Kanwal
With a median age of 45 and 34.4% of owners holding their properties outright, Kanwal reads as a suburb where long-term residents have planted deep roots rather than moved frequently. The SEIFA data is the most striking signal: an IRSAD decile of 1 and an IEO decile of 1 place this suburb among the most disadvantaged nationally, while household incomes sit at just the 34.5th percentile. Despite that, median house prices reached $787,500 in the current period, up 10.6% from $730,333 in 2024. The suburb is overwhelmingly owner-occupier driven, with 85.6% separate houses and only 28% renting.
Population
4,194
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,344/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
22
Median House
$788K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $787,500 represents a 10.6% rise from $730,333 in 2024, a strong one-year gain for a suburb at the 34.5th household income percentile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 85.6% of dwellings, with apartments at 10.5%, so buyers find a market strongly weighted toward freestanding homes. Four-plus bedroom properties account for 41.9% of stock, and three-bedroom homes 47.3%, meaning larger family configurations are the norm. Outright owners at 34.4% slightly outnumber mortgage holders at 37.5%, indicating the area has a stable base of debt-free long-term holders alongside active buyers. This price level is below the broader Sydney median, making it accessible for buyers priced out of inner and middle-ring markets.
For Buyers
The median house price of $787,500 represents a 10.6% rise from $730,333 in 2024, a strong one-year gain for a suburb at the 34.5th household income percentile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 85.6% of dwellings, with apartments at 10.5%, so buyers find a market strongly weighted toward freestanding homes. Four-plus bedroom properties account for 41.9% of stock, and three-bedroom homes 47.3%, meaning larger family configurations are the norm. Outright owners at 34.4% slightly outnumber mortgage holders at 37.5%, indicating the area has a stable base of debt-free long-term holders alongside active buyers. This price level is below the broader Sydney median, making it accessible for buyers priced out of inner and middle-ring markets.
For Investors
Renters make up 28% of Kanwal households, giving landlords a moderate tenant pool against a $787,500 median. Weekly rent of $380 implies a gross yield near 2.5%, which is higher than inner-Sydney markets but still modest. The vacancy rate sits at 5.0%, above the healthy 3% threshold, suggesting some softness in rental demand. Development activity has been moderate, with 21 applications lodged in the past 12 months, several involving secondary dwellings, which signals some interest in dual-income configurations. Population growth runs at 0.42% per year, adding roughly 96 persons annually, and overseas migration averages 100 arrivals net per year, outpacing internal migration of 30. Rent growth of 44% over the decade is well above income growth of 20.4%, narrowing affordability for tenants and supporting rent income for landlords.
Development Activity
Total DAs
95
Last 12 Months
22
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+69.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kanwal iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kanwal Public School
K-6 · 500 students
Demographics
The median age of 45 is 5.0 years above the national figure, placing Kanwal firmly in an aging demographic profile. The senior share has grown 2.2 points over the decade while the working-age share gained only 0.8 points, reinforcing the older trajectory. Overseas-born residents at 15.2% are 6.4 points below the national average, consistent with the predominantly English, Irish and Scottish ancestry the data records. University qualifications at 15.7% run 14.4 points below the national rate, and community and personal service roles form the largest occupational group at 264 workers, above professionals at 230. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure, and couples with children at 1,028 make up the largest family type, suggesting a family-oriented but aging base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.6%
Houses
3.6%
Townhouse
10.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Kanwal's housing stock is dominated by separate houses at 85.6%, well above the state average, with apartments at just 10.5% and semi-detached at 3.6%. Three-bedroom homes account for 47.3% of dwellings and four-plus bedroom homes 41.9%, meaning smaller units are rare. Tenure splits as 34.4% outright owners, 37.5% mortgagees and 28.0% renters. The median house price rose from $730,333 in 2024 to $808,000 in 2025, a 10.6% gain over one year. Mortgage repayments at $1,733 per month and weekly rent at $380 both sit below NSW coastal benchmarks, keeping the suburb accessible compared to many Central Coast neighbours. Mortgage-to-income at 29.8% and rent-to-income at 28.3% both remain just below stress thresholds, though the IRSAD decile 1 position means income pressure is still acute for many residents.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$652
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.0%
Unoccupied
74
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.0%
Couples, no children
2,969
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 25.5% (247 workers), which is more than double the next-largest sectors of Public Administration and Construction, each at 9.3%. Education and Retail round out the top five at 9.3% and 7.3% respectively. By occupation, community and personal service (264) leads ahead of professionals (230) and labourers (196), a profile more typical of a service-sector suburb than a high-income knowledge cluster. The unemployment rate of 7.3% is elevated compared to national averages, and full-time employment reaches only 62.3% of those employed, with 499 part-time workers against 825 full-time. The IRSD decile of 2 and IRSAD decile of 1 signal that by income, education and occupational measures, Kanwal ranks among the more disadvantaged suburbs nationally, despite house price growth. Real incomes grew 20.4% over the decade.
