Keysborough
Overseas-born residents make up 55.6% of Keysborough's 30,018 people, while the median age is 36, 4 years below the national figure. The suburb is strongly family-oriented: average household size is 3.2, 52.4% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, and couples with children account for 55.4% of families. Household income sits at the 74.6th percentile, alongside an 89.5% separate-house share. For buyers comparing Keysborough with nearby Springvale or Noble Park, the key distinction is its detached family housing and new-development profile. Its 4.39% annual growth trend is linked to overseas migration.
Population
30,018
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,991/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$1.0M
October to December 2025
Separate houses account for 89.5% of dwellings, with 52.4% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 41.7% containing 3. This family-oriented mix matters because apartments are only 1.1% of stock. The listed mortgage repayment is $2,167 monthly and mortgage costs equal 25.1% of household income, with no mortgage-stress flag. Compared with 19.0% renting, the 47.4% mortgage share shows owner-occupier demand is central. Inspect land size, drainage and estate rules because newer subdivisions can vary block by block.
For Buyers
Separate houses account for 89.5% of dwellings, with 52.4% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 41.7% containing 3. This family-oriented mix matters because apartments are only 1.1% of stock. The listed mortgage repayment is $2,167 monthly and mortgage costs equal 25.1% of household income, with no mortgage-stress flag. Compared with 19.0% renting, the 47.4% mortgage share shows owner-occupier demand is central. Inspect land size, drainage and estate rules because newer subdivisions can vary block by block.
For Investors
Investors get a family-rental profile rather than a high-apartment market. Renting accounts for 19.0% of occupied dwellings, weekly rent is $421 and vacancy is 4.2%, while 89.5% of stock is separate houses. Rent growth of 23.8% and an annual growth trend of 4.39% are constructive, although only 9 development matters were recorded in 12 months, limiting the scale of immediate new supply. Compared with outright ownership at 32.2%, the renting share is smaller, so tenant demand should be assessed street by street. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver.
Development Activity
Total DAs
34
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+260.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Keysborough
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Haileybury College
Lighthouse Christian College
Mt Hira College
Chandler Park Primary School
Keysborough Gardens Primary School
Demographics
Keysborough has a migrant-majority profile: 55.6% of residents were born overseas, 34.0 percentage points above the national figure. Chinese ancestry counts 5,704 people, Vietnamese 3,477 and Indian 2,195; listed home languages include Khmer at 1,376, Mandarin at 956 and Cantonese at 538. The median age of 36 is 4 years below national, while average household size is 3.2, or 0.7 above national. University attainment is 45.3%, 15.2 points above national. Families with children make up 55.4% of families, helping explain demand for larger homes. Buyers comparing Keysborough with Springvale or Noble Park should allow for different household and cultural needs by pocket.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.5%
Houses
9.4%
Townhouse
1.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Keysborough's housing market has moved above its earlier baseline. Tenure is weighted toward leveraged ownership: 47.4% have a mortgage, 32.2% own outright and 19.0% rent. The dwelling mix is strongly detached, with 89.5% separate houses, 9.4% semi-detached homes and 1.1% apartments. Compared with the 2013 median, today's price reflects a much higher capital base, so buyers should test whether the family-house format fits their budget. Mortgage costs are 25.1% of household income.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$421
Census 2021
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$728
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.2%
Unoccupied
400
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
55.4%
Couples with children
27.4%
Couples, no children
15.7%
Single parent
8,230
Total families
Economy & Employment
Keysborough's employment base combines essential services with industrial and trade work. Healthcare is the largest industry at 17.0% and 1,473 workers, followed by manufacturing at 11.5% and 996, professional/technical services at 9.5% and 824, retail at 9.1% and 789, and construction at 8.0% and 699. The occupation mix spans professionals at 2,893, labourers at 1,975, clerical/admin at 1,837, trades at 1,780 and managers at 1,655. Participation is 63.1%, unemployment 5.4% and full-time work 63.3%. Household income is at the 74.6th percentile, above the midpoint. SEIFA ranges from decile 4 for IRSD and 5 for IRSAD to 6 for IEO and 7 for IER, suggesting stronger economic resources than some disadvantage measures because conditions vary by household.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
15,219
Unemployed
820
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.3%
Part-time
31.2%
Participation
63.1%
Employed
14,399
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.3%
Postgraduate
11.6%
Born Overseas
55.6%
Dwellings
9,099
Transport to Work
Daily life is practical for households with cars or flexible work. Car drivers account for 69.1% of travel to work, compared with 1.9% using public transport and 21.9% working from home; only 0.8% walked or cycled, so commute options should be checked for each address. Six schools operate across primary and Pri/Sec formats, spanning Government, Catholic and Independent sectors, with 3 primary options and 3 combined schools. Check enrolment zones and travel times because access can change across estate edges. Recorded crime was 1,777 offences, or 59.2 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences at 1,162. SEIFA sits at decile 5 for IRSAD and 4 for IRSD, below the 6 IEO and 7 IER results, pointing to mixed conditions rather than a uniform suburb-wide experience.
Drive
69.1%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
21.9%
Population Forecast
+4.39%/yr
(+752 people/yr)
High GrowthKeysborough is in a high-growth phase, with the forecast trend running at 4.39% annually and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 201.3% over 10 years, while rent growth is 23.8%, supporting continued pressure on family housing. The shift trajectory is labelled "Declining young": the young share is down 2.1 points and the senior share is up 3.0 points, indicating that growth is not limited to younger households. Compared with a gentrification-led cycle, the gentrification score is 0 and the stage is "New development". The affordability trend is labelled Improving, moving from 64.6 in 2011 to 58.4 in 2021, alongside real income growth of 11.3%.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+281
Net Internal / yr
+42
Gentrification Signal
New development
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,777
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
59.2
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 Keysborough compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Keysborough a good suburb to live in?
Keysborough can suit households wanting detached space, cultural links and family-sized homes. The median age is 36, average household size is 3.2 and 89.5% of dwellings are separate houses. Car dependence is material at 69.1%, so compare local access, commute times and enrolment zones before choosing an address.
What schools are in Keysborough?
Local options include 3 primary schools and 3 Pri/Sec schools across Government, Catholic and Independent sectors. The names include Chandler Park Primary School, Keysborough Gardens Primary School, Resurrection School, Haileybury College, Lighthouse Christian College and Mt Hira College. Confirm the exact enrolment zone and transport route for each property.
Is Keysborough safe?
Safety should be judged by street, time and offence type rather than one label. Keysborough recorded 1,777 offences, equal to 59.2 per 1,000 residents; property and deception offences accounted for 1,162. Review current local alerts and inspect lighting, parking and pedestrian conditions before renting or buying.
Is Keysborough good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking family houses, but the entry price is high. Weekly rent is $421, vacancy is 4.2% and 19.0% of dwellings are rented, compared with 89.5% separate houses. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver and rent growth is 23.8%, while 9 development matters were recorded in 12 months. Check yield, insurance and estate-specific supply.
How is Keysborough's population changing?
Keysborough's growth outlook is strong rather than static. The annual trend is 4.39%, overseas migration is the primary driver and population change across the wider area is 201.3% over 10 years. The shift is labelled "Declining young", with the young share down 2.1 points and senior share up 3.0 points, so future demand may broaden beyond first-home households.
What languages are spoken in Keysborough?
Yes. Overseas-born residents account for 55.6% of Keysborough's population. The most common listed languages include Khmer at 1,376 people, Mandarin at 956, Cantonese at 538, Punjabi at 340 and Sinhal at 338. Chinese, Vietnamese and Indian ancestry counts are also 5,704, 3,477 and 2,195.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), 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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