Kilkenny
With a median house price of $900,000 and household incomes sitting at the 40th percentile nationally, Kilkenny carries a notable affordability gap that shapes who can buy here. The suburb's crime rate of 215.1 incidents per 1,000 residents is the most important signal for buyers doing due diligence. At the same time, 39% of residents were born overseas, which is 17.4 percentage points above the national figure, and university qualifications reach 44.6%, some 14.5 points higher than the national average. These two facts together suggest a suburb drawing educated migrant households into a relatively modest-income, inner-suburban location close to Adelaide's CBD.
Population
1,846
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,399/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Median House
$900K
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $900,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 11.8% from $805,000 a year earlier. Separate houses account for 65.7% of dwellings, making it primarily a house-and-land market, with semi-detached homes at 21.6% and apartments at just 11.5%. Three-bedroom homes dominate the stock at 52.8%, with two-bedroom at 31.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.0%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. That makes Kilkenny more comfortable to service than many comparable suburbs at this price point, though household incomes at the 40th percentile nationally mean stretching to the median still requires careful budgeting.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $900,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 11.8% from $805,000 a year earlier. Separate houses account for 65.7% of dwellings, making it primarily a house-and-land market, with semi-detached homes at 21.6% and apartments at just 11.5%. Three-bedroom homes dominate the stock at 52.8%, with two-bedroom at 31.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.0%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. That makes Kilkenny more comfortable to service than many comparable suburbs at this price point, though household incomes at the 40th percentile nationally mean stretching to the median still requires careful budgeting.
For Investors
Renters make up 34.5% of Kilkenny's 1,846 residents, providing a solid base of tenant demand. Weekly rent is $320 and the vacancy rate sits at 5.2%, which is elevated compared to tight Adelaide inner-suburban markets and suggests modest oversupply in the rental stock. Against the $900,000 median house price, $320 weekly rent implies a gross yield around 1.85%, low by Adelaide standards. Development activity is moderate with 25 applications lodged in the past 12 months, mostly alterations and carport work on existing dwellings rather than new supply. The 11.8% price growth over the past year is a positive capital signal, though yields remain thin relative to entry cost.
Development Activity
Total DAs
183
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-3.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kilkenny iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Challa Gardens Primary School
U, R-6 · 251 students
Demographics
The median age of 39 sits 1 year below the national figure, and the suburb has a near-even gender split at 50.1% male. Overseas-born residents reach 39%, which is 17.4 percentage points above the national average, with English ancestry leading (409 residents), followed by Italian (213), Vietnamese (146) and Greek (123). University qualifications at 44.6% run 14.5 points above the national figure, indicating a well-educated population relative to its income ranking. The average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure. Christianity is the leading religion at 872 residents, with Buddhism (114) and Islam (89) representing significant secondary communities. The turnover rate of 21.9% means 78.1% of residents stayed in place over the census reference period, pointing to reasonable residential stability.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
65.7%
Houses
21.6%
Townhouse
11.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure divides into three roughly equal bands: 33.9% own outright, 31.6% carry a mortgage and 34.5% rent. The balance between owners and renters is more even than many comparable Adelaide suburbs, giving the area a mixed long-term and transient residential character. Separate houses account for 65.7% of stock, well above the apartment-heavy inner city, and three-bedroom dwellings make up 52.8% of all homes. The median house price grew from $805,000 in early 2025 to $900,000 in early 2026, an 11.8% rise over one year. Rent-to-income at 22.9% keeps renters below the 30% stress line, and mortgage-to-income at 25.0% is similarly comfortable for mortgagees. The vacancy rate of 5.2% is worth monitoring for landlords, as it is above typical healthy thresholds.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$320
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$655
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
39
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.4%
Couples, no children
1,375
