Kilsyth
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Kilsyth are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Kilsyth's population is around 10,863 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 947 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,916 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,676 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 266 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,318 persons per square kilometer. Kilsyth's growth rate of 9.6% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (3.3%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 51.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises 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 are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest population numbers, an above median population growth is projected for Kilsyth, with the area expected to grow by 2,448 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 20.8% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Kilsyth among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Kilsyth has seen approximately 72 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 363 homes. As of FY-26, 38 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling has resulted in 2.2 new residents per year between FY-21 and FY-25. The average construction cost value for these dwellings is $279,000.

This financial year, $37.9 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Kilsyth has 84.0% higher new home approvals per person. New developments consist of 51.0% standalone homes and 49.0% attached dwellings, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments. This is a significant shift from the current housing mix of 86.0% houses. Kilsyth has around 171 people per dwelling approval, indicating growth area characteristics.

Population forecasts suggest Kilsyth will gain 2,261 residents by 2041. Construction pace is maintaining with projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as population grows.

Kilsyth has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects that could affect the region. Notable initiatives include Liverpool Road Shared User Path, Kilsyth Sporting Complex Stadium Improvements, Kilsyth Recreation Reserve Master Plan, and 207-209 Colchester Road Commercial Development. The following list details those expected to have the most relevance.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Kilsyth has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Kilsyth has a skilled workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 4.3% as of June 2021.

Over the past year, it maintained relative employment stability. As of June 2025, 5,333 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is 0.3% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation in Kilsyth is similar to Greater Melbourne's at 64.1%. Key industries employing residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and manufacturing.

Notably, construction employs 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services employ only 5.7% of local workers, lower than Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Many Kilsyth residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 0.5%, labour force grew by 0.6%, leading to a slight rise in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw higher growth rates: employment rose by 3.5%, labour force by 4.0%, and unemployment increased by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kilsyth's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Income data from AreaSearch for financial year 2022 shows median income in Kilsyth was $54,434 and average income was $63,320. This is lower than the national averages of $54,892 (median) and $73,761 (average) for Greater Melbourne. By September 2025, estimated median income in Kilsyth would be approximately $61,053 and average income $71,020, based on a 12.16% growth since financial year 2022. Census 2021 data ranks incomes in Kilsyth modestly, between the 45th and 49th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. Income distribution shows that 35.6% of residents (3,867 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, similar to the surrounding region at 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Kilsyth, with only 82.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 44th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Kilsyth is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Kilsyth, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 86.4% houses and 13.6% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Melbourne metropolitan area's 93.8% houses and 6.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kilsyth was at 34.1%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (45.4%) or rented (20.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,970, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $396, compared to Melbourne metro's $380. Nationally, Kilsyth's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceed the national figure of $375.

Kilsyth has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 70.1% of all households, including 29.7% couples with children, 25.8% couples without children, and 13.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.9%, with lone person households at 27.4% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.5 people, smaller than Greater Melbourne's average of 2.7.

Educational attainment in Kilsyth aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area has university qualification rates of 21.3%, which is substantially below the Greater Melbourne average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (27.0%). Educational participation is high at 25.9%, including 9.0% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

Kilsyth's 4 schools have a combined enrollment of 444 students and offer typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1002) with balanced educational opportunities. The 4 schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Local school capacity is limited at 4.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 15.5, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Transport analysis in Kilsyth shows 55 active transport stops operating, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 14 different routes that together facilitate 1,638 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents on average located 242 meters from the nearest stop.

The service frequency averages 234 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 29 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Kilsyth is lower than average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Kilsyth faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions notably prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 51% of the total population (~5,561 people), slightly lagging that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 9.3% and 9.0% of residents respectively. A total of 65.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.9% across Greater Melbourne. There are 20.3% of residents aged 65 and over (2,210 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Kilsyth's population shows above-average cultural diversity, with 21.6% born overseas and 13.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Kilsyth, accounting for 45.2%. Hinduism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 1.0% versus 0.5%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (29.5%), Australian (27.8%), and Other (8.7%). Notably, Dutch ethnicity is slightly overrepresented at 3.0%, Sri Lankan at 0.5%, and South African also at 0.5% compared to regional averages of 3.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4% respectively.

Kilsyth's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Kilsyth is close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and equivalent to the Australian median of 38. Relative to Greater Melbourne, Kilsyth has a higher concentration of 75-84 year-olds (8.2%) but fewer 15-24 year-olds (10.7%). From the 2021 Census to present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 14.2% to 15.2%, while the 55-64 cohort has declined from 11.0% to 10.1%. By 2041, Kilsyth is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 45-54 group will grow by 41%, reaching 1,585 from 1,121, while the 0-4 group will display more modest growth of 2%, adding only 12 residents.