Keilor East
Keilor East combines a 46.7% outright-ownership rate with a median age of 43, making it more settled than many middle-ring markets. Separate houses account for 80.6% of homes, while 30.0% of residents were born overseas and household income sits at the 71.4th percentile. Compared with nearby Essendon, the suburb presents a more detached, family-sized housing pattern, supported by 56.8% three-bedroom and 35.1% four-bedroom-plus homes. Its university-educated share is 40.6%, 10.5 percentage points above the national comparison, helping explain the professional and administrative employment base.
Population
15,078
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,911/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
91
Median House
$1.1M
October to December 2025
The 80.6% separate-house share and 56.8% three-bedroom profile suit households seeking established family stock, while 35.1% have four or more bedrooms. A monthly mortgage figure of $2,167 equals 26.2% of household income, with mortgage stress flagged false. Compared with apartment-heavy areas, the 0.8% apartment share means less low-maintenance choice.
For Buyers
The 80.6% separate-house share and 56.8% three-bedroom profile suit households seeking established family stock, while 35.1% have four or more bedrooms. A monthly mortgage figure of $2,167 equals 26.2% of household income, with mortgage stress flagged false. Compared with apartment-heavy areas, the 0.8% apartment share means less low-maintenance choice.
For Investors
Keilor East presents a lower-turnover investment profile: 19.1% of occupied dwellings are rented, while 84.9% of residents stayed at the same address and turnover was 15.1%. That stability can support longer tenancies, although the tenant pool is smaller than in more renter-heavy suburbs. Rents have grown 31.6%, higher than the 21.5% real-income growth measure, which can support rental returns but also test affordability. Development activity is material, with 88 records in 12 months. The forecast trend is 0.55% annually, driven by overseas migration, giving the suburb a steadier outlook than a high-growth fringe market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
120
Last 12 Months
91
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+468.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Keilor East
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School
Keilor Heights Primary School
St Peter's School
Essendon Keilor College
Demographics
Keilor East has a median age of 43, which is 3 years above the national comparison, and its 2.6-person average household is 0.1 above the national figure. Couples with children account for 47.9% of families and couples without children 35.1%, helping explain demand for three- and four-bedroom houses. Overseas-born residents make up 30.0%, 8.4 percentage points above the national comparison. Italian ancestry is reported by 3,688 people and Greek ancestry by 1,115, with Italian and Greek also the most common listed home languages at 581 and 357 speakers. Christianity has 9,919 adherents, while 3,377 report no religion. Compared with a younger inner-suburban profile, this is an older, family-oriented population with relatively high educational attainment: 40.6% have university qualifications, 10.5 points above national.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.6%
Houses
18.4%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
The latest price is also the recorded peak. Ownership is concentrated, with 46.7% owning outright and 33.0% paying a mortgage, compared with 19.1% renting. This tenure mix reflects an established suburb where households stay put, while 84.9% remained at the same address. Housing is detached-dominant, with 80.6% separate houses, 18.4% semi-detached dwellings and only 0.8% apartments. Compared with denser western Melbourne markets, the 56.8% three-bedroom and 35.1% four-bedroom-plus mix provides more family-sized stock but less compact choice.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $406.
$550
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $580 · units $520
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$759
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.0%
Unoccupied
349
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.9%
Couples with children
35.1%
Couples, no children
15.7%
Single parent
4,320
Total families
Economy & Employment
Keilor East's labour market is anchored by healthcare at 14.1% of local industry employment, education at 13.0%, construction at 11.7%, professional and technical services at 10.5%, and public administration at 7.5%. The mix aligns with 1,757 professionals, 1,116 clerical and administrative workers, 998 managers and 845 trades workers, creating both white-collar and practical employment pathways. Unemployment is 4.5% and participation is 58.8%, while full-time employment is 60.9%. A sizeable 4,654 people are outside the labour force, which helps explain why participation is below the full working-age population. Household income ranks at the 71.4th percentile, higher than the national midpoint. All four SEIFA measures sit in decile 7, above the midpoint, although the 8.5% need-assistance rate points to pockets of vulnerability.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
7,314
Unemployed
332
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.9%
Part-time
32.3%
Participation
58.8%
Employed
6,982
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.6%
Postgraduate
8.6%
Born Overseas
30.0%
Dwellings
5,450
Transport to Work
Keilor East suits households that value space and car access. Car drivers account for 59.3% of journeys, compared with 1.7% using public transport and 1.1% walking or cycling; 34.0% work from home, so local errands and home-office space matter. Four local schools span 2 primary settings, 1 secondary college and 1 combined primary-secondary school across government, Catholic and independent sectors. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across the suburb. The recorded crime rate is 39.7 offences per 1,000 residents, with 599 total offences and 367 property and deception offences, so home and vehicle security deserve attention. IRSAD sits in decile 7, above the national midpoint, while 8.5% need assistance indicates support services remain relevant. Compared with a transit-led inner suburb, the transport profile is more car dependent but better suited to detached homes and remote work.
Drive
59.3%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
34.0%
Population Forecast
+0.55%/yr
(+86 people/yr)
EstablishedKeilor East is an established market with a forecast annual trend of 0.55%, pointing to measured expansion rather than fringe-style acceleration. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while population change across the wider area runs at 13.7% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Mixed: rents rose 31.6%, real incomes rose 21.5%, and the working share moved -1.7 percentage points as the senior share increased 1.0 point. Rent growth is higher than real-income growth, helping explain affordability pressure even though the affordability trend is labelled Improving, with figures of 61.0 in 2011 and 53.8 in 2021. Gentrification signals remain limited, with a score of 4 and stage Not gentrifying, although shift indicators show a score of 41 and stage Early signs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+126
Net Internal / yr
-8
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +13% since 2011
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
599
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
39.7
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Keilor East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Keilor East a good suburb to live in?
Keilor East suits households wanting established detached housing, with 80.6% separate houses, a median age of 43 and IRSAD decile 7. Car access is important because 59.3% drive to work, while public transport accounts for 1.7%. Families have access to 4 schools across government, Catholic and independent sectors.
What schools are in Keilor East?
Four schools serve local families: St Peter's School and Keilor Heights Primary School are primary schools, Essendon Keilor College is secondary, and Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School covers primary and secondary years. The mix includes 2 government schools, 1 Catholic school and 1 independent school.
Is Keilor East safe?
Keilor East recorded 599 offences, equal to a crime rate of 39.7 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 367 incidents, compared with 91 crimes against the person. Residents should still use sensible home and vehicle security, particularly because property offences form the largest category.
How is Keilor East's population changing?
Keilor East has a current population of 15,078, and population change across the wider area is 13.7% over 10 years. The forecast annual trend is 0.55%, driven primarily by overseas migration. The trajectory is Mixed, with the senior share up 1.0 point and the working share down 1.7 points.
What development is occurring in Keilor East?
Keilor East recorded 88 development records over 12 months. Examples include a 2-unit development and a two-lot subdivision. This activity may gradually add housing choice, although the suburb remains dominated by separate houses at 80.6% and has only 0.8% apartments.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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