Kew East

Kew East is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

The population of the suburb of Kew East is estimated at around 6,902 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 282 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,620. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population being 6,901 following examination of ABS data released in June 2025 and validation of an additional 22 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,700 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Kew East's growth rate of 4.3% since the census positions it within 2.3 percentage points of the SA3 area (6.6%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 94.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and 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, the suburb is expected to grow by 40 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 0.6% in total over the 16-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Kew East shows an average of around 27 residential properties granted approval per year over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 138 homes. In FY-26 so far, 18 approvals have been recorded. The population has declined recently, suggesting that new supply is keeping up with demand and offering good choice to buyers. The average construction cost value of new homes is $1,353,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment.

This financial year has seen $9.6 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development compared to Greater Melbourne. Kew East records about three-quarters the building activity per person nationally and ranks among the 62nd percentile of areas assessed. New building activity comprises 69.0% standalone homes and 31.0% townhouses or apartments, providing options across different price points.

With around 232 people per approval, Kew East reflects a low density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Kew East is expected to grow by 39 residents through to 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.

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

The performance of a region can significantly be influenced by changes made to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified six projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable among these are the Kew Recreation Centre Redevelopment, Harp Village Precinct Redevelopment, and Eastern Freeway Upgrades from Hoddle Street to Burke Road. The following list provides details on those projects likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Kew East demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Kew East has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 3.0% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 2.2%. As of December 2025, 4,031 residents were employed at a 1.8% lower unemployment rate than Greater Melbourne's 4.8%.

Workforce participation was similar to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. Home workership stood at 44.2%, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries included health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Professional & technical employment was notably high, at 1.4 times the regional average.

Manufacturing, however, was under-represented at 3.9% compared to Greater Melbourne's 7.2%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Kew East saw employment increase by 2.2%, labour force by 2.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kew East's industry mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2023 shows Kew East's median income among taxpayers is $61,125. The average income in this suburb is $112,377. Nationally, these figures place Kew East in the top percentile. In comparison, Greater Melbourne has a median income of $57,688 and an average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Kew East's median income are approximately $67,005 by March 2026, with the average being around $123,188. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Kew East rank between the 82nd and 90th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 32.3% of individuals in this suburb earn more than $4,000 weekly, contrasting with surrounding areas where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 32.8%. This affluence is reflected in premium retail and service offerings. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income, with residents ranking within the 90th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Kew East displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Kew East, as per the latest Census, consisted of 66.5% houses and 33.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kew East stood at 42.0%, with the rest being mortgaged (34.2%) or rented (23.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,000, exceeding Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Kew East was $471, higher than Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Kew East's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $3,000 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Kew East features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 75.7% of all households, including 40.4% couples with children, 23.0% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 24.3%, with lone person households at 19.9% and group households comprising 4.4%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Educational attainment in Kew East is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15 years and above, 53.1% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent (33.0%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.0%) and graduate diplomas (5.1%). Vocational pathways account for 17.9%, with advanced diplomas at 9.0% and certificates at 8.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in secondary education, 9.5% in primary education, and 8.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 42 active stops operating in Kew East, serving a mix of lightrail and buses. These stops are served by 13 individual routes, collectively providing 3581 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 183 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode at 84%, with 2% cycling. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling.

A high 44.2% of residents work from home (2021 Census). Service frequency averages 511 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 85 weekly trips per stop.

Kew East's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Kew East, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, indicating very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 71% of the total population (4,901 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.8 and 6.2% of residents respectively, while 74.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne.

As of 19th March 2023, the area has 19.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,345 people), which is higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Kew East was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Kew East had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 28.5% of its residents born overseas and 27.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Kew East, accounting for 49.9% of the population. Judaism, however, was more prevalent in Kew East than in Greater Melbourne, with 0.8% compared to 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (20.3%), Australian (17.9%), and Chinese (9.8%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Greeks made up 5.7% of Kew East's population compared to the regional average of 2.7%, Italians were at 8.2% versus 5.2%, and Hungarians were at 0.4% compared to 0.3%.

Kew East's median age exceeds the national pattern

Kew East's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and somewhat older than Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Kew East has a notably over-represented cohort of 55-64 year-olds at 12.9%, while 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 11.2%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 grew from 13.9% to 15.5%, and the 75-84 cohort increased from 5.8% to 7.1%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group declined from 13.4% to 11.8%. Demographic modeling suggests Kew East's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 63%, adding 144 residents to reach 372. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 72% of the population growth, while declines are projected for the 35-44 and 0-4 age cohorts.