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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the population of the suburb of Kew (Vic.) is estimated at around 26,226 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,727 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 24,499. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 25,963 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025, along with an additional 385 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,502 persons per square kilometer, placing Kew in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 7.0% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (6.6%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was primarily responsible for population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 for areas not covered by the former data. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, the suburb's population is expected to decline by 282 persons by 2041. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, with the 75 to 84 age group projected to increase by 519 people.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Kew shows around 134 dwellings receiving development approval annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 671 homes were approved, with an additional 70 so far in FY-26. Despite population decline over recent years, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average construction value of new properties is $1,318,000, indicating developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments. This year, there have been $5.2 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited commercial development focus compared to Greater Melbourne. Recent construction consists of 30.0% detached dwellings and 70.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 50.0% houses). This higher-density living creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. The location has approximately 177 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, Kew should see reduced pressure on housing in the future, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 84 projects likely to impact the region. Notable initiatives include Eastern Freeway Upgrades: Hoddle Street to Burke Road, Kew Recreation Centre Redevelopment, Kew Library Upgrade, and Arteur. The following list details those expected to be 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.

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

Kew has an educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 3.0% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.2%.

This is lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, but Kew's workforce participation is similar at 69.9%. As of December 2025, 15,012 residents were employed. The unemployment rate in Kew was 1.8% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate. Census responses showed that 45.4% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns.

Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training sectors. 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. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 2.2% while labour force increased by 2.4%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Kew's employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 15.2% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to Kew's employment mix.

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 ending June 2023 shows that Kew suburb has exceptionally high national median income of $65,871 and average income of $130,181. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth rate of 9.62% from financial year ending June 2023 to March 2026, estimated current incomes are approximately $72,208 (median) and $142,704 (average). According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data for 2021, Kew's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between 86th and 90th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that the largest segment in Kew is 32.5% earning $4000+ weekly (8,523 residents), contrasting with surrounding region where $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 32.8%. High earners above $3,000/week constitute 43.8%, indicating strong economic capacity. Housing expenses account for 13.9% of income, and residents rank within the 90th percentile for disposable income. Kew's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile nationally.

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

Kew's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 50.5% houses and 49.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kew stood at 40.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.8% and rented ones at 29.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,000, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Kew was $476, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Kew's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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

In Kew, educational attainment is notably higher than national and state averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 56.9% hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent 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% of residents 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

Public transport analysis indicates 117 active transport stops operating within Kew. These consist of a mix of light rail and bus services. They are served by 20 individual routes that collectively facilitate 12,160 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 199 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. The dominant mode of transportation is car at 78%, followed by walking at 6% and cycling at 3%.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions, a high 45.4% of residents work from home. Service frequency averages 1,737 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 103 weekly trips per individual stop. An accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 78% of Kew's total population of 20,443 people have private health cover, compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and the national average of 55.7%.

Asthma and mental health issues are the most common medical conditions, affecting 7.1% and 7.1% of residents respectively. A total of 72.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents in Kew have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 20.5% of residents aged 65 and over (5,376 people), higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors in Kew are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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 showed high cultural diversity, with 31.7% born overseas and 27.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Kew, with 45.7%. Judaism was slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, at 0.9% versus 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (21.5%), Australian (17.6%), and Chinese (12.0%), which was higher than the regional average of 6.5%. Polish (1.0%) and Greek (3.5%) were notably overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.8% and 2.7%, respectively, while Italian showed slight overrepresentation at 5.5% versus 5.2%.

Kew's median age exceeds the national pattern

Kew has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's figure of 38. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, Kew has an over-representation of the 15-24 age group (16.2%) and an under-representation of the 35-44 age group (11.6%). Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group increased from 14.1% to 16.2%, while the 25-34 cohort rose from 12.9% to 14.2%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort decreased from 11.3% to 9.6%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 14.0% to 12.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Kew's age profile will significantly change. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow by 428 people (54%), from 786 to 1,215. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 99% of total population growth, reflecting Kew's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 35-44 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.