Kingsley
Four-plus bedroom homes account for 63.4% of all dwellings, one of the highest large-home concentrations in Perth's northern suburbs, yet the population is shrinking at -0.04% per year. This mismatch between family-sized housing and demographic trajectory tells the story of a 1980s subdivision where original buyers are aging in place: the median age of 44 runs 4 years above the national figure, and the senior share has risen 8.7 percentage points in a decade, steeper than most comparable Perth suburbs. Household income sits at the 75th percentile nationally ($2,012/week) and SEIFA places Kingsley at IRSAD decile 8, well above the national median. Real income, however, has declined 5.1% over the decade, an unusual contraction for a suburb in this advantage band.
Population
13,204
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,012/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$518K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Detached houses dominate at 84.4% of stock, with apartments virtually absent at 0.1%. Mortgage repayments average $2,000 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.0%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The ownership rate is exceptionally high: 41.9% own outright and 45.7% hold mortgages, leaving only 12.4% renting, well below the national average. This is a firmly owner-occupied suburb. Schools are solid: The Montessori School (ICSEA 1,120, 166 students) leads, with Dalmain Primary (1,077, 278 students), Creaney Primary (1,064, 379 students), Goollelal Primary (1,059, 249 students), and Halidon Primary (1,058, 190 students) all above the national 1,000 benchmark.
For Buyers
Detached houses dominate at 84.4% of stock, with apartments virtually absent at 0.1%. Mortgage repayments average $2,000 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.0%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The ownership rate is exceptionally high: 41.9% own outright and 45.7% hold mortgages, leaving only 12.4% renting, well below the national average. This is a firmly owner-occupied suburb. Schools are solid: The Montessori School (ICSEA 1,120, 166 students) leads, with Dalmain Primary (1,077, 278 students), Creaney Primary (1,064, 379 students), Goollelal Primary (1,059, 249 students), and Halidon Primary (1,058, 190 students) all above the national 1,000 benchmark.
For Investors
Renters make up just 12.4% of households, one of the lowest renter shares in Perth's middle suburbs, limiting the tenant pool available to investors. Median weekly rent of $418 against a 4.1% vacancy rate is tighter than many Perth suburbs, but the shallow rental depth means any tenant turnover creates extended vacancy risk. Only 2 development applications were lodged in 12 months, indicating near-zero new supply. The population is contracting at -0.04% annually with net internal outflow of -15 persons per year, offset by overseas migration of 123 per year. Gentrification score is 0. The investment case here depends on holding for land value in an IRSAD decile 8 suburb rather than rental income.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kingsley iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
The Montessori School
PP-12 · 166 students
Dalmain Primary School
K-6 · 278 students
Creaney Primary School
K-6 · 379 students
Goollelal Primary School
K-6 · 249 students
Halidon Primary School
K-6 · 190 students
Demographics
English ancestry (6,215) dominates by a wide margin, followed by Scottish (1,520), Irish (1,511), and Italian (737). The 32.3% overseas-born share is 10.7 points above the national average, with the European-origin languages (Italian 44, German 38, Afrikaans 36, French 25) reflecting older waves of migration rather than recent arrivals. The 35.1% university qualification rate runs 5.0 percentage points above the national average, consistent with the IEO decile 7 reading. Christianity is the dominant religion at 6,403, with Buddhism (114) and Hinduism (98) small by comparison. The median age of 44 is one of the highest in Perth's northern corridor, and the aging trajectory is pronounced: senior share up 8.7 points with working-age share down 5.9 points in a decade.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.4%
Houses
13.8%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
The ownership-dominant tenure split shows 41.9% outright owners, 45.7% mortgage holders, and 12.4% renting, with the combined ownership rate of 87.6% well above the national figure. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 63.4% of stock and three-bedroom 29.1%, reflecting the family-subdivision heritage. Semi-detached stock at 13.8% is higher than expected for a suburb with minimal apartments (0.1%), suggesting rear subdivisions of larger lots have started. Monthly mortgage of $2,000 on household income of $2,012/week gives a 23.0% mortgage-to-income ratio. The affordability trend has been stable, moving from 52.3% in 2011 to 50.7% in 2021, with neither significant improvement nor deterioration.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$418
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$825
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.1%
Unoccupied
208
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.7%
