Bentleigh East vs Oakleigh

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Bentleigh East, about half of households are couple families. Oakleigh is closer to the city centre: 18.8 km, against 22.2 km. On these figures, Bentleigh East tends to suit families with children and couples, while Oakleigh suits young adults and people living alone.

Bentleigh East is a larger, more affluent suburb with a median household income of $115,180 compared to Oakleigh's $100,152, and significantly lower crime risk at 43 versus 95. However, Oakleigh is closer to the CBD at 18.8 km and notably more walkable with a score of 96 against Bentleigh East's 85, making it better suited to those prioritising accessibility and pedestrian-friendly living. Unit prices differ substantially, with Bentleigh East median units at $775,000 versus $505,550 in Oakleigh, reflecting the broader income and socio-economic differences between the two.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Bentleigh East

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (20 vs 5)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 3)
  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 95/100)
  • But Oakleigh has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 2)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Oakleigh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($505,550 vs $775,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Oakleigh

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (36% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($410/wk vs $500/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Oakleigh

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (18.8 km vs 22.2 km)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 85/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Bentleigh East

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 4)
  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 95/100)
  • But Oakleigh is more walkable (96/100 vs 85/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Bentleigh East returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 2.8%)
  • Oakleigh returns a higher gross yield on units (6.6% vs 5.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Bentleigh East and Oakleigh drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Walkability 85 / 96
Bentleigh East — Walkability: 85/100 Oakleigh — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 57 / 5
Bentleigh East — Safety: 57/100 Oakleigh — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bentleigh East — Low fire risk: 100/100 Oakleigh — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 70 / 62
Bentleigh East — Low flood risk: 70/100 Oakleigh — Low flood risk: 62/100

Demographics

Bentleigh East has more residents (30,159 vs 8,442); Bentleigh East rents higher ($500/wk vs $410/wk).

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Population 30,159
+72% vs other
 8,442
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.1% +7.0%
Median age 40 38
Median household income $115,180/yr
+13% vs other
 $100,152/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+18% vs other
 $410/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
0-4 5.7% / 4.9%
Bentleigh East — 0-4: 5.7% Oakleigh — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 14.7% / 9.6%
Bentleigh East — 5-14: 14.7% Oakleigh — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 6.5% / 5.0%
Bentleigh East — 15-19: 6.5% Oakleigh — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 5.1% / 8.4%
Bentleigh East — 20-24: 5.1% Oakleigh — 20-24: 8.4%
25-34 10.2% / 17.0%
Bentleigh East — 25-34: 10.2% Oakleigh — 25-34: 17.0%
35-44 15.6% / 13.7%
Bentleigh East — 35-44: 15.6% Oakleigh — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 15.6% / 13.9%
Bentleigh East — 45-54: 15.6% Oakleigh — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 11.2% / 11.6%
Bentleigh East — 55-64: 11.2% Oakleigh — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 7.9% / 7.7%
Bentleigh East — 65-74: 7.9% Oakleigh — 65-74: 7.7%
75-84 4.7% / 4.9%
Bentleigh East — 75-84: 4.7% Oakleigh — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 2.8% / 3.1%
Bentleigh East — 85+: 2.8% Oakleigh — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bentleigh East 54.2% couple families
Bentleigh East — Couple Families: 54.2% Bentleigh East — Lone Person: 26.4% Bentleigh East — One Parent Families: 15.1% Bentleigh East — Group Household: 2.8% Bentleigh East — Other Families: 1.4%
Oakleigh 41.9% couple families
Oakleigh — Couple Families: 41.9% Oakleigh — Lone Person: 35.7% Oakleigh — One Parent Families: 12.7% Oakleigh — Group Household: 7.2% Oakleigh — Other Families: 2.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bentleigh East 24.4% renting
Bentleigh East — Owned Outright: 35.4% Bentleigh East — Mortgage: 40.1% Bentleigh East — Renting: 24.4%
Oakleigh 35.5% renting
Oakleigh — Owned Outright: 32.3% Oakleigh — Mortgage: 32.2% Oakleigh — Renting: 35.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Bachelor Degree 19.9% / 20.3%
Bentleigh East — Bachelor Degree: 19.9% Oakleigh — Bachelor Degree: 20.3%
Postgraduate Degree 8.0% / 9.9%
Bentleigh East — Postgraduate Degree: 8.0% Oakleigh — Postgraduate Degree: 9.9%
Certificate III & IV 8.7% / 8.2%
Bentleigh East — Certificate III & IV: 8.7% Oakleigh — Certificate III & IV: 8.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.4%
Bentleigh East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Oakleigh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.6%
Bentleigh East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Oakleigh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.3%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
China 4.8% / 5.6%
Bentleigh East — China: 4.8% Oakleigh — China: 5.6%
Greece 2.2% / 6.0%
Bentleigh East — Greece: 2.2% Oakleigh — Greece: 6.0%
India 3.6% / 4.3%
Bentleigh East — India: 3.6% Oakleigh — India: 4.3%
England 2.2% / 2.2%
Bentleigh East — England: 2.2% Oakleigh — England: 2.2%
Italy 1.0% / 1.6%
Bentleigh East — Italy: 1.0% Oakleigh — Italy: 1.6%
South Africa 2.1% / —
Bentleigh East — South Africa: 2.1% Oakleigh — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bentleigh East 69.2% houses
Bentleigh East — Houses: 69.2% Bentleigh East — Flats / Apartments: 16.7% Bentleigh East — Townhouses: 14.1%
Oakleigh 61.9% houses
Oakleigh — Houses: 61.9% Oakleigh — Flats / Apartments: 25.9% Oakleigh — Townhouses: 12.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Median house price $1,450,000 $1,382,500
Median unit price $775,000 $505,550
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 173 sales
 23 days
from 50 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
1 bed $380K / $360K
Bentleigh East — 1 bed: $380K (19 sales) Oakleigh — 1 bed: $360K (23 sales)

