Keilor
Three numbers define Keilor: a median house price of $1,187,500, a median age of 46 that runs 6.0 years above national, and a dwelling stock that is 87.1% separate houses. The price has actually fallen 5.8% from its $1,260,000 peak in late 2023, yet still sits well above most Melbourne fringe markets because supply is so heavily detached and low density at 551 residents per km2. Household income reaches the 76.6th percentile nationally, and 51.7% of homes are owned outright, more than the 38.6% still under a mortgage. With only 9.7% renting and university qualifications at 37.5%, which is 7.4 points above national, this reads as a settled, owner-heavy enclave rather than a growth corridor.
Population
5,906
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,046/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$1.2M
Apr-Jun 2024
At a $1,187,500 median, Keilor asks a premium for what it offers: space. Nearly half of dwellings (49.5%) have 4 or more bedrooms and another 39.8% have three, while 2-bedroom stock is just 9.3%, so buyers seeking smaller homes have little to choose from. The price softened 5.8% from the $1,260,000 peak of late 2023, which improves entry timing, but over the longer run values still rose 107.4% from $572,500 in 2013, a 5.3% compound annual rate. Affordability is the standout: monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold thanks to household incomes in the 76.6th percentile. With 87.1% separate houses, this market suits families buying a long-term detached home, not first buyers chasing a cheap unit.
For Buyers
At a $1,187,500 median, Keilor asks a premium for what it offers: space. Nearly half of dwellings (49.5%) have 4 or more bedrooms and another 39.8% have three, while 2-bedroom stock is just 9.3%, so buyers seeking smaller homes have little to choose from. The price softened 5.8% from the $1,260,000 peak of late 2023, which improves entry timing, but over the longer run values still rose 107.4% from $572,500 in 2013, a 5.3% compound annual rate. Affordability is the standout: monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold thanks to household incomes in the 76.6th percentile. With 87.1% separate houses, this market suits families buying a long-term detached home, not first buyers chasing a cheap unit.
For Investors
Keilor is a weak fit for yield-driven investors. Only 9.7% of residents rent, the smallest tenant pool you will find in most Melbourne markets, and weekly rent of $400 against a $1,187,500 median implies a gross yield near 1.8%, below what comparable detached suburbs return. The 6.1% vacancy rate is moderate rather than tight, so re-letting is not a given. Development is almost nonexistent at just 1 application in 12 months, meaning no new supply to absorb and no momentum signal. The one positive is demand support from migration: net overseas migration adds 126 residents a year against a net internal loss of 8, and rent grew 31.6% over the measured period. Still, with 51.7% of homes owned outright and turnover at only 11.6%, stock rarely trades, so the case rests on slow capital growth rather than rental return or transaction volume.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Keilor iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Overnewton Anglican Community College
Prep-12 · 2146 students
St Augustine's Primary School
Prep-6 · 255 students
Keilor Primary School
Prep-6 · 374 students
Demographics
The median age of 46 sits 6.0 years above national, and the trajectory confirms it: the senior share rose 1.0 point while the working-age share fell 1.7 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 22.4%, only 0.8 points above national, so this is a comparatively Australian-born population. Ancestry leans Anglo and Southern European, led by English (1,507) and Italian (967), with Irish (513) and Scottish (458) following, and the top non-English languages are Italian (137), Greek (77) and Croatian (61), a footprint of post-war migration that has since aged in place. University qualifications at 37.5% run 7.4 points above national. Average household size is 2.7, which is 0.2 above national, consistent with the family-with-children profile, since couples with children (1,881) outnumber couples without (1,260).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.1%
Houses
12.9%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by outright ownership: 51.7% own their home debt-free, 38.6% carry a mortgage and only 9.7% rent, an owner-occupier ratio far above most metropolitan suburbs and a direct cause of the thin rental stock. The dwelling mix is 87.1% separate houses and 12.9% semi-detached, with no apartment stock recorded, which keeps the suburb low density at 551 residents per km2. Homes are large: 49.5% have 4-plus bedrooms and 39.8% have three. The median house price of $1,187,500 is down 5.8% from the $1,260,000 peak of late 2023, yet up 107.4% from $572,500 in 2013. Mortgage-to-income at 24.5% and rent-to-income at 19.6% both sit below the 30% stress line, so housing costs are well contained relative to the 76.6th-percentile household incomes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$824
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
139
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.5%
Couples, no children
5,149
Total families
Economy & Employment
Keilor's workforce spreads across trades and services rather than concentrating in finance. Construction leads at 15.3% (293 workers), followed by Education at 13.6% (260), Healthcare at 13.3% (254), Professional/Tech at 10.5% (201) and Retail at 7.1%. By occupation, Professionals (701) and Managers (516) top the list, with Clerical/Admin close behind at 506, a balance that explains the mid-tier SEIFA reading. The suburb scores decile 8 on IER for economic resources and decile 8 on IRSD for disadvantage, but only decile 6 on IEO for education and occupation, lower than its income because the trade-heavy, non-degree workforce pulls that index down even as outright home ownership lifts the resource measure. Unemployment is low at 3.8% and full-time work runs at 64.0%, while participation of 57.2% reflects the older profile, with 1,780 residents not in the labour force.
