Mount Keira

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

The population of Mount Keira, as estimated based on ABS updates and AreaSearch validation, is around 1,634 as of November 2025. This figure represents a decrease of 57 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 1,691. The current estimate is inferred from an ERP resident population of 1,628, derived from ABS data released in June 2024, and includes one validated new address since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 234 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 where applicable, with growth rates applied until 2041. By 2041, the suburb is projected to increase by 471 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 28.1% over the 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 had 19 dwelling approvals over five years ending in 2021. This translates to approximately three new dwellings approved annually, with a mix of 50% detached houses and 50% attached dwellings. The current housing stock is predominantly houses at 92%.

By 2041, the population is forecasted to increase by 459 residents based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If development rates remain constant, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth.

Population forecasts indicate Mount Keira will gain 459 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Three projects identified by AreaSearch are likely to impact the area significantly: 2-8 Highway Avenue Multi-Dwelling Housing Development, Wollongong to Coniston Rail Infrastructure Upgrade, Wollongong Private Hospital expansion, and Illawarra Sports and Entertainment Precinct. The following 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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Mount Keira significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Mount Keira's workforce is well-educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 1.9% as of June 2025.

Employment stability has been maintained over the past year, according to AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. In June 2025898 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.8%, below Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation was high at 66.2% compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries included health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services.

Notably, employment in education & training was 1.7 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing was under-represented at 0.5% compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.8, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 0.4%, labour force grew by 0.1%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points, contrasting with Rest of NSW's trends. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Mount Keira's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

Mount Keira had a median taxpayer income of $66,886 and an average income of $89,049 in financial year 2022. This is significantly higher than the national averages for median ($49,459) and average income ($62,998). By September 2025, these figures are estimated to be approximately $75,320 (median) and $100,278 (average), based on a 12.61% growth in wages since financial year 2022. According to census data, household incomes rank at the 90th percentile with $2,476 weekly income. Income analysis shows that 29.0% of Mount Keira's population falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, which is consistent with broader trends in the area (29.9%). Economic strength is evident as 40.2% of households earn high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting increased consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 87.9% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The SEIFA income ranking places Mount Keira in the 8th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Mount Keira, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.0% houses and 8.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Non-Metro NSW had no houses or other dwellings recorded at that time. 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, aligning with the Non-Metro NSW average. The median weekly rent was $420 in Mount Keira, unlike Non-Metro NSW where such data was not available. Nationally, Mount Keira's median mortgage repayments were higher at $2,468 compared to Australia's average of $1,863. Similarly, rents in Mount Keira were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

Mount Keira features high concentrations of family households, with a median household size of 2.9 people

Family households constitute 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 account for 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.

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

Educational attainment in Mount Keira is notably higher than broader benchmarks. As of 2021, 37.6% of residents aged 15 years and above hold university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 25.2% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 22.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 32.5% of residents aged 15 years and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 12.0% while certificates make up 20.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 34.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the latest data. This includes 9.9% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 8.4% pursuing tertiary education. Mount Keira Public School serves local educational needs within Mount Keira, with an enrollment of 84 students as of 2021. The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Mount Keira demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions, with an ICSEA score of 1097.

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 of which offer bus services. These stops are served by ten different routes that together facilitate 271 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is considered good, with residents located an average of 201 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 38 trips per day, equating to about 38 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. Both young and old age cohorts have low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 62% of the total population (1,013 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and arthritis, impacting 7.5% and 6.7% of residents respectively. 72.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 0% across Rest of NSW. The area has 16.3% of residents aged 65 and over (266 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Mount Keira was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mount Keira, surveyed in 2016, had a cultural diversity index with 20.1% of its population born overseas and 14.7% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 54.6%. This contrasted with no specified percentage across Rest of NSW.

Ancestry-wise, Australian (26.7%), English (24.8%), and Other (7.8%) were the top three groups in Mount Keira. Notably, Serbian (1.4%), Macedonian (2.5%), and Welsh (0.8%) ethnicities were overrepresented compared to regional averages.

Mount Keira's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Mount Keira is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Mount Keira has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (16.9%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (4.9%). According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 increased from 14.7% to 16.9%, while those aged 25-34 increased from 9.5% to 11.4%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 55-64 decreased from 12.6% to 10.9%, and those aged 5-14 dropped from 14.2% to 13.0%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Mount Keira's age structure. Notably, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 64%, adding 118 people and reaching a total of 305 residents. Meanwhile, the 55-64 age cohort is expected to grow by a modest 8%, an increase of 13 people.