Kinglake West
A 65.3 sq km footprint supports 1,305 residents at a density of 20.0 people per sq km, giving Kinglake West a distinctly low-density profile. Housing is 99.0% separate houses, while 55.4% of households are paying a mortgage and only 4.1% rent. Household income sits at the 73.2nd percentile, above the national midpoint, even as university attainment is 13.2 percentage points below national levels. Compared with nearby Kinglake, the suburb reads as a settled, car-oriented mortgage-belt community with an aging trajectory: senior share has risen 6.7 points and the forecast migration setting is Balanced.
Local council: Murrindindi (59% of the suburb; the rest sits in a neighbouring council)
Population
1,305
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,950/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Kinglake West suits buyers seeking detached space rather than apartment access. Separate houses account for 99.0% of dwellings, with 44.1% containing four or more bedrooms and 45.2% containing three bedrooms. The typical mortgage payment is $2,000 a month, equal to 23.7% of household income, while weekly rent is $360 or 18.5% of income. Mortgage tenure is higher at 55.4% than outright ownership at 37.9%, pointing to a mortgage-belt profile. With no current median house price, compare listings by land size, bushfire costs and renovation needs. A 2.9-person average household and 51.2% share of couples with children support demand for larger homes.
For Buyers
Kinglake West suits buyers seeking detached space rather than apartment access. Separate houses account for 99.0% of dwellings, with 44.1% containing four or more bedrooms and 45.2% containing three bedrooms. The typical mortgage payment is $2,000 a month, equal to 23.7% of household income, while weekly rent is $360 or 18.5% of income. Mortgage tenure is higher at 55.4% than outright ownership at 37.9%, pointing to a mortgage-belt profile. With no current median house price, compare listings by land size, bushfire costs and renovation needs. A 2.9-person average household and 51.2% share of couples with children support demand for larger homes.
For Investors
Investment appeal rests on detached family stock and a small renter base, not a published median price. Weekly rent is $360, vacancy is 10.8%, and only 4.1% of households rent, making leasing outcomes more variable than in a larger rental market. Separate houses account for 99.0% of dwellings and 44.1% have four or more bedrooms, so tenant demand centres on families needing space. Four development applications in 12 months indicate a limited visible pipeline compared with a major growth corridor. Mortgage holders are higher at 55.4% than outright owners at 37.9%, and migration is forecast as Balanced. Check insurance, bushfire exposure, access and achievable rent before buying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
16
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-20.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kinglake West
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Kinglake West Primary School
Demographics
Kinglake West has 1,305 residents and a median age of 40, exactly aligned with national age levels. Average household size is 2.9, or 0.4 above the national comparison: couples with children make up 51.2% of families, compared with 36.4% couples without children, while one-parent families account for 11.0%. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry counts are 477, 156 and 152. Overseas-born residents represent 12.3%, 9.3 points below national levels, and university attainment is 16.9%, 13.2 points below national. The 87.9% stayed rate and 12.1% turnover reinforce residential stability compared with more mobile areas.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.0%
Houses
1.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Kinglake West's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached and family-sized. Separate houses make up 99.0%, while three-bedroom and four-plus-bedroom homes account for 45.2% and 44.1%; together they are far more common than two-bedroom homes at 9.7%. Tenure is mortgage-led: 55.4% are being purchased, compared with 37.9% owned outright and 4.1% rented. The $2,000 monthly mortgage equals 23.7% of household income, while $360 weekly rent equals 18.5%, keeping reported housing costs lower for renters than mortgage holders. Vacancy is 10.8%, a notable counterpoint to the small renter base, which may reflect episodic availability rather than a deep rental pool. Without a current median house price, comparisons with nearby Kinglake should focus on land, dwelling condition and bushfire exposure.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$360
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$801
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.8%
Unoccupied
49
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
51.2%
Couples with children
36.4%
Couples, no children
11.0%
Single parent
346
