Kensington
Compact scale is Kensington's most distinctive feature: 1,808 residents live across 0.53 square kilometres, a density of 3,420.4 people per square kilometre. The suburb's median age is 43, around 3 years above the national figure, while 55.2% of residents have a university qualification, 25.1 percentage points higher than national. Overseas-born residents account for 33.8%, 12.2 points above national, helping explain the mix of Italian, Mandarin and Korean speakers. Compared with the broader setting around nearby Norwood and Rose Park, Kensington's small footprint, 2.0-person households and 46.9% renting point to a compact, established market with a strong renter presence.
Local council: Norwood Payneham and St Peters
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
22
Median House
$1.3M
First quarter 2026
Buyers are not choosing only detached stock: 42.5% of dwellings are semi-detached, 29.8% are separate houses and 26.9% are apartments. The floorplan mix is concentrated in 2-bedroom homes at 47.0%, followed by 3-bedroom homes at 30.0%, which suits singles, couples and smaller households more than large families. A listed monthly mortgage of $1,817 and mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.0% indicate a meaningful serviceability load, especially compared with a lower-priced market. Kensington's 0.53 square kilometre footprint also means buyers should compare exact street, parking and dwelling condition rather than rely on suburb-wide medians.
For Buyers
Buyers are not choosing only detached stock: 42.5% of dwellings are semi-detached, 29.8% are separate houses and 26.9% are apartments. The floorplan mix is concentrated in 2-bedroom homes at 47.0%, followed by 3-bedroom homes at 30.0%, which suits singles, couples and smaller households more than large families. A listed monthly mortgage of $1,817 and mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.0% indicate a meaningful serviceability load, especially compared with a lower-priced market. Kensington's 0.53 square kilometre footprint also means buyers should compare exact street, parking and dwelling condition rather than rely on suburb-wide medians.
For Investors
Kensington presents a renter-heavy investment profile, with 46.9% of occupied dwellings rented and a weekly median rent of $300. Vacancy is 10.8%, notably higher than a tightly supplied rental market, so investors should test leasing assumptions rather than assume immediate rent growth. Rent growth is 26.9%, but the high vacancy suggests performance may vary by apartment, semi-detached and small-house quality. Development activity includes 19 applications in 12 months, enough to monitor streetscape change without implying a large construction pipeline. Growth is forecast at 2.23% annually and is driven by internal migration, which is more supportive than a flat-demand setting, but the return case still depends on purchase price, maintenance and tenant appeal.
Development Activity
Total DAs
131
Last 12 Months
22
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+4.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kensington
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Marryatville Primary School
Demographics
Kensington skews older and more tertiary-educated than Australia overall: the median age is 43, 3 years above national, and 55.2% hold a university qualification, 25.1 percentage points higher than national. Its 33.8% overseas-born share is 12.2 points above national, while average household size is 2.0 people, 0.5 below national. English ancestry is reported by 659 residents, followed by Other at 247, Irish at 211, Scottish at 170 and Italian at 151. No religion is the largest affiliation at 821, ahead of Christianity at 677 and Hinduism at 85. Compared with nearby Norwood and Rose Park, the combination of 70.8% staying and 29.2% turnover points to an established suburb that still refreshes through incoming households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
29.8%
Houses
42.5%
Townhouse
26.9%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split is more renter-oriented than an owner-occupier suburb, with 46.9% renting, 23.0% owning outright and 22.4% paying a mortgage. Housing is also more compact than a detached-dominated market: 47.0% of dwellings have 2 bedrooms, 42.5% are semi-detached and 26.9% are apartments, while only 29.8% are separate houses. The 31.0% mortgage-to-income ratio explains why rising prices can improve equity for owners while narrowing entry options for leveraged buyers. Compared with larger nearby Norwood, Kensington's 0.53 square kilometre footprint makes dwelling-level condition and parking especially important.
