Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Clayton suburb profile
Clayton, VIC · Postcode 3168
This Clayton suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Clayton, VIC (postcode 3168). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Clayton with nearby suburbs.
Clayton at a glance
Population
18,988
Median rent
$400/wk
Household income
$1,494/wk
Median age
28
Clayton trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+22.2% over 10 years
Population
18,988
was 19,358 in 2016
-370 · -1.9%
Median rent
$400/wk
was $360/wk in 2016
+$40 · +11.1%
Household income
$1,494/wk
was $1,051/wk in 2016
+$443 · +42.2%
Median age
28
was 25 in 2016
+3 · +12%
Dig deeper: Clayton population growth · Clayton then and now
Clayton vs nearby & Greater Melbourne
Median Census 2021 figures for Clayton, nearby suburbs (8), and the Melbourne metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
+2.4% vs area
- Clayton$400/wk
- Nearby$413/wk
- Melbourne$390.5/wk
Household income
-22.9% vs area
- Clayton$1,494/wk
- Nearby$1,914/wk
- Melbourne$1,936.5/wk
Median age
-28.2% vs area
- Clayton28
- Nearby38
- Melbourne39
Personal income
-29.6% vs area
- Clayton$594/wk
- Nearby$758/wk
- Melbourne$843.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC. See Melbourne rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Clayton compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Clayton sits above average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and high education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 3974.1
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 71,013.2
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1869.7
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 91,075.6
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Clayton on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Clayton, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Clayton people
- Population
- 18,988
- Median age
- 28
- Born overseas
- 65.7%
- Average household size
- 2.5
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Clayton income
- Median household income
- $1,494/wk
- Median personal income
- $594/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Clayton housing
- Median rent
- $400/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,000/mo
- Separate houses
- 29%
- Flats & apartments
- 17.8%
- Owned outright
- 15.2%
- Mortgaged
- 13.9%
- Rented
- 49.7%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 18.2%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Clayton work
- Employment to population
- 54.1%
- Unemployment rate
- 9.7%
- Year 12 or above
- 77.8%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 3168)
Compare Clayton with nearby suburbs
Clayton in numbers
Clayton had 18,988 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 88th most populous suburb or locality in VIC out of 2,835. The median age is 28, 32% below the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.5 people. 65.7% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 15.2% own their home outright, 13.9% are paying a mortgage, 49.7% rent. Separate houses make up 29% of dwellings, with 17.8% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $400/wk, 14% above the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $1,494/wk, 16% below the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 9.7%. 77.8% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 3 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 1.9% (from 19,358 to 18,988). Median rent moved from $360/wk to $400/wk (+11.1%).
Clayton suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Clayton, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Clayton was $400/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Clayton, VIC?
- Clayton had 18,988 residents at the 2021 Census, down 1.9% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Clayton?
- Median household income in Clayton was $1,494/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Clayton?
- 49.7% of occupied homes in Clayton were rented, 15.2% were owned outright and 13.9% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Clayton suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Clayton. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Melbourne