Kensington
A 32-year median age sets Kensington apart: residents are 8 years younger than national, while 59.8% hold university qualifications, 29.7 percentage points above national. Between Randwick and Kingsford, it reads as the more renter-heavy, apartment-led pocket, with 56.1% renting and 71.7% in apartments across just 2.67 sq km. Household income sits in the 80th percentile, but the $1.17m house median and 30.1% mortgage-to-income ratio keep the suburb more stretched than its student-friendly image suggests.
Population
11,927
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,118/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
79
Median House
$1.2M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers are buying access and convenience more than land: separate houses are only 21.1% of dwellings, compared with 71.7% apartments and 7.0% semi-detached homes. The $1.17m house median is little changed, with the price series down 0.9% from 2024 peak to 2025 latest, so timing pressure is lower than in a fast-rising market. Affordability remains the brake because mortgages absorb 30.1% of household income, while 2-bedroom homes dominate at 45.3%.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are buying access and convenience more than land: separate houses are only 21.1% of dwellings, compared with 71.7% apartments and 7.0% semi-detached homes. The $1.17m house median is little changed, with the price series down 0.9% from 2024 peak to 2025 latest, so timing pressure is lower than in a fast-rising market. Affordability remains the brake because mortgages absorb 30.1% of household income, while 2-bedroom homes dominate at 45.3%.
For Investors
Investors get depth of tenant demand but need vacancy discipline. Renting covers 56.1% of households, well above the owner-with-mortgage share of 19.1%, and the median rent is $500 a week. However, vacancy is 17.6%, higher than a tight rental setting, so achievable rent and incentives matter. The 77 development applications in 12 months point to ongoing renewal, while overseas migration is the main population driver and supports turnover near education and health jobs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
379
Last 12 Months
79
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+5.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kensington iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 412 students
Kensington Public School
K-6 · 381 students
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College
7-12 · 702 students
Demographics
Demographics skew young, educated and internationally connected. The median age is 32, 8 years below national, and university attainment is 59.8%, 29.7 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 47.6%, with Chinese ancestry at 2,139 people alongside English 2,402 and Greek 754. Mandarin is the largest named non-English language at 455 speakers, followed by Greek 218 and Canton 202, giving Kensington a stronger migrant profile than the national average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
21.1%
Houses
7.0%
Townhouse
71.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Kensington's housing base is dense because 71.7% of dwellings are apartments, higher than the 21.1% separate-house share and 7.0% semi-detached share. Renting at 56.1% is higher than the combined 44.0% owning outright or with a mortgage, so turnover is built into the market. The price series moved from $1.175m in 2024 to $1.165m in 2025, a 0.9% fall from peak to latest. Against $2,118 weekly household income, the house price is about 10.6 times annualised income; 2-bedroom stock leads at 45.3%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,760
Rent / wk
$500
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$943
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.6%
Unoccupied
931
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.0%
Couples, no children
7,187
Total families
Economy & Employment
The economy is knowledge-heavy compared with many suburban labour markets. Professional/Tech accounts for 16.3% of workers, followed by Healthcare 15.3%, Education 13.2%, Finance 9.2% and Construction 6.1%. Professionals number 2,341, above Managers at 879 and Clerical/Admin at 768. SEIFA is split: IEO decile 10 and IRSAD decile 10 show very high education and advantage, while IER decile 4 is lower because economic resources are less dominant; IRSD decile 9 still points to low disadvantage. Unemployment is 6.7% with participation at 55.5%.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
9,163
Unemployed
287
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.4%
Part-time
27.9%
Participation
55.5%
Employed
5,425
Occupations
Top Industries
University
59.8%
Postgraduate
20.2%
Born Overseas
47.6%
Dwellings
4,336
Transport to Work
Livability is shaped by compact trips and strong schooling rather than large blocks. Only 65.6% drive to work, while 16.2% walk or cycle and 12.0% use public transport, a higher active-travel share than many car-led suburbs. Three local schools span Catholic and Government sectors, with ICSEA scores from 1083 to 1145; Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary at 1145 and Kensington Public at 1120 anchor the primary offer. IRSAD decile 10 adds above-average social advantage, supporting services and local amenity.
Drive
65.6%
Public Transport
12.0%
Walk / Cycle
16.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.28%/yr
(+41 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive. The trend forecast adds 0.28% a year, or 41 people, lifting the medium path from 14,295 in 2026 to 14,499 in 2031. The primary driver is Overseas migration, averaging +1,079 people a year compared with net internal movement of -464. That pattern explains slow headline growth because local outflows offset arrivals. The gentrification reading is score 10, stage Not gentrifying, while broader shift indicators show rent growth of 13.6% and real income growth of 53.8%.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+1,079
Net Internal / yr
-464
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -464/yr, Strong overseas inflow +1079/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kensington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kensington a good suburb to live in?
Yes, Kensington suits buyers and renters who want an inner-east, apartment-led area with 71.7% apartments, 56.1% renting and a median age of 32. It is better for convenience and education access than for detached-house choice, because separate houses are only 21.1% of dwellings.
What is the median house price in Kensington?
The median house price is $1,170,000, while the latest price series records $1.165m in 2025 after $1.175m in 2024. That is a 0.9% fall from peak to latest, so prices are broadly flat compared with the previous year.
What schools are in Kensington?
Kensington has 3 local schools: Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, Kensington Public School and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College. ICSEA scores range from 1083 to 1145, with enrolments from 381 to 702 across Government and Catholic sectors.
Is Kensington safe?
A current suburb crime rate is not available, so use street inspections and recent incident checks before committing. Kensington has 11,927 residents, IRSD decile 9 and IRSAD decile 10, which are above-average socio-economic indicators but not a substitute for crime figures.
Is Kensington good for property investment?
Kensington has investor appeal because 56.1% of households rent and median rent is $500 a week. The caution is vacancy at 17.6%, higher than a tight market, so purchase price, lease-up time and competition from 77 recent development applications matter.
How is Kensington's population changing?
Kensington is growing slowly rather than surging. The trend adds 0.28% a year, or 41 people, with the medium path moving from 14,295 in 2026 to 14,499 in 2031. Overseas migration averages +1,079 a year, compared with -464 internal movement.
What languages are spoken in Kensington?
Mandarin is the largest named non-English language with 455 speakers, followed by Greek at 218, Canton at 202, Hindi at 80 and Arabic at 69. That sits alongside 47.6% born overseas, 26.0 percentage points above national.
Is there much development in Kensington?
Yes. There were 77 development applications in the past 12 months, a higher level of activity than a quiet maintenance-only pipeline. Recent examples include business premises, a boarding house, and restaurant or cafe alterations, so renewal is commercial as well as residential.
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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