Mortgage / mo
$1,817
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
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
40.2%
Couples with children
35.8%
Couples, no children
20.9%
Single parent
425
Total families
Economy & Employment
Kensington's employment base is concentrated in service and professional work. Healthcare accounts for 20.3% of industry employment with 141 workers, followed by Professional/Tech at 14.8% and 103, Education at 14.5% and 101, Public Administration at 6.9% and 48, and Construction at 6.3% and 44. Occupations reinforce that pattern, led by 328 Professionals and 111 Managers, ahead of 107 Community/Personal workers and 106 Clerical/Admin workers. The labour force totals 953, with 513 full-time and 350 part-time workers; unemployment is 5.0% and participation is 60.6%. Household income of $1,355 per week sits at the 35th percentile, below the midpoint, so Kensington's strong professional presence does not translate into uniformly high household earnings.
Unemployment
5.0%
Labour Force
953
Unemployed
48
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.7%
Part-time
38.7%
Participation
60.6%
Employed
905
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
55.2%
Postgraduate
16.6%
Born Overseas
33.8%
Dwellings
861
Transport to Work
Kensington is compact and practical, but movement is still car-led. Car driving accounts for 60.9% of travel to work, compared with 8.9% using public transport and 8.7% walking or cycling; 17.3% work from home. That mix suits households who value short local trips but still need reliable parking or road access. School access includes 1 nearby government primary school, with enrolment zones worth checking against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. Recorded crime is 65 incidents, or 36.0 per 1,000 residents, so current local comparisons matter more than assuming a suburb-wide label. The 0.53 square kilometre footprint and 3,420.4 density create a more concentrated setting than a low-density outer suburb, while 21.6% volunteering supports local connection.
Drive
60.9%
Public Transport
8.9%
Walk / Cycle
8.7%
Work from Home
17.3%
Growth Outlook
Kensington's growth outlook is positive but not uniform. The annual trend is 2.23%, with internal migration identified as the primary driver, while the trajectory is classified as Mixed rather than consistently accelerating. Population change across the wider area is 38.4% over 10 years, and gentrification is at an Active stage with a score of 44. These signals suggest demand is being refreshed by incoming households and reinvestment, but the mixed trajectory argues for street-by-street judgement. The affordability trend is labelled Improving, with readings of 54.7 in 2011 and 46.2 in 2021, while rents grew 26.9%. Compared with a stagnant established suburb, 2.23% annual growth and Active gentrification indicate stronger momentum.
Population trend: Norwood Payneham and St Peters council area
Kensington sits in the Norwood Payneham and St Peters council area. These are the council area's residents, not Kensington's.
Residents 2025
40,845
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.5%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.6%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 can suit buyers and renters who value a compact inner-suburban setting, smaller homes and access to nearby services. It has 1,808 residents, 2.0-person households and 60.9% car commuting. Compared with a low-density suburb, the 3,420.4 people per square kilometre setting feels more concentrated, so parking and dwelling layout matter.
What schools are in Kensington?
Kensington has 1 nearby government primary school available to consider. Families should check the exact enrolment zone before signing a contract because school boundaries can cross suburb lines. Compared with choosing only by suburb name, an address-level check gives families a more reliable starting point.
Is Kensington safe?
Kensington recorded 65 crimes, equal to 36.0 incidents per 1,000 residents. That figure should be compared with current state or council benchmarks and the exact street context, because annual totals can move. Households should review recent trends rather than treat the rate as a permanent label.
Is Kensington good for property investment?
Investment appeal is mixed. Renting is common at 46.9%, weekly rent is $300 and vacancy is 10.8%, which is higher than a tightly supplied market. Price growth was 10.3% from 1Q 2025 to 1Q 2026, while annual growth is forecast at 2.23%. Compared with a lower-vacancy suburb, leasing risk deserves more weight in the feasibility assessment.
How is Kensington's population changing?
Kensington's population is changing through internal migration, with a 2.23% annual growth trend and 38.4% population change across the wider area over 10 years. The trajectory is Mixed, while gentrification is classified Active with a score of 44. Compared with a static established suburb, these indicators point to ongoing change without guaranteeing the same pace on every street.
What languages are spoken in Kensington?
Italian, Mandarin and Korean are among the recorded languages, with 26, 25 and 14 speakers respectively. The overseas-born share is 33.8%, which is 12.2 percentage points above national. Compared with a less internationally connected suburb, Kensington's language mix is a useful consideration for local services and community networks.
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), SA Department for Housing and Urban Development (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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