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates Kilkenny's employment profile at 18.5% of workers (102 people), followed by Education at 15.8% (87), Professional and Technical services at 9.1% (50), Hospitality at 8.7% (48) and Public Administration at 8.2% (45). By occupation, Professionals lead at 210 workers, with Community and Personal services at 110 and Clerical and Admin at 108. The unemployment rate is 6.9%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 55.2% is relatively low, with 591 residents not in the labour force. Weekly personal income averages $655 and weekly household income $1,399, placing the suburb at the 40th percentile nationally. The services-heavy employment base reflects proximity to Adelaide's health and education precincts.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.8%
Part-time
33.3%
Participation
55.2%
Employed
815
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.6%
Postgraduate
9.9%
Born Overseas
39.0%
Dwellings
714
Transport to Work
Car travel dominates transport, with 80.0% of residents driving, compared to 9.1% using public transport and 4.1% walking or cycling. No schools are recorded within Kilkenny's 1.09 km2 boundary, so families depend on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. The crime rate of 215.1 incidents per 1,000 residents is the primary livability concern and is high by suburban standards. Volunteering reaches 15.5% of residents, a positive indicator of community engagement. Rent-to-income at 22.9% keeps housing costs manageable for the 34.5% of residents who rent. At 7.9%, the share of residents needing daily assistance is slightly elevated compared to lower-disadvantage inner-Adelaide suburbs, though housing stress flags are not triggered on either the rent or mortgage measures.
Drive
80.0%
Public Transport
9.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
397
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
215.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kilkenny compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kilkenny a good suburb to live in?
Kilkenny has several appealing qualities: university qualifications among residents reach 44.6%, which is 14.5 points above the national figure, and housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 25% and rent-to-income at 22.9%. The primary concern is a crime rate of 215.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is high by suburban standards and is the main trade-off prospective residents should weigh.
What is the median house price in Kilkenny?
The median house price in Kilkenny is $900,000 as of the first quarter of 2026. That represents 11.8% growth from $805,000 recorded in the first quarter of 2025. Weekly rent averages $320 and monthly mortgage repayments are approximately $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25%.
What schools are in Kilkenny?
No schools are recorded inside Kilkenny's 1.09 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is relatively well-educated, with 44.6% holding university qualifications, which is 14.5 percentage points above the national average.
Is Kilkenny safe?
Kilkenny has a recorded crime rate of 215.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 397 total offences logged, which is flagged as high compared to typical suburban benchmarks. Prospective residents and buyers should factor this into their due diligence, particularly when comparing Kilkenny with neighbouring lower-crime inner-Adelaide suburbs.
Is Kilkenny good for property investment?
The 11.8% price growth over one year from $805,000 to $900,000 is a positive capital signal. Weekly rent of $320 against the $900,000 median implies a gross yield around 1.85%, which is modest. The vacancy rate of 5.2% is above typical healthy thresholds, and the 34.5% renter share provides a reasonable tenant base. Returns rest primarily on continued capital growth rather than yield.
How is Kilkenny's population changing?
Kilkenny's population of 1,846 sits within a 1.09 km2 area at a density of 1,686 people per km2. The turnover rate is 21.9%, meaning 78.1% of residents stayed in the suburb over the census period, indicating moderate stability. With 39% of residents born overseas, 17.4 points above the national average, migration continues to be a key driver of population composition.
What languages are spoken in Kilkenny?
About 39% of Kilkenny residents were born overseas, which is 17.4 percentage points above the national figure. The most common non-English languages spoken at home include Greek (39 speakers), Italian (30), Serbian (29), Punjabi (25) and Arabic (20), reflecting a Mediterranean and South Asian migrant heritage alongside more recent arrivals.
How much development is happening in Kilkenny?
There were 25 development applications lodged in Kilkenny in the past 12 months. Recent applications include carport and verandah additions to existing houses and a commercial kiosk refurbishment, consistent with renovation activity rather than significant new residential supply. This fits a suburb where the median house price rose 11.8% in a year with limited new stock entering the market.
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.
Explore Kilkenny on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map