Clayton vs Clayton South

Clayton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 28 against 34 in Clayton South. In Clayton, most households rent. In Clayton South, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Clayton: a median of $1.36 million, against $985,000 in Clayton South. Clayton is closer to the city centre: 22.1 km, against 25.4 km. On these figures, Clayton tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households, while Clayton South suits buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Clayton South

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (58% vs 36%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (56% vs 35%)
  • carries lower crime risk (75/100 vs 85/100)
  • But Clayton has more parks and reserves (21 vs 15)

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

First-home buyers

Clayton South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($985,000 vs $1,365,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Clayton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (63% vs 41%)

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

Commuting to the city

Clayton

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (97/100 vs 58/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (29 min vs 37 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (22.1 km vs 25.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Clayton

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 2)
  • is more walkable (97/100 vs 58/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (64% vs 44%)
  • But Clayton South has more residents already 65 and over (15% vs 10%)

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

Investors

Clayton South

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (5.8% vs -1.9%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.9% vs 5.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Clayton Clayton South
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.

Clayton Clayton South
Walkability 97 / 58
Clayton — Walkability: 97/100 Clayton South — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 15 / 25
Clayton — Safety: 15/100 Clayton South — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Clayton — Low fire risk: 100/100 Clayton South — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 66 / 63
Clayton — Low flood risk: 66/100 Clayton South — Low flood risk: 63/100

Demographics

Clayton has more residents (18,988 vs 13,381); Clayton South skews older (34 vs 28).

Clayton Clayton South
Population 18,988
+30% vs other
 13,381
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.9% +5.8%
Median age 28 34
Median household income $77,688/yr $84,760/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+5% vs other
 $381/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Clayton Clayton South
0-4 3.7% / 5.7%
Clayton — 0-4: 3.7% Clayton South — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 4.6% / 8.4%
Clayton — 5-14: 4.6% Clayton South — 5-14: 8.4%
15-19 6.3% / 4.6%
Clayton — 15-19: 6.3% Clayton South — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 22.0% / 8.6%
Clayton — 20-24: 22.0% Clayton South — 20-24: 8.6%
25-34 30.6% / 23.1%
Clayton — 25-34: 30.6% Clayton South — 25-34: 23.1%
35-44 11.0% / 14.3%
Clayton — 35-44: 11.0% Clayton South — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 6.3% / 10.8%
Clayton — 45-54: 6.3% Clayton South — 45-54: 10.8%
55-64 5.4% / 9.0%
Clayton — 55-64: 5.4% Clayton South — 55-64: 9.0%
65-74 4.1% / 7.8%
Clayton — 65-74: 4.1% Clayton South — 65-74: 7.8%
75-84 3.5% / 5.6%
Clayton — 75-84: 3.5% Clayton South — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 2.5% / 2.1%
Clayton — 85+: 2.5% Clayton South — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Clayton 25.3% couple families
Clayton — Couple Families: 25.3% Clayton — Lone Person: 33.5% Clayton — Group Household: 26.5% Clayton — One Parent Families: 10.2% Clayton — Other Families: 4.6%
Clayton South 41.8% couple families
Clayton South — Couple Families: 41.8% Clayton South — Lone Person: 28.4% Clayton South — Group Household: 11.0% Clayton South — One Parent Families: 15.8% Clayton South — Other Families: 3.0%
Couple Families Lone Person Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Clayton 63.0% renting
Clayton — Owned Outright: 19.4% Clayton — Mortgage: 17.6% Clayton — Renting: 63.0%
Clayton South 40.8% renting
Clayton South — Owned Outright: 32.0% Clayton South — Mortgage: 27.2% Clayton South — Renting: 40.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Clayton Clayton South
Bachelor Degree 21.6% / 17.9%
Clayton — Bachelor Degree: 21.6% Clayton South — Bachelor Degree: 17.9%
Postgraduate Degree 15.8% / 10.2%
Clayton — Postgraduate Degree: 15.8% Clayton South — Postgraduate Degree: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 7.6%
Clayton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Clayton South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Certificate III & IV 5.4% / 7.4%
Clayton — Certificate III & IV: 5.4% Clayton South — Certificate III & IV: 7.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.4%
Clayton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Clayton South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

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.

Clayton Clayton South
India 16.4% / 14.9%
Clayton — India: 16.4% Clayton South — India: 14.9%
China 14.7% / 8.2%
Clayton — China: 14.7% Clayton South — China: 8.2%
Greece 2.7% / 5.3%
Clayton — Greece: 2.7% Clayton South — Greece: 5.3%
Vietnam 2.2% / 4.5%
Clayton — Vietnam: 2.2% Clayton South — Vietnam: 4.5%
Sri Lanka 3.6% / 2.8%
Clayton — Sri Lanka: 3.6% Clayton South — Sri Lanka: 2.8%
Malaysia 3.4% / 2.2%
Clayton — Malaysia: 3.4% Clayton South — Malaysia: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Clayton 35.4% houses
Clayton — Houses: 35.4% Clayton — Townhouses: 42.5% Clayton — Flats / Apartments: 22.0%
Clayton South 56.0% houses
Clayton South — Houses: 56.0% Clayton South — Townhouses: 32.9% Clayton South — Flats / Apartments: 11.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Clayton Clayton South
Median house price $1,365,000 $985,000
Median unit price $550,000 $524,500
Median land price $1,541,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 56 sales
 28 days
from 68 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.

