Kilaben Bay

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

As of February 2026, the estimated population of Kilaben Bay is around 1,691, reflecting an increase of 175 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 11.5% increase from the previous population count of 1,516 residents. AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population in June 2024 was 1,643, following an examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS and address validation since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 1,050 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively inline with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Kilaben Bay's growth rate exceeded that of Rest of NSW (5.9%) and its SA4 region, making it a growth leader in the area. Interstate migration contributed around 60% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of regional areas nationally is expected for Kilaben Bay, with an estimated increase of 215 persons to reach 1,906 by 2041, reflecting a total gain of 2.8% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Kilaben Bay, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Kilaben Bay averaged around 7 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 37 homes were approved, with another 3 so far in FY-26. This averages to about 0.5 people moving to the area for each dwelling built over these years.

New construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options while enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations. The average expected construction cost of new homes is $706,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, $1.4 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Rest of NSW, Kilaben Bay records roughly half the building activity per person and places among the 39th percentile nationally, indicating somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established properties.

New building activity comprises 60.0% standalone homes and 40.0% townhouses or apartments, expanding medium-density options to create a mix of opportunities across price brackets. Kilaben Bay currently has approximately 436 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area. Population forecasts indicate it will gain 47 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Two projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly: Toronto Foreshore Revitalisation and Rathmines Park Transformation. Other notable projects include 114-120 Cary Street Mixed Use Development and 136-138 Brighton Avenue Apartment Development, though they may have less relevance.

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The employment landscape in Kilaben Bay shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Kilaben Bay has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 4.1%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.2% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 757 residents in work, while the unemployment rate is 0.2% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation is lower at 58.6%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. Based on Census responses, 31.6% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Kilaben Bay shows strong specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 0.9% compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.2%, while labour force increased by 2.9%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Kilaben Bay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

The suburb of Kilaben Bay has one of the highest income levels in Australia, according to the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch. The median income among taxpayers in Kilaben Bay for the financial year 2023 was $61,564, with an average income of $87,507. This compares to figures for the Rest of NSW, which were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $67,019 and an average income of $95,260 as of September 2025. Census data indicates that household income ranks at the 77th percentile ($2,186 weekly), while personal income sits at the 60th percentile. Income analysis reveals that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates in Kilaben Bay, with 28.5% of residents (481 people) falling within this range, mirroring the broader area where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Higher earners also represent a substantial presence, with 33.7% exceeding $3,000 weekly, suggesting strong purchasing power within the community. After housing costs, residents retain 88.9% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Kilaben Bay is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Kilaben Bay, as per the latest Census, consisted of 94.8% houses and 5.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kilaben Bay stood at 46.5%, with the rest being mortgaged (41.5%) or rented (12.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,036, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was $390, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Kilaben Bay's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

Kilaben Bay features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 81.3% of all households, including 34.8% couples with children, 38.2% couples without children, and 7.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for 18.7%, with lone person households at 17.2% and group households making up 1.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 26.8%, surpassing the SA3 area average of 18.1% and that of Rest of NSW (21.3%). Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 17.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 43.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (13.2%) and certificates (29.9%).

Educational participation is high at 28.0%, including 10.2% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Kilaben Bay has 20 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 20 different routes that together offer 156 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 139 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Kilaben Bay being primarily residential. Cars remain the dominant mode of transportation at 94%. On average, there are 1.9 vehicles per dwelling, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 31.6% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 22 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 7 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Kilaben Bay is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Kilaben Bay shows superior health outcomes based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and elderly cohorts exhibit low incidence of common health conditions. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 61% of the total population (1,039 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.3% and 8.6% of residents respectively. 65.4% of residents report being completely free of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age residents have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 23.5% of residents aged 65 and over (397 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Kilaben Bay is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Kilaben Bay's population showed low cultural diversity, with 89.4% born in Australia, 93.1% being citizens, and 96.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 53.8%. This compares to 55.9% across Rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups were English (34.1%), Australian (29.0%), and Scottish (9.5%). Notably, Welsh (1.6%) and Hungarian (0.4%) populations were higher than regional averages of 0.5% and 0.2%, respectively. Similarly, the Polish population was slightly higher at 0.8%.

Kilaben Bay hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Kilaben Bay's median age is 46, which is higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and significantly greater than Australia's national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group comprises 15.5% of Kilaben Bay's population, compared to Rest of NSW's figure, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 8.1%. This 65-74 concentration is notably higher than the national average of 9.5%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 11.2% to 13.9% of Kilaben Bay's population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 14.6% to 12.6%. By 2041, Kilaben Bay is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The 35 to 44 group is expected to grow by 14%, adding 33 people and reaching a total of 269 from the previous count of 235. Conversely, the 5-14 and 15-24 cohorts are anticipated to see population declines.