Kennington

Kennington has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population for the Kennington statistical area (Lv2) is around 5,982 people. This figure reflects an increase of 102 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,880 people in the area. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 5,915 residents as of June 2024, along with validation of 58 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,491 persons per square kilometer, which is higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The primary driver of population growth in the area has been overseas migration.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, an above median population growth is expected in national regional areas like Kennington (SA2). By 2041, the area's population is projected to increase by 1,218 persons, reflecting a total increase of 19.3% over the 17-year period.

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

Kennington has averaged around 18 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 92 homes. From FY-21 to FY-25, an average of 0.6 new residents arrived per year for each new home approved. So far in FY-26, 6 approvals have been recorded. The average construction value of new properties is $437,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment.

In this financial year, $17.7 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded. Compared to Rest of Vic., Kennington shows substantially reduced construction activity, with 57.0% fewer approvals per person. This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes, though recent activity has intensified. The area's current housing mix is 62.0% detached houses and 38.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a growing trend towards more affordable compact living. Kennington reflects a low density area with around 263 people per approval. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Kennington is expected to grow by 1,155 residents through to 2041.

Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Kennington has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 10 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are St Aidans Road Kennington Social Housing, Marnie Place Estate, Kennington Reservoir Dam Wall Rehabilitation, and Water and Sewer Network Program. The following list details those of most relevance.

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 conditions in Kennington remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Kennington's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.0% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.1% over the past year.

There are 2,779 residents employed currently, with an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is 0.2% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate. Workforce participation in Kennington is on par with Rest of Vic., at 57.4%. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance has a notably high concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence in Kennington, with only 1.2% employment compared to the regional average of 7.5%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data. Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 2.1%, labour force increased by 2.3%, leading to a slight rise in unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Vic., where employment contracted by 0.7% and unemployment rose marginally. State-level data from 25-Nov shows VIC employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 14.4% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kennington's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Kennington's median income among taxpayers was $49,451 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $64,681 during the same period. In comparison, Rest of Vic.'s median and average incomes were $50,954 and $62,728 respectively. Based on an 8.25% increase from financial year 2023 to September 2025, Kennington's estimated median income would be approximately $53,531 and the average income would be around $70,017 by that date. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Kennington ranked modestly, between the 25th and 37th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The majority of residents (28.6%, or 1,710 people) fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 income bracket, which was consistent with broader trends in the surrounding region (30.3% in the same category). After housing costs, 85.9% of income remained, ranking at the 28th percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

Kennington is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Kennington, as per the latest Census evaluation, 77.7% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 22.4% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is in contrast to Non-Metro Vic., where 90.6% of dwellings are houses and 9.4% are other types. Home ownership in Kennington stood at 36.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.9% and rented ones at 38.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,400, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,408. The median weekly rent in Kennington was $290, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $295. Nationally, Kennington's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 58.5% of all households, consisting of 20.2% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 41.5%, with lone person households at 35.7% and group households making up 5.7%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Kennington exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 30.1%, higher than the Rest of Vic average of 21.7%. Among residents aged 15+, 19.2% have bachelor degrees, 6.6% postgraduate qualifications, and 4.3% graduate diplomas. Vocational credentials are held by 31.9% of residents aged 15+, including advanced diplomas (11.2%) and certificates (20.7%). Educational participation is high at 28.1%, with 8.4% in primary, 7.1% in tertiary, and 6.7% in secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.4% in primary education, 7.1% in tertiary education, and 6.7% pursuing secondary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 27 active public transport stops in Kennington. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totalling 7 individual routes. Together, these routes facilitate 1,040 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents on average situated 252 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 148 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 38 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Kennington is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health issues in Kennington.

Common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is more common here than average, at approximately 52% (~3,135 people). Mental health issues affect 11.6% of residents, while arthritis impacts 10.0%. Notably, 60.9% report no medical ailments, compared to 62.0% in the rest of Victoria. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 23.7% (1,417 people), compared to 18.9% in the rest of Victoria. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly aligned with the general population's health profile.

Kennington ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Kennington's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 89.2% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (87.1%), and speaking English only at home (89.9%). Christianity is the predominant religion in Kennington, making up 48.7% of its population. Notably, Judaism is slightly overrepresented in Kennington compared to the rest of Victoria, with 0.1% versus 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups based on country of birth of parents are English (31.6%), Australian (27.3%), and Irish (11.1%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Scottish is overrepresented at 9.4% compared to the regional average of 8.7%, Sri Lankan at 0.4% versus 0.1%, and French at 0.5% versus 0.3%.

Kennington's median age exceeds the national pattern

Kennington's median age is 41 years, which is lower than the Rest of Vic. average of 43 but higher than the national average of 38. The 25-34 age group constitutes 15.0% of Kennington's population, compared to a lower percentage in the Rest of Vic., while the 55-64 cohort makes up 10.5%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 25-34 age group has increased from 13.0% to 15.0%, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 11.1% to 9.6%, and the 55-64 group has dropped from 11.6% to 10.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Kennington's age profile will change significantly. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 57%, adding 512 residents to reach a total of 1,410. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 55-64 cohorts.