Unemployment
5.8%
Labour Force
10,836
Unemployed
628
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.3%
Part-time
30.4%
Participation
40.5%
Employed
1,324
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.7%
Postgraduate
2.9%
Born Overseas
15.2%
Dwellings
1,405
Transport to Work
Car dependency is extremely high in Kanwal, with 90.1% of residents driving to work, well above the national average, and only 1.1% using public transport. This reflects the suburb's position on the Central Coast, where rail access is limited and most services are car-based. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on neighbouring areas for primary and secondary education. The IRSAD decile of 1 indicates that Kanwal ranks among the most disadvantaged 10% of suburbs nationally on a combined index of advantage and disadvantage. Need for daily assistance stands at 12.1% of residents (446 people), above typical rates, consistent with the older median age of 45 and lower income base. Volunteering reaches 8.7% of the population, and the suburb has shown stable affordability, with housing cost ratios just below the 30% stress mark.
Drive
90.1%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.42%/yr
(+96 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation in Kanwal grew 8.2% over the decade and is forecast to continue at 0.42% per year, adding roughly 96 persons annually through to 2031. The SA2 that includes Kanwal reached 22,880 in 2025 and medium forecasts project 23,595 by 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver, averaging 100 net arrivals annually compared to 30 from internal migration. The gentrification score of 48 and stage of Active in the broader dataset contrast with the suburb-level score of 0, indicating that while some income and price movement has occurred, the suburb has not crossed into a confirmed gentrification trajectory. Rent growth of 44% over the decade significantly outpaced the national average, reflecting demand from a tenant base unable to access ownership at current prices.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+100
Net Internal / yr
+30
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kanwal compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kanwal a good suburb to live in?
Kanwal suits residents seeking affordable freestanding houses with a settled, older community. The median age is 45, which is 5 years above national, and 34.4% of owners hold their property outright. The IRSAD decile of 1 reflects lower incomes and fewer professional opportunities than metropolitan areas, but mortgage-to-income at 29.8% stays just below the 30% stress threshold.
What is the median house price in Kanwal?
The median house price is $787,500, rising 10.6% from $730,333 in 2024 to $808,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and weekly rent is $380. The 10.6% gain in one year is strong, though the suburb sits at only the 34.5th household income percentile nationally.
What schools are in Kanwal?
No schools are recorded inside the Kanwal suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Central Coast suburbs. Locally, only 15.7% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 14.4 points below the national average, suggesting education services in the broader area are important to the community.
Is Kanwal safe?
Crime statistics for Kanwal are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 2 on relative disadvantage, placing it in the lower 20% nationally, which is a factor often associated with higher crime exposure. The 12.1% of residents needing daily assistance, above typical rates, reflects the older and lower-income character of the suburb.
Is Kanwal good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $380 against a $787,500 median gives a gross yield near 2.5%, modest but higher than Sydney inner-ring markets. The vacancy rate of 5.0% is above the 3% healthy threshold. Rent grew 44% over the decade, well above income growth of 20.4%, which supports ongoing rent capacity. Annual population growth of 0.42% adds demand slowly but steadily.
How is Kanwal's population changing?
The population grew 8.2% over the decade and is forecast to add around 96 persons per year at 0.42% annually. Overseas migration is the primary driver, averaging 100 net arrivals per year compared to 30 from internal migration. Medium projections for the broader SA2 reach 23,595 by 2031, up from 22,880 in 2025.
How much development is happening in Kanwal?
There were 21 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Several involve secondary dwellings, indicating interest in granny flat and dual-income configurations on existing lots. This aligns with the area's detached housing stock where 85.6% of dwellings are separate houses, giving homeowners scope to add secondary units.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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