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 an increase of 1,896 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 7.7% increase from the previous population count of 24,499. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 25,878 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with 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 relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Kew's growth exceeded that of its SA3 area at 7.4%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of 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. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, the suburb of Kew (Vic.) is expected to experience a decline in overall population of 242 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, notably the 75 to 84 age group, which is projected to increase by 673 people.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data indicates Kew has experienced around 134 dwelling approvals annually. Approximately 671 homes have been approved in the past five financial years, between FY21 and FY25, with an additional 60 approved so far in FY26. Despite population decline in recent years, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, maintaining a balanced market with good buyer choice.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $1,318,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments. Commercial approvals this financial year totalled $5.2 million, indicating limited commercial development focus compared to residential. Kew maintains similar construction rates per person as Greater Melbourne, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns. Recent construction comprises 30% detached dwellings and 70% townhouses or apartments, a shift from the current housing pattern of 50% houses, likely due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. 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, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 86 projects potentially impacting the region. Notable projects include Eastern Freeway Upgrades: Hoddle Street to Burke Road, Kew Library Upgrade, Kew Recreation Centre Redevelopment, and Arteur. The following details those likely 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 a highly educated workforce. Its unemployment rate was 3.0% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.2%. As of December 2025, 15,005 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.8%, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation was 68.4% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. 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, professional & technical employment is at 1.6 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction employment is under-represented at 5.7%, 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 grew by 2.4%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw 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 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kew's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 15.2% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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 in Kew, median income is $65,871 and average income is $130,181. This compares to Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. By September 2025, based on an 8.25% Wage Price Index growth since financial year ending June 2023, estimated median income in Kew would be approximately $71,305 and average income $140,921. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Kew rank highly nationally, between the 86th and 90th percentiles for households, families, and individuals. Income analysis reveals that 32.5% of residents earn $4,000 or more weekly (8,578 residents), contrasting with the surrounding region where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket leads at 32.8%. A substantial proportion, 43.8%, earn above $3,000 weekly, indicating strong economic capacity in the area. Housing accounts for 13.9% of income, and residents rank 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

Kew's dwelling structure, 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 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 making up 5.2%. 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

Kew has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above, with 56.9% holding university qualifications compared to the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian state average of 33.4%. This higher-than-average educational attainment is predominantly composed of bachelor degrees (35.1%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.9%) and graduate diplomas (4.9%). Vocational pathways also contribute significantly to the area's educational profile, with advanced diplomas accounting for 9.5% and certificates for 7.4%. The area shows a high level of current educational participation, with 31.4% of residents 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 lightrail and bus services. These are served by 20 routes that together facilitate 12,160 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents located an average of 199 meters from the nearest stop. Most commutes in this residential area are outward-bound. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 78%, followed by walking at 6% and cycling at 3%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 45.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,737 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 103 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's 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 excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low 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. 72.5% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Kew has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.4%, compared to 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for 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 has a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 31.7% of its population born overseas and 27.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Kew, making up 45.7% of its population. Judaism appears to be overrepresented in Kew compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 0.9% versus 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups in Kew are English (21.5%), Australian (17.6%), and Chinese (12.0%), which is significantly higher than the regional average of 6.5%. Notably, Polish (1.0%) and Greek (3.5%) populations are overrepresented in Kew compared to their respective regional averages of 0.8% and 2.7%, while Italian representation is slightly higher at 5.5% versus 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 somewhat older than Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Kew has a notably over-represented 15-24 cohort at 16.5% locally, while the 35-44 age group is under-represented at 11.3%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15-24 age group grew from 14.1% to 16.5%, and the 75-84 cohort increased from 6.1% to 7.6%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort declined from 11.3% to 9.7%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 14.0% to 12.4%. Demographic modeling suggests Kew's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 53%, adding 437 residents to reach 1,256. Residents aged 65 and older represent all anticipated growth due to demographic aging. However, population declines are projected for the 45-54 and 0-4 age cohorts.