Eastlakes vs Kensington

Kensington is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 40 in Eastlakes. In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In Eastlakes, about half of households rent. In Kensington, most households rent. Units cost more in Kensington: a median of $988,000, against $735,000 in Eastlakes, and rent is higher there too. Kensington is closer to the city centre: 6.9 km, against 11.9 km. On these figures, Eastlakes tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Kensington suits young adults and share households.

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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (19 vs 7)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 3)
  • But Eastlakes is already more of a family suburb (53% vs 43%)

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

First-home buyers

Eastlakes

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($2,228,000 vs $3,480,888)
  • has cheaper units ($735,000 vs $988,000)
  • But Kensington leaves households under less mortgage stress (30% vs 38%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Eastlakes has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $500/wk)
  • Kensington leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 29%)

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

  • sits closer to the CBD (6.9 km vs 11.9 km)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 76/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Kensington

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 76/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (63/100 vs 74/100)
  • But Eastlakes has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 13%)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Eastlakes is growing faster (-8.2% vs -20.5%)
  • Kensington returns a higher gross yield on units (4.7% vs 4.2%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Eastlakes 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.

Eastlakes 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.

Eastlakes Kensington
Walkability 76 / 96
Eastlakes — Walkability: 76/100 Kensington — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 26 / 37
Eastlakes — Safety: 26/100 Kensington — Safety: 37/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Eastlakes — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kensington — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Kensington has more residents (11,927 vs 6,347); Kensington has higher household incomes ($110,136 vs $67,600).

Eastlakes Kensington
Population 6,347 11,927
+88% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -8.2% -20.5%
Median age 40 32
Median household income $67,600/yr $110,136/yr
+63% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $500/wk
+32% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Eastlakes Kensington
0-4 5.4% / 4.2%
Eastlakes — 0-4: 5.4% Kensington — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 10.4% / 7.9%
Eastlakes — 5-14: 10.4% Kensington — 5-14: 7.9%
15-19 5.2% / 6.3%
Eastlakes — 15-19: 5.2% Kensington — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 5.7% / 14.9%
Eastlakes — 20-24: 5.7% Kensington — 20-24: 14.9%
25-34 14.6% / 21.0%
Eastlakes — 25-34: 14.6% Kensington — 25-34: 21.0%
35-44 14.4% / 14.0%
Eastlakes — 35-44: 14.4% Kensington — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 13.4% / 10.3%
Eastlakes — 45-54: 13.4% Kensington — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 11.4% / 8.5%
Eastlakes — 55-64: 11.4% Kensington — 55-64: 8.5%
65-74 9.9% / 6.0%
Eastlakes — 65-74: 9.9% Kensington — 65-74: 6.0%
75-84 7.0% / 4.4%
Eastlakes — 75-84: 7.0% Kensington — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 2.3% / 2.4%
Eastlakes — 85+: 2.3% Kensington — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Eastlakes 38.6% lone person
Eastlakes — Lone Person: 38.6% Eastlakes — Couple Families: 37.8% Eastlakes — One Parent Families: 15.0% Eastlakes — Group Household: 6.0% Eastlakes — Other Families: 2.5%
Kensington 41.6% lone person
Kensington — Lone Person: 41.6% Kensington — Couple Families: 32.0% Kensington — One Parent Families: 10.6% Kensington — Group Household: 13.2% Kensington — Other Families: 2.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Eastlakes 52.5% renting
Eastlakes — Owned Outright: 25.7% Eastlakes — Mortgage: 21.8% Eastlakes — Renting: 52.5%
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.

Eastlakes Kensington
Bachelor Degree 15.5% / 24.6%
Eastlakes — Bachelor Degree: 15.5% Kensington — Bachelor Degree: 24.6%
Postgraduate Degree 7.2% / 12.6%
Eastlakes — Postgraduate Degree: 7.2% Kensington — Postgraduate Degree: 12.6%
Certificate III & IV 9.2% / 6.0%
Eastlakes — Certificate III & IV: 9.2% Kensington — Certificate III & IV: 6.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 7.4%
Eastlakes — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Kensington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 2.0%
Eastlakes — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Kensington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.6%).

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.

Eastlakes Kensington
China 3.0% / 6.1%
Eastlakes — China: 3.0% Kensington — China: 6.1%
Indonesia 4.3% / 2.9%
Eastlakes — Indonesia: 4.3% Kensington — Indonesia: 2.9%
Bangladesh 6.0% / —
Eastlakes — Bangladesh: 6