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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, South Perth - Kensington's population is around 19,453 as of May 26. This reflects an increase of 2,227 people (12.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,226 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,447 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 446 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,506 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. South Perth - Kensington's 12.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.3%), along with the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 93.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch incorporates projection models from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 regions, which were published in 2024 utilizing 2022 as the baseline. For SA2 areas lacking this coverage, and to calculate expansion patterns past 2032, AreaSearch employs cohort-specific growth rates from the most recent Greater Capital Region projections released by the ABS in 2023, which also build on 2022 data. Anticipated demographic shifts suggest that population growth will exceed the median of national statistical territories, with the locality projected to add 2,313 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP statistics, translating to a total growth of 11.9% over the 16 years.

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

South Perth - Kensington averages approximately 141 residential building approvals annually, which translates to a total of 705 new dwellings approved over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 119 approvals have been logged. The ratio of new residents to completed dwellings stood at 2.1 people per home between FY-21 and FY-25, pointing to healthy demand that should support property values, with new construction showing an average value of $598,000, which suggests builders are focusing on premium, upscale offerings. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $45.2 million during the current financial year, signaling strong local commercial development.

Compared to the broader Greater Perth region, construction activity in South Perth - Kensington is elevated, tracking 22.0% above the regional per capita average over the 5 year timeframe. This provides options for purchasers while maintaining demand for existing properties, even though building pace has moderated recently. Dwellings currently under development consist of 18.0% standalone houses and 82.0% medium to high-density formats like townhouses and apartments. This shift toward higher density offers more attainable entry prices and attracts downsizers, property investors, and first-time buyers. This is a clear shift from the current housing stock, which is 45.0% standalone houses, reflecting the scarcity of vacant land and adjusting to changing lifestyle choices and housing cost pressures. Reflecting a developing marketplace, there are roughly 346 people per approved dwelling in South Perth - Kensington.

Based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch, population projections indicate South Perth - Kensington is set to add 2,307 residents by 2041. With current building volumes, the supply of new housing is projected to satisfy demand, creating favorable buying conditions and potentially underpinning growth beyond current projections.

South Perth - Kensington has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and development initiatives are major factors in local property market dynamics. AreaSearch has tracked 48 projects that are expected to influence the local area. Prominent examples include Lumiere South Perth, Riva Como, The Pearl, and Peninsula Place, with details on the most significant developments provided in the list below.

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 exceptional employment performance in South Perth - Kensington places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

The local workforce in South Perth - Kensington is characterized by high levels of education, with a strong contingent working in professional roles, a minimal unemployment rate of 1.8%, and a 2.0% growth in estimated local employment over the past year. In March 2026, working residents numbered 12,023, while the unemployment rate was 2.4% lower than the Greater Perth benchmark of 4.2%. Participation in the labor force aligns closely with the Greater Perth rate of 70.2%. Census figures indicate that a low 12.8% of the local workforce performed their jobs from home, though this data may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are healthcare & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. The suburb exhibits a clear specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share that is 1.7 times the metropolitan average. On the other hand, the construction sector is less prominent, employing 6.4% of residents compared to the regional figure of 9.3%. Although there are local jobs available within the area, comparing the Census working population against the local resident population suggests a large portion of residents travel outside the suburb for work.

According to AreaSearch evaluations of SALM and ABS statistics, the year ending March 2026 saw a 2.0% rise in both employment levels and the total labor force, which kept the unemployment rate stable. During the same timeframe, Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 2.0% and labor force growth of 2.5%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Additional guidance on future job demand in South Perth - Kensington can be found in the national employment projections issued by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Nationally, overall employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these trajectories vary widely across different fields. Mapping these sector-specific forecasts to the employment profile of South Perth - Kensington suggests local jobs could grow by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, which is a simple weighted calculation for illustration and does not incorporate local population forecasts.

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

According to the latest postcode-level ATO data released for the financial year 2023, taxpayers in the South Perth - Kensington SA2 earn a median income of $66,612 and an average income of $108,651. These figures are exceptionally high on a national scale, compared to the Greater Perth median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. Adjusted for the Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $73,893 for the median and $120,527 for the average. Census data confirms that personal, family, and household incomes are all positioned highly, ranking between the 73rd and 87th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 28.0% of the population (5,446 individuals) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is comparable to the regional trend of 32.0% in this bracket. A notable 35.8% of taxpayers earn weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, highlighting affluent segments that support local retail and services. Housing expenses make up 14.1% of income, and strong earnings place residents in the 75th percentile for disposable income, while the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 9th decile for income.