Couples, no children
10,988
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (15.4%, 709 workers) and Education (15.2%, 701) are nearly tied as the top employment sectors, followed by Construction (11.7%, 541), Professional and Technical Services (10.3%, 475), and Public Administration (8.1%, 372). Professionals lead occupations at 1,686, with Clerical and Administrative at 1,025 and Managers at 801. The unemployment rate of 4.4% sits below the national average, consistent with the IER decile 9 reading for economic resources. Participation rate of 60.1% is slightly above average. The SEIFA profile shows an unusual IEO-IER gap: decile 7 for education but decile 9 for economic resources, meaning household wealth has outpaced formal qualifications, a common signature of trade-heavy Perth suburbs where construction and mining incomes lift the IER without degree attainment.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
7,695
Unemployed
173
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.5%
Part-time
35.1%
Participation
60.1%
Employed
6,194
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.1%
Postgraduate
6.6%
Born Overseas
32.3%
Dwellings
4,799
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high at 86.2%, with only 7.4% using public transport and 1.5% walking or cycling. Kingsley is served by bus routes but lacks a train station, contributing to the car-oriented commute pattern. All 5 local schools score ICSEA above 1,050: The Montessori School leads at 1,120 (independent, 166 students), with 4 government primaries (Dalmain, Creaney, Goollelal, Halidon) clustering between 1,058 and 1,077. IRSAD decile 8 and IRSD decile 9 readings place Kingsley in the top 20% nationally for advantage and the top 10% for low disadvantage, consistent with the 4.4% unemployment rate and the 6.5% needing-assistance rate that sits near the national average.
Drive
86.2%
Public Transport
7.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.04%/yr
(-5 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is effectively static at -0.04% per year, losing about 5 persons annually. Net internal migration is negative at -15 per year, partially offset by overseas arrivals of 123 per year. The 10-year population change of -0.1% confirms a suburb that has plateaued. Medium projections forecast a gentle decline to approximately 13,654 by 2031. Gentrification score is 0 with no gentrifying signals. The working-age share has dropped 5.9 percentage points in a decade, the steepest contraction in the immediate area, while senior share climbed 8.7 points. Real income declined 5.1%, meaning the suburb is losing economic momentum compared to broader Perth despite its IRSAD decile 8 positioning.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+123
Net Internal / yr
-15
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kingsley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kingsley a good suburb to live in?
Kingsley ranks IRSAD decile 8 and IRSD decile 9, placing it in the top 20% nationally for advantage. All 5 schools score ICSEA above 1,050. The mortgage-to-income ratio is a comfortable 23.0%. Trade-offs include minimal public transport (7.4% usage), an aging population with median age 44, and a declining population trend at -0.04% per year.
What is the median house price in Kingsley?
No median house price data is available for Kingsley. Mortgage repayments of $2,000/month and weekly rent of $418 indicate a middle-upper Perth price bracket. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 23.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Household income at the 75th percentile nationally ($2,012/week) supports the IRSAD decile 8 positioning.
What schools are in Kingsley?
Kingsley has 5 schools, all scoring ICSEA above 1,050. The Montessori School leads at 1,120 (independent combined, 166 students). Four government primaries follow: Dalmain (1,077, 278 students), Creaney (1,064, 379), Goollelal (1,059, 249), and Halidon (1,058, 190). All sit above the national benchmark of 1,000.
Is Kingsley safe?
Kingsley's IRSD decile 9 places it in the top 10% nationally for low disadvantage. Specific crime data is not available, but the 4.4% unemployment rate, 75th percentile household income, and IER decile 9 economic resources reading are associated with lower crime profiles in comparable Perth suburbs.
Is Kingsley good for property investment?
Kingsley's 12.4% renter share is one of the lowest in Perth's northern suburbs, severely limiting the tenant pool. Weekly rent of $418 against a 4.1% vacancy rate is manageable, but only 2 DAs were lodged in 12 months. Population is contracting at -0.04% per year with real income declining 5.1% over a decade. This is a land-value hold in IRSAD decile 8 territory, not a yield play.
How is Kingsley's population changing?
Population is essentially static, losing about 5 persons per year (-0.04%). Net internal migration is -15/year, offset by overseas arrivals at 123/year. Senior share has risen 8.7 percentage points in a decade while working-age share dropped 5.9 points. Projections forecast a gradual decline to roughly 13,654 by 2031.
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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