Centennial Park vs Kensington

Kensington is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 36 in Centennial Park. In both, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Centennial Park, most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Kensington: a median of $988,000, against $840,000 in Centennial Park. Kensington is closer to the city centre: 6.9 km, against 8.3 km. On these figures, Centennial Park tends to suit people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Kensington

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (19 vs 6)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (21% vs 9%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Centennial Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($840,500 vs $988,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Kensington

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 62/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (14 min vs 19 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Kensington

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 62/100)
  • But Centennial Park has more units and townhouses to downsize into (91% vs 79%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Centennial Park

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (-6.4% vs -20.5%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.7% vs 4.7%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Centennial Park and Kensington drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Centennial Park Kensington
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Centennial Park Kensington
Walkability 62 / 96
Centennial Park — Walkability: 62/100 Kensington — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 32 / 37
Centennial Park — Safety: 32/100 Kensington — Safety: 37/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Centennial Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kensington — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Kensington has more residents (11,927 vs 2,225); Centennial Park skews older (36 vs 32).

Centennial Park Kensington
Population 2,225 11,927
+436% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.4% -20.5%
Median age 36 32
Median household income $112,008/yr
+2% vs other
 $110,136/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Centennial Park Kensington
0-4 4.8% / 4.2%
Centennial Park — 0-4: 4.8% Kensington — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 7.5% / 7.9%
Centennial Park — 5-14: 7.5% Kensington — 5-14: 7.9%
15-19 4.2% / 6.3%
Centennial Park — 15-19: 4.2% Kensington — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 6.4% / 14.9%
Centennial Park — 20-24: 6.4% Kensington — 20-24: 14.9%
25-34 23.6% / 21.0%
Centennial Park — 25-34: 23.6% Kensington — 25-34: 21.0%
35-44 16.4% / 14.0%
Centennial Park — 35-44: 16.4% Kensington — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 14.2% / 10.3%
Centennial Park — 45-54: 14.2% Kensington — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 9.4% / 8.5%
Centennial Park — 55-64: 9.4% Kensington — 55-64: 8.5%
65-74 7.4% / 6.0%
Centennial Park — 65-74: 7.4% Kensington — 65-74: 6.0%
75-84 4.3% / 4.4%
Centennial Park — 75-84: 4.3% Kensington — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 1.5% / 2.4%
Centennial Park — 85+: 1.5% Kensington — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Centennial Park 59.9% lone person
Centennial Park — Lone Person: 59.9% Centennial Park — Couple Families: 22.3% Centennial Park — Group Household: 8.6% Centennial Park — One Parent Families: 8.0% Centennial Park — Other Families: 1.3%
Kensington 41.6% lone person
Kensington — Lone Person: 41.6% Kensington — Couple Families: 32.0% Kensington — Group Household: 13.2% Kensington — One Parent Families: 10.6% Kensington — Other Families: 2.6%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Centennial Park 56.1% renting
Centennial Park — Owned Outright: 22.2% Centennial Park — Mortgage: 21.7% Centennial Park — Renting: 56.1%
Kensington 56.1% renting
Kensington — Owned Outright: 24.9% Kensington — Mortgage: 19.1% Kensington — Renting: 56.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Centennial Park Kensington
Bachelor Degree 30.4% / 24.6%
Centennial Park — Bachelor Degree: 30.4% Kensington — Bachelor Degree: 24.6%
Postgraduate Degree 13.0% / 12.6%
Centennial Park — Postgraduate Degree: 13.0% Kensington — Postgraduate Degree: 12.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 7.4%
Centennial Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Kensington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Certificate III & IV 6.0% / 6.0%
Centennial Park — Certificate III & IV: 6.0% Kensington — Certificate III & IV: 6.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.0%
Centennial Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Kensington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.4%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Centennial Park Kensington
England 6.1% / 2.8%
Centennial Park — England: 6.1% Kensington — England: 2.8%
China 1.2% / 6.1%
Centennial Park — China: 1.2% Kensington — China: 6.1%
New Zealand 2.6% / 1.8%
Centennial Park — New Zealand: 2.6% Kensington — New Zealand: 1.8%
India — / 2.9%
Centennial Park — India: not among its largest Kensington — India: 2.9%
Indonesia — / 2.9%
Centennial Park — Indonesia: not among its largest Kensington — Indonesia: 2.9%
Malaysia 0.9% / 1.8%
Centennial Park — Malaysia: 0.9% Kensington — Malaysia: 1.8%
Philippines 1.3% / 1.3%
Centennial Park — Philippines: 1.3% Kensington — Philippines: 1.3%
South Africa 1.2% / —
Centennial Park — South Africa: 1.2% Kensington — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Centennial Park 80.8% flats / apartments
Centennial Park — Flats / Apartments: 80.8% Centennial Park — Houses: 9.1% Centennial Park — Townhouses: 10.1%
Kensington 72.0% flats / apartments
Kensington — Flats / Apartments: 72.0% Kensington — Houses: 21.0% Kensington — Townhouses: 7.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Centennial Park Kensington
Median house price $3,688,500 $3,480,888
Median unit price $840,500 $988,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 35 days
from 31 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Centennial Park Kensington
1 bed $685K / $742K
Centennial Park — 1 bed: $685K (37 sales) Kensington — 1 bed: $742K (50 sales)

37 vs 50 sales

2 bed $1.14M / $1.04M
Centennial Park — 2 bed: $1.14M (24 sales) Kensington — 2 bed: $1.04M (107 sales)

24 vs 107 sales

Zoning mix

Centennial Park Kensington
Parks and recreation 85% 25%
Residential 13% 49%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 23%
Commercial 0% 3%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Centennial Park Kensington
New dwellings approved 455
across Randwick
same for both
Approvals change year on year -26%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Centennial Park Kensington
Houses — 1.7%
$1,175/wk on $3.5M
Units 5.7%
$750/wk on $680K
 4.7%
$842/wk on $926K

Ranking within NSW

Centennial Park Kensington
House price Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Income Higher than 77% of NSW —
Schools — Higher than 88% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 1% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 1% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW

Liveability

Kensington is more walkable (96 vs 62); Kensington scores higher overall (85 vs 77).

Centennial Park Kensington
Grade A
same for both
Score 77/100 85/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Centennial Park Kensington
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
68/100
 Moderate
63/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 16
within 5 km

Schools

Centennial Park Kensington
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of New South Wales, 2.1 km
 3
The University of New South Wales, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.0% 12.8%

Schools in Centennial Park

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Kensington

  • Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Kensington Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's Rosebery, Kensington Campus Catholic · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Centennial Park Kensington
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 3 29
Parks & reserves 6 19
Childcare 4 8
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 3
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Centennial Park Kensington
Walkability score 62/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 8.3 km
+17% vs other
 6.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 14 min
Public transport score 93/100
Tram · Bus
 94/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 103.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 393.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 2021
 2.2%
postcode 2033
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 6
postcode 2021
 8
postcode 2033

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Centennial Park Kensington
Worked from Home 56.9% / 53.0%
Centennial Park — Worked from Home: 56.9% Kensington — Worked from Home: 53.0%
Car (driver) 25.9% / 27.5%
Centennial Park — Car (driver): 25.9% Kensington — Car (driver): 27.5%
Walked Only 5.8% / 5.2%
Centennial Park — Walked Only: 5.8% Kensington — Walked Only: 5.2%
Bus 4.7% / 5.9%
Centennial Park — Bus: 4.7% Kensington — Bus: 5.9%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 2.6%
Centennial Park — Car (passenger): 2.3% Kensington — Car (passenger): 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.9%).

Setting

Centennial Park Kensington
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.2 km
2.8 km to a named beach
 3.5 km
3.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Centennial Park Kensington
Connectivity score 75/100 74/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
1,338 premises
 10%
6,069 premises

Climate

Centennial Park Kensington
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Centennial Park Kensington
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³ 5.3 µg/m³
PM10 13.8 µg/m³ 12.9 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.84 pphm 0.73 pphm

Council rates

Centennial Park Kensington
Average residential rate $1,641/yr
same for both
Council Randwick
same for both

Federal electorate

Centennial Park Kensington
Division Wentworth Kingsford Smith
Member Allegra Spender Matt Thistlethwaite
Party Independent Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Centennial Park Kensington
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Centennial Park

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals River Trams Transport Hub

Kensington

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Students Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Centennial Park

Centennial Park vs Randwick Centennial Park vs Paddington Centennial Park vs Bondi Junction Centennial Park vs Woollahra Centennial Park vs Queens Park

Other comparisons with Kensington

Kensington vs Randwick Kensington vs Waterloo Kensington vs Rosebery Kensington vs Kingsford Kensington vs Zetland Kensington vs Eastlakes
Full data on Centennial Park Full data on Kensington
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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