Oak Park
Two facts define Oak Park: a median house price of $1,260,000 packed into just 2.03 km2 at 3,304 residents per square kilometre, and a housing mix that is 56.0% separate houses yet only 4.1% apartments. The median age of 36 sits 4.0 years below the national figure, younger than most middle-ring Melbourne suburbs, and that youth ties to a working-age share that climbed 4.3 points over the decade while seniors fell 2.5. Household income lands in the 83.7th percentile nationally, and university qualifications reach 51.0%, which is 20.9 points above national. Prices have risen 118.6% since 2013, a 5.7% compound annual rate over 14 years.
Population
6,714
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,201/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$1.3M
Apr-Jun 2024
Buyers face a $1,260,000 median house price that has only climbed, rising 118.6% from $576,500 in 2013 at a 5.7% compound annual rate, with the current quarter sitting at the peak rather than a correction. The stock favours houses, 56.0% separate dwellings and 39.8% semi-detached, with apartments a thin 4.1%, so most purchases are detached or townhouse formats rather than units. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 46.0% and four-plus at 22.9%, pointing to a family buyer rather than a downsizer. Average monthly mortgage repayments run $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, because household income in the 83.7th percentile absorbs the loan more easily than the headline price suggests.
For Buyers
Buyers face a $1,260,000 median house price that has only climbed, rising 118.6% from $576,500 in 2013 at a 5.7% compound annual rate, with the current quarter sitting at the peak rather than a correction. The stock favours houses, 56.0% separate dwellings and 39.8% semi-detached, with apartments a thin 4.1%, so most purchases are detached or townhouse formats rather than units. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 46.0% and four-plus at 22.9%, pointing to a family buyer rather than a downsizer. Average monthly mortgage repayments run $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, because household income in the 83.7th percentile absorbs the loan more easily than the headline price suggests.
For Investors
A 31.7% renter share and weekly rent of $401 give a tenant base, but the yield math is thin: against the $1,260,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 1.7%, low by Melbourne standards. The 8.9% vacancy rate is elevated, signalling the rental segment is not undersupplied, which caps rent escalation in the near term. Demand support comes from overseas migration adding a net 193 residents a year, though internal migration removes 121, leaving net inflow modest. Rent grew 28.5% over the period and real incomes 31.9%, so the case rests more on capital growth, where the 5.7% 14-year CAGR is the stronger record, than on current yield. Development is light at 18 applications in 12 months, mostly two to five lot subdivisions, which slowly adds townhouse supply rather than flooding the market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
28
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+260.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Oak Park iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Oak Park Primary School
Prep-6 · 388 students
St Francis de Sales School
Prep-6 · 237 students
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4.0 years below national, and the trajectory is young: the working-age share rose 4.3 points while the senior share fell 2.5 over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 35.6%, which is 14.0 points above national, and that migrant weight shows in the language mix led by Nepali (130 speakers), Arabic (88) and Italian (81). Ancestry still leans European, with English (1,593), Italian (862) and Irish (609) the largest groups, while Hinduism (446) and Islam (437) follow Christianity (2,929) in religion. University qualifications at 51.0% run 20.9 points above national, and average household size is 2.5, level with national, consistent with a family profile where couples with children (2,260 families) outnumber couples without children (1,444).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
56.0%
Houses
39.8%
Townhouse
4.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits almost in thirds: 31.1% own outright, 37.2% carry a mortgage and 31.7% rent, a more leveraged ownership base than premium markets where outright owners dominate. The stock is 56.0% separate houses and 39.8% semi-detached, with apartments at just 4.1%, which keeps the suburb low-rise despite a density of 3,304 per km2. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 46.0% and four-plus 22.9%, while one and two-bedroom homes are scarce. The median house price has risen 118.6% from $576,500 in 2013 to $1,260,000, a 5.7% compound rate over 14 years with the latest quarter at the peak. Mortgage-to-income at 22.7% and rent-to-income at 18.2% both stay below the 30% stress line, because incomes in the 83.7th percentile carry the cost.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$401
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$995
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.9%
Unoccupied
251
