Upper Kedron
A household income percentile of 97.1 is the standout feature of Upper Kedron, alongside a population of 5,800 and a median age of 34, which is 6 years below the national comparison. The suburb is strongly family-oriented: average household size is 3.2, or 0.7 above the national figure, and 62.6% of families are couples with children. Housing is entirely separate houses, with 88.6% containing four or more bedrooms. Compared with nearby The Gap and Ferny Hills, the practical appeal is a mortgage-led family setting, because 53.5% of households are paying a mortgage. The 4.7% rise in the senior share shows that this high-income profile is also beginning an aging transition.
Population
5,800
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,980/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
39
Upper Kedron suits buyers seeking a conventional family house rather than apartment stock: 100.0% of dwellings are separate houses, and 88.6% have four or more bedrooms. The financing profile matters because 53.5% of households hold a mortgage, compared with 19.3% owning outright and 26.7% renting. Monthly mortgage repayments are $2,383, while weekly rent is $455, so buyers should test deposit size and repayment buffers against their own income. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 18.5% and no mortgage stress is flagged, a more comfortable position than a high-stress market. Household income sits at the 97.1 percentile, above the national comparison, but recent comparable sales can be higher or lower by street, land size and condition.
For Buyers
Upper Kedron suits buyers seeking a conventional family house rather than apartment stock: 100.0% of dwellings are separate houses, and 88.6% have four or more bedrooms. The financing profile matters because 53.5% of households hold a mortgage, compared with 19.3% owning outright and 26.7% renting. Monthly mortgage repayments are $2,383, while weekly rent is $455, so buyers should test deposit size and repayment buffers against their own income. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 18.5% and no mortgage stress is flagged, a more comfortable position than a high-stress market. Household income sits at the 97.1 percentile, above the national comparison, but recent comparable sales can be higher or lower by street, land size and condition.
For Investors
Investor demand is supported by a 26.7% rental share, weekly rent of $455 and a 3.1% vacancy rate. That vacancy level is tighter than a high-vacancy market would be, so tenant demand may be resilient, although returns still depend on purchase price and dwelling condition. Development activity reached 39 applications in 12 months, which is a pipeline signal but not a count of completed homes. A 71.9% same-address retention rate and 28.1% turnover suggest a settled local market, while forecast migration is Balanced. The all-house format can attract family renters because 100.0% of dwellings are separate houses, but it also concentrates exposure in detached-home maintenance and land values. Compare insurance, rates and achievable rent with The Gap and Ferny Hills before buying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
100
Last 12 Months
39
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+116.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Upper Kedron has a median age of 34, 6 years below the national comparison, and 43.1% of residents have university qualifications, 13 percentage points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 21.7%, only 0.1 percentage points from the national comparison, so the profile is more established Anglo-Celtic than migrant-majority. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 2,335, 698 and 652, while Christianity and no religion account for 2,801 and 2,570 people. Couples with children make up 62.6% of families, helping explain the 3.2 person average household size, 0.7 above national. Compared with nearby The Gap and Ferny Hills, the figures point to a family-heavy suburb with gradual ageing rather than rapid turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Upper Kedron's housing is unusually uniform: 100.0% of dwellings are separate houses, and 88.6% contain four or more bedrooms, while 10.9% are three-bedroom homes and 0.5% are two-bedroom homes. That mix explains the average household size of 3.2, which is 0.7 above the national comparison, and makes the suburb more family-house oriented than an apartment-heavy market. Tenure is mortgage-led, with 53.5% paying a mortgage, 19.3% owning outright and 26.7% renting. Costs appear manageable because mortgage repayments equal 18.5% of household income and rent equals 15.3%, with both stress flags false. Compared with The Gap and Ferny Hills, buyers should focus on land, renovation quality and bedroom utility because detached-house concentration limits dwelling-type choice.
Mortgage / mo
$2,383
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $455.
