Kahibah

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

As of Feb 2026, Kahibah's population is estimated at around 2,691, reflecting an increase of 88 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 2,603. This increase was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 2,648 residents based on latest ERP data release by ABS (June 2024) and additional 20 validated new addresses since the Census date. The suburb's population density is 2,446 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Kahibah's growth rate of 3.4% since census positions it within 0.7 percentage points of its SA3 area (4.1%). Natural growth contributed approximately 51.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year, are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Kahibah's population is expected to increase by 326 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 12.0% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates Kahibah has experienced around 15 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 76 homes. So far in FY-26, three approvals have been recorded. This results in approximately 1.3 people moving to the area per year for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, suggesting a balance between supply and demand with stable market dynamics.

The average construction cost of new properties is $448,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. Compared to Rest of NSW, Kahibah shows moderately higher new home approvals, at 39.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, providing reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. New development consists of 29.0% standalone homes and 71.0% attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This marks a significant shift from the current housing mix, which is currently 74.0% houses.

With around 446 people per dwelling approval, Kahibah shows a developed market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Kahibah is projected to add 323 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Kahibah has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major undertakings, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects comprise Highpoint, Charlestown Swim Centre Expansion, Newcastle Inner City Bypass - Rankin Park to Jesmond, and Newcastle Art Gallery Expansion. The following list outlines those projects likely to be most pertinent.

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.

Employment performance in Kahibah exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Kahibah has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.9%, lower than the national average of 3.8%. Over the past year, employment grew by an estimated 3.2%.

As of September 2025, 1,471 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.9% below the Rest of NSW's rate. The workforce participation rate is high at 71.4%, compared to the Rest of NSW's 61.5%. A notable 29.3% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction.

The area specializes in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level, but has a low agriculture, forestry & fishing employment rate of 0.2%. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.2%, while labour force rose by 3.6%, leading to a slight unemployment increase of 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, the Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decrease of 0.1%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth rates of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kahibah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Kahibah suburb has one of the highest incomes in Australia. The median income is $59,435 and the average income is $79,690. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's figures where the median income is $52,390 and the average income is $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $64,701 (median) and $86,751 (average). Census 2021 income data shows personal income ranks at the 71st percentile with a weekly income of $932, while household income sits at the 53rd percentile. Distribution data indicates that 28.6% of residents (769 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, aligning with the surrounding region where this cohort represents 29.9%. High housing costs consume 15.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 54th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Kahibah is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Kahibah, as per the latest Census evaluation, 74.2% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 25.9% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kahibah stood at 37.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.1% and rented ones at 22.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,089, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Kahibah was $400, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Kahibah's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Kahibah has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 67.9% of all households, including 30.9% couples with children, 24.1% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.1%, with lone person households at 29.4% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average in the Rest of NSW.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 29.7%, higher than the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA3 area's 23.5%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 21.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are held by 39.9% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.7% and certificates at 28.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.4% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (10.7%), secondary (6.3%), and tertiary (4.2%).

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

Kahibah has 19 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by eight different routes that together facilitate 168 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 153 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most Kahibah residents commute outward using private vehicles, which remain the dominant mode of transportation at 96%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling in Kahibah. According to the 2021 Census, 29.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 24 trips per day, equating to approximately eight weekly trips per individual stop.

Kahibah's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Kahibah residents have shown relatively positive health outcomes according to health data analysis by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and health conditions are broadly inline with national benchmarks, with a standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts.

Private health cover is very high in Kahibah, at approximately 58% of the total population (~1,571 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, impacting 9.3 and 8.2% of residents respectively. 66.6% of Kahibah residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. The area has 18.1% of residents aged 65 and over (487 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Kahibah is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Kahibah's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.6% of its population born in Australia, 94.4% being citizens, and 94.9% speaking English only at home. The dominant religion in Kahibah is Christianity, comprising 45.4% of the population. Notably, Judaism is not represented in Kahibah's population, compared to 0.1% across Rest of NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (31.4%), Australian (30.7%), and Scottish (9.4%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Welsh is overrepresented at 1.1% in Kahibah versus 0.5% regionally, Hungarian at 0.5% versus 0.2%, and Macedonian at 0.7% versus 0.4%.

Kahibah's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Kahibah's median age is 38, which is lower than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 but matches the national norm of 38. The age group of 35-44 has a strong representation at 15.8%, compared to Rest of NSW, while the 55-64 cohort is less prevalent at 8.9%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 25 to 34 grew from 13.8% to 15.0%, and the 35 to 44 age group increased from 14.7% to 15.8%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 9.9% to 8.9%. Demographic modeling indicates that Kahibah's age profile will significantly change by 2041. The 25 to 34 group is projected to grow by 26%, adding 106 people and reaching 510 from 403. Meanwhile, population declines are forecast for the 15 to 24 and 65 to 74 age groups.