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.0%
Couples, no children
5,342
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in services: Healthcare leads at 14.8% (412 workers), Professional and Tech follows at 14.4% (402) and Education at 11.8% (328), with Construction at 8.5% and Public Admin at 7.4%. By occupation, Professionals (1,169) and Managers (519) sit above Clerical and Admin roles (556), which aligns with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 4.8% with a full-time rate of 67.7% and participation of 66.0%. SEIFA places the suburb at decile 8 on IRSAD, IRSD and IEO, the upper-advantage tier, but IER (economic resources) drops to decile 6, lower than the others, because the 37.2% mortgage base and 31.7% renter base depress aggregate household wealth measures relative to income.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
5,451
Unemployed
134
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.7%
Part-time
27.5%
Participation
66.0%
Employed
3,512
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.0%
Postgraduate
15.2%
Born Overseas
35.6%
Dwellings
2,568
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-led: 81.1% drive to work against 11.3% on public transport and 2.6% walking or cycling, higher car reliance than denser inner suburbs but typical for a low-rise middle-ring area. The crime rate is 33.7 per 1,000 residents from 226 recorded offences, with property and deception offences (133) the dominant category and crimes against the person far lower at 34, a profile weighted toward property rather than violent crime. SEIFA sits at decile 8 on IRSAD, the upper-advantage tier, and only 4.8% of residents (306 people) need daily assistance. No schools are recorded inside the 2.03 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off for the compact footprint.
Drive
81.1%
Public Transport
11.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.32%/yr
(+113 people/yr)
EstablishedOak Park is expanding steadily rather than booming: population grew 20.9% over the past decade and the trend forecast adds 1.32% a year, about 113 residents annually. The medium projection lifts population from 8,655 in 2026 to 9,218 by 2031, a clear upward path. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 193 a year, while internal migration runs a net outflow of 121, so growth depends on new arrivals rather than residents relocating in from elsewhere in Australia. Affordability improved from 50.1% in 2011 to 39.7% in 2021 as incomes outpaced the cost base, and the gentrification stage reads active with a mixed trajectory, reflecting a younger working-age population settling in faster than seniors are leaving.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+193
Net Internal / yr
-121
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +26% since 2011, Net internal outflow -121/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
226
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
33.7
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 Oak Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oak Park a good suburb to live in?
Oak Park scores decile 8 on the IRSAD, IRSD and IEO indexes, the upper-advantage tier, with household income in the 83.7th percentile nationally. University qualifications reach 51.0%, which is 20.9 points above national. The main trade-offs are an $1,260,000 median house price and 81.1% car reliance for commuting.
What is the median house price in Oak Park?
The median house price is $1,260,000 as of the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter, sitting at its peak. Prices have risen 118.6% from $576,500 in 2013, a 5.7% compound annual rate over 14 years. Weekly rent averages $401 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,167.
What schools are in Oak Park?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.03 km2 Oak Park boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 51.0%, which is 20.9 points above the national figure.
Is Oak Park safe?
The crime rate is 33.7 per 1,000 residents, from 226 recorded offences. The mix skews toward property crime, with property and deception offences at 133 against just 34 crimes against the person, so violent offending is a smaller share than property-related incidents.
Is Oak Park good for property investment?
Rent of $401 a week against a $1,260,000 median gives a gross yield near 1.7%, low by Melbourne standards, and the 8.9% vacancy rate is elevated. Net overseas migration of 193 a year supports demand, but the case rests on capital growth, where the 5.7% 14-year CAGR is the stronger record.
How is Oak Park's population changing?
Population grew 20.9% over the decade and is forecast to rise 1.32% a year, about 113 residents annually, lifting from 8,655 in 2026 to 9,218 by 2031. Overseas migration drives this at a net 193 a year, while internal migration runs a net outflow of 121.
What languages are spoken in Oak Park?
About 35.6% of residents were born overseas, 14.0 points above the national figure. English dominates, while Nepali (130 speakers), Arabic (88), Italian (81) and Mandarin (80) are the most common non-English languages, reflecting a strong recent migrant presence.
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.
Explore Oak Park on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map