Oakleigh East vs Clayton

Clayton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 28 against 35 in Oakleigh East. In Oakleigh East, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Clayton, most households rent. Houses cost more in Clayton: a median of $1.36 million, against $1.25 million in Oakleigh East, though rent is higher in Oakleigh East. On these figures, Clayton tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households.

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

Oakleigh East

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (69% vs 35%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (59% vs 36%)
  • But Clayton has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Clayton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($550,000 vs $784,440)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Oakleigh East leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 27%)
  • Clayton has a bigger rental market to choose from (63% vs 36%)

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

Commuting to the city

Clayton

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (10% vs 4%)
  • is more walkable (97/100 vs 73/100)

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 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (64% vs 31%)
  • is more walkable (97/100 vs 73/100)
  • But Oakleigh East carries lower crime risk (54/100 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

  • Oakleigh East is growing faster (5.6% vs -1.9%)
  • Clayton returns a higher gross yield on units (5.3% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Oakleigh East Clayton
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.

Oakleigh East Clayton
Walkability 73 / 97
Oakleigh East — Walkability: 73/100 Clayton — Walkability: 97/100
Safety 46 / 15
Oakleigh East — Safety: 46/100 Clayton — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Oakleigh East — Low fire risk: 100/100 Clayton — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 72 / 66
Oakleigh East — Low flood risk: 72/100 Clayton — Low flood risk: 66/100

Demographics

Clayton has more residents (18,988 vs 6,804); Oakleigh East has higher household incomes ($101,452 vs $77,688).

Oakleigh East Clayton
Population 6,804 18,988
+179% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.6% -1.9%
Median age 35 28
Median household income $101,452/yr
+23% vs other
 $77,688/yr
Median weekly rent $425/wk
+6% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Oakleigh East Clayton
0-4 6.0% / 3.7%
Oakleigh East — 0-4: 6.0% Clayton — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 10.0% / 4.6%
Oakleigh East — 5-14: 10.0% Clayton — 5-14: 4.6%
15-19 4.0% / 6.3%
Oakleigh East — 15-19: 4.0% Clayton — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 9.0% / 22.0%
Oakleigh East — 20-24: 9.0% Clayton — 20-24: 22.0%
25-34 19.8% / 30.6%
Oakleigh East — 25-34: 19.8% Clayton — 25-34: 30.6%
35-44 14.9% / 11.0%
Oakleigh East — 35-44: 14.9% Clayton — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 12.5% / 6.3%
Oakleigh East — 45-54: 12.5% Clayton — 45-54: 6.3%
55-64 9.1% / 5.4%
Oakleigh East — 55-64: 9.1% Clayton — 55-64: 5.4%
65-74 6.7% / 4.1%
Oakleigh East — 65-74: 6.7% Clayton — 65-74: 4.1%
75-84 5.4% / 3.5%
Oakleigh East — 75-84: 5.4% Clayton — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 2.8% / 2.5%
Oakleigh East — 85+: 2.8% Clayton — 85+: 2.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Oakleigh East 43.0% couple families
Oakleigh East — Couple Families: 43.0% Oakleigh East — Lone Person: 26.8% Oakleigh East — Group Household: 11.9% Oakleigh East — One Parent Families: 15.6% Oakleigh East — Other Families: 2.8%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Oakleigh East 36.3% renting
Oakleigh East — Owned Outright: 31.7% Oakleigh East — Mortgage: 32.0% Oakleigh East — Renting: 36.3%
Clayton 63.0% renting
Clayton — Owned Outright: 19.4% Clayton — Mortgage: 17.6% Clayton — Renting: 63.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Oakleigh East Clayton
Bachelor Degree 20.2% / 21.6%
Oakleigh East — Bachelor Degree: 20.2% Clayton — Bachelor Degree: 21.6%
Postgraduate Degree 10.9% / 15.8%
Oakleigh East — Postgraduate Degree: 10.9% Clayton — Postgraduate Degree: 15.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 7.1%
Oakleigh East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Clayton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Certificate III & IV 8.6% / 5.4%
Oakleigh East — Certificate III & IV: 8.6% Clayton — Certificate III & IV: 5.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 1.4%
Oakleigh East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Clayton — 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.

Oakleigh East Clayton
India 6.9% / 16.4%
Oakleigh East — India: 6.9% Clayton — India: 16.4%
China 6.9% / 14.7%
Oakleigh East — China: 6.9% Clayton — China: 14.7%
Greece 5.5% / 2.7%
Oakleigh East — Greece: 5.5% Clayton — Greece: 2.7%
Sri Lanka 2.7% / 3.6%
Oakleigh East — Sri Lanka: 2.7% Clayton — Sri Lanka: 3.6%
Malaysia 2.1% / 3.4%
Oakleigh East — Malaysia: 2.1% Clayton — Malaysia: 3.4%
Italy 3.4% / —
Oakleigh East — Italy: 3.4% Clayton — Italy: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Oakleigh East 68.8% houses
Oakleigh East — Houses: 68.8% Oakleigh East — Townhouses: 23.7% Oakleigh East — Flats / Apartments: 7.5%
Clayton 35.4% houses
Clayton — Houses: 35.4% Clayton — Townhouses: 42.5% Clayton — Flats / Apartments: 22.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Oakleigh East Clayton
Median house price $1,250,000 $1,365,000
Median unit price $784,440 $550,000
Median land price — $1,541,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 46 sales
 25 days
from 56 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.

