Frankston South
The median age is 4 years above the national figure, while 36.1% of residents hold a university qualification, 6 percentage points above national. Detached housing dominates at 86.0%, helping explain why the suburb reads as family-oriented and established rather than apartment-led. Compared with nearby Frankston, buyers are choosing a more house-focused setting, although the price point is substantial. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts of 8,164, 2,297 and 2,248 reinforce an Anglo-leaning profile, while 22.3% were born overseas.
Population
18,801
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,038/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
95
Median House
$1.2M
October to December 2025
Frankston South suits buyers prioritising land, bedrooms and long-term tenure, but entry costs are high. Separate houses account for 86.0% of stock, and 44.0% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, a much higher share than the 12.4% with 2 bedrooms. Mortgage holders represent 42.4% of households, compared with 36.9% owning outright, and mortgage payments equal 24.6% of household income. The profile fits established families because larger detached homes dominate, though buyers should test rates, maintenance and commuting costs against their budget.
For Buyers
Frankston South suits buyers prioritising land, bedrooms and long-term tenure, but entry costs are high. Separate houses account for 86.0% of stock, and 44.0% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, a much higher share than the 12.4% with 2 bedrooms. Mortgage holders represent 42.4% of households, compared with 36.9% owning outright, and mortgage payments equal 24.6% of household income. The profile fits established families because larger detached homes dominate, though buyers should test rates, maintenance and commuting costs against their budget.
For Investors
Investors face a small rental segment and a pipeline of 93 development applications in 12 months, so property selection matters more than broad suburb averages. Renting accounts for 16.2% of households, weekly rent is $420 and vacancy is 5.1%. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver, supporting demand over time, while the established setting and 86.0% separate-house share favour family rentals over compact apartment stock. Review each permit because approval volume does not guarantee matching additions to rental supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
113
Last 12 Months
95
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+955.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Frankston South
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Derinya Primary School
St Augustine's School
Mount Erin Secondary College
Demographics
Frankston South has an older and more settled profile than Australia overall: median age is 44, or 4 years above national, and 81.7% of residents stayed at the same address while turnover was 18.3%. University attainment is 36.1%, 6 percentage points above national, while overseas-born residents account for 22.3%, only 0.7 points above national. Couples with children make up 48.3% of families and couples without children 37.0%, consistent with an average household size of 2.6, 0.1 above national. English ancestry counts 8,164, Irish 2,297 and Scottish 2,248. Mandarin, Greek and Malayalam are the most common recorded languages, with counts of 90, 82 and 69. Compared with nearby Frankston, this points to a more settled, family-heavy reading because mobility is low.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.0%
Houses
11.9%
Townhouse
1.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Households are concentrated in detached dwellings: 86.0% separate houses, 11.9% semi-detached homes and 1.7% apartments. The 44.0% share of 4-plus-bedroom homes is higher than the 41.1% share of 3-bedroom homes, reinforcing a family-sized housing market. Tenure is split between 36.9% owned outright, 42.4% with a mortgage and 16.2% renting, while mortgage and rent burdens are 24.6% and 20.6% of household income. Compared with nearby Frankston, Frankston South presents a higher-priced, detached-house-oriented choice for buyers seeking conventional family housing.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$420
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$862
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.1%
Unoccupied
365
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.3%
Couples with children
37.0%
Couples, no children
13.8%
Single parent
5,253
Total families
Economy & Employment
Frankston South combines a $2,038 weekly household income with a 76.3 household-income percentile, supporting its established higher-income profile. Healthcare is the largest industry at 19.1% or 1,225 workers, followed by Education at 14.3% or 914 and Construction at 13.0% or 834; Healthcare is higher than Manufacturing at 7.4% or 474. The occupation mix is led by Professionals at 2,394 and Managers at 1,517, ahead of Trades at 1,226, Clerical and Administrative roles at 1,168 and Community and Personal roles at 959. Unemployment is 3.5%, participation is 62.7% and full-time employment is 56.7%, indicating a broad working base. SEIFA results are strong but not identical: IEO is decile 8, IER 9, IRSD 9 and IRSAD 8. The 8 to 9 spread suggests advantage is consistently high, with education and economic resources slightly stronger than some area-wide disadvantage measures.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
9,531
Unemployed
336
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.7%
Part-time
36.6%
Participation
62.7%
Employed
9,195
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.1%
Postgraduate
7.7%
Born Overseas
22.3%
Dwellings
6,810
Transport to Work
Frankston South is practical for households with cars: 60.8% of residents drive to work, compared with 0.9% using public transport, while 32.5% work from home. The local school mix includes 3 schools, with 2 primary and 1 secondary, spanning 2 government schools and 1 Catholic school; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Safety records show 641 offences, or 34.1 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences the largest category at 360, followed by crimes against the person at 110 and justice procedures offences at 104. Social advantage is high, with IRSAD at decile 8, IRSD at 9, IER at 9 and IEO at 8. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, the 60.8% versus 0.9% commute split makes road access more important, while the established housing stock and 18,801 residents support a settled daily environment.
Drive
60.8%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
32.5%
Population Forecast
+0.6%/yr
(+151 people/yr)
EstablishedFrankston South is an established market with forecast growth of 0.6% a year, and overseas migration is the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 9.3% over 10 years, while the trajectory is Mixed rather than a single acceleration story. Rents have grown 34.0%, far above the 4.3% long-run house-price CAGR, which helps explain why rental conditions can move faster than sale prices. The core gentrification score is 14, labelled Not gentrifying, although the shift indicators record a score of 36 and an Early signs stage. Senior share has increased 1.9 percentage points and young share has fallen 0.5 points, pointing to gradual ageing because the suburb is established and resident turnover is only 18.3%. Compared with a high-growth fringe market, the 0.6% annual rate implies a steadier, less redevelopment-led outlook.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+254
Net Internal / yr
-76
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +12% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +254/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
641
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
34.1
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 Frankston South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Frankston South?
Frankston South has 3 local schools: Derinya Primary School, St Augustine's School and Mount Erin Secondary College. The mix is 2 primary schools and 1 secondary college, comprising 2 government schools and 1 Catholic school. Check the exact enrolment zone because boundaries can affect access.
Is Frankston South safe?
Recorded crime was 641 offences, equal to 34.1 offences per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 360, compared with 110 crimes against the person and 104 justice procedures offences. These figures provide a broad guide, so buyers and renters should also inspect the exact street and current local advice.
How is Frankston South's population changing?
The established area is forecast to grow at 0.6% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 9.3% over 10 years. The trajectory is Mixed, while the senior share has risen 1.9 percentage points and the young share has fallen 0.5 points, indicating gradual ageing rather than rapid rejuvenation.
What development is occurring in Frankston South?
There were 93 development applications in 12 months, including permits for double-storey homes and additional dwellings. That is a higher activity level than a quiet no-change market, but applications are not the same as completed housing. Buyers should inspect the immediate street, tree-removal proposals and planning overlays before assuming a project will change nearby amenity.
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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