Kew - West

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Kew - West's population is around 14,185 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,146 people (8.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,039 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,675 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 261 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 2,284 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Kew - West's 8.8% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (7.4%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, projections indicate a decline in overall population, with the area's population expected to decline by 11 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 75 to 84 age group, which is projected to grow by 372 people. See the age section for more details.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Kew - West when compared nationally

Kew - West has averaged around 89 new dwelling approvals annually, totalling 445 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 34 approvals have been recorded. As the area has experienced population decline, new supply has likely been keeping up with demand, offering good choice to buyers, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $841,000, revealing that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. Additionally, $1.9 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, indicating minimal commercial development activity.

Compared to Greater Melbourne, Kew - West records somewhat elevated construction (20.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), preserving reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. New development consists of 17.0% standalone homes and 83.0% townhouses or apartments. This skew toward compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 49.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 134 people per dwelling approval, Kew - West shows characteristics of a growth area.

With population projections showing stability or decline, Kew - West should see reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

Kew - West has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 65 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Kew Recreation Centre Redevelopment, Kew Library Upgrade, YarraBend, and Montview, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 labour market in Kew - West shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Kew - West possesses a highly educated workforce, with professional services showing strong representation, an unemployment rate of just 3.0%, and 2.6% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 8,049 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.8% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation is broadly similar to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. Based on Census responses, a high 44.9% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and retail trade. The area shows particularly strong specialization in professional & technical, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. On the other hand, construction is under-represented, with only 6.2% of Kew - West's workforce compared to 9.7% in Greater Melbourne. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 2.6% and labour force increased by 2.4%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.2 percentage points. This compares to Greater Melbourne, where employment grew by 2.4%, labour force expanded by 2.8%, and unemployment rose 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Kew - West. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Kew - West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 15.1% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

The Kew - West SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $66,719 and an average of $129,482 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is among the top percentile nationally, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $72,223 (median) and $140,164 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Kew - West, between the 87th and 89th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows the largest segment comprises 31.4% earning $4000+ weekly (4,454 residents), differing from patterns across the surrounding region where $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 32.8%. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 42.8% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. Housing accounts for 14.4% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 89th percentile for disposable income and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Kew - West displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within Kew - West, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 49.1% houses and 50.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Kew - West was well beyond that of Melbourne metro, at 37.8%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (29.3%) or rented (32.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Melbourne metro average at $3,000, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $456, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, Kew - West's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 67.7% of all households, comprising 32.3% couples with children, 25.0% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.3%, with lone person households at 26.8% and group households comprising 5.6% of the total. The median household size of 2.5 people is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in Kew - West places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Kew - West significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 56.2% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% in Australia and 33.4% in VIC. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 34.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%). Vocational pathways account for 17.4% of qualifications among those aged 15+ - advanced diplomas (9.4%) and certificates (8.0%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% in tertiary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 8.0% pursuing primary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 51 active transport stops operating within Kew - West, comprising a mix of light rail and buses. These stops are serviced by 17 individual routes, collectively providing 5,801 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 214 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 78%, with 6% walking and 5% by bus. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling. A high 44.9% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 828 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 113 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Kew - West demonstrates above-average health outcomes, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts see low prevalence of common health conditions, and the rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 80% of the total population (11,404 people). This compares to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 7.5% and 7.2% of residents, respectively, while 72.3% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 20.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,855 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Kew - West was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Kew - West was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets, with 32.0% of its population born overseas and 28.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Kew - West is Christianity, which makes up 44.3% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 1.0% of the population, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Kew - West are English, comprising 20.9% of the population, Australian, comprising 17.5% of the population, and Chinese, comprising 11.9% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 6.5%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Polish is notably overrepresented at 1.1% of Kew - West (vs 0.8% regionally), Greek at 4.0% (vs 2.7%) and Italian at 5.8% (vs 5.2%).

Kew - West's population is slightly older than the national pattern

At 41 years, Kew - West's median age is significantly above the Greater Melbourne average of 37 as well as somewhat older than the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, the 65 - 74 cohort is notably over-represented (10.4% locally), while 35 - 44 year-olds are under-represented (12.1%). Following the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 12.6% to 14.8% of the population, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 5.6% to 7.0%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 11.2% to 9.7%. Demographic modeling suggests Kew - West's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 85+ cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 53%, adding 202 residents to reach 587. Demographic aging continues as residents 65 and older represent 100% of anticipated growth. On the other hand, population declines are projected for the 45 to 54 and 0 to 4 cohorts.