Oakleigh South
Anchored by 9,851 residents and a median age of 40, Oakleigh South has an established, detached-house profile that is slower-moving than Melbourne's growth corridors. Separate houses account for 83.6% of dwellings, while 47.2% of residents were born overseas and 50.5% hold a university qualification, both above national levels by 25.6 and 20.4 percentage points. Compared with nearby Oakleigh and Huntingdale, its identity is more family-house focused, supported by 48.7% three-bedroom homes and 31.1% with four or more bedrooms. Household income sits at the 71.5th percentile, but annual growth is -0.41%, so established stability matters more than rapid expansion.
Population
9,851
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,915/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
55
Median House
$1.3M
October to December 2025
Homebuyers are choosing predominantly detached stock, with 83.6% of dwellings being separate houses and 48.7% containing three bedrooms. The typical mortgage payment is $2,200 a month, equal to 26.5% of household income, while median rent is $418 weekly. Because the average household contains 2.7 people, 0.2 higher than the national comparison, the 31.1% share of four-plus-bedroom homes can suit established families better than smaller-unit buyers.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing predominantly detached stock, with 83.6% of dwellings being separate houses and 48.7% containing three bedrooms. The typical mortgage payment is $2,200 a month, equal to 26.5% of household income, while median rent is $418 weekly. Because the average household contains 2.7 people, 0.2 higher than the national comparison, the 31.1% share of four-plus-bedroom homes can suit established families better than smaller-unit buyers.
For Investors
Investment demand is supported by a $418 weekly median rent, a 6.2% vacancy rate and 33.3% rent growth in the forecast profile, while 23.5% of households rent. The rental share is lower than the 38.7% owning outright, so Oakleigh South is more owner-occupier weighted than a typical investor-led market. Fifty-two development applications in 12 months, including an example involving a rear double-storey dwelling and subdivision, point to ongoing lot-by-lot renewal. Overseas migration is the primary migration driver, but the -0.41% annual trend and ageing trajectory call for measured assumptions rather than rapid demand expansion.
Development Activity
Total DAs
70
Last 12 Months
55
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+685.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Oakleigh South
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Huntingdale Primary School
Oakleigh South Primary School
South Oakleigh College
Demographics
Oakleigh South's median age of 40 matches the national comparison, yet its migrant and university-educated profile is materially higher than national levels. Overseas-born residents account for 47.2%, or 25.6 percentage points above national, while 50.5% hold a university qualification, 20.4 points above. Greek ancestry counts 1,395 people and Chinese ancestry 1,269, while Greek is spoken by 594 residents and Mandarin by 360. Christianity counts 4,611 and no religion 3,040. These patterns help explain why Greek, Mandarin, Hindi, Italian and Canton connections matter locally. Turnover is 19.5%, with 80.5% staying, indicating more continuity than churn.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.6%
Houses
10.1%
Townhouse
6.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Oakleigh South is dominated by conventional family housing, with 83.6% separate houses, 10.1% semi-detached dwellings and 6.3% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 48.7% and four-plus-bedroom homes 31.1%, a larger-home mix that helps explain the 2.7-person average household size, 0.2 above the national comparison. Tenure is split between 38.7% owned outright, 36.3% with a mortgage and 23.5% renting. Compared with the 2013 base, the latest result is the peak, so entry costs are higher than historic levels.
Mortgage / mo
$2,200
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$418
Census 2021
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$770
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
238
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.0%
Couples with children
34.6%
Couples, no children
13.8%
Single parent
2,780
Total families
Economy & Employment
Household income sits at the 71.5th percentile, above the national midpoint, with weekly household income of $1,915 and family income of $2,200. Employment is led by healthcare at 15.6% or 553 workers, professional and technical services at 13.3% or 471, education at 10.9% or 387, retail at 8.8% or 313, and construction at 7.8% or 276. Professionals number 1,361, followed by clerical and administrative workers at 699 and managers at 647. Unemployment is 4.3% and participation is 63.1%, supporting a solid labour base. SEIFA is mixed: IEO and IER are decile 6, versus IRSD decile 4 and IRSAD decile 5, showing economic advantage is higher than the broader disadvantage profile.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
5,182
Unemployed
224
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.3%
Part-time
33.4%
Participation
63.1%
Employed
4,958
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
50.5%
Postgraduate
16.2%
Born Overseas
47.2%
Dwellings
3,581
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-oriented: 55.8% drive, compared with 4.4% using public transport and 2.1% walking or cycling. The 34.0% working-from-home share may reduce commuting pressure for some households. Three local schools comprise 2 government primary schools and 1 government secondary college, giving families a clear sector and type mix, though enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Recorded crime totals 548 offences, or 55.6 per 1,000 residents, led by property and deception offences at 350 versus 78 crimes against the person. With IRSAD at decile 5 and 6.8% needing assistance, practical access is strongest for households with cars and lower than car access for public transport users.
Drive
55.8%
Public Transport
4.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
34.0%
Population Forecast
-0.41%/yr
(-48 people/yr)
EstablishedOakleigh South has a slow-growth, ageing trajectory. The annual trend is -0.41%, below zero, and population change across the wider area is -0.9% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary migration driver, but the senior share has risen 7.8 percentage points while the working share fell 3.8 points, helping explain why growth remains subdued. Rent growth is 33.3% and real income growth is 19.4%, while affordability indicators moved from 67.3 in 2011 to 61.1 in 2021 and are labelled Improving. The gentrification forecast is score 10, Not gentrifying, so renewal pressure appears limited rather than broad-based.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+210
Net Internal / yr
-158
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -158/yr, Strong overseas inflow +210/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
548
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
55.6
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 Oakleigh South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Oakleigh South?
Local schooling includes Huntingdale Primary School and Oakleigh South Primary School at primary level, plus South Oakleigh College for secondary students. All 3 listed schools are in the government sector. Check the exact enrolment zone because boundaries can differ by address.
Is Oakleigh South safe?
Recorded crime totals 548 offences, equivalent to 55.6 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 350, compared with 78 crimes against the person, so property-related incidents are the main recorded category. Check current local conditions and address-specific factors before deciding.
Is Oakleigh South good for property investment?
Investment conditions are mixed. Median rent is $418 a week, vacancy is 6.2%, and 23.5% of households rent, below the 38.7% owning outright. There were 52 development applications in 12 months and rent growth is 33.3%, but the annual population trend is -0.41%, so rapid capital growth should not be assumed.
How is Oakleigh South's population changing?
Oakleigh South is ageing and growing slowly. The annual trend is -0.41%, while population change across the wider area is -0.9% over 10 years. The senior share increased 7.8 percentage points and the trajectory is labelled Aging. Overseas migration remains the primary driver, but it has not offset the slower pattern.
What development is occurring in Oakleigh South?
Development activity is noticeable, with 52 planning applications recorded over 12 months. Examples include a double-storey dwelling behind an existing home with subdivision into 2 lots, plus an enclosed verandah and tree-canopy works. This points to gradual lot-by-lot renewal rather than a clearly stated large project.
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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