Kennington

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

As of Feb 2026, Kennington's population is estimated at around 5,994, reflecting an increase of 114 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 5,880. This increase was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 5,915 following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 63 validated new addresses since the Census date. The suburb's population density is 1,494 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was primarily responsible for Kennington's population growth during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Kennington is expected to expand by 1,217 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 19.0% in total over the 17 years. This projects above median population growth for national regional areas.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Kennington shows an average of 18 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 91 homes. As of FY26, six approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.6 new residents arrive per year for each new home constructed between FY21 and FY25, indicating that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand. The average value of new properties being constructed is $437,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment.

This financial year has seen $17.7 million in commercial development approvals, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of Victoria, Kennington shows reduced construction levels, 57.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes, although recent activity has intensified. The area's low density is reflected in its population density of around 262 people per approval. New development consists of 62.0% detached houses and 38.0% townhouses or apartments, a shift from the current housing mix of 78.0% houses. This change reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements.

Looking ahead, Kennington is expected to grow by 1,138 residents by 2041 according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 10 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include 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 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.

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

Kennington has a well-educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.9% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.0% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. As of that month, 2,798 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.2% higher than Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation was somewhat lower at 57.2%, compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.5%. A moderate 16.1% of residents worked from home, based on Census responses, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries for employment among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Notably, health care & social assistance had employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence with 1.2% employment compared to 7.5% regionally.

The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 2.0%, while labour force increased by 1.6%, resulting in a unemployment fall of 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Vic.'s employment contracted by 0.6%, labour force fell by 0.7%, and unemployment fell by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Kennington. These projections estimate that national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with differing growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific 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 suburb's income level is lower than average nationally, per latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Kennington's median taxpayer income is $49,451, average is $64,681; these compare to Regional Vic.'s $50,954 and $62,728 respectively. With an 8.25% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for Kennington are approximately $53,531 (median) and $70,017 (average) by September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in Kennington rank modestly, between the 25th and 37th percentiles for households, families, and individuals. Income brackets show that 28.6% of residents (1,714 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, similar to surrounding regions at 30.3%. After housing costs, 85.9% of income remains, ranking at the 28th percentile nationally; Kennington's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Kennington is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Kennington's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 77.7% houses and 22.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. 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, below Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in Kennington was $290, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. 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 constitute 58.5% of all households, including 20.2% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 41.5%, with lone person households at 35.7% and group households comprising 5.7%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Regional 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% and the SA3 area average of 23.6%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 19.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.3%). Vocational credentials are held by 31.9% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates at 20.7%. Educational participation is 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

Kennington has 27 active public transport stops serviced by seven routes. These routes collectively facilitate 1,040 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 252 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode of travel at 91%, while 5% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 16.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The 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 considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

Kennington faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantially higher than average in Kennington, particularly among older age groups. Approximately 52% of Kennington's total population (~3142 people) has private health cover, which is slightly above the average for SA2 areas. Mental health issues and arthritis were found to be the most common medical conditions, affecting 11.6% and 10.0% of residents respectively. About 60.9% of Kennington's residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic. Working-age residents in Kennington have a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions than average. The area has 23.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1420 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, although they rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

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 citizens, 87.1% born in Australia, and 89.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Kennington, comprising 48.7% of people. Judaism's representation was notably higher than the regional average, making up 0.1% compared to 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (31.6%), Australian (27.3%), and Irish (11.1%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Scottish at 9.4% (vs regional 8.8%), Sri Lankan at 0.4% (vs regional 0.1%), and French at 0.5% (vs regional 0.3%).

Kennington's median age exceeds the national pattern

Kennington's median age is 41 years, which is lower than Regional Vic.'s average of 43 but exceeds the national average of 38. The 25-34 age group constitutes 15.7%, higher than Regional Vic., while the 55-64 cohort stands at 10.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows a decrease in median age by 1 year to 41, with notable shifts including growth of the 25-34 group from 13.0% to 15.7%, and increase of the 35-44 cohort from 10.7% to 12.2%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 11.1% to 9.4%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 11.6% to 10.5%. Population forecasts for Kennington in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the 25-34 age group projected to grow by 49%, adding 458 residents to reach 1,400. Conversely, both the 55-64 and 65-74 age groups are expected to decrease in numbers.