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I lived in Clayton for about 5 years already, started with renting out with some students around Carinish road area then decided to buy a property around north road closer toward Huntingdale station.

Regarding the security I have heard stories of break in attempts around area in Center road close to the pokies (where most of the rental house located) also how people might got mugged at night. For myself, I never experience any of those during my stay in here and I hope it won't happen to me. I guess common sense pre caution is needed when you live here also in other suburbs, things like : don't walk alone at late night, don't flash your expensive luxurious things in public (iphone, expensive bags etc). But overall I have found this suburb to be quite safe.

Neighbourhood, well I got couple of friends living in Clayton but I won't count them in as my view toward neighbour since I can be bias if I do that. Since I move in to my property I have not actually know my neighbour in person, but I know one which is neighbour in my front unit and also occasionally greet my left and right neighbour whenever I have a chance. I experience 1 or 2 occasion where one of my neighbour rented house play their doof doof music but its usually stop at around 9 pm so that still acceptable. Surrounding neighbour pretty much quite nice and I can see a couple of those nice cars (merc, audi,bmw) parked around my area.

Internet connection is a bliss for me, its ADSL2 capable area so no need to worry about it.

Transport, we got buses (smart bus and the regular bus) and trains; Im about 10-15 mins walk from huntingdale and I can use my zone1 ticket instead of buying zone 1+2 in both the bus that pass my area and also if I go to Huntingdale to commute to the city. The only downside I would think is I guess the frequency of bus coming and going from the station is only every 20 mins I hope they can put some improvement on this oh and also huntingdale Station is definately due for a refurbishment its very crapy for a premium class station compare to oakleigh which is one suburb down from Huntingdale.

Regarding Clayton Station, I guess its okay other than its the first zone 2 station (cost more in ticket), Its quite good and rarely have issues there. I see quite lots of student and office workers coming and going on that station. Its also conveniently located close to the awesome shopping strip in Clayton


Shopping, we got Coles, lots of asian groceries options, lots of butcher options, green grocers.

Chinese/Korean/Thai/Indian/Indonesian restaurant surrounding, fish and chip, charcoal chicken and lots more seems to be opening. So if you do like eating out like me :) then you will not have any issues living here.

Medical facilities, we live quite close to monash hospital down in Clayton road. Also some GP such as medi7. I saw some dental practice. Overall its quite sufficient.

Park Recreation : I guess not much in here due to lots of property development around. I saw one on my way to Clayton station once which got decent size grass area and children area but other than that I have not see any decent park around.

Gym&Fitness: Monash gym and I believe we got some other gym nearby in Oakleigh just one suburb down from us.

Cost of Living is okay, especially with the presence of asian groceries(asian foods, fruit and vegies) and local butchers definately help when you do that weekly shopping since they have quite competitive price compare to Coles. I wish that we can have safeway tho to add more variety in our weekly shopping place. Rental price is quite decent and competitive due to demand of place since its quite closed to Monash Clayton and also I have found some people who want to save in rental cost often choose to live in Clayton despite their study is located in City.

Schools : I cannot say much since I haven't got any kids in school age (yet) but oncoming baby soon (yay) but so far I saw only one kindergarten around intersection of Clayton and North road but nothing else. Perhaps I need to explore more of this area :)

All in all, for the price you paid its not your typical Forest Hill, Kew , or even Toorak kind of area but its liveable and quite nite. In every suburb I believe there are some positive side and negative side, for this suburb I believe if you just started out as family why not give it a go.