Kelvin Grove

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, as of May 2026, Kelvin Grove's population is estimated at around 9,724. This reflects an increase of 1,815 people (22.9%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 7,909 people. The change was inferred from the resident population of 9,699 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 19 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 5,753 persons per square kilometer, placing Kelvin Grove in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area highly sought after. Kelvin Grove's growth of 22.9% since the 2021 Census exceeded both the national average (9.3%) and state average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 94.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections for years post-2032 based on 2021 data released in 2023. For areas not covered by ABS/Geoscience Australia projections, proportional growth weightings are applied based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data. Future population dynamics anticipate above median growth with the suburb expected to expand by 2,075 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 21.1% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Kelvin Grove when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates that Kelvin Grove has seen approximately 12 dwellings granted development approval annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 62 homes were approved, with a further 20 approved in FY-26 to date. On average, about 12.6 people have moved to the area each year for every dwelling built over these five financial years.

This suggests that supply is significantly lagging demand, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and pricing pressures. New properties are being constructed at an average expected cost of $655,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, approximately $7.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting limited commercial development activity. The new development consists predominantly of attached dwellings (88.0%), with detached houses making up 12.0%.

This shift towards denser development offers accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers, marking a notable change from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 31.0% houses. With around 401 people being approved per dwelling, Kelvin Grove exhibits characteristics of a developed market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Kelvin Grove is projected to grow by approximately 2,050 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, likely exacerbating buyer competition and supporting price growth.

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

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 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.

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Employment conditions in Kelvin Grove remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Kelvin Grove has an educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate was 5.2% in the past year, showing a growth of 0.6%. As of December 2025, 5,951 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 5.3%, slightly higher than Greater Brisbane's 4.1%.

Workforce participation was 73.0%, close to Greater Brisbane's 69.6%. According to Census data, 24.0% of residents worked from home. The leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Notably, the accommodation & food sector had employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction employed only 4.2% of local workers, below Greater Brisbane's 9.0%. There was a ratio of 1.2 workers per resident, indicating Kelvin Grove functions as an employment hub attracting workers from nearby areas. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.6%, labour force grew by 1.4%, resulting in unemployment rising by 0.8 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 3.2% with a slight fall in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kelvin Grove's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Kelvin Grove suburb has a median taxpayer income of $54,203 and an average of $78,814 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is higher than national averages, which are $58,236 median and $72,799 average for Greater Brisbane. By March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $60,360 median and $87,767 average based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023. Census data from 2021 shows household, family, and personal incomes in Kelvin Grove rank modestly, between the 40th and 45th percentiles. The income bracket $1,500 - 2,999 is dominant with 30.9% of residents (3,004 people), similar to regional levels at 33.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 78.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 39th percentile. Kelvin Grove's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Kelvin Grove's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 31.4% houses and 68.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kelvin Grove was at 13.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.9% and rented ones at 65.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Brisbane metro's $1,863 and the national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Kelvin Grove was $400, compared to Brisbane metro's $380 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 53.1% of all households, including 20.3% couples with children, 21.6% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 46.9%, with lone person households at 31.8% and group households making up 15.1%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in Kelvin Grove places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Kelvin Grove's educational attainment is notably higher than broader averages. Among residents aged 15+, 51.7% have university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in Queensland (QLD) and 30.4% nationally. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 31.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 16.0% and graduate diplomas at 4.0%. Vocational pathways account for 20.1% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.3% and certificates at 10.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 45.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 26.1% in tertiary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 6.0% pursuing primary education.

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

Kelvin Grove has 28 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 29 different routes, offering a total of 4762 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living just 142 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 56%, followed by buses at 21% and walking at 11%. On average, there are 0.7 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 24% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 680 trips daily, translating to about 170 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Kelvin Grove is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Kelvin Grove demonstrates superior health outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notably low across both younger and older age cohorts.

Approximately 58% of Kelvin Grove's total population (5,681 people) has private health cover, compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 10.7 and 6.4% of residents respectively. 77.4% of Kelvin Grove residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents exhibit low chronic condition prevalence. Only 5.9% of residents are aged 65 and over (573 people), lower than the 15.1% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Kelvin Grove 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 has a high level of cultural diversity, with 33.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 42.8% born overseas. The predominant religion in Kelvin Grove is Christianity, accounting for 30.3% of the population. Notably, Buddhism is overrepresented in Kelvin Grove compared to Greater Brisbane, with 4.4% versus 2.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (21.3%), Australian (18.5%), and Other (14.0%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: French is overrepresented at 0.8% in Kelvin Grove compared to 0.5% regionally, Korean at 1.0% versus 0.5%, and Spanish at 0.7% versus 0.4%.

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

The median age in Kelvin Grove is 27 years, which is lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 and the Australian median of 38. The 15-24 cohort makes up 29.5% of Kelvin Grove's population, compared to 12.7% nationally, indicating a notable over-representation. Conversely, the 65-74 age group is under-represented at 2.9%. Post-2021 Census data shows the median age decreased by 1.2 years from 28 to 27, suggesting a shift towards a younger demographic. The 25-34 age group grew from 22.7% to 25.5%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 27.2% to 29.5%. Meanwhile, the 45-54 cohort declined from 10.4% to 8.7% and the 5-14 group dropped from 9.6% to 8.3%. Population forecasts for Kelvin Grove indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, with an increase of 403 people (16%) from 2,479 to 2,883.