Kew (Vic.)

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

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Kew (Vic.) is around 26,395, reflecting a 7.7% increase from the 2021 Census figure of 24,499 people. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 25,878 in Jun 2024 and an additional 385 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,518 persons per square kilometer, placing Kew in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. Kew's growth exceeded that of its SA3 area (7.4%), making it a regional growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this growth. AreaSearch uses 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 utilises 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 years 2032 to 2041. Projections indicate a decline in overall population by 228 persons by 2041, but growth is anticipated in specific age cohorts, notably the 75 to 84 age group with an increase of 688 people.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Kew shows around 134 dwellings receiving development approval annually. Between FY2021 and FY2025, approximately 671 homes were approved, with another 57 in FY2026 so far. Despite population decline, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, maintaining a balanced market with good buyer choice.

Average construction value of new properties is $1,318,000, indicating focus on the premium market. Commercial approvals this financial year totalled $5.2 million. Kew's construction rates per person are similar to Greater Melbourne, supporting regional market stability. Recent construction comprises 30% detached dwellings and 70% townhouses or apartments, a shift from existing patterns of 50% houses. This indicates diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs.

Kew has approximately 177 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. With population expected to remain stable or decline, reduced pressure on housing is anticipated, potentially creating buying opportunities.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 86 projects that may affect this area. Notable projects include Eastern Freeway Upgrades from Hoddle Street to Burke Road, Kew Library Upgrade, Kew Recreation Centre Redevelopment, and Arteur. The following list details those most likely to be 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.

The labour market in Kew shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Kew has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 2.7% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.0%.

As of that date, 14,979 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.0%, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Kew was 68.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 45.4% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training.

Notably, employment in professional & technical services is at 1.6 times the regional average. However, construction is under-represented, with only 5.7% of Kew's workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.0%, while the labour force grew by 2.7%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Kew. Over five years, national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6%, and over ten years by 13.7%. Applying these projections to Kew's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 15.2% over ten years.

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 financial year ended June 2023 shows income in Kew is exceptionally high nationally. The median assessed income is $65,871 while the average income stands at $130,181. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's figures of a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates for Kew would be approximately $71,305 (median) and $140,921 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Kew rank highly nationally, between the 86th and 90th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that the largest segment comprises 32.5% earning $4000+ weekly (8,578 residents), contrasting with the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 32.8%. The substantial proportion of high earners, at 43.8% above $3,000/week, indicates strong economic capacity throughout the area. Housing accounts for 13.9% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 90th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

In Kew, as per the latest Census evaluation, 50.5% of dwellings were houses while 49.5% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Melbourne's metropolitan area where 67.9% of dwellings were houses and 32.1% were other types. Home ownership in Kew stood at 40.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.8% and rented dwellings at 29.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kew was $3,000, higher than Melbourne's metropolitan average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Kew was $476, compared to Melbourne's metropolitan average of $390. Nationally, Kew's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $3,000 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and median weekly rents were substantially higher at $476 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 68.7% of all households, including 32.5% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 9.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.3%, with lone person households at 26.0% and group households comprising 5.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Kew demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Kew is notable, with 56.9% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This compares to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% statewide (VIC). Bachelor degrees are the most common at 35.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.9%) and graduate diplomas (4.9%). Vocational pathways account for 16.9% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 7.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.4% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in secondary education, 9.4% in tertiary education, and 7.8% pursuing primary education.

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

Kew has 117 active public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These are served by 20 different routes that facilitate 12,160 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents typically located just 199 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commutes are outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 78%, while walking and cycling account for 6% and 3% respectively. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 45.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Daily service frequency averages 1,737 trips across all routes, equating to approximately 103 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

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

Kew's health outcomes show exceptional results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, with very low prevalence across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 78% of the total population (20,574 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%. The most common conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 7.1% and 7.1% respectively, while 72.5% report being completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 72.6% across Greater Melbourne.

Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Kew has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.2%, compared to 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, broadly in line with national rankings.

Kew was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Kew's population, born overseas, stands at 31.7%, significantly higher than most local markets. 27.3% of Kew residents speak a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Kew, with 45.7%.

Judaism, though small at 0.9%, is slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.0%. The top three ancestry groups are English (21.5%), Australian (17.6%), and Chinese (12.0%), the latter being substantially higher than the regional average of 6.5%. Polish, Greek, and Italian ethnicities show notable differences: Polish at 1.0% vs regional 0.8%, Greek at 3.5% vs 2.7%, and Italian at 5.5% vs 5.2%.

Kew's median age exceeds the national pattern

Kew's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and slightly older than Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Kew has a notably higher percentage of residents aged 15-24 (16.5% vs. 14.1%) and fewer residents aged 35-44 (11.2%). According to the 2021 Census, Kew's population aged 15 to 24 grew from 14.1% to 16.5%, while those aged 75 to 84 increased from 6.1% to 7.5%. Conversely, residents aged 5 to 14 declined from 11.3% to 9.6%, and those aged 45 to 54 decreased from 14.0% to 12.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Kew's age profile. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 56%, adding 443 residents to reach 1,235. Residents aged 65 and older will represent all anticipated population growth, while declines are projected for the 45-54 and 0-4 age cohorts.