Unemployment
1.8%
Labour Force
4,728
Unemployed
84
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.0%
Part-time
32.2%
Participation
57.2%
Employed
2,729
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.5%
Postgraduate
7.0%
Born Overseas
22.4%
Dwellings
2,126
Transport to Work
Keilor is built around the car: 93.1% of residents drive to work while just 1.1% use public transport and 1.4% walk or cycle, a reliance that follows from the low density of 551 residents per km2 and the absence of rail in the immediate area. The crime rate is 39.1 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences (128 of 231 total) the dominant category and crimes against the person low at 36, a profile typical of a quiet residential area rather than a high-risk one. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, the second-highest tier, and 6.4% of residents need daily assistance, consistent with the older median age of 46. No schools are recorded inside the 10.72 km2 boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off for the large-lot, detached setting.
Drive
93.1%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.55%/yr
(+86 people/yr)
EstablishedKeilor is an established, slow-growth suburb. The forecast trend is 0.55% a year, about 86 additional residents annually, well below the high-growth Melbourne fringe. The sole positive driver is overseas migration at a net 126 a year, offset by a small net internal outflow of 8, so without inbound migration the population would barely move. Over the past decade the area grew 13.7%, modest given Victoria's broader expansion. The gentrification reading is not gentrifying, which fits a suburb already mature in age and ownership with little turnover. Affordability improved from 61.0% in 2011 to 53.8% in 2021 as incomes outpaced the recent price softening, and real incomes grew 21.5% over the period, a more durable foundation for value than speculative churn.
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
231
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
39.1
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 compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Keilor a good suburb to live in?
Keilor scores decile 8 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, the second-highest tier, with household income in the 76.6th percentile nationally. It suits families wanting space, since 87.1% of homes are separate houses and 49.5% have four or more bedrooms. The main trade-off is car dependence, with 93.1% driving to work.
What is the median house price in Keilor?
The median house price is $1,187,500 as of Apr-Jun 2024, down 5.8% from the $1,260,000 peak of late 2023. Over the longer run prices rose 107.4% from $572,500 in 2013, a 5.3% compound annual rate. Weekly rent averages $400.
What schools are in Keilor?
No schools are recorded inside the 10.72 km2 Keilor boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 37.5%, which is 7.4 points above the national figure.
Is Keilor safe?
Keilor recorded 231 offences, a rate of 39.1 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences make up the bulk at 128, while crimes against the person are low at 36. The suburb also scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the second-highest tier, consistent with a quiet residential area.
Is Keilor good for property investment?
Rent of $400 a week against a $1,187,500 median gives a gross yield near 1.8%, below comparable detached suburbs, and only 9.7% of residents rent. With just 1 development application in 12 months and 51.7% of homes owned outright, returns depend on slow capital growth rather than yield.
How is Keilor's population changing?
Population growth is forecast at 0.55% a year, about 86 residents, with overseas migration adding a net 126 annually against an internal loss of 8. The area grew 13.7% over the decade. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 1.0 point and the working-age share down 1.7 points.
What is the rental market like in Keilor?
Only 9.7% of Keilor residents rent, one of the smallest tenant pools in metropolitan Melbourne, with weekly rent averaging $400 and a vacancy rate of 6.1%. Rent grew 31.6% over the measured period, but the heavily owner-occupied stock, 51.7% owned outright, keeps available rentals scarce.
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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