Keilor

Keilor is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Keilor's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 8,702 people. This figure represents an increase from the 2021 Census count of 8,548 people, reflecting a rise of 154 individuals (1.8%). The change was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 8,702 in June 2024 and the addition of 24 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 497 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.4% to Keilor's recent population growth.

AreaSearch uses 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 employs the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends indicate an increase just below the national median for Keilor. By 2041, the area is projected to gain 733 persons, reflecting an overall growth of 8.4% over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Keilor has averaged approximately 35 new dwelling approvals annually. Between financial years FY21 and FY25175 homes were approved, with another 16 approved so far in FY26. Despite a decrease in population during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average expected construction cost for new properties is $439,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments. This financial year has seen $44.5 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Keilor's new dwelling approvals per capita rate is around two-thirds of the city's rate, placing it among the 51st percentile nationally when assessed areas are ranked. The area's new building activity consists of 71.0% detached dwellings and 29.0% attached dwellings, maintaining its traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes that appeal to those seeking space.

This represents a significant shift from the current housing mix, which is currently 87.0% houses, likely due to reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. With approximately 319 people per approval, Keilor reflects a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Keilor is projected to gain 732 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Keilor has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 47 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Melbourne Airport Rail, Keilor East Railway Station, SRL Airport, and Western Ring Road (M80) Infrastructure Upgrades. 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.

Keilor ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Keilor has a skilled workforce with notable representation in the construction sector. Its unemployment rate was 2.2% as of September 2025. Over the past year, estimated employment growth was 1.6%.

As of September 2025, 4,678 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.4%, which is below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Keilor was 65.0%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 28.8% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

Construction had particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average. Health care & social assistance had limited presence with 11.0% employment compared to 14.2% regionally. There were 2.2 workers for every resident as of the Census, indicating Keilor functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 1.6%, while labour force increased by 1.4%, resulting in a decrease in unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with an increase in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Keilor. These projections estimate that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Keilor's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

Keilor SA2's median income among taxpayers was $63,501 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $85,006 during the same period. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median and average incomes of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates suggest Keilor SA2's median income is approximately $68,740 and the average income is around $92,019 as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household incomes in Keilor SA2 rank between the 40th and 54th percentiles. The predominant income cohort spans 28.1% of locals (2,445 people), with incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999. After housing costs, residents retain 87.9% of their income. Keilor SA2's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Keilor's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 87.3% houses and 12.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Keilor stood at 51.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 36.5% and rented ones at 12.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,019, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Keilor was $396, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Keilor's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

Keilor features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 77.4% of all households, including 37.5% couples with children, 27.9% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.6%, with lone person households at 21.4% and group households comprising 1.1%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 24.6%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 32.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.5% and certificates at 22.0%. Educational participation is high, with 26.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.7% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 4.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Keilor has 66 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 9 different routes that together facilitate 3,134 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 208 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Keilor being primarily residential. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 92%. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling in Keilor, which is above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, 28.8%, work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 447 trips per day, equating to approximately 47 weekly trips per individual stop.

Keilor's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Keilor's health outcomes show exceptional results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low, particularly in younger cohorts. Approximately 62% of Keilor's total population (5360 people) has private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%.

Nationally, this figure stands at 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.2% and 7.1% of residents respectively. Notably, 68.3% of Keilor residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Working-age residents exhibit low chronic condition prevalence. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.2% (2368 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. While health outcomes among seniors are above average, they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Keilor was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 25.2% of its population born overseas and 26.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Keilor, comprising 71.3% of people, compared to 43.0% across Greater Melbourne. The top three ancestry groups in Keilor are English (18.1%), Australian (17.9%), and Italian (16.2%), which is significantly higher than the regional average of 5.2%.

Notably, Croatian (2.7%) and Maltese (4.1%) populations are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.7% and 1.1%, respectively. Polish population at 1.3% also exceeds the regional average of 0.8%.

Keilor hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Keilor is 45 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Keilor has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (11.0%), but fewer residents aged 25-34 (8.8%). According to the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group grew from 8.8% to 11.0%, while the 85+ cohort increased from 3.3% to 4.6%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group decreased from 9.9% to 8.8%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Keilor's age structure. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 101%, reaching 802 people from 399. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 68% of total population growth, reflecting Keilor's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 35-44 and 15-24 age groups are projected to decrease in number.