Kew
With a median age of 63, Kew sits 23 years above the national figure, making it one of the most age-skewed communities on the NSW mid-north coast. The population of 1,761 is spread across 20.53 km2, giving a density of just 85.8 people per km2, far below metropolitan norms. Household income lands in the 17.8th percentile nationally, yet the median house price reaches $810,000 because 66.8% of dwellings are owned outright, reflecting long-settled retirees rather than high-earning newcomers. University qualifications at 18.8% sit 11.3 points below the national average, consistent with a working-class and trade-oriented heritage that is now transitioning to a retirement community.
Population
1,761
Median Age
63.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,107/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
19
Median House
$810K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price in Kew is $810,000, and with only two data points available (2024 at $810,000 and 2025 at $808,500), the market shows a negligible 0.2% dip rather than any pronounced trend. Almost all dwellings are separate houses at 97.7%, with apartments at just 0.5%, so buyers have few alternatives to detached housing. The bedroom split leans larger, with 36.1% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and 27.9% having 3 bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,769, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 36.9% sits above the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes fall in the bottom quintile nationally at the 17.8th percentile. First-home buyers and upsizers face limited stock turnover given that 81% of residents stayed put in the five years to Census.
For Buyers
The median house price in Kew is $810,000, and with only two data points available (2024 at $810,000 and 2025 at $808,500), the market shows a negligible 0.2% dip rather than any pronounced trend. Almost all dwellings are separate houses at 97.7%, with apartments at just 0.5%, so buyers have few alternatives to detached housing. The bedroom split leans larger, with 36.1% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and 27.9% having 3 bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,769, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 36.9% sits above the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes fall in the bottom quintile nationally at the 17.8th percentile. First-home buyers and upsizers face limited stock turnover given that 81% of residents stayed put in the five years to Census.
For Investors
The rental market in Kew is thin, with only 11.3% of dwellings rented and weekly rent at $370. Against the $810,000 median, that implies a gross yield of roughly 2.4%, below most NSW regional benchmarks. The 5.0% vacancy rate is elevated compared to national averages, suggesting demand does not consistently absorb available rental supply. Development activity is modest at 18 applications in the past 12 months, mostly individual house builds and additions rather than multi-dwelling supply. The high outright-ownership rate of 66.8% compresses the tenant pool further, because most long-term residents own without a mortgage. Investment appeal is limited to buy-and-hold capital preservation strategies, given the low rental yield and stable but flat price history.
Development Activity
Total DAs
137
Last 12 Months
19
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-24.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 63 is 23 years higher than the national figure, which is the defining characteristic of this community. Anglo-Celtic ancestry dominates, with English (875), Scottish (251) and Irish (246) the three largest groups, while overseas-born residents at 13.3% run 8.3 points below the national average. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national figure, because 51.0% of families are couples without children, reflecting a post-child-rearing demographic. Volunteering is notably high at 20.3%, above typical national levels, which is consistent with the older retired population contributing community hours. Participation in the labour force is just 33.1%, not because of unemployment (which sits at 2.9%), but because 955 residents are not in the labour force, most likely retired.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.7%
Houses
1.8%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership structure in Kew is exceptional by national standards: 66.8% own outright, 21.9% carry a mortgage and only 11.3% rent. Outright ownership at that level is a retirement-town signature, well above the national rate, and it explains why the suburb retains high property values despite below-average incomes. Separate houses make up 97.7% of stock, the most detached-dominant profile possible, with semi-detached at just 1.8% and apartments at 0.5%. Larger homes dominate, with 4-plus bedroom properties at 36.1% and 3-bedroom at 27.9%. The price held steady between $810,000 in 2024 and $808,500 in 2025, a 0.2% decline, suggesting the market is in equilibrium rather than under pressure or surging.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,769
Rent / wk
$370
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$542
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.0%
Unoccupied
39
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.4% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
36.9% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
51.0%
Couples, no children
1,456
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy is organised around services for an older population. Healthcare leads employment at 21.9% of workers (78 people), followed by Education at 14.9% (53) and Construction at 13.5% (48), with Retail at 7.6% and Transport at 6.2%. Community and Personal Services is the largest occupation group with 98 workers, followed by Professionals (76) and Clerical/Administrative roles (74). Household income at the 17.8th percentile nationally reflects the predominance of retirees on fixed incomes and part-time workers rather than high-salary professionals. Full-time employment accounts for 54.1% of employed residents, and the overall unemployment rate is low at 2.9%. Mortgage stress runs at 36.9% and rent stress at 33.4%, both above 30%, meaning housing costs pressure the households that do carry debt.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.1%
Part-time
43.0%
Participation
33.1%
Employed
499
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.8%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
13.3%
Dwellings
739
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total in Kew: 91.2% of residents drive to work, public transport is used by just 1.3%, and walking or cycling accounts for 1.0%. This matches an outer-coastal suburb with 85.8 people per km2 and limited public transport infrastructure compared to urban centres. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families with children depend on neighbouring towns. Crime statistics are not available for Kew in this brief. The need-for-assistance rate of 9.3% (158 people) is above average, consistent with the median age of 63 and the associated health and mobility requirements of an older population. The high rate of outright ownership at 66.8% and volunteering at 20.3% suggest settled, community-oriented residents rather than a transient population.
Drive
91.2%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kew compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kew a good suburb to live in?
Kew suits retirees and those seeking a quiet coastal lifestyle. The median age is 63 (23 years above national), 66.8% of homes are owned outright, and the volunteering rate of 20.3% indicates a connected community. The trade-offs are limited public transport (1.3% usage), no recorded schools within the boundary, and household income in the 17.8th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Kew?
The median house price in Kew is $810,000 (2024), edging down 0.2% to $808,500 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,769 and weekly rent runs at $370. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 36.9% exceeds the 30% stress threshold given that household incomes sit in the 17.8th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Kew?
No schools are recorded inside the Kew suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb's population of 1,761 leans heavily retired (median age 63), so most families with school-age children rely on schools in surrounding townships. University qualifications at 18.8% are 11.3 points below the national average.
Is Kew safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Kew in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, 20.3% of residents volunteer and 81.0% have stayed in the area for 5 or more years, both consistent with a stable, low-transience community. The 9.3% need-for-assistance rate reflects an aging population rather than social disadvantage.
Is Kew good for property investment?
Kew offers limited yield: rent of $370 a week against a $810,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.4%, below most NSW regional averages. The 5.0% vacancy rate is elevated and the renter pool is thin at 11.3% of dwellings. Price movement was flat (minus 0.2%) between 2024 and 2025. Investors seeking yield or capital growth will find stronger options in higher-demand markets.
How is Kew's population changing?
Kew has a population of 1,761 with a median age of 63, which is 23 years above the national figure. The turnover rate is 19.0%, with 81.0% of residents remaining stable over 5 years. The aging demographic and modest development activity (18 DAs in 12 months) suggest slow organic change rather than growth driven by new arrivals or construction.
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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