Kingsbury
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Kingsbury reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Kingsbury's population was approximately 12,544 as of August 2025. This figure represents a growth of 2,136 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,408. The increase is inferred from ABS estimates of 12,508 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 1,392 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Kingsbury's growth rate of 20.5% since the 2021 Census exceeds both the national average (8.6%) and state averages, positioning it as one of the region's fastest-growing areas. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during this period.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For uncovered areas, they adopt the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made through weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Age-specific growth rates are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Kingsbury is expected to experience exceptional growth, placing it in the top 10 percent nationally by 2041. The area is projected to expand by 8,292 persons over this period, representing a total increase of 65.8%.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Kingsbury among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Kingsbury has averaged approximately 47 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 239 dwellings approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, and 4 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. Each dwelling has attracted an average of 3 new residents per year over the past five financial years, indicating robust demand which supports property values. The average construction cost value for new homes is $317,000, below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options.

This financial year has seen $22.8 million in commercial development approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development compared to Greater Melbourne. Kingsbury has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 61st percentile nationally for areas assessed. New building activity shows 9.0% detached dwellings and 91.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift towards compact living that offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a significant change from the current housing mix, which is currently 60.0% houses, due to reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. With around 295 people per dwelling approval, Kingsbury's developing market is expected to gain 8,256 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence regional performance. AreaSearch identified 29 projects potentially impacting the area. Notable projects include Northern Health's Bundoora Centre Expansion, the North East Link Project, Polaris 3083 Master Planned Community, and Hilton Garden Inn Bundoora. The following list details those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis reveals Kingsbury significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Kingsbury's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.3% as of June 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.5%. There were 7,295 residents employed by June 2025, with workforce participation on par with Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area has a strong specialization in accommodation & food services, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

Construction, however, has limited presence at 8.4% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. As per the Census, there are 0.6 workers for each resident, indicating above-normal local employment opportunities. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 2.5%, while labour force grew by 1.4%, leading to a 1.1 percentage point decrease in unemployment rate. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne where employment rose by 3.5% but unemployment increased by 0.5%. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kingsbury's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

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

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released on June 30, 2022, Kingsbury's median income among taxpayers is $51,137. The average income for Kingsbury was $64,379 in the same period. This places Kingsbury's incomes approximately at the national average. In comparison, Greater Melbourne had a median income of $54,892 and an average of $73,761 during the same year. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since June 30, 2022, current estimates would be approximately $56,307 for median income and $70,888 for average income as of March 2025. Census data reveals that household income ranks at the 49th percentile with a weekly income of $1,727, while personal income sits at the 27th percentile. The earnings profile shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 30.4% of residents (3,813 people), reflecting patterns seen regionally where 32.8% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Kingsbury, with only 83.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 49th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Kingsbury's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 59.9% houses and 40.1% other dwellings. In Melbourne metro, these figures were 60.2% and 39.8% respectively. Home ownership in Kingsbury was 32.0%, similar to Melbourne metro's level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (31.5%) or rented (36.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kingsbury was $2,000, matching the Melbourne metro average, while the median weekly rent was $369 compared to Melbourne metro's $371. Nationally, Kingsbury's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, but rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

Kingsbury features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households are prevalent, accounting for 67.7% of all households. They consist of couples with children at 32.3%, couples without children at 24.6%, and single parent families at 9.1%. Non-family households constitute the remaining 32.3%, with lone person households making up 24.3% and group households comprising 7.8%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rates are higher than the Australian average of 30.4%, with 40.4% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications. Bachelor degrees are most common at 24.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational pathways account for 23.4% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas making up 10.7% and certificates 12.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 35.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 16.0% in tertiary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 6.3% pursuing primary education. The five schools in Kingsbury have a combined enrollment of 1,081 students. School conditions are typical for Australia (ICSEA: 1011), indicating balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes two primary schools and three K-12 schools.

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

Kingsbury has 68 active public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 12 different routes that together facilitate 7,858 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents located an average of 214 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency across all routes averages 1,122 trips per day, resulting in approximately 115 weekly trips per individual stop.

Kingsbury's residents are extremely healthy with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Analysis shows strong health performance in Kingsbury.

Prevalence of common conditions is low among its general population but higher among older cohorts at risk. Private health cover rate is approximately 52%, slightly above SA2 average. Mental health issues and asthma are most common, affecting 7.4% and 6.7% respectively. 73.7% report no medical ailments, compared to 70.2% in Greater Melbourne. Kingsbury has 12.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,584 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.2%. Older cohorts require more attention due to higher prevalence of health conditions.

Kingsbury is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Kingsbury's cultural diversity is notable, with 43.6% of its population born overseas and 44.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Kingsbury, accounting for 45.8% of the population. However, Buddhism stands out with 5.2%, higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 3.4%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (15.4%), Australian (14.6%), and Other (13.8%). Some ethnic groups show significant variations: Macedonian is overrepresented at 2.4% compared to the regional average of 2.1%, Italian stands at 9.2% versus a regional average of 12.3%, and Sri Lankan is at 1.1% compared to 0.4%.

Kingsbury hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Kingsbury's median age is 32 years, which is notably younger than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Kingsbury has a higher proportion of 15-24 year-olds at 26.6%, but fewer 35-44 year-olds at 9.9%. This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 12.5%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that younger residents have lowered Kingsbury's median age by 2.1 years to 32. Key changes show the 15-24 age group has increased from 20.1% to 26.6%, while the 25-34 cohort has risen from 18.1% to 19.8%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 13.6% to 10.3%, and the 5-14 group has dropped from 8.6% to 7.3%. Demographic modeling suggests that Kingsbury's age profile will undergo significant changes by 2041, with the 25-34 cohort projected to grow by 76%, adding 1,877 residents and reaching a total of 4,364.