Kew East
With 6,620 residents across 4.06 sq km, Kew East combines established wealth with slow demographic change. Household income sits at the 92.2nd percentile, while the median age of 41 is 1 year above the national figure. The suburb ranks in the 10th IRSAD decile, helping explain its strong professional base and high owner-occupier share. Compared with the busier activity centres of nearby Kew and Balwyn, Kew East presents a quieter residential pattern, shaped by 66.5% separate houses and an aging trajectory. Growth is modest at 0.21% annually because the area is already mature, although overseas migration remains the primary driver.
Population
6,620
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,490/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
106
Kew East suits buyers seeking established housing and a settled local base, although a current median house price is not available for a precise entry benchmark. The mortgage benchmark is $3,000 per month, while mortgage costs represent 27.8% of income and do not trigger the local mortgage-stress flag. Housing is weighted toward 66.5% separate houses, 21.9% semi-detached homes and 11.6% apartments. Family demand is supported by 39.5% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms and 36.6% having 4 or more. Compared with a typical affordability-led market, the 41.2% outright ownership rate points to longer-term residents and limited turnover.
For Buyers
Kew East suits buyers seeking established housing and a settled local base, although a current median house price is not available for a precise entry benchmark. The mortgage benchmark is $3,000 per month, while mortgage costs represent 27.8% of income and do not trigger the local mortgage-stress flag. Housing is weighted toward 66.5% separate houses, 21.9% semi-detached homes and 11.6% apartments. Family demand is supported by 39.5% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms and 36.6% having 4 or more. Compared with a typical affordability-led market, the 41.2% outright ownership rate points to longer-term residents and limited turnover.
For Investors
Kew East has a 23.6% rental share, weekly rent of $471 and an 8.6% vacancy rate, creating a market with visible tenant demand but also a relatively broad supply buffer. Rent growth of 23.3% supports income momentum, while the 102 development applications recorded over 12 months indicate active planning and renovation pressure. The renter share is below the 41.2% outright ownership share, so investors are operating in a predominantly settled market rather than a high-turnover rental district. Overseas migration is the primary forecast growth driver, but the gentrification score of 10 and Not gentrifying classification suggest that rent performance should be assessed on property quality and local demand, not on a rapid transformation narrative.
Development Activity
Total DAs
113
Last 12 Months
106
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+2550.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kew East
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Kew East Primary School
St Anne's School
Kew High School
Demographics
Kew East has an educated, older-leaning profile: 63.3% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 33.2 percentage points above the national comparison, and the median age of 41 is 1 year higher nationally. Overseas-born residents account for 28.5%, or 6.9 points above the national share. English ancestry is recorded for 1,823 people, followed by Chinese at 883, Irish at 805 and Italian at 734. Mandarin is the most common listed non-English language with 190 speakers, ahead of Greek at 144. Household size averages 2.7, or 0.2 above the national comparison, while 82.4% stayed at the same address over the previous year. That stability, combined with a 3.5 point rise in the senior share, explains the aging trajectory.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.5%
Houses
21.9%
Townhouse
11.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Kew East is predominantly an owner-occupied, family-oriented housing market, with 41.2% of homes owned outright, 33.5% owned with a mortgage and 23.6% rented. A current median house price is unavailable, so buyers should use the $3,000 monthly mortgage benchmark alongside local rent of $471 per week when testing affordability. The dwelling mix includes 66.5% separate houses, 21.9% semi-detached homes and 11.6% apartments. Larger homes are common, with 36.6% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 39.5% containing 3 bedrooms. Rent costs equal 18.9% of income and mortgage costs 27.8%, both below the local stress thresholds, indicating stronger capacity than in a highly leveraged market.