$725
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $725
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,238
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.1%
Unoccupied
57
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
62.6%
Couples with children
27.8%
Couples, no children
9.1%
Single parent
1,667
Total families
Economy & Employment
Upper Kedron has a high-income, professional and public-sector employment base. Public Administration is the largest industry at 20.1% or 479 workers, followed by Healthcare at 15.5% or 369, Professional and Technical services at 12.7% or 303, Education at 11.4% or 271, and Construction at 6.2% or 148. The occupational mix reinforces this pattern, led by 920 Professionals, 503 Managers and 486 Clerical and Administrative workers. Labour-force participation is 77.9%, full-time employment is 64.8% and unemployment is 3.7%, supporting household income of $2,980 weekly. Compared with lower-income locations, education and occupation rank in decile 8, below economic resources at decile 10; low disadvantage is also decile 10 and advantage decile 9. This helps explain why mortgage stress is false.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
3,275
Unemployed
122
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.8%
Part-time
25.8%
Participation
77.9%
Employed
3,153
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.1%
Postgraduate
11.4%
Born Overseas
21.7%
Dwellings
1,774
Transport to Work
Daily life in Upper Kedron is car-dependent: 61.8% travel as car drivers, compared with 3.7% using public transport and 1.0% walking or cycling. That pattern suits detached homes and dispersed errands, while 29.0% working from home may reduce commute frequency. The suburb covers 9.3 square kilometres at a density of 623.8 people per square kilometre, giving a lower-density feel than inner urban areas. Social and economic conditions are strong, with IRSAD in decile 9, IER in decile 10 and volunteering at 16.9%; only 3.7% report needing assistance. Compared with a rail-oriented suburb, Upper Kedron trades walkability for space and home-based work capacity.
Drive
61.8%
Public Transport
3.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
29.0%
Population Forecast
+1.89%/yr
(+243 people/yr)
EstablishedUpper Kedron's forecast trend is 1.89% annual growth, with migration labelled Balanced rather than driven by one dominant inflow. Population change across the wider area is 29.1% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 4.7 percentage points and the young share has fallen 0.9 points. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 38, so change is more gradual than a mature renewal cycle. Rent growth of 33.3% is higher than real income growth of 14.5%, even though affordability is labelled Improving from 39.7 in 2011 to 37.6 in 2021. The pattern suggests demand will remain because family housing and high incomes support retention, but the age mix should shape long-term planning.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+93
Net Internal / yr
+84
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +37% since 2011, Net internal migration +84/yr, Accelerating: 10% → 24%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Upper Kedron compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Upper Kedron a good suburb to live in?
Yes, it can suit households wanting large detached homes, high incomes and a family setting. The median age is 34, average household size is 3.2 and 62.6% of families are couples with children. Compared with a denser inner suburb, it trades walkability for space and car access.
What is the median house price in Upper Kedron?
Use recent comparable sales rather than assuming a single median house price for Upper Kedron. The housing mix is 100.0% separate houses and 88.6% four-plus-bedroom homes, so comparisons should match land size, bedroom count and condition. A sale can be higher or lower than a broad suburb estimate, while the $2,383 monthly mortgage figure is a repayment measure, not a property value.
What schools are in Upper Kedron?
Families should check nearby school options and the exact enrolment zone for each address, since access is shaped by boundary, transport and sector. The suburb's 61.8% car-driver share versus 3.7% public transport use makes travel planning especially relevant. Confirm current intake rules before signing a lease or contract.
Is Upper Kedron safe?
No firm safety conclusion should be drawn from social indicators alone. Upper Kedron has an IRSAD advantage decile of 9 and a need-assistance rate of 3.7%, but those measures are not crime rates. Compare current police statistics with nearby suburbs, inspect lighting and traffic at different times, and assess conditions street by street across the 9.3 square kilometre suburb.
Is Upper Kedron good for property investment?
It may suit a long-term investor seeking family tenants, but purchase price discipline matters. Renting households are 26.7%, weekly rent is $455, vacancy is 3.1% and 39 development applications were recorded over 12 months. The 100.0% separate-house mix can support family demand, while 71.9% stayed at the same address. Compare net yield, insurance and maintenance with The Gap and Ferny Hills.
How is Upper Kedron's population changing?
The direction is gradual growth with ageing. Forecast annual growth is 1.89%, the migration driver is Balanced, and population change across the wider area is 29.1% over 10 years. The senior share rose 4.7 points while the young share fell 0.9, so demand may remain but household composition is shifting. Gentrification is at Early signs with a score of 38, a slower stage than established renewal.
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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