Kembla Grange
A median age of 29, a median house price of $1,995,000 and a population that grew 63.9% in ten years is an unusual combination, yet Kembla Grange delivers all three. Household income sits in the 93.2nd percentile nationally, and 66.1% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, pointing to large family households rather than investor-heavy apartment stock. The suburb scores decile 10 on IER, the top tier for economic resources, while the gentrification stage has shifted to Active, driven by net internal migration averaging 490 residents per year. Car dependency runs at 94.3%, consistent with the low-density, house-dominant character of a suburb spanning 14.48 square kilometres.
Population
1,452
Median Age
29.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,574/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$2.0M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At $1,995,000 the median house price positions Kembla Grange above most of the Illawarra region, reflecting demand for large detached homes in a low-density setting. Separate houses account for 80.2% of stock and 4-plus bedroom dwellings make up 66.1%, so the market is strongly oriented toward family buyers rather than downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,338, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.0%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price, because household incomes are in the 93.2nd percentile nationally. Tenure is mortgage-heavy: 65.5% of households carry a loan compared to just 12.8% who own outright, reflecting how recently much of the suburb was settled.
For Buyers
At $1,995,000 the median house price positions Kembla Grange above most of the Illawarra region, reflecting demand for large detached homes in a low-density setting. Separate houses account for 80.2% of stock and 4-plus bedroom dwellings make up 66.1%, so the market is strongly oriented toward family buyers rather than downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,338, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.0%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price, because household incomes are in the 93.2nd percentile nationally. Tenure is mortgage-heavy: 65.5% of households carry a loan compared to just 12.8% who own outright, reflecting how recently much of the suburb was settled.
For Investors
The rental market is relatively thin, with only 21.7% of households renting and weekly rent at $570, against a $1,995,000 median that implies a gross yield below 1.5%. The vacancy rate stands at 3.5%, slightly elevated compared to a tight market, suggesting the tenant pool is limited in proportion to the overall housing stock. On the demand side, net internal migration of 490 residents per year is the primary growth driver, well above the 30 per year from overseas arrivals, signalling strong and sustained domestic demand. Six development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, including a subdivision and industrial works, consistent with early-stage land activity rather than completed new supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
243
Last 12 Months
7
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
Demographics
With a median age of 29, Kembla Grange sits 11.0 years below the national figure, one of the sharpest youth skews in the data. Average household size is 3.0, which is 0.5 above the national average, and 58.6% of families are couples with children, explaining the preference for large 4-plus bedroom homes. Overseas-born residents make up 15.0% of the population, 6.6 points below the national rate, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (509), Scottish (121), Irish (110) and Italian (114). University qualifications reach 31.9%, which is 1.8 points above the national figure. The young resident base and high household formation rate are consistent with the suburb attracting first-generation family buyers rather than established retirees.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.2%
Houses
19.8%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The stock is detached-dominant: 80.2% separate houses and 19.8% semi-detached, with apartments not recorded. Six in ten dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, and three-bedroom homes account for a further 25.4%, so virtually all housing suits families. Tenure splits heavily toward mortgages at 65.5%, outright owners at 12.8% and renters at 21.7%, reflecting a relatively young owner base still paying down debt. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.0% and rent-to-income of 22.1% are both below stress thresholds, giving households financial headroom that is unusual at this price level. The $1,995,000 median is well above NSW state norms for a suburb outside the Sydney CBD fringe, underpinned by low density and large lot sizes across 14.48 square kilometres.
Mortgage / mo
$2,338
Rent / wk
$570
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,106
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.5%
Unoccupied
17
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.5%
Couples, no children
1,293
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 25.0% of resident workers (138 people), followed by Education at 11.0% (61) and Construction at 9.4% (52), with Professional/Tech at 8.3% and Public Admin at 7.2%. By occupation, Professionals are the largest group (175 workers), ahead of Clerical/Admin (114) and Managers (89). The full-time employment rate of 67.6% is robust, and the unemployment rate of 5.1% is moderate. SEIFA scores reveal an interesting split: IER decile 10 reflects high household wealth and economic resources, while IEO decile 5 places educational and occupational attainment near the national median, suggesting that the income advantage is driven by asset ownership and established-sector employment rather than professional qualifications alone.
Unemployment
2.8%
Labour Force
8,245
Unemployed
232
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.6%
Part-time
27.3%
Participation
69.7%
Employed
707
Occupations
Top Industries
University
31.9%
Postgraduate
6.4%
Born Overseas
15.0%
Dwellings
470
Transport to Work
Car dependency is pronounced, with 94.3% of residents commuting by car and only 2.8% walking or cycling; public transport data is not available for this suburb. The IRSAD decile of 7 ranks the suburb in the upper-mid advantage tier nationally, above the median on most socio-economic measures. The IRSD decile of 8 similarly places residents well clear of disadvantage. Housing stress is low: mortgage-to-income at 21.0% and rent-to-income at 22.1% both stay below the 30% threshold, meaning most households are not financially stretched. No schools are recorded inside the Kembla Grange boundary, so families depend on neighbouring suburbs for primary and secondary education. Only 3.2% of residents (45 people) need daily assistance, a low rate consistent with the young median age of 29.
Drive
94.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+3.06%/yr
(+451 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth has been among the strongest of any NSW suburb over the past decade: a 63.9% rise brought the SA2-level count from roughly 9,000 to nearly 15,000, and annual growth is now running at 3.06%, adding around 451 residents per year. Internal migration is the dominant engine at a net 490 arrivals annually, more than 16 times the overseas contribution of 30. The gentrification score of 40 places the suburb in the Active stage, with accelerating mortgage-holder share as the key signal. Rent has grown 51.5% over the period versus real income growth of 23.5%, a gap that narrows affordability over time. Medium-scenario forecasts project the SA2 population reaching 16,783 by 2031, implying continued pressure on housing supply.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+30
Net Internal / yr
+490
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +490/yr, Accelerating: 14% → 67%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kembla Grange compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kembla Grange a good suburb to live in?
Kembla Grange scores decile 10 on the IER index of economic resources, the top national tier, and household income sits in the 93.2nd percentile. The suburb suits families: 66.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 21.0%, and population has grown 63.9% over the decade, signalling strong demand.
What is the median house price in Kembla Grange?
The median house price is $1,995,000, well above typical Illawarra values. Weekly rent averages $570 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $2,338. Despite the high entry price, the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.0% because household incomes are in the 93.2nd percentile nationally.
What schools are in Kembla Grange?
No schools are recorded inside the Kembla Grange boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Locally, 31.9% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 1.8 points above the national average, reflecting a well-educated resident base despite the absence of local schools.
Is Kembla Grange safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Kembla Grange in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 8 nationally, placing it in the upper tier for low disadvantage. Only 3.2% of residents (45 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a low-vulnerability population.
Is Kembla Grange good for property investment?
Investment fundamentals are mixed. Net internal migration of 490 residents per year supports long-term demand, and population grew 63.9% over the past decade. However, only 21.7% of households rent, and weekly rent of $570 against a $1,995,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.5%. Capital growth is the stronger investment case here than yield.
How is Kembla Grange's population changing?
Population is growing at 3.06% per year, adding around 451 residents annually. The 10-year rise of 63.9% is well above national norms. Internal migration dominates with a net 490 arrivals per year. Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 area reaching 16,783 residents by 2031, up from approximately 14,750 in 2025.
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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