Oakleigh East Clayton
2 bed $630K / $532K
Oakleigh East — 2 bed: $630K (19 sales) Clayton — 2 bed: $532K (126 sales)

19 vs 126 sales

3 bed $890K / $820K
Oakleigh East — 3 bed: $890K (28 sales) Clayton — 3 bed: $820K (48 sales)

28 vs 48 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.

Oakleigh East Clayton
2 bed $970K / $1.2M
Oakleigh East — 2 bed: $970K (5 sales) Clayton — 2 bed: $1.2M (8 sales)

5 vs 8 sales

3 bed $1.18M / $1.28M
Oakleigh East — 3 bed: $1.18M (40 sales) Clayton — 3 bed: $1.28M (63 sales)

40 vs 63 sales

4 bed $1.26M / $1.43M
Oakleigh East — 4 bed: $1.26M (23 sales) Clayton — 4 bed: $1.43M (17 sales)

23 vs 17 sales

5 bed $1.34M / $1.21M
Oakleigh East — 5 bed: $1.34M (6 sales) Clayton — 5 bed: $1.21M (7 sales)

6 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Clayton has more commercially zoned land (48% vs 2%).

Oakleigh East Clayton
Residential 78% 4%
Commercial 2% 48%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 24%
Industrial 4% 12%
Other and special use 0% 11%
Parks and recreation 5% 1%
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

Oakleigh East Clayton
New dwellings approved 1,233
across Monash
same for both
Approvals change year on year -4%
same for both

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.

Oakleigh East Clayton
Houses 3.7%
$782/wk on $1.1M
 3.9%
$700/wk on $945K
Units 3.9%
$600/wk on $800K
 5.3%
$550/wk on $544K

Ranking within VIC

Oakleigh East Clayton
House price Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Income Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 45% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 22% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 34% of VIC Higher than 7% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 46% of VIC Higher than 59% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 8% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC

Liveability

Oakleigh East scores higher overall (78 vs 55); Clayton is more walkable (97 vs 73).

Oakleigh East Clayton
Grade A B
Score 78/100 55/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Clayton carries more crime risk (85 vs 54).

Oakleigh East Clayton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
54/100
 High
85/100
Flood Low
28/100
 Low
34/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 19
within 5 km
 21
within 5 km

Schools

Oakleigh East Clayton
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Clayton, 2.1 km
 3
Monash Clayton, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.8% 17.3%

Schools in Oakleigh East

  • Amsleigh Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers

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

Amenities in the suburb

Oakleigh East Clayton
Supermarkets 0 11
Cafes & restaurants 3 81
Parks & reserves 8 21
Childcare 5 14
GPs 1 10
Pharmacies 1 5
Hospitals 0 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 6
Fuel stations 2 5
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Oakleigh East Clayton
Walkability score 73/100 97/100
Distance to Melbourne 20.6 km 22.1 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 28 min 29 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 84/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 153.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 590.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 3166
 2.0%
postcode 3168
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 20
postcode 3166
 14
postcode 3168

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.

Oakleigh East Clayton
Car (driver) 55.0% / 49.9%
Oakleigh East — Car (driver): 55.0% Clayton — Car (driver): 49.9%
Worked from Home 33.8% / 23.9%
Oakleigh East — Worked from Home: 33.8% Clayton — Worked from Home: 23.9%
Train 4.1% / 9.4%
Oakleigh East — Train: 4.1% Clayton — Train: 9.4%
Walked Only 1.3% / 6.8%
Oakleigh East — Walked Only: 1.3% Clayton — Walked Only: 6.8%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 4.3%
Oakleigh East — Car (passenger): 3.4% Clayton — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Bus 1.8% / 4.7%
Oakleigh East — Bus: 1.8% Clayton — Bus: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.0%).

Setting

Oakleigh East Clayton
Elevation 91 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 88 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.7 km 10.1 km

NBN connectivity

Oakleigh East Clayton
Connectivity score 89/100 87/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
3,088 premises
 49%
10,841 premises

Climate

Oakleigh East Clayton
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)

Oakleigh East Clayton
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³ 6.3 µg/m³
PM10 — 20.8 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.98 pphm

Council rates

Oakleigh East Clayton
Average residential rate $1,697/yr
same for both
Council Monash
same for both

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Oakleigh East

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Urban

Clayton

Cafe Culture Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Students Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Oakleigh East

Oakleigh East vs Mount Waverley Oakleigh East vs Oakleigh South Oakleigh East vs Oakleigh Oakleigh East vs Huntingdale

Other comparisons with Clayton

Clayton vs Mount Waverley Clayton vs Springvale Clayton vs Mulgrave Clayton vs Clayton South Clayton vs Oakleigh South Clayton vs Clarinda
Full data on Oakleigh East Full data on Clayton
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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