Mortgage / mo
$3,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$471
Census 2021
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,043
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.6%
Unoccupied
222
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
52.6%
Couples with children
31.1%
Couples, no children
14.5%
Single parent
1,818
Total families
Economy & Employment
Kew East's economy is led by healthcare at 20.0%, professional and technical services at 16.0%, education at 13.0%, finance at 7.8% and construction at 7.0%. This employment pattern aligns with 1,325 professionals and 653 managers, while personal weekly income reaches $1,043 and household income $2,490. The labour force participation rate is 66.2%, with unemployment at 4.1%, supporting a relatively resilient local spending base. Socioeconomic measures are particularly strong: the suburb ranks in the 10th IEO decile, 9th IER decile, 10th IRSD decile and 10th IRSAD decile. The one-step-lower IER result is still high, while the other 10th-decile results reflect concentrated advantage rather than economic disadvantage.
Unemployment
4.1%
Labour Force
3,594
Unemployed
146
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.9%
Part-time
35.7%
Participation
66.2%
Employed
3,448
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.3%
Postgraduate
19.8%
Born Overseas
28.5%
Dwellings
2,352
Transport to Work
Kew East provides practical access to 3 local schools: 2 primary options, including 1 Catholic and 1 government school, plus 1 government secondary school. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across nearby streets. Daily travel is car-oriented, with 45.1% driving to work and only 3.4% using public transport, while 45.6% work from home. Safety is mixed but measurable: 263 recorded offences equate to 39.7 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 209 property and deception offences forming the largest category. The suburb ranks in the 10th IRSAD decile, and a 19.9% volunteering rate supports local participation. Compared with a more transit-dependent area, Kew East's amenity is best suited to households comfortable with cars, home working and established services.
Drive
45.1%
Public Transport
3.4%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
45.6%
Population Forecast
+0.21%/yr
(+14 people/yr)
EstablishedKew East is forecast to grow at 0.21% annually, consistent with an established suburb rather than a rapid expansion corridor. Population change across the wider area is 2.9% over 10 years, while the trajectory is classified as Aging because the young share has fallen 2.9 points and the senior share has risen 3.5 points. Overseas migration is the primary driver, giving the area some demographic renewal despite slow overall growth. Gentrification is not currently the main story: the score is 10 and the stage is Not gentrifying. The suburb also recovered from a COVID dip of 3.4%, with recovery recorded at 2.9%, reinforcing a stable rather than volatile growth pattern.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+113
Net Internal / yr
-76
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
263
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
39.7
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kew East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kew East a good suburb to live in?
Kew East suits households seeking established housing, high socioeconomic advantage and a quieter residential setting. The median age is 41, household income ranks at the 92.2nd percentile and the suburb sits in the 10th IRSAD decile. Car use is common at 45.1%, while public transport accounts for 3.4%.
What is the median house price in Kew East?
A current median house price is not available. Buyers can still test affordability against the $3,000 monthly mortgage benchmark, weekly rent of $471 and mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.8%. The housing mix includes 66.5% separate houses and 36.6% homes with 4 or more bedrooms.
What schools are in Kew East?
Kew East has 3 local schools covering primary and secondary education. The mix includes 2 primary schools, with 1 Catholic and 1 government option, plus 1 government secondary school. Families should confirm enrolment zones for the exact address because school boundaries may differ from suburb boundaries.
Is Kew East safe?
Kew East recorded 263 offences, equal to 39.7 incidents per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 209 cases, while crimes against the person totalled 19. These figures provide a useful comparison point, but households should also assess the specific street, lighting, parking and property-security conditions.
Is Kew East good for property investment?
Kew East has an established investment profile, with weekly rent of $471, a 23.6% rental share and an 8.6% vacancy rate. Rent growth reached 23.3%, but the gentrification score is 10 and the stage is Not gentrifying. The 102 development applications in 12 months make property selection and future competition important.
How is Kew East's population changing?
Growth is slow at 0.21% annually, with population change across the wider area recorded at 2.9% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging, as the young share fell 2.9 points and the senior share rose 3.5 points. Overseas migration is the primary driver, helping offset the suburb's mature demographic pattern.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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