Kembla Grange
Household incomes sit at the 93.2nd percentile nationally, a striking result for a suburb of 1,452 residents with a median age of 29. Kembla Grange is built around family-sized homes: 80.2% are separate houses and 66.1% have 4 or more bedrooms. This matters because the average household size is 3.0 people, which is 0.5 above the national figure. For buyers comparing it with nearby Unanderra, the detached-house profile is a clear point of difference. The trade-off is a car-oriented daily routine, with 68.4% driving to work, while 27.4% work from home.
Local council: Wollongong
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
8
Homebuyers are looking at a market where large dwellings dominate rather than compact stock. Separate houses account for 80.2%, while 66.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and another 25.4% have 3 bedrooms. The typical mortgage repayment is $2,338 per month, equal to 21.0% of household income, so the reported mortgage burden sits below the rent-to-income figure of 22.1%. Rent is $570 a week, providing a useful comparison for buyers weighing ownership against leasing. Kembla Grange may suit households needing space because the average household has 3.0 people, or 0.5 more than the national average.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are looking at a market where large dwellings dominate rather than compact stock. Separate houses account for 80.2%, while 66.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and another 25.4% have 3 bedrooms. The typical mortgage repayment is $2,338 per month, equal to 21.0% of household income, so the reported mortgage burden sits below the rent-to-income figure of 22.1%. Rent is $570 a week, providing a useful comparison for buyers weighing ownership against leasing. Kembla Grange may suit households needing space because the average household has 3.0 people, or 0.5 more than the national average.
For Investors
Investors get a moderate-rental-share market, with 21.2% of occupied dwellings rented at $570 a week and a 3.5% vacancy rate. That combination is useful when compared with locations carrying higher vacancy, because tighter availability can support tenant competition. Rent growth of 51.5% indicates that leasing costs have risen materially. Development activity is present but not overwhelming, with 8 applications in 12 months, including industrial and supporting works rather than a large recorded dwelling pipeline. The 3.06% annual growth trend, driven by Internal migration, supports a demand case, although the forecast trajectory is Mixed. Screening should focus on tenant depth, holding costs and property type because 80.2% of homes are separate houses.
Development Activity
Total DAs
245
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+14.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Kembla Grange is markedly younger than the national profile: the median age is 29, or 11 years below the national comparison. University attainment is 31.9%, 1.8 percentage points above the national figure, while overseas-born residents account for 15.0%, 6.6 points below the national rate. English ancestry is recorded for 509 people, followed by Scottish at 121, Italian at 114 and Irish at 110. Christianity has 789 adherents and no religion 545. The age and family pattern helps explain why couples with children make up 56.3% of families and average household size is 3.0, which is 0.5 above the national average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.2%
Houses
19.8%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is strongly tilted toward leveraged detached ownership. Mortgage holders represent 63.9% of households, more than five times the 12.5% owned outright, while 21.2% rent and 2.4% use another tenure. The dwelling mix is practical for larger households: 80.2% are separate houses, 19.8% are semi-detached, 66.1% contain 4 or more bedrooms and 25.4% contain 3 bedrooms. Compared with nearby Unanderra, this gives Kembla Grange a clear family-house orientation for buyers who prioritise floor space. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 21.0%, below the 22.1% rent-to-income ratio, because debt-funded ownership is more common than outright ownership. Vacancy is 3.5%, so rental availability is not excessive.
Mortgage / mo
$2,338
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $570.
$700
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $750 · units $500
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
56.3%
Couples with children
30.3%
Couples, no children
10.4%
Single parent
412
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is anchored by healthcare, which accounts for 25.0% or 138 workers, followed by education at 11.0% or 61, construction at 9.4% or 52, professional and technical work at 8.3% or 46, and public administration at 7.2% or 40. This industry mix aligns with 175 professionals, 128 trades workers and 114 clerical or admin workers among the leading occupations. Labour force participation is 77.2%, with unemployment at 4.6% across a labour force of 825. Economic standing varies by measure: the education and occupation index is decile 5, while economic resources is decile 10, disadvantage is decile 8 and advantage is decile 7. The decile 7 advantage score sits above the national midpoint, while the gap between measures suggests household resources rank higher than education and occupation outcomes.
Unemployment
4.6%
Labour Force
825
Unemployed
38
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.7%
Part-time
29.1%
Participation
77.2%
Employed
787
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
31.9%
Postgraduate
6.4%
Born Overseas
15.0%
Dwellings
470
Transport to Work
Day-to-day life is easiest for households with a car. A total of 68.4% drive to work, compared with only 2.0% who walk or cycle, while 27.4% work from home and may avoid some commuting. With an area of 14.48 square kilometres and density of 100.3 people per square kilometre, Kembla Grange is less compressed than a high-density urban setting. IRSAD sits in decile 7, placing area advantage above the national midpoint and supporting a solid socioeconomic base. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address and compare nearby options, since boundaries can cut across suburb lines. The main trade-off is convenience versus car reliance because access is more practical for drivers than for people seeking a walk-first routine.
Drive
68.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
27.4%
Growth Outlook
Growth is running above a flat benchmark at 3.06% a year, with Internal migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change reaches 63.9% over 10 years, but the trajectory is Mixed rather than uniformly upward. The forecast gentrification score is 40 and the stage is Active, while the longer shift measure records a score of 34 and describes Early signs. Rent growth of 51.5% reinforces housing pressure, even as affordability is labelled Stable, moving only from 56.1 in 2011 to 56.0 in 2021. That combination can pull in newcomers because internal migration is supporting demand, while the established detached housing base makes change more gradual than a major redevelopment cycle.
Population trend: Wollongong council area
Kembla Grange sits in the Wollongong council area. These are the council area's residents, not Kembla Grange's.
Residents 2025
224,327
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.8%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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?
It can suit households wanting space and a younger family profile. Separate houses make up 80.2%, 66.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, and the median age is 29, which is 11 years below the national comparison. Car dependence is the main trade-off, with 68.4% driving to work.
What is the median house price in Kembla Grange?
Check the latest comparable sales before relying on a median figure. Kembla Grange has 80.2% separate houses and 19.8% semi-detached homes, so the dwelling mix can move the median materially. A typical mortgage is $2,338 per month, while weekly rent is $570.
What schools are in Kembla Grange?
Confirm the exact enrolment zone for any address and compare at least 2 nearby options before signing. School access can change across boundary lines, while Kembla Grange covers 14.48 square kilometres, meaning distance may matter. Families should also allow for the car-oriented travel pattern, with 68.4% driving to work.
Is Kembla Grange safe?
Use current NSW Police and council sources, then visit the exact street at 2 or 3 different times. Crime conditions can vary between streets, so compare the immediate address with nearby areas before deciding. Practical context includes 100.3 people per square kilometre and 68.4% car commuting.
Is Kembla Grange good for property investment?
It may suit investors seeking established houses with rental demand rather than a high-rise strategy. Weekly rent is $570, vacancy is 3.5%, renting is 21.2%, and 8 development applications were recorded in 12 months. Growth is forecast at 3.06% annually and is driven by Internal migration, although the trajectory is Mixed.
How is Kembla Grange's population changing?
Kembla Grange has 1,452 residents today and a young median age of 29. The wider area's forecast trend is 3.06% annual growth, driven by Internal migration, while 10-year population change is 63.9%. The trajectory is Mixed, so growth is positive but unlikely to be uniform across every pocket.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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