Clayton Clayton South
2 bed $1.2M / $975K
Clayton — 2 bed: $1.2M (8 sales) Clayton South — 2 bed: $975K (11 sales)

8 vs 11 sales

3 bed $1.28M / $970K
Clayton — 3 bed: $1.28M (63 sales) Clayton South — 3 bed: $970K (74 sales)

63 vs 74 sales

4 bed $1.43M / $1M
Clayton — 4 bed: $1.43M (17 sales) Clayton South — 4 bed: $1M (20 sales)

17 vs 20 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.

Clayton Clayton South
1 bed $375K / $352K
Clayton — 1 bed: $375K (31 sales) Clayton South — 1 bed: $352K (10 sales)

31 vs 10 sales

2 bed $532K / $502K
Clayton — 2 bed: $532K (126 sales) Clayton South — 2 bed: $502K (95 sales)

126 vs 95 sales

3 bed $820K / $772K
Clayton — 3 bed: $820K (48 sales) Clayton South — 3 bed: $772K (30 sales)

48 vs 30 sales

Zoning mix

Clayton has more commercially zoned land (48% vs 10%); Clayton South has more industrially zoned land (30% vs 12%).

Clayton Clayton South
Commercial 48% 10%
Industrial 12% 30%
Residential 4% 29%
Infrastructure and transport 24% 7%
Rural and farming 0% 11%
Other and special use 11% 7%
Parks and recreation 1% 5%
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

Clayton Clayton South
New dwellings approved 1,233
across Monash
 465
across Kingston (Vic.)
Approvals change year on year -4% -36%

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.

Clayton Clayton South
Houses 3.9%
$700/wk on $945K
 3.9%
$700/wk on $924K
Units 5.3%
$550/wk on $544K
 5.9%
$590/wk on $518K

Ranking within VIC

Clayton Clayton South
House price Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
Income Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC
Schools Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 13% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 7% of VIC Higher than 21% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 64% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC

Liveability

Clayton is more walkable (97 vs 58); Clayton scores higher overall (55 vs 46).

Clayton Clayton South
Grade B C
Score 55/100 46/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Clayton carries more crime risk (85 vs 75).

Clayton Clayton South
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
85/100
 High
75/100
Flood Low
34/100
 Low
37/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 21
within 5 km
 26
within 5 km

Schools

Clayton Clayton South
Inside the suburb 5
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Clayton, 0.0 km
 1
Monash Clayton, 2.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 17.3% 4.1%

Schools in Clayton

  • Clayton North Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Peter's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • John Monash Science School Government · Secondary
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - AFL - Clayton Independent · Secondary
  • Monash Children's Hospital School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Clayton South

  • Clayton South Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Fitra Community School Independent · Primary at peers
  • Westall Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Westall Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Westall Secondary College-Westall English Language Centre Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Clayton Clayton South
Supermarkets 11 0
Cafes & restaurants 81 17
Parks & reserves 21 15
Childcare 14 10
GPs 10 2
Pharmacies 5 1
Hospitals 4 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 1
Fuel stations 5 4
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Clayton South sits further from the CBD (25.4 km vs 22.1 km).

Clayton Clayton South
Walkability score 97/100 58/100
Distance to Melbourne 22.1 km 25.4 km
+15% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 29 min 37 min
Public transport score 84/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 590.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 243.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 3168
 1.1%
postcode 3169
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 14
postcode 3168
 26
postcode 3169

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.

Clayton Clayton South
Car (driver) 49.9% / 58.8%
Clayton — Car (driver): 49.9% Clayton South — Car (driver): 58.8%
Worked from Home 23.9% / 24.2%
Clayton — Worked from Home: 23.9% Clayton South — Worked from Home: 24.2%
Train 9.4% / 8.0%
Clayton — Train: 9.4% Clayton South — Train: 8.0%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 5.7%
Clayton — Car (passenger): 4.3% Clayton South — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Walked Only 6.8% / 1.3%
Clayton — Walked Only: 6.8% Clayton South — Walked Only: 1.3%
Bus 4.7% / 1.5%
Clayton — Bus: 4.7% Clayton South — Bus: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.8%).

Setting

Clayton Clayton South
Elevation 88 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 48 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.1 km 7.5 km

NBN connectivity

Clayton Clayton South
Connectivity score 87/100 85/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
10,841 premises
 34%
6,731 premises

Climate

Clayton Clayton South
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)

Clayton Clayton South
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.98 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Clayton Clayton South
Average residential rate $1,697/yr $1,940/yr
Council Monash Kingston (Vic.)

Federal electorate

Clayton Clayton South
Division Hotham
same for both
Member Clare O'Neil
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Clayton Clayton South
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Clayton

Cafe Culture Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Students Townhouses Transport Hub

Clayton South

Multicultural Outer Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Clayton

Clayton vs Mount Waverley Clayton vs Springvale Clayton vs Mulgrave Clayton vs Oakleigh South Clayton vs Clarinda Clayton vs Oakleigh East

Other comparisons with Clayton South

Clayton South vs Springvale Clayton South vs Springvale South Clayton South vs Dingley Village Clayton South vs Clarinda Clayton South vs Heatherton
Full data on Clayton Full data on Clayton South
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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