Kelvin Grove - Herston

Population growth drivers in Kelvin Grove - Herston are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Kelvin Grove - Herston's population was approximately 12,565 as of May 2026. This figure reflects a growth of 2,400 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,165. The increase is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 12,531 in June 2025 and an additional 53 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,728 persons per square kilometer, placing Kelvin Grove - Herston in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The area's growth rate of 23.6% since the 2021 census exceeded both national (9.3%) and state averages, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 94.8% of overall population gains during recent periods in Kelvin Grove - Herston.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 and based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population trends project an above median growth for statistical areas across the nation. Kelvin Grove - Herston is expected to expand by 2,706 persons to reach a total of approximately 15,271 by 2041, reflecting an increase of 21.3% over the 16-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Kelvin Grove - Herston when compared nationally

Kelvin Grove - Herston averaged approximately 21 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25. A total of 107 homes were approved during this period, with an additional 28 approved in FY-26 as of now. On average, 9.8 people moved to the area per year for each dwelling built over these five financial years.

This significant demand outpaces supply, typically exerting upward pressure on prices and intensifying competition among buyers. The average construction cost value of new homes was $526,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26 alone, commercial development approvals totaled $155.0 million, suggesting robust local business investment in the area. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Kelvin Grove - Herston shows substantially reduced construction activity, with 73.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction often reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes, although building activity has accelerated in recent years. Nationally, this is also below average, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New development in Kelvin Grove - Herston consists of 15.0% detached houses and 85.0% townhouses or apartments.

This shift towards denser development provides accessible entry options, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. It represents a notable change from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 34.0% houses. This trend indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The location has approximately 383 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area. Looking ahead, Kelvin Grove - Herston is expected to grow by 2,672 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Should current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth in the area.

Kelvin Grove - Herston has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 55 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Herston Quarter Redevelopment, Brisbane 2032 Games Venue Infrastructure Program, New Brisbane Stadium (Victoria Park Olympic Stadium), and Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Infrastructure Program. The following list details those 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 employment landscape in Kelvin Grove - Herston shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Kelvin Grove - Herston has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 5.0% as of December 2021. Over the past year, there was an estimated employment growth of 0.8%.

As of December 2025, 7,751 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 5.9%, which is 1.8 percentage points higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. The workforce participation rate in Kelvin Grove - Herston is 73.4%, slightly higher than Greater Brisbane's 69.6%. According to Census responses, 23.6% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training.

The area specializes in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level, while construction shows lower representation at 4.1% compared to the regional average of 9.0%. There are 1.9 workers for every resident as of the Census, indicating that the area functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding regions. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 0.8% while labour force increased by 1.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 3.2% and labour force growth of 3.0%, with a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage point. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kelvin Grove - Herston's employment mix, local employment is expected to increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.7% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

The Kelvin Grove - Herston SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $57,530 and an average income of $83,699 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is among the highest in Australia, compared to Greater Brisbane's median income of $58,236 and average income of $72,799. By March 2026, these figures are estimated to reach approximately $64,065 (median) and $93,207 (average), based on a Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023. In the 2021 Census, Kelvin Grove - Herston's household, family, and personal incomes ranked modestly, between the 45th and 50th percentiles. The largest income segment comprised 30.9% of residents earning $1,500 to $2,999 weekly (3,882 residents), aligning with the region where this cohort also represented 33.3%. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 79.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 46th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Kelvin Grove - Herston, as per the latest Census, consisted of 34.0% houses and 66.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Brisbane metropolitan's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kelvin Grove - Herston was at 14.1%, with the rest being mortgaged (21.6%) or rented (64.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,080, higher than Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $400, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Kelvin Grove - Herston's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 53.8% of all households, including 20.5% couples with children, 21.9% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 46.2%, with lone person households at 30.3% and group households making up 16.0%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Kelvin Grove - Herston shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Kelvin Grove - Herston's educational attainment exceeds broader standards, with 52.2% of residents aged 15+ possessing university qualifications, compared to QLD's 25.7% and Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 32.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%). Vocational pathways account for 20.3% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.1% and certificates at 11.2%. Educational participation is high, with 44.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 24.9% in tertiary, 6.9% in secondary, and 6.2% pursuing primary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 44.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 24.9% in tertiary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 6.2% pursuing primary education.

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

Kelvin Grove - Herston has 54 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are used by 40 different routes, collectively facilitating 6,535 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 136 meters to the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with most residents commuting outward. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 57%, followed by bus at 20% and walking at 12%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 23.6% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 933 trips per day, equating to approximately 121 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Kelvin Grove - Herston is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Kelvin Grove - Herston faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 61% of the total population (7,639 people), compared to 55.8% across Greater Brisbane and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 11.2% of residents and asthma impacting 6.5%. A total of 76.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 6.0% of residents aged 65 and over (757 people), which is lower than the 15.1% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

Kelvin Grove-Herston has high cultural diversity, with 31.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 40.9% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Kelvin Grove-Herston, comprising 31.6%. Judaism, however, is overrepresented at 0.3%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 0.1%.

Top ancestry groups are English (21.7%), Australian (18.6%), and Other (13.9%). Notably, French (0.8% vs regional 0.5%), Korean (0.9% vs 0.5%), and Vietnamese (1.5% vs 0.8%) are overrepresented.

Kelvin Grove - Herston hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Kelvin Grove - Herston's median age is 28 years, which is lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Kelvin Grove - Herston has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (28.0%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (3.0%). This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 12.7%. According to the 2021 Census, Kelvin Grove - Herston has become younger, with its median age dropping from 29 years to 28 years since the last census. Specifically, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 increased from 23.1% to 25.8%, while those aged 15-24 rose from 25.6% to 28.0%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 decreased from 10.9% to 9.3%, and those aged 5-14 dropped from 9.5% to 8.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Kelvin Grove - Herston's age profile will significantly change. The number of residents aged 25-34 is projected to increase by 515 people (a 16% rise) from 3,245 to 3,761. Meanwhile, the 0-4 age cohort is expected to grow by a modest 9%, adding 36 people.