Kensington (NSW)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Kensington reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, Kensington's population is approximately 14,590, reflecting a 23.5% increase since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,809 people. This increase was inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,584 as of June 2025 and an additional 1 validated new address since the Census date. Kensington's population density is around 5,526 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. This high density makes land in the area a highly-sought resource. Kensington's growth rate exceeded both the state's (7.1%) and SA4 region's rates since the 2021 Census, marking it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 96.5% of overall population gains during recent periods in Kensington.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where applicable, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from these aggregations for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Kensington is forecasted to have a significant population increase in the top quartile of national areas by 2041, with an expected growth of 4,066 persons, reflecting a total gain of 27.8% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Kensington according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Kensington has recorded approximately 37 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 188 homes were approved, with an additional two approved so far in FY26. Despite population decline, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a well-balanced market with good buyer choice.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $504,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment by developers. This year, there have been $44.9 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Sydney, Kensington shows comparable development activity per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area. However, this activity is below average nationally, possibly due to planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 8.0% standalone homes and 92.0% townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

Kensington has approximately 423 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area. By 2041, Kensington is expected to grow by 4,060 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Kensington has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Over 54 infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area's performance. Major projects include Meriton Green Square Epsom Road Development, The Kensington by TOGA, Anson Group Anzac Parade Residential Development, and UNSW G25 Education Building. Below is a list detailing those likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The labour market in Kensington shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Kensington has an educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 3.1% as of December 2025. The area experienced estimated employment growth of 3.8% over the past year.

As of December 2025, 8,876 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.0%, lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was on par with Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 51.2% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training sectors.

Kensington has particularly high employment levels in education & training, at 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, manufacturing shows lower representation at 2.7%, compared to the regional average of 5.7%. The ratio of workers to residents was 0.8 as of the Census, indicating a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 3.8% while labour force increased by 3.4%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney where employment grew by 2.2%, labour force expanded by 2.3%, and unemployment rose marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kensington's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Kensington SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $60,337 and an average income of $90,210. These figures are among the highest in Australia, compared to $60,817 and $83,003 respectively for Greater Sydney. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $66,564 (median) and $99,520 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Kensington's household, family, and personal incomes are at the 73rd percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that 32.2% of individuals earn between $1,500 - $2,999 weekly, mirroring the region where 30.9% fall into this bracket. The district shows affluence with 32.9% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and services. High housing costs consume 19.1% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 68th percentile nationally. Kensington's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Kensington features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Kensington, as per the latest Census, consisted of 20.5% houses and 79.6% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metropolitan area had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kensington stood at 24.6%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (19.0%) or rented (56.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kensington was $2,800, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure for Kensington was recorded at $500, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Kensington's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Kensington features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 59.7% of all households, including 23.0% couples with children, 27.1% couples without children, and 7.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 40.3%, with lone person households at 30.6% and group households comprising 9.7%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Kensington shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Kensington's educational attainment exceeds national and state averages. Among residents aged 15+, 51.0% have university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 32.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational pathways account for 19.8%, with advanced diplomas at 9.7% and certificates at 10.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 39.2% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 21.9% in tertiary, 6.3% in primary, and 4.5% in secondary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Kensington has 51 active public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 30 individual routes, collectively facilitating 13,075 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 119 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. The dominant mode of transport is car at 55%, followed by bus at 15% and walking at 10%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.7 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 51.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,867 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 256 weekly trips per individual stop.

Kensington's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Kensington's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 66% of Kensington's total population (9,614 people) have private health cover, which is higher than Greater Sydney's 59.9%.

Nationally, this figure stands at 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in Kensington, affecting 7.0% and 6.1% of residents respectively. A total of 77.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Kensington has 10.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,494 people), which is lower than Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors in Kensington are particularly strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Kensington is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Kensington's population shows high linguistic diversity, with 41.1% speaking a language other than English at home and 47.7% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Kensington, representing 43.7% of its population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Kensington compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 3.6% versus 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups are Other (16.5%), English (16.0%), and Australian (14.6%). Some ethnic groups have significant representation: Russian at 1.0% (regional average is 0.4%), Spanish at 1.0% (0.6%), and Greek at 4.8% (1.9%).

Kensington hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Kensington's median age is 29, which is significantly lower than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Kensington has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (31.8%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.7%). This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 12.7%. Between 2021 and the present, Kensington's median age has decreased by 3 years to 29, suggesting a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes during this period include the 15-24 age group growing from 21.3% to 31.8% of the population, while the 25-34 cohort increased from 21.1% to 23.4%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group declined from 10.3% to 7.7%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 8.5% to 6.3%. Population forecasts for Kensington in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the strongest projected growth in the 25-34 age cohort at 31%, adding 1,040 residents to reach a total of 4,450.