Mount Keira

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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, Mount Keira's estimated population is around 1,619 as of Feb 2026. This shows a decrease of 72 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded 1,691 residents. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's resident population figure of 1,613 from Jun 2024 ERP data and one validated new address since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 232 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 89.0% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. Population projections indicate a significant increase in the top quartile of locations outside capital cities, with Mount Keira expected to expand by 476 persons to 2041, reflecting a 29.0% increase over 17 years.

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

Mount Keira has had minimal residential development activity with 2 dwelling approvals annually over the past five years (13 approvals in total). These low development levels reflect its rural nature, where housing needs drive development rather than broad market demand. Note that the small sample size can significantly influence annual growth statistics.

New developments consist of equal parts standalone homes and medium to high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift from the current 92% houses reflects reduced development site availability and changing lifestyle demands. The area has an estimated population of 1081 people per dwelling approval, indicating its quiet, low activity development environment. Mount Keira is projected to grow by 469 residents by 2041 (AreaSearch quarterly estimate).

If current construction levels continue, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Mount Keira 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 three projects likely affecting this region. Notable projects include: 2-8 Highway Avenue Multi-Dwelling Housing Development, Wollongong to Coniston Rail Infrastructure Upgrade, Wollongong Private Hospital expansion, and Illawarra Sports and Entertainment Precinct. Relevant details are listed below.

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.

Employment conditions in Mount Keira demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Mount Keira's workforce is well-educated with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.3% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 0.7%.

This rate is lower than Regional NSW's unemployment rate of 3.9%, with Mount Keira's workforce participation at 70.8% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. In December 2025920 residents were employed, a figure influenced by Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Key industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Notably, employment in education & training is at 1.7 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.5% compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%. The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.8 as of the Census. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.7%, labour force increased by 0.5%, and unemployment decreased by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 1.2% and an unemployment rate increase of 0.4 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Mount Keira's employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment profile.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Mount Keira suburb has a median taxpayer income of $66,843 and an average income of $88,992 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Nationally, this is extremely high compared to Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates as of September 2025 would be approximately $72,765 (median) and $96,877 (average). According to the 2021 Census figures, household incomes rank exceptionally high at the 90th percentile ($2,476 weekly). In Mount Keira, 29.0% of the population falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, aligning with regional levels where this cohort represents 29.9%. The district demonstrates considerable affluence with 40.2% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. After housing costs, residents retain 87.9% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Mount Keira's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.0% houses and 8.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mount Keira stood at 43.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.6% and rented ones at 15.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,468, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Mount Keira was recorded as $420, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Mount Keira's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,468 against the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 80.3% of all households, including 41.8% couples with children, 27.0% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 19.7%, with lone person households at 16.7% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

Mount Keira's residents aged 15+ have higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. 37.6% hold university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in Rest of NSW and 25.2% in SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 32.5% of residents holding them.

Advanced diplomas account for 12.0%, while certificates make up 20.5%. Educational participation is high, with 34.3% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.9% in primary, 9.4% in secondary, and 8.4% in tertiary education.

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

Mount Keira has seven active public transport stops, all offering bus services. These stops are served by ten different routes that combined offer 274 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically living 201 meters from the nearest stop. Most Mount Keira residents commute outward, with cars being the dominant mode of transportation at 93%. On average, there are 1.8 vehicles per dwelling, which is above the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 34.2% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 39 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 39 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mount Keira's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Mount Keira. AreaSearch's assessment indicates low prevalence of common health conditions across both young and old age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 62% of the total population (1,003 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, impacting 7.5 and 6.7% of residents respectively, while 72.2% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 16.4% of residents aged 65 and over (265 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Mount Keira records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mount Keira's population showed higher than average cultural diversity, with 20.1% born overseas and 14.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Mount Keira, at 54.6%, slightly lower than Regional NSW's 55.9%. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (26.7%), English (24.8%), and Other (7.8%).

Notably, Serbian (1.4%) and Macedonian (2.5%) groups were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively. Welsh representation was also higher at 0.8%.

Mount Keira's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Mount Keira is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Mount Keira has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (17.1%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (9.0%). According to the 2021 Census, the median age in Mount Keira decreased by 1.2 years from 40 to 39, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes include an increase in the proportion of residents aged 25-34 from 9.5% to 12.1%, and an increase in the 15-24 age group from 14.7% to 17.1%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 55-64 decreased from 12.6% to 9.0%, and the proportion of residents aged 5-14 dropped from 14.2% to 12.8%. Demographic modeling suggests that Mount Keira's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 25-34 age cohort projected to increase markedly by 111 people (57%) from 195 to 307. The 55-64 age group is expected to grow more modestly at 6%, adding only 9 residents.