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

The mix of housing types in South Perth - Kensington at the time of the latest Census stood at 44.7% standalone houses and 55.4% other options like semi-detached homes and apartments, differing from the metropolitan Perth split of 77.8% standalone houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings. Home ownership in South Perth - Kensington was recorded at 33.2%, which is higher than the Perth metro rate, while mortgaged homes accounted for 26.8% and rented properties made up 40.0% of the market. The median monthly mortgage payment was $2,388, which is higher than the Perth metro average of $1,907, and the median weekly rent was $375, compared to the Perth metro figure of $350. Nationally, mortgage costs in South Perth - Kensington are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rent levels match the national average of $375.

South Perth - Kensington features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family units constitute the majority of local households at 61.3%, consisting of 24.4% couples with children, 28.7% couples without children, and 6.7% single parent households. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.7%, with lone person households representing 33.6% and group living arrangements making up 5.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

Residents of South Perth - Kensington display high levels of educational attainment, with 50.4% of those aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to state levels of 27.9% in WA and 29.9% in the SA4 region. This educational profile positions the workforce well for roles in the knowledge economy. Bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 32.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 13.5% and graduate diplomas at 4.5%. Vocational education represents the qualifications of 23.5% of residents aged 15+ – consisting of advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 12.8%.

Enrolment in education is strong, with 29.3% of the population participating in formal study. This student population includes 9.8% in higher education, 7.6% in high school, and 7.0% in primary school.

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

Public transit analysis shows 121 active transit stops in South Perth - Kensington, consisting of ferry terminals and bus stops. These stops are served by 16 distinct routes, which accommodate 3,916 weekly passenger trips. Transit access is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 133 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential nature of the suburb, most workers commute to other areas, with private vehicles remaining the primary choice at 76%, followed by buses at 13% and cycling at 3%. Car ownership stands at 1.2 vehicles per household, which is below the metropolitan average. A relatively low 12.8% of the workforce worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

Transit service frequency averages 559 trips per day across all routes, which is about 32 weekly trips per stop. The map shows the locations of the 100 closest stops to the center of the suburb.

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

Health metric evaluations show strong outcomes in South Perth - Kensington, according to AreaSearch's review of mortality figures and chronic disease rates, which reveals a low incidence of common health issues across all age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, with approximately 75% of the population (14,648 people) holding policies, compared to 59.0% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent health issues in the suburb are mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 7.0% and 6.9% of the population, respectively. However, 73.3% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. The working-age population is generally healthy with a low rate of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 20.9% of the population (4,061 people), which is higher than the 16.1% average for Greater Perth. Senior citizens in the area enjoy good health outcomes, with national rankings aligning with the broader population trends.

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 shows greater cultural diversity than most local property markets, with 18.2% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 35.7% born outside Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 46.0% of the population. The most prominent religious overrepresentation is Judaism, which accounts for 0.4% of residents, compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

Regarding parent country of birth, the three most common ancestries in South Perth - Kensington are English at 28.3%, Australian at 20.8%, and Other at 10.1%. Looking at specific ancestral groups, South Australian ancestry stands at 0.9% (compared to 1.0% across the region), Croatian at 0.9% (compared to 0.8% regionally), and Welsh at 0.7% (compared to 0.7% regionally).

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

The median age in South Perth - Kensington is 40 years, which is older than the Greater Perth median of 37 and the national average of 38. Compared to metropolitan Perth, there is a higher concentration of people in the 65 - 74 age group (11.1% locally) and a lower proportion of children aged 5 - 14 (9.0%). Since 2021, the 75 to 84 age bracket has increased from 5.4% to 7.6% of the population, and the 25 to 34 group has risen from 14.8% to 16.1%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 13.3% to 11.8%, and the 0 to 4 group declined from 4.5% to 3.3%. Demographic projections suggest the age profile will change by 2041, with the 75 to 84 age group expected to increase by 931 people (63%) from 1,476 to 2,408. Overall, residents aged 65 and over are projected to make up 70% of the total population growth, highlighting the aging trend in the area, while the number of children in the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups is projected to fall.