19 vs 23 sales

2 bed $660K / $537K
Bentleigh East — 2 bed: $660K (103 sales) Oakleigh — 2 bed: $537K (56 sales)

103 vs 56 sales

3 bed $1.02M / $901K
Bentleigh East — 3 bed: $1.02M (47 sales) Oakleigh — 3 bed: $901K (8 sales)

47 vs 8 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
2 bed $1.07M / $1.21M
Bentleigh East — 2 bed: $1.07M (25 sales) Oakleigh — 2 bed: $1.21M (8 sales)

25 vs 8 sales

3 bed $1.36M / $1.3M
Bentleigh East — 3 bed: $1.36M (164 sales) Oakleigh — 3 bed: $1.3M (31 sales)

164 vs 31 sales

4 bed $1.59M / $1.56M
Bentleigh East — 4 bed: $1.59M (131 sales) Oakleigh — 4 bed: $1.56M (23 sales)

131 vs 23 sales

5 bed $1.9M / $1.62M
Bentleigh East — 5 bed: $1.9M (19 sales) Oakleigh — 5 bed: $1.62M (9 sales)

19 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Oakleigh has more industrially zoned land (17% vs 0%).

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Residential 85% 57%
Industrial 0% 17%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 10%
Commercial 1% 9%
Parks and recreation 4% 7%
Other and special use 3% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
New dwellings approved 617
across Glen Eira
 1,233
across Monash
Approvals change year on year -69% -4%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Houses 3.6%
$980/wk on $1.42M
 2.8%
$710/wk on $1.3M
Units 5.0%
$630/wk on $652K
 6.6%
$600/wk on $474K

Ranking within VIC

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
House price Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Income Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC
Schools Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 20% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 41% of VIC Higher than 8% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC

Liveability

Oakleigh is more walkable (96 vs 85).

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Grade A
same for both
Score 79/100 78/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Oakleigh carries more crime risk (95 vs 43).

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
43/100
 High
95/100
Flood Low
30/100
 Low
38/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 13
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Inside the suburb 8 3
Rated above peers 2 3
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Caulfield, 5.0 km
 3
Monash Clayton, 3.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 4.6%

Schools in Bentleigh East

  • Coatesville Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Valkstone Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Bentleigh Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Peter's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • East Bentleigh Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • McKinnon Secondary College - East Campus Government · Secondary

Schools in Oakleigh

  • Christ Our Holy Redeemer School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Oakleigh Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Sacred Heart School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Supermarkets 2 6
Cafes & restaurants 27 54
Parks & reserves 15 8
Childcare 20 5
GPs 10 4
Pharmacies 3 4
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 3 6
Fuel stations 4
same for both
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Bentleigh East sits further from the CBD (22.2 km vs 18.8 km).

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Walkability score 85/100 96/100
Distance to Melbourne 22.2 km
+15% vs other
 18.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 26 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 463.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 456.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.2%
postcode 3165
 1.7%
postcode 3166
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 23
postcode 3165
 20
postcode 3166

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Car (driver) 49.5% / 46.5%
Bentleigh East — Car (driver): 49.5% Oakleigh — Car (driver): 46.5%
Worked from Home 41.9% / 39.8%
Bentleigh East — Worked from Home: 41.9% Oakleigh — Worked from Home: 39.8%
Train 2.7% / 5.4%
Bentleigh East — Train: 2.7% Oakleigh — Train: 5.4%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 3.5%
Bentleigh East — Car (passenger): 3.1% Oakleigh — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Walked Only 1.3% / 2.3%
Bentleigh East — Walked Only: 1.3% Oakleigh — Walked Only: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.5%).

Setting

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Elevation 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 76 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.3 km 9.6 km

NBN connectivity

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Connectivity score 76/100 72/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 3%
12,873 premises
 13%
4,912 premises

Climate

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Annual rainfall 644 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
PM2.5 7.6 µg/m³ 4.3 µg/m³
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Average residential rate $1,577/yr $1,697/yr
Council Glen Eira Monash

Federal electorate

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Division Hotham
same for both
Member Clare O'Neil
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bentleigh East Oakleigh
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bentleigh East

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Urban

Oakleigh

Cafe Culture Gentrifying Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bentleigh East

Bentleigh East vs Bentleigh Bentleigh East vs Carnegie Bentleigh East vs Murrumbeena Bentleigh East vs Oakleigh South Bentleigh East vs Ormond Bentleigh East vs Hughesdale

Other comparisons with Oakleigh

Oakleigh vs Mount Waverley Oakleigh vs Malvern East Oakleigh vs Oakleigh South Oakleigh vs Chadstone Oakleigh vs Hughesdale Oakleigh vs Oakleigh East
Full data on Bentleigh East Full data on Oakleigh
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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