Clayton South
With 65.5% of residents born overseas, Clayton South has a stronger migrant presence than the national profile by 43.9 percentage points. Its 13,381 residents live at a density of 1,685.7 people per square kilometre, while the median age of 34 is 6.0 years below the national comparison. Household income sits at the 56.5th percentile, and the housing mix includes 56.0% separate houses and 32.9% semi-detached dwellings. That combination gives the suburb a more family-oriented built form than a purely apartment-led market. For buyers comparing Clayton South with Clayton or Springvale, the separate-house share and extensive migrant-language mix are important distinctions because they shape both housing choice and local services.
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
77
Median House
$992K
October to December 2025
Clayton South suits buyers who want access to established housing without relying solely on apartment stock. A typical monthly mortgage payment is $1,997, with mortgage repayments equal to 28.3% of household income, while weekly rent is $381. Housing choice is broad: 56.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 32.9% are semi-detached and 11.0% are apartments. Compared with the 31.5% outright ownership share, the 40.1% renting share points to a substantial pool of households still entering or moving through the market. Buyers should compare land size, renovation needs and exact street conditions because the mixed dwelling stock creates meaningful price differences.
For Buyers
Clayton South suits buyers who want access to established housing without relying solely on apartment stock. A typical monthly mortgage payment is $1,997, with mortgage repayments equal to 28.3% of household income, while weekly rent is $381. Housing choice is broad: 56.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 32.9% are semi-detached and 11.0% are apartments. Compared with the 31.5% outright ownership share, the 40.1% renting share points to a substantial pool of households still entering or moving through the market. Buyers should compare land size, renovation needs and exact street conditions because the mixed dwelling stock creates meaningful price differences.
For Investors
The rental case is supported by a large tenant base, with 40.1% of households renting and a median weekly rent of $381. That demand is tempered by a 10.9% vacancy rate, so investors should test achievable rent and leasing time rather than relying only on the suburb median. Development activity is notable, with 77 applications recorded over 12 months, including a rear dwelling, a Taekwondo academy and a warehouse, restricted retail and service-station proposal. Compared with owner-occupier demand, the renter share is high enough to support investor attention, but the vacancy figure increases the need for careful property selection. The wider growth trend is 1.28% annually and overseas migration is the primary driver, while recorded rent growth is 28.7%, creating a reasonable long-term demand story without removing short-term risk.
Development Activity
Total DAs
97
Last 12 Months
77
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+670.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Clayton South
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Clayton South Primary School
Fitra Community School
St Andrew's School
Westall Primary School
Westall Secondary College
Demographics
Clayton South has a relatively young, highly educated and migrant-majority population. The median age is 34, or 6.0 years below the national comparison, while 53.5% of residents hold a university qualification, 23.4 percentage points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 65.5%, 43.9 points above national, with Chinese, Indian and Greek ancestry among the largest reported groups at 2,696, 1,643 and 1,397 people. Mandarin is spoken by 716 residents, Greek by 590 and Punjabi by 300. Household size averages 2.7 people, 0.2 above national, and couples with children represent 44.0% of families. For households comparing Clayton South with Clayton or Springvale, these patterns matter because language services, schools and family-sized housing are likely to remain central to local demand.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
56.0%
Houses
32.9%
Townhouse
11.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The dwelling profile is led by 3-bedroom homes at 51.9%, followed by 2-bedroom dwellings at 24.4% and 4-bedroom-plus homes at 20.4%. Tenure is mixed: 31.5% own outright, 26.8% have a mortgage and 40.1% rent. Compared with the outright-owned share, renting is higher, which helps explain why smaller and semi-detached properties remain relevant alongside separate houses.
Mortgage / mo
$1,997
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$381
Census 2021
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
44.0%
Couples with children
36.3%
Couples, no children
16.6%
Single parent
3,500
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Clayton South's largest reported industry at 18.0%, or 813 workers, followed by professional and technical services at 10.2%, manufacturing at 9.2%, retail at 8.8% and education at 8.0%. Occupations are similarly mixed, led by professionals at 1,537 people, trades at 870, labourers at 864 and clerical and administrative roles at 800. The labour force totals 7,001, with a 60.9% participation rate, 57.1% full-time employment rate and 6.9% unemployment rate. Household income is $1,630 per week and sits at the 56.5th percentile. Compared with the economic-resource position, the SEIFA education and occupation decile of 6 is higher than the economic-resource decile of 2, while the disadvantage decile is 3 and the advantage decile is 5. That split reflects a suburb where skilled work exists alongside uneven household resources.
Unemployment
6.9%
Labour Force
7,001
Unemployed
485
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.1%
Part-time
36.2%
Participation
60.9%
Employed
6,516
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
53.5%
Postgraduate
19.4%
Born Overseas
65.5%
Dwellings
4,780
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-led, with 60.8% of residents driving to work compared with 6.6% using public transport, 1.8% walking or cycling and 25.0% working from home. That pattern matters because households without convenient car access may need to assess routes and services more carefully. Five local schools cover primary and secondary levels across government, Catholic and independent sectors, including Clayton South Primary School and Westall Secondary College. Safety requires a measured reading: 956 recorded offences equate to 71.4 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences at 630, higher than justice procedures at 119 and crimes against the person at 101. Compared with the IRSAD decile of 5, the IRSD decile of 3 indicates a lower position on disadvantage measures. Check school zones and transport access against the exact address.
Drive
60.8%
Public Transport
6.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
25.0%
Population Forecast
+1.28%/yr
(+196 people/yr)
EstablishedClayton South has an established profile but continues to change, with a forecast annual trend of 1.28% and overseas migration identified as the primary growth driver. Population change across the wider area is 15.1% over 10 years, while the gentrification score is 43 and the stage is Active. The shift trajectory is Mixed: the young share has moved by -1.0 percentage points, the senior share by 0.7 points and the working share by 2.2 points. Compared with 2011, the affordability measure was 72.0 in 2011 and 55.6 in 2021, while recorded rent growth reached 28.7%. The suburb also recovered from a COVID dip of -3.8%, followed by 11.2% recovery. These figures point to steady, migration-led change rather than a single development cycle.
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 can suit households seeking established homes, local schools and a strong migrant-language network. The suburb has 13,381 residents, a median age of 34 and 5 local schools across primary and secondary levels. Compared with a more apartment-focused choice, its 56.0% separate-house share provides more conventional family housing, although car use is high at 60.8%.
What schools are in Clayton South?
Clayton South has 5 listed schools covering primary and secondary education. The mix includes government, Catholic and independent sectors, with Clayton South Primary School, Westall Primary School, Westall Secondary College, St Andrew's School and Fitra Community School represented. Compared with choosing only by suburb name, families should check the exact enrolment zone and available places for each address.
Is Clayton South safe?
Clayton South recorded 956 offences, equivalent to 71.4 offences per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 630, compared with 119 justice procedures offences and 101 crimes against the person. Safety can vary by street and time, so buyers and renters should review the exact location, lighting, parking and access conditions rather than treating the suburb-wide rate as a guarantee.
Is Clayton South good for property investment?
Clayton South has investor positives and risks. Renting accounts for 40.1% of households and median rent is $381 per week, while 77 development applications were recorded over 12 months. The 10.9% vacancy rate is a key risk compared with the renter share, so property type and tenant appeal matter. Growth is forecast at 1.28% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver.
How is Clayton South's population changing?
The suburb has 13,381 residents today, and population change across the wider area is 15.1% over 10 years. Growth is forecast at 1.28% annually, driven primarily by overseas migration. The gentrification stage is Active with a score of 43, while the wider shift trajectory is Mixed. Compared with a static established area, these indicators point to continued change in housing demand and household composition.
What languages are spoken in Clayton South?
Clayton South has an overseas-born share of 65.5%, which is 43.9 percentage points above the national comparison. Mandarin is spoken by 716 residents, Greek by 590, Punjabi by 300, Cantonese by 268 and Hindi by 246. This language mix is relevant to local services, retail and schools, particularly for households comparing Clayton South with nearby suburbs.
What development is happening in Clayton South?
There were 77 development applications in the 12 months recorded, indicating more activity than a low-change established precinct. Examples include construction of 1 dwelling behind an existing home, a restricted recreation facility for Taekwondo and a proposal involving warehouses, restricted retail, a service station and convenience shop. Buyers should compare planning activity with the zoning and immediate surroundings of the exact property.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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