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

Kilsyth's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 10,868 people. This represents an increase of 952 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 9,916. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,676 in June 2024 and an additional 268 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,318 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Kilsyth's growth rate of 9.6% since the 2021 census surpassed that of the SA3 area (3.3%) and the SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 51.5% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth being positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 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 from these aggregations are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends, an above median population growth is projected for the area, with an expected increase of 2,448 persons by 2041, representing a total gain of 20.8% over the 17-year period.

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. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, totalling 363 approvals from the fiscal years 2021 to 2025, with 23 recorded so far in the current fiscal year 2026. Over these five years, an average of 2.2 people moved to Kilsyth per new home constructed, indicating strong demand which supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $339,000, below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options for purchasers.

This fiscal year has seen $37.9 million in commercial approvals, reflecting robust commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Kilsyth records 84% more new home approvals per capita, providing greater choice for buyers. Recent construction comprises 51% standalone homes and 49% townhouses or apartments, expanding medium-density options across various price brackets from traditional family housing to compact alternatives. This shift indicates decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring diverse housing options. Kilsyth has approximately 171 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market.

Population forecasts project Kilsyth will gain 2,256 residents by 2041, maintaining a reasonable construction pace with projected growth despite increasing competition among buyers as the population grows.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 15 projects likely to affect this region. Notable ones are 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 most relevant.

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

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

Kilsyth's workforce is skilled with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.3% as of June 2025.

Employment stability has been relatively consistent over the past year. There are 5,333 employed residents, with an unemployment rate 0.3% lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%. Workforce participation is comparable to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and manufacturing.

Construction stands out with a share of employment 1.6 times the regional average. Professional & technical services have limited presence at 5.7%, compared to the regional rate of 10.1%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 0.5% while labour force grew by 0.6%, resulting in a 0.1 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with unemployment rising by 0.5 percentage points. As of Sep-25, state-level data shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5%, and employment growth outpaced the national average of 0.26%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia 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 could be 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

Kilsyth's median income among taxpayers was $54,434 according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. The average income stood at $63,320 during the same period. Comparing these figures with Greater Melbourne's median of $54,892 and average of $73,761 shows Kilsyth's incomes were lower. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes would be approximately $59,937 (median) and $69,722 (average) as of March 2025. Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Kilsyth rank modestly, between the 45th and 49th percentiles. Income brackets show that 35.6% of Kilsyth residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 (3,869 individuals), which is consistent with broader metropolitan trends 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

In Kilsyth, as per the latest Census, 86.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 13.6% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. In contrast, Melbourne metropolitan area had 93.8% houses and 6.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kilsyth stood at 34.1%, with mortgaged properties at 45.4% and rented ones at 20.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kilsyth was $1,970, higher than Melbourne's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent in Kilsyth was $396, compared to Melbourne's $380. Nationally, Kilsyth's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 account for 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, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.7.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 21.3%, significantly lower than the Greater Melbourne average of 37.0%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. 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 at 12.0% and certificates at 27.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 25.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.0% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education. Kilsyth's four schools have a combined enrollment of 444 students as of [insert date], operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1002) with balanced educational opportunities. The four schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas from [insert date onwards]. Limited local school capacity (4.1 places per 100 residents vs 15.5 regionally) means many families travel to nearby areas for schooling since [insert date].

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

The analysis of public transportation in Kilsyth shows that there are currently 55 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 14 individual routes providing service to the community. Together, these routes facilitate 1,638 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of public transport is rated as good, with residents typically located an average distance of 242 meters from their nearest transport stop. On average, there are 234 trips per day across all routes, which equates 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 notable prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is at approximately 51% of the total population (~5,564 people), slightly lagging behind 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. In contrast, 65.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.9% across Greater Melbourne. There are 20.3% of residents aged 65 and over (2,211 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 has a higher than average cultural diversity, with 21.6% of its population born overseas and 13.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Kilsyth, making up 45.2% of the population. Notably, Hinduism is overrepresented in Kilsyth compared to Greater Melbourne, with 1.0% versus 0.5%.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are English (29.5%), Australian (27.8%), and Other (8.7%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Dutch are slightly overrepresented at 3.0% in Kilsyth compared to 3.2% regionally, Sri Lankan is also higher at 0.5% versus 0.3%, and South African is slightly more prevalent at 0.5% compared to 0.4%.

Kilsyth's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Kilsyth is 38 years, close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Kilsyth has a higher percentage of residents aged 75-84 (8.2%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (10.7%). Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the proportion of residents aged 35-44 increased from 14.2% to 15.2%, while the proportion aged 55-64 decreased from 11.0% to 10.1%. By 2041, Kilsyth's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 41%, adding 463 people and reaching a total of 1,585 from 1,121. The 0-4 age group is expected to grow by 2%, with an increase of just 11 residents.