Kingston
Apartment living defines Kingston, where 90.5% of dwellings are apartments and 51.0% of residents rent. Its 6,579 residents occupy just 1.4 square kilometres, producing a density of 4,686.2 people per square kilometre. Household income sits at the 91.9th percentile nationally, yet the median age is 35 and average household size is only 1.8. This combination of strong incomes, compact housing and small households helps explain the suburb's high rental turnover and 11.4% vacancy rate. Compared with nearby Griffith and Narrabundah, Kingston is more apartment-led and renter-oriented, with a lifestyle suited to professionals, couples and smaller households.
Population
6,579
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,469/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Kingston suits buyers who prioritise apartment living, central access and lower-maintenance ownership over a detached house. Apartments account for 90.5% of dwellings, while 53.4% have 2 bedrooms and another 25.0% have 0 or 1 bedroom, so buyers should compare buildings, body corporate costs and floor plans carefully. The listed mortgage figure is $1,950 per month, with mortgage stress at 18.2% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold commonly used for budgeting. Compared with a detached-house market, Kingston provides fewer family-sized options but more choice for singles and couples. Owner-occupiers represent 48.2% combined, including 17.5% owning outright and 30.7% with a mortgage.
For Buyers
Kingston suits buyers who prioritise apartment living, central access and lower-maintenance ownership over a detached house. Apartments account for 90.5% of dwellings, while 53.4% have 2 bedrooms and another 25.0% have 0 or 1 bedroom, so buyers should compare buildings, body corporate costs and floor plans carefully. The listed mortgage figure is $1,950 per month, with mortgage stress at 18.2% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold commonly used for budgeting. Compared with a detached-house market, Kingston provides fewer family-sized options but more choice for singles and couples. Owner-occupiers represent 48.2% combined, including 17.5% owning outright and 30.7% with a mortgage.
For Investors
Kingston has a clear rental market, with 51.0% of households renting and weekly rent at $510. The 11.4% vacancy rate is elevated, creating a risk that tenants have more choice and landlords face longer letting periods or greater pressure on presentation and pricing. Demand is supported by a highly educated workforce, household income at the 91.9th percentile, and overseas migration as the primary growth driver. Five development applications were recorded over 12 months, although only 1 dwelling was specified in the available samples, so a large increase in supply should not be assumed. Compared with lower-vacancy rental markets, Kingston requires careful building-level research because apartment quality, parking and amenity can affect returns. Rent stress is 20.7%, below mortgage stress at 18.2% only marginally when assessed against different household cost structures.
Development Activity
Total DAs
29
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+25.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Kingston's median age is 35, which is 5 years below the national comparison, while 64.3% of residents hold a university qualification, 34.2 percentage points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 26.9%, 5.3 points above the national comparison, and the most common reported ancestries are English at 2,335 people, Irish at 997 and Scottish at 835. No religion is the largest religious category at 3,410 people, ahead of Christianity at 1,963. Average household size is 1.8, or 0.7 below the national comparison, because apartments and couples without children make up much of the local housing pattern. Mobility is high, with 47.5% of residents changing address over the measured period. Compared with nearby Griffith and Narrabundah, Kingston has a more transient and apartment-focused demographic profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
3.0%
Houses
6.4%
Townhouse
90.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Kingston's housing stock is unusually concentrated in apartments: 90.5% of dwellings are apartments, 6.4% are semi-detached and only 3.0% are separate houses. The bedroom profile follows that pattern, with 53.4% of homes having 2 bedrooms, 25.0% having 0 or 1 bedroom, 19.7% having 3 bedrooms and just 1.9% having 4 or more. Tenure is renter-majority at 51.0%, compared with 30.7% mortgaged and 17.5% owned outright. Weekly rent is $510 and the vacancy rate is 11.4%, so tenants have more choice than in a tightly supplied market. Compared with detached-house suburbs, Kingston's affordability and resale prospects depend more heavily on apartment size, building quality, strata costs and location within the 1.4 square kilometre suburb. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,950 provides an additional ownership-cost reference.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$510
Census 2021
HH Size
1.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,777
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.4%
Unoccupied
425
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.1%
Couples with children
64.3%
Couples, no children
12.6%
Single parent
1,596
Total families
Economy & Employment
Kingston's employment base is strongly tied to government and knowledge work. Public administration accounts for 48.9% of industry employment, or 1,889 people, followed by professional and technical services at 15.3% and 589 people, healthcare at 8.1% and 311, education at 7.6% and 295, and construction at 2.5% and 98. The occupational mix reinforces this pattern, with 1,993 professionals and 1,112 managers. Labour-force participation is 75.3%, full-time employment is 77.6% and unemployment is 2.3%, supporting household income at the 91.9th percentile. Compared with the national workforce, Kingston is more concentrated in professional and public-sector activity. Its SEIFA profile is strong overall: IEO, IRSAD and IRSD are all in decile 10, while IER is decile 5. That middle IER result is an important anomaly, because area-wide advantage is higher than the measure focused on economic resources.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
4,530
Unemployed
105
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
77.6%
Part-time
17.4%
Participation
75.3%
Employed
4,425
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
64.3%
Postgraduate
25.5%
Born Overseas
26.9%
Dwellings
3,291
Transport to Work
Kingston's compact form supports a practical inner-Canberra lifestyle. The suburb covers 1.4 square kilometres at a density of 4,686.2 people per square kilometre, and 18.0% of residents walk or cycle to work compared with 54.8% who drive. Public transport accounts for 7.1% and working from home for 14.9%, giving residents several commuting patterns. The apartment-heavy environment can make daily errands convenient, although parking, noise and building maintenance vary substantially by complex. Kingston has no identified schools within the suburb, so families should check ACT enrolment zones and nearby options against the exact address. Compared with lower-density Canberra suburbs, the compact setting is better suited to adults who value proximity and smaller homes than to households seeking large yards. Social advantage is high, with an IRSAD decile of 10, while the 21.4% volunteering rate indicates a meaningful level of local participation.
Drive
54.8%
Public Transport
7.1%
Walk / Cycle
18.0%
Work from Home
14.9%
Population Forecast
+3.81%/yr
(+285 people/yr)
EstablishedKingston has a high-growth outlook despite an established-suburb classification. Annual growth is forecast at 3.81%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change over 10 years is 121.2%, indicating strong momentum rather than a static established-market pattern. The demographic trajectory is labelled Aging: the senior share has increased by 3.8 percentage points, while the working share has fallen by 4.3 points. That shift matters because future demand may increasingly favour accessible apartments, lifts, nearby services and lower-maintenance homes. Gentrification is scored at 0 and the stage is New development, not gentrifying, so the growth story is more closely linked to apartment renewal and incoming residents than to a classic displacement cycle. Compared with slower established suburbs, Kingston combines faster forecast growth with a mature, high-density housing base.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+121
Net Internal / yr
+55
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kingston compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kingston a good suburb to live in?
Kingston can suit professionals, couples and smaller households who prefer apartments, central access and low-maintenance living. It has 90.5% apartments, 18.0% walking or cycling commuters and household income at the 91.9th percentile. Compared with lower-density suburbs, it provides less yard space but more compact urban convenience. The 11.4% vacancy rate may also give renters more choice.
What is the median house price in Kingston?
A current median house price cannot be stated for Kingston. The suburb is dominated by apartments, which represent 90.5% of dwellings, while only 3.0% are separate houses. Buyers should request comparable sales for the exact dwelling type and building, especially for the common 2-bedroom format, which accounts for 53.4% of homes. Nearby suburb figures should not be used without adjusting for housing mix.
What schools are in Kingston?
Kingston has no identified schools within the suburb. Families should check ACT enrolment zones and nearby options against the exact address, since access can differ across the 1.4 square kilometre area. Confirm sector, year levels, transport and application requirements before signing a lease or contract, particularly when choosing among apartment locations.
Is Kingston safe?
A precise crime-rate figure cannot be stated for Kingston, so use current ACT Police incident information rather than relying on a suburb-wide label. Kingston covers 1.4 square kilometres and has a density of 4,686.2 people per square kilometre, meaning conditions can vary by street, apartment complex, lighting and parking area. Inspect the immediate location at different times before deciding.
Is Kingston good for property investment?
Kingston has useful rental fundamentals but also a clear vacancy risk. Renting accounts for 51.0% of households, weekly rent is $510 and vacancy is 11.4%. Forecast growth is 3.81% annually, driven primarily by overseas migration, while 5 development applications were recorded over 12 months. Compared with tighter rental markets, investors should stress-test vacancy and compare individual buildings rather than relying on suburb averages.
How is Kingston's population changing?
Kingston has a current population of 6,579. Annual growth across the forecast area is 3.81%, with overseas migration the primary driver, and population change over 10 years is 121.2% across the wider area. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.8 percentage points and the working share down 4.3 points. This supports ongoing demand for accessible, lower-maintenance apartments.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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