics
Clayton South is younger than national norms, with a median age of 34, or 6.0 years below the national benchmark. Its population is strongly overseas-born at 65.5%, 43.9 percentage points above national, and highly educated at 53.5% university-qualified, 23.4 points above national. Chinese ancestry counts 2,696 residents, Indian 1,643 and Greek 1,397, while Mandarin has 716 speakers and Greek 590, supporting multilingual shops, schools and services.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
56.0%
Houses
32.9%
Townhouse
11.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing market has compounded at 4.2% over 14 years, rising from $526,500 in 2013 to a latest median of $932,500, with a trough at $526,500 and a 2021 peak of $982,500. Ownership is split between 32.0% owned outright, 27.2% with a mortgage and 40.8% renting. Compared with an apartment-heavy inner suburb, Clayton South remains ground-oriented because 88.9% of dwellings are separate or semi-detached, and 72.3% have 3 or more bedrooms.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,997
Rent / wk
$381
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$685
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.9%
Unoccupied
588
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.9%
Couples, no children
10,060
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the leading industry at 18.0% and 813 workers, followed by Professional/Tech at 10.2%, Manufacturing at 9.2%, Retail at 8.8% and Education at 8.0%. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 1,537, but labourers number 864 and machinery/drivers 608, reflecting the suburb's mixed residential and industrial role. SEIFA is uneven: IEO decile 6 and IRSAD decile 5 sit above IRSD decile 3 and IER decile 2 because high education coexists with 7.4% unemployment and modest household income.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
8,920
Unemployed
273
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.2%
Part-time
31.4%
Participation
57.1%
Employed
6,080
Occupations
Top Industries
University
53.5%
Postgraduate
19.4%
Born Overseas
65.5%
Dwellings
4,780
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 81.1% drive to work, much higher than the 8.6% using public transport and 2.4% walking or cycling. Schooling is a local strength, with 5 schools spanning ICSEA 966 to 1099; Fitra Community School is the highest at 1099, St Andrew's School follows at 1074, and Westall Primary reaches 1017. Safety is mixed because crime runs at 71.4 offences per 1,000 residents, led by 630 property and deception offences, while IRSAD decile 5 points to average overall advantage.
Drive
81.1%
Public Transport
8.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.28%/yr
(+196 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive, with a forecast trend of 1.28% a year, or 196 people annually. The medium path rises from 15,237 in 2026 to 16,216 in 2031, higher than the 2024 population of 15,085. Overseas migration is the main driver, averaging +668 people a year, while internal migration is negative at -312 a year, suggesting new arrivals are replacing some local movers. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 43, alongside 28.7% rent growth.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+668
Net Internal / yr
-312
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +25% since 2011, Net internal outflow -312/yr, Strong overseas inflow +668/yr, Accelerating: 9% → 15%, COVID recovered (-4% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
956
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
71.4
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Clayton South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clayton South a good suburb to live in?
Clayton South suits households wanting space, schools and cultural depth, with 5 local schools and 65.5% of residents born overseas. The trade-off is car dependence, with 81.1% driving to work and a crime rate of 71.4 per 1,000 residents.
What is the median house price in Clayton South?
The median house price in Clayton South is $932,500 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is 5.1% below the 2021 peak of $982,500, but still 77.1% above the 2013 level of $526,500.
What schools are in Clayton South?
Clayton South has 5 schools: Fitra Community School, St Andrew's School, Westall Primary School, Clayton South Primary School and Westall Secondary College. ICSEA scores range from 966 to 1099, covering government, Catholic and independent sectors.
Is Clayton South safe?
Clayton South records 956 offences, equal to 71.4 offences per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences are the largest category at 630, so safety perceptions can vary by street, housing type and proximity to busier commercial areas.
Is Clayton South good for property investment?
It has investor appeal because 40.8% of homes are rented and overseas migration averages +668 people a year. The main risk is vacancy at 10.9%, which is high enough to make pricing, presentation and location important.
How is Clayton South's population changing?
Clayton South is forecast to grow at 1.28% a year, adding about 196 people annually. The medium projection reaches 16,216 residents by 2031, with overseas migration adding +668 people a year and internal migration subtracting -312.
What languages are spoken in Clayton South?
Clayton South is strongly multilingual, with Mandarin spoken by 716 residents, Greek by 590, Punjabi by 300, Cantonese by 268 and Hindi by 246. This reflects the 65.5% overseas-born population and shapes local retail and services.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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