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction leads local employment at 24.1% and 102 workers, well above healthcare at 15.4% and 65 workers. Public administration and education each contribute 8.3% and 35 workers, while agriculture adds 7.3% and 31 workers, giving the economy a regional base. Trades are the largest occupation at 141 people, above professionals at 81 and clerical/admin at 79; managers count 70 and labourers 66. Unemployment is 3.3%, participation is 58.2%, and full-time employment is 61.8%. SEIFA education and occupation is decile 6, but economic resources ranks in decile 9, a higher position that fits the 73.2 household-income percentile despite university attainment of 16.9%. Earnings are not driven by degrees alone.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
601
Unemployed
20
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.8%
Part-time
29.1%
Participation
58.2%
Employed
581
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.9%
Postgraduate
3.4%
Born Overseas
12.3%
Dwellings
404
Transport to Work
Livability is built around space, driving and local services rather than dense transit. Car-driver travel accounts for 73.9%, walking or cycling 2.9%, and working from home 18.8%, so reliable vehicle access matters for errands and commuting. Kinglake West Primary School is the local government primary option; confirm enrolment zones and secondary access against the exact address. Crime totals 40 incidents, or 30.7 per 1,000 residents, with 17 crimes against the person and 17 property/deception offences. SEIFA advantage and disadvantage sits at decile 6, while economic resources is decile 9, higher than the other listed measures. Compared with denser suburbs, the 65.3 sq km area and 20.0 density favour space but increase car dependence.
Drive
73.9%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
18.8%
Growth Outlook
Kinglake West has an established outlook rather than a boom-led one. Annual growth is 0.86%, and migration is forecast as Balanced, so expansion is more measured than in a strongly inward-moving corridor. The trajectory is Aging: senior share has increased 6.7 points, while the young share has fallen 3.9 points. Population change across the wider area is 17.5% over 10 years. Gentrification is scored at 7, stage Not gentrifying, while the broader shift score is 34, stage Early signs. Four development applications in 12 months and 99.0% detached housing reinforce an established pattern. Compared with a high-growth fringe suburb, demand is more likely to be shaped by lifestyle and ageing.
Population trend: Murrindindi council area
About 59% of Kinglake West sits in Murrindindi; the rest is in a neighbouring council. These are the council area's residents, not Kinglake West's.
Residents 2025
15,648
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.0%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.6%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
40
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
30.7
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 Kinglake West compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kinglake West a good suburb to live in?
Kinglake West can suit households wanting space, detached housing and a quieter regional setting. About 99.0% of dwellings are separate houses, average household size is 2.9, and 73.9% drive to work, so the lifestyle is more car-dependent than in dense suburbs.
What is the median house price in Kinglake West?
A suburb median house price is not available for Kinglake West, so a single reliable dollar comparison cannot be given. Buyers should compare current listings by land size, dwelling condition and bedroom count, especially because 44.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 45.2% have 3.
What schools are in Kinglake West?
Kinglake West Primary School is the identified local school, and it is a government primary campus. Families should confirm the enrolment zone and secondary options for the exact address, as regional access can extend beyond the suburb. The local school count is 1, so planning beyond primary years needs early checking.
Is Kinglake West safe?
Recorded crime totals 40 incidents, equal to 30.7 per 1,000 residents. Crimes against the person and property/deception offences each account for 17 incidents, with public order offences at 4 and drug offences at 2. Review current local conditions and the exact street before deciding, because suburb-wide rates do not describe every pocket.
Is Kinglake West good for property investment?
Investment may suit a buyer targeting detached family housing, but the small rental base warrants caution. Weekly rent is $360, vacancy is 10.8%, and only 4.1% of households rent, so leasing can be less predictable than in a larger rental market. There were 4 development applications in 12 months, while migration is forecast as Balanced.
How is Kinglake West's population changing?
Kinglake West has 1,305 residents today. Population change across the wider area is 17.5% over 10 years, while the annual trend is 0.86% and migration is Balanced. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 6.7 points and young share down 3.9, pointing to gradual growth with an older household mix.
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).
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