Kingsbury

An assessment of population growth drivers in Kingsbury reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Kingsbury is around 4,365. This figure reflects a growth of 905 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,460. The latest estimate was inferred from AreaSearch's validation of resident population data based on ERP figures released by the ABS in June 2025 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,437 persons per square kilometer, placing Kingsbury in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The suburb's growth rate of 26.2% since the 2021 census exceeds both the state average (9.3%) and national average, indicating it as a growth leader regionally. The primary driver for this population increase was overseas migration.

AreaSearch projects future population trends using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by these projections, AreaSearch employs the 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. By 2041, Kingsbury is projected to experience exceptional growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of Australian statistical areas. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb's population is expected to increase by 2,726 persons over this period, reflecting a total increase of 62.3%.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis, Kingsbury had around 14 dwelling approvals annually. From FY21 to FY25, approximately 70 homes were approved, with another 3 in FY26. Each new dwelling added about 2.8 residents yearly over these five years.

The average construction cost was $317,000 per dwelling. This financial year saw $4.6 million in commercial approvals, indicating Kingsbury's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Kingsbury had 51.0% lower building activity per person. Recent development comprised only attached dwellings, marking a shift from the current 66.0% houses. With around 725 people per dwelling approval, Kingsbury reflects a mature market. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates Kingsbury's population will grow by 2,720 residents.

If development rates continue as is, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely influencing this region. Notable projects include Hilton Garden Inn Bundoora, La Trobe University City of the Future, RMIT University Bundoora Campus Developments, and Polaris 3083 Master Planned Community. The following list details those 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 employment environment in Kingsbury shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Kingsbury has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services. The unemployment rate was 3.0% as of the past year, with estimated employment growth of 2.3%. As of December 2025, there were 2,489 residents employed, and the unemployment rate was 1.8% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation was 65.9%, below Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 23.4% of residents worked from home. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and accommodation & food. The area specializes in accommodation & food with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level, but has lower representation in professional & technical services at 7.9%.

Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Over a 12-month period ending December 2025, employment increased by 2.3% alongside labour force growth of 2.1%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne had employment and labour force growth rates of 2.4% and 2.8% respectively, 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 Kingsbury's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The suburb of Kingsbury had a median taxpayer income of $45,660 and an average income of $57,484 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than the national average, with Greater Melbourne having a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164 during the same period. By March 2026, estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $50,052 and the average income around $63,014, based on a 9.62% growth in wages since financial year 2023. The 2021 Census figures indicate that household, family, and personal incomes in Kingsbury fall between the 13th and 28th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that the largest segment comprises 31.8% of residents earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly, aligning with the regional pattern where this cohort also represents 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Kingsbury, with only 81.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 25th percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Kingsbury displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Kingsbury's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 66.1% houses and 33.9% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kingsbury stood at 30.7%, similar to Melbourne metro's level. Dwellings were either mortgaged (23.5%) or rented (45.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, below the Melbourne metro average of $2,000 and the Australian average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Kingsbury was $361, lower than Melbourne metro's $390 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 62.7% of all households, including 24.2% couples with children, 24.9% couples without children, and 11.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 37.3%, with lone person households at 28.4% and group households comprising 9.0%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Kingsbury exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 39.2%, exceeding the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's rate of 32.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 21.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are held by 25.4% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.3% and certificates at 15.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.1% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.5% in tertiary education, 6.1% in primary education, and 4.7% pursuing secondary education.

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

Kingsbury has 19 operational public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These are served by 4 distinct routes facilitating 3,499 weekly passenger trips in total. The area boasts excellent transport accessibility with residents typically residing just 164 meters from their nearest stop. Primarily residential, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 76%, while train use stands at 8% and bus use at 6%. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 23.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 499 trips daily across all routes, translating to roughly 184 weekly trips per individual stop.

Kingsbury's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Kingsbury's health data shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Common health issues are seen across all ages, with mental health issues affecting 8.1% of residents and arthritis impacting 7.3%. Approximately half (50%) of Kingsbury residents have private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

Most residents, 71.8%, report no medical ailments, similar to Greater Melbourne at 72.6%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Kingsbury has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (13.6%) compared to Greater Melbourne (15.0%), with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Kingsbury is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Kingsbury has a high cultural diversity, with 49.4% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 49.7% born overseas. The predominant religion in Kingsbury is Christianity, accounting for 41.8% of the population. Notably, Buddhism is overrepresented in Kingsbury at 5.9%, compared to the Greater Melbourne average of 4.2%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (15.4%), Other (15.3%), and Australian (14.3%). Some ethnic groups have notable differences: Vietnamese is overrepresented at 5.5% in Kingsbury versus the regional average of 1.9%, Macedonian at 1.8% compared to 0.7%, and Italian at 8.0% versus 5.2%.

Kingsbury hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Kingsbury's median age is 32 years, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and significantly lower than Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Kingsbury has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (26.6%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.3%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.6%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that younger residents have decreased the median age by 2.4 years to 32. Key changes show the 15-24 age group has grown from 14.4% to 21.7%, while the 25-34 cohort has increased from 23.1% to 26.6%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 11.5% to 7.6%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 7.8% to 6.3%. Demographic modeling suggests that Kingsbury's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the strongest projected growth in the 25-34 age cohort at 68%, adding 792 residents to reach a total of 1,954.