Kyneton
At 47, Kyneton has a resident age profile 7 years above the national comparison, alongside a population of 7,513 spread across 100.28 square kilometres. Its housing stock is strongly detached, with 88.6% separate houses, while 30.2% of residents work from home. Median household income sits at $1,620 per week, around the 53.2 percentile, so the suburb combines established household finances with a slower, older demographic pattern. Compared with nearby Macedon and Woodend, Kyneton suits buyers seeking a larger regional town setting, local schools and rail-linked routines.
Population
7,513
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,620/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$810K
October to December 2025
Kyneton suits buyers prioritising detached space over apartment living, because 88.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 46.6% contain 3 bedrooms, while a further 33.7% have 4 or more. Mortgage repayments average $1,798 per month and mortgage costs equal 25.6% of household income, below the point usually associated with severe stress in this profile. Renting at $360 per week remains an alternative, with 21.1% of households renting.
For Buyers
Kyneton suits buyers prioritising detached space over apartment living, because 88.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 46.6% contain 3 bedrooms, while a further 33.7% have 4 or more. Mortgage repayments average $1,798 per month and mortgage costs equal 25.6% of household income, below the point usually associated with severe stress in this profile. Renting at $360 per week remains an alternative, with 21.1% of households renting.
For Investors
Kyneton has an established rental base, with 21.1% of households renting and a weekly median rent of $360. The 10.0% vacancy rate is high enough to make tenant demand more variable than in a tightly supplied market, so property selection and presentation matter. Compared with the 2022 sales peak, values are 9.7% lower, creating a more measured acquisition point than at the top of that cycle. Eight development applications were recorded over 12 months, suggesting some activity but not a large documented pipeline. Forecast migration is Balanced and the annual trend is 1.12%, favouring a patient strategy rather than aggressive growth assumptions.
Development Activity
Total DAs
36
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-30.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kyneton
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Kyneton Primary School
Our Lady of the Rosary
Kyneton High School
Sacred Heart College
Demographics
Kyneton's median age of 47 is 7 years above the national comparison, and that older base helps explain the average household size of 2.4, which is 0.1 below the national figure. The population is relatively settled: 82.3% stayed at the same address over the reference period and turnover was 17.7%. University attainment is 35.1%, 5 percentage points above the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 15.4%, 6.2 points lower. Reported ancestry is led by English at 3,249 people, followed by Irish at 1,263 and Scottish at 1,068. No religion accounts for 3,621 responses compared with 3,158 for Christianity. Compared with the national profile, Kyneton is older and less migrant-oriented, but its university share is higher.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.6%
Houses
9.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between 40.9% owned outright, 36.3% with a mortgage and 21.1% rented. The detached format is clear: 88.6% separate houses and 9.0% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.6% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 33.7%, supporting family and downsizer demand. Mortgage costs equal 25.6% of household income and rent 22.2%, so measured affordability is better than the price rise alone suggests.
Mortgage / mo
$1,798
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$360
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$749
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.0%
Unoccupied
317
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.8%
Couples with children
45.0%
Couples, no children
13.8%
Single parent
2,044
Total families
Economy & Employment
Kyneton's employment base is anchored by healthcare at 14.8% or 345 workers, education at 12.6% or 294, public administration at 10.6% or 248, professional and technical services at 9.9% or 232, and manufacturing at 9.0% or 211. Healthcare is higher than manufacturing, giving the local economy a service-led structure. Occupations include 788 professionals, 583 managers, 453 trades workers, 403 labourers and 388 community or personal service workers. Unemployment is 3.3%, participation is 57.3% and full-time employment is 54.9%. Household income is $1,620 weekly, near the 53.2 percentile. SEIFA results are stronger for economic resources at decile 8 than broad advantage and disadvantage at decile 6, while education and occupation sit at decile 7. That spread indicates reasonable resources without uniformly high socioeconomic advantage.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
3,580
Unemployed
119
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.9%
Part-time
37.3%
Participation
57.3%
Employed
3,461
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.1%
Postgraduate
8.6%
Born Overseas
15.4%
Dwellings
2,861
Transport to Work
Kyneton supports a practical regional lifestyle, although car use is much higher than public transport or active travel: 58.3% drive, compared with 1.2% using public transport and 5.0% walking or cycling. A further 30.2% work from home, which can reduce commuting frequency. Families have access to 4 local schools, split between 2 primary and 2 secondary campuses, with 2 government and 2 Catholic options. Enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Crime totals 518 incidents at a rate of 68.9 per 1,000 people; property and deception offences account for 280, compared with 90 crimes against the person. Volunteering is 20.8% and the IRSAD result is decile 6, indicating moderate rather than top-tier socioeconomic advantage. Compared with active-travel suburbs, Kyneton's daily convenience depends more heavily on private vehicles.
Drive
58.3%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
5.0%
Work from Home
30.2%
Population Forecast
+1.12%/yr
(+119 people/yr)
EstablishedKyneton's growth outlook is steady rather than explosive, with an annual trend of 1.12% and Balanced migration as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 19.6% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is labelled Aging. The senior share has increased by 5.4 percentage points, higher than the young-share change of -1.1 points, and the working share has fallen by 2.0 points. Affordability worsened from 43.5 in 2011 to 45.5 in 2021, while rents grew 59.5%, increasing pressure on younger households. Gentrification indicators are mixed: the shift profile records a score of 59 and stage Active, while the separate gentrification score is 7 and stage Not gentrifying. Compared with a rapid-growth market, Kyneton's demand is more likely to be shaped by lifestyle, established services and older households.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+50
Net Internal / yr
+8
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +20% since 2011
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
518
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
68.9
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 Kyneton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kyneton a good suburb to live in?
Kyneton can suit households seeking regional space, local services and a settled pace. The median age is 47, 30.2% work from home and 88.6% of homes are separate houses. Compared with denser urban areas, daily life is more car-dependent, with 58.3% driving and 1.2% using public transport.
What schools are in Kyneton?
Kyneton has 4 local schools: 2 primary and 2 secondary, with 2 government and 2 Catholic options. The schools include Kyneton Primary School, Kyneton High School, Our Lady of the Rosary and Sacred Heart College. Compared with a single-sector town, families have more than 1 schooling pathway.
Is Kyneton safe?
Kyneton recorded 518 offences at a rate of 68.9 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 280, compared with 90 crimes against the person and 16 drug offences. Safety can vary by street and time, so compare the exact address and surrounding routes before buying or renting.
Is Kyneton good for property investment?
Kyneton may suit a patient investor, but the numbers require careful testing. Median rent is $360 per week, renting households represent 21.1% and vacancy is 10.0%. Rents have grown 59.5%, while the annual growth trend is 1.12%. Compared with the 2022 price peak, the current median is 9.7% lower.
How is Kyneton's population changing?
Kyneton has 7,513 residents today, while population change across the wider area is 19.6% over 10 years. The annual trend is 1.12% and migration is Balanced. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 5.4 percentage points, compared with a young-share decline of 1.1 points.
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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