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

Kew-West's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 14,212 people. This figure represents a rise of 1,173 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,039. The increase was inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 13,675 in June 2024 and an additional 261 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,288 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Kew-West's growth rate of 9.0% since the Census exceeded both its SA3 area (6.9%) and SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver behind this 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 VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. These projections indicate an overall population decline of 11 persons by 2041 in Kew-West. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 75-84 age group with a projected increase of 372 people.

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

Kew-West has averaged approximately 89 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 445 homes. As of FY26 so far, 9 approvals have been recorded. This area has experienced population decline, suggesting that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good choice for buyers. The average construction value of new properties is $841,000, indicating that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

In FY26 to date, $1.9 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting minimal commercial development activity compared to residential. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Kew-West records elevated construction activity, with 20.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This has preserved reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. New development consists of 17.0% standalone homes and 83.0% townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift represents decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse housing options.

With around 134 people per dwelling approval, Kew-West shows characteristics of a growth area. Population projections indicating stability or decline suggest that Kew-West should see reduced housing demand pressures in the future, benefiting potential buyers.

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

The performance of an area can be significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 66 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include the Kew Recreation Centre Redevelopment, Kew Library Upgrade, YarraBend development, and the Michael Tuck Stand and Glenferrie Oval Revitalisation. The following list details those projects likely to be 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 labour market in Kew - West shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Kew - West has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 2.8% as of September 2025, which is below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.5%. There were 8,029 residents employed in September 2025 with a workforce participation rate on par with Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and retail trade. The area has a particularly strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level.

However, construction is under-represented, with only 6.2% of Kew - West's workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.5%, labour force increased by 2.6%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.8 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.0% while unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Kew - West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 15.1% over ten years.

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

The median taxpayer income in Kew-West SA2 was $65,787, with an average of $129,974, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. This places it among the top percentile nationally, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. As of September 2025, current estimates project a median income of approximately $73,787 and an average income of around $145,779, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022. Census 2021 data shows that incomes in Kew-West rank highly nationally, with household, family, and personal incomes all between the 87th and 89th percentiles. The earnings profile indicates that the largest segment comprises 31.4% earning $4000+ weekly (4,462 residents), differing from surrounding regions where $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 32.8%. Higher earners represent a substantial presence, with 42.8% exceeding $3,000 weekly, suggesting strong purchasing power within the community. Housing accounts for 14.4% of income, while residents rank in the 89th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Kew-West, as per the latest Census, consisted of 49.1% houses and 50.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 55.5% houses and 44.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kew-West was at 37.8%, with the rest being mortgaged (29.3%) or rented (32.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $456, compared to Melbourne metro's $3,000 and $451 respectively. Nationally, Kew-West's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Kew - West features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 67.7 percent of all households, including 32.3 percent couples with children, 25.0 percent couples without children, and 8.8 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 32.3 percent, with lone person households at 26.8 percent and group households comprising 5.6 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which matches the Greater Melbourne average.

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. As of the latest data, 56.2% of residents aged 15 years and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 34.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 16.6% and graduate diplomas at 4.7%.

Vocational pathways account for 17.4% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above – advanced diplomas at 9.4% and certificates at 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

The analysis of public transport in Kew - West shows that there are currently 51 active transport stops operating. These include a mix of light rail and bus services. The area is served by 18 individual routes which together provide a total of 5,909 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility in the region is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 214 meters from their nearest transport stop. Across all routes, service frequency averages at around 844 trips per day, equating to roughly 115 weekly trips per individual stop.

Kew - West's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Kew-West with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 81% of the total population (11,540 people), compared to 77.7% across Greater Melbourne and the national average of 55.3%. 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 completely clear of medical ailments compared to 73.8% across Greater Melbourne.

As of 19th March 2021, the area has 19.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,781 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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's population showed higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 32.0% born overseas and 28.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Kew-West as of 2016, accounting for 44.3%. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 1.0% versus 0.9%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (20.9%), Australian (17.5%), and Chinese (11.9%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Polish at 1.1% in Kew-West (regional average was 0.8%), Greek at 4.0% (versus 3.4%), and Italian at 5.8% (compared to 4.8%).

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

At 41 years, Kew-West's median age is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and somewhat older than Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, the 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented in Kew-West at 10.2%, while the 35-44 cohort is under-represented at 12.3%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15-24 age group has grown from 12.6% to 14.8% of Kew-West's population, while the 5-14 cohort has declined from 11.2% to 9.8%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, Kew-West's age profile will change significantly. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 28%, adding 258 residents to reach 1,192. This growth is part of an overall demographic aging trend, with residents aged 65 and older representing 100% of anticipated population growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 45-54 and 0-4 cohorts.