South Perth - Kensington

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

South Perth - Kensington's population was approximately 19,251 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 2,025 people from the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,226. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,025 in June 2024 and an additional 443 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,480 persons per square kilometer, placing South Perth - Kensington in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 11.8% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.9%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 90.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Looking ahead, a population increase just below the median of national areas is expected, with South Perth - Kensington projected to expand by 2,439 persons to reach approximately 21,690 by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 11.5% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions South Perth - Kensington among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

South Perth - Kensington averaged approximately 141 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, totaling 705 homes. In FY26, up to February, 20 dwellings have been approved. On average, each dwelling constructed has accommodated around 1.9 new residents per year over these five years, with this figure accelerating to 5.9 people per dwelling in the past two financial years. The average construction value of new homes is $598,000, indicating a focus on premium market segments.

This financial year has seen $45.2 million in commercial approvals, suggesting significant local business investment. Comparatively, South Perth - Kensington has slightly more development activity than the Greater Perth region, with 22.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. The current dwelling mix shows a significant shift towards compact living, with 18.0% detached dwellings and 82.0% townhouses or apartments, compared to the current housing mix of 45.0% houses.

This change reflects reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands. With approximately 338 people per dwelling approval, South Perth - Kensington exhibits a developing market with population forecasts indicating an increase of 2,213 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

South Perth - Kensington has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 36thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 49 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects are Lumiere South Perth, Riva Como, The Pearl, and Peninsula Place. Below is a list of projects expected 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.

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees South Perth - Kensington performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

South Perth - Kensington has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 1.9% as of September 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.2%. As of that date, 11,840 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.0%, below Greater Perth's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation was broadly similar to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Leading employment industries among residents included health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training.

The area had a particularly notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average. Construction had limited presence with 6.4% employment compared to 9.3% regionally. Many residents appeared to commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.2%, and labour force increased by 2.2%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. This contrasted with Greater Perth where employment rose by 2.9% and unemployment rose marginally. State-level data to 25-Nov showed WA employment contracted by 0.27% (losing 5,520 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.6%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Perth - Kensington's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows South Perth - Kensington SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $65,021 and an average of $106,327. Nationally, these figures place the area in the top percentile. Comparing to Greater Perth's median of $58,380 and average of $78,020 is notable. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% suggest a median income of approximately $74,254 and an average of $121,425 in South Perth - Kensington. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes all rank highly in this area, between the 73rd and 87th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 28.0% of locals (5,390 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to the surrounding region at 32.0%. Strong economic indicators include 35.8% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting high consumer spending. Housing accounts for 14.1% of income, with residents ranking in the 75th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

In South Perth - Kensington, as per the latest Census data, 44.7% of dwellings were houses while 55.4% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Perth metropolitan area's figures of 49.3% houses and 50.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Perth - Kensington stood at 33.2%, similar to the Perth metro figure, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.8% and rented ones at 40.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in South Perth - Kensington was $2,388, higher than the Perth metro average of $2,200. The median weekly rent in South Perth - Kensington was $375 compared to $360 in Perth metro area. Nationally, South Perth - Kensington's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,388 against Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were comparable at $375.

South Perth - Kensington features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 61.3% of all households, including 24.4% couples with children, 28.7% couples without children, and 6.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 38.7%, with lone person households at 33.6% and group households comprising 5.1%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which matches the Greater Perth average.

South Perth - Kensington shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

South Perth - Kensington has a notably high level of educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above, with 50.4% holding university qualifications. This figure is significantly higher than the broader benchmarks of 27.9% in Western Australia (WA) and 29.9% in the South Australian Statistical Division (SA4) region. The area's educational advantage is reflected in its strong position for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 32.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.5% and graduate diplomas at 4.5%.

Vocational pathways account for 23.5% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 12.8%. Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.8% in tertiary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 7.0% pursuing primary education.

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

South Perth-Kensington has 122 active public transport stops offering a mix of ferry and bus services. These are served by 16 routes, providing 3,878 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 133 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 554 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 31 weekly trips per individual stop.

South Perth - Kensington's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

South Perth - Kensington demonstrates excellent health outcomes with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 75% of the total population (14,380 people), compared to 67.8% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues impact 7.0% of residents, while asthma affects 6.9%, with 73.3% declaring themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Perth.

The area has 20.8% of residents aged 65 and over (4,004 people), with seniors performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

South Perth-Kensington has a higher cultural diversity compared to most local areas, with 18.2% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 35.7% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in South Perth-Kensington, accounting for 46.0% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in South Perth-Kensington compared to Greater Perth, comprising 0.4% versus 0.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (28.3%), Australian (20.8%), and Other (10.1%). Some ethnic groups have notable differences: South African (0.9% vs regional 0.8%), Croatian (0.9% vs regional 0.8%), and Welsh (0.7% vs regional 0.7%) are overrepresented in South Perth-Kensington.

South Perth - Kensington's population is slightly older than the national pattern

South Perth - Kensington has a median age of 40, which is higher than Greater Perth's figure of 37 and Australia's median age of 38. The 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented in South Perth - Kensington at 11.5%, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 9.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.4% to 7.3% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.3% to 12.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in South Perth - Kensington's age profile. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow by 1,049 people (75%), reaching a total of 2,455. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 75% of total population growth. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.