Kensington
With 55.2% of residents holding university qualifications, 25.1 percentage points above the national figure, Kensington SA is one of Adelaide's most educated suburbs packed into just 0.53 square kilometres. The median house price reached $1,290,000 in Q1 2026, yet household income sits in only the 35th percentile nationally, creating a notable affordability tension. More than half of the 1,808 residents rent, and the 10.8% vacancy rate signals real slack in the housing stock. The median age of 43 runs 3 years above the national figure, pointing to an established, professional resident base that stays put, with 70.8% of residents remaining over the five-year period.
Population
1,808
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,355/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$1.3M
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price of $1,290,000 in Q1 2026 rose 10.3% from $1,170,000 in Q1 2025, a sharp one-year move. Stock composition matters here: only 29.8% of dwellings are separate houses, while semi-detached homes dominate at 42.5% and apartments make up 26.9%. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 47.0% of all stock, meaning buyers seeking a separate family home face limited supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,817, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.0%, above the 30% stress threshold even though household incomes sit in the 35th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 24.9% roughly match mortgage holders at 24.3%, suggesting a stable long-term owner base alongside the renter majority.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,290,000 in Q1 2026 rose 10.3% from $1,170,000 in Q1 2025, a sharp one-year move. Stock composition matters here: only 29.8% of dwellings are separate houses, while semi-detached homes dominate at 42.5% and apartments make up 26.9%. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 47.0% of all stock, meaning buyers seeking a separate family home face limited supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,817, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.0%, above the 30% stress threshold even though household incomes sit in the 35th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 24.9% roughly match mortgage holders at 24.3%, suggesting a stable long-term owner base alongside the renter majority.
For Investors
Kensington's 50.8% renter share provides a large tenant pool, above the national average for comparable inner-ring suburbs. Weekly rent is $300, which against a $1,290,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.2%, low compared to most Adelaide markets. The 10.8% vacancy rate is elevated and reflects oversupply in the two-bedroom apartment segment, which dominates stock at 47.0%. Development activity was modest at 16 applications in the past 12 months, mostly heritage repaints and residential extensions rather than new supply. The high university-qualified population at 55.2% and proximity to employment in Healthcare and Education sectors support steady tenant demand, though yield-focused investors should weigh the vacancy rate carefully.
Development Activity
Total DAs
124
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-30.8%
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
Marryatville Primary School
R-6 · 506 students
Mary MacKillop College
7-12 · 291 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, and the average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below national, consistent with a population of couples and single professionals rather than families. University qualifications reach 55.2%, running 25.1 points above the national rate, the clearest marker of the suburb's professional character. Overseas-born residents comprise 33.8%, which is 12.2 points above the national figure, reflecting an internationally mobile, educated cohort. Ancestry is led by English (659), Irish (211) and Scottish (170), with Italian (151) adding a European strand. Couples with children (431 families) outnumber couples without children (300), though the small average household size suggests many children are older.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
29.8%
Houses
42.5%
Townhouse
26.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is skewed toward renters, with 50.8% renting compared to 24.9% owning outright and 24.3% on a mortgage. The dominant dwelling type is semi-detached at 42.5%, with separate houses at only 29.8% and apartments at 26.9%. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 47.0% of all homes, three-bedroom for 30.0%, and four-plus for just 9.1%. House prices rose from $1,170,000 in Q1 2025 to $1,290,000 in Q1 2026, a 10.3% annual gain. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.0% exceeds the 30% stress threshold, while rent-to-income at 22.1% remains below the stress line, a divergence that reflects how purchase prices have outpaced local incomes, which sit in the 35th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,817
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$797
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.8%
Unoccupied
104
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.0% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.3%
Couples, no children
1,140
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local employment mix at 20.3% (141 workers), followed by Professional/Tech at 14.8% (103) and Education at 14.5% (101), making knowledge-sector work the dominant income source. Professionals are the top occupation group with 328 workers, followed by Managers at 111. The unemployment rate is 5.3%, slightly above average, and the full-time employment rate of 59.4% is moderate, partly because 524 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age of 43. Personal weekly income averages $797, below what the 55.2% university qualification rate might suggest, reflecting a mix of part-time workers and retirees. The volunteering rate of 21.6% is well above average, pointing to high civic engagement.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.4%
Part-time
35.3%
Participation
57.9%
Employed
863
Occupations
Top Industries
University
55.2%
Postgraduate
16.6%
Born Overseas
33.8%
Dwellings
861
Transport to Work
Transport reliance is car-dominant, with 73.7% driving and 10.7% using public transport, but 10.6% walking or cycling reflects the suburb's compact 0.53 square kilometre footprint. No schools are recorded inside the Kensington boundary, so families depend on nearby institutions. The crime rate of 36.0 offences per 1,000 residents represents 65 total recorded offences across the population of 1,808. Rent-to-income at 22.1% keeps renters below the 30% stress threshold, and only 4.3% of residents need daily assistance. The volunteering rate of 21.6% is above average nationally. With density at 3,420 residents per square kilometre and a majority-renter profile, Kensington suits professionals and downsizers more than large families seeking space.
Drive
73.7%
Public Transport
10.7%
Walk / Cycle
10.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
65
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
36.0
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
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?
Kensington suits professionals and educated residents well. University qualifications reach 55.2%, which is 25.1 points above the national figure. Household income sits in the 35th percentile nationally, but the suburb's compact walkable footprint of 0.53 square kilometres and proximity to Healthcare and Education employment make it practical for knowledge-sector workers. The main trade-off is a $1,290,000 median house price against relatively moderate incomes.
What is the median house price in Kensington?
The median house price is $1,290,000 as of Q1 2026, up 10.3% from $1,170,000 in Q1 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,817, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.0%, above the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $300. Only 29.8% of dwellings are separate houses, so house buyers compete for scarce supply.
What schools are in Kensington?
No schools are recorded inside the Kensington SA boundary. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. This is a practical consideration given the 0.53 square kilometre area. The local population is highly educated, with 55.2% holding university qualifications, which is 25.1 points above the national average.
Is Kensington safe?
Kensington recorded 65 total offences, giving a crime rate of 36.0 per 1,000 residents. Detailed category breakdown is not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the 21.6% volunteering rate is above the national average and only 4.3% of residents need daily assistance, both consistent with an engaged, low-disadvantage community.
Is Kensington good for property investment?
The 50.8% renter majority provides a large tenant pool, and house prices rose 10.3% in the year to Q1 2026. However, weekly rent of $300 against a $1,290,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.5%, low by Adelaide standards. The 10.8% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants caution, particularly for the two-bedroom segment that dominates at 47.0% of stock.
How is Kensington's population changing?
The current population is 1,808 across 0.53 square kilometres, giving a density of 3,420 residents per square kilometre. The turnover rate is 29.2%, meaning 70.8% of residents stayed over the five-year period, a sign of stability for a renter-majority suburb. The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, indicating a gradual aging trajectory.
What languages are spoken in Kensington?
About 33.8% of Kensington residents were born overseas, which is 12.2 points above the national figure. Italian (26 speakers), Mandarin (25) and Korean (14) are the most common non-English languages recorded. The dominant ancestry groups are English (659), Irish (211) and Scottish (170), with Italian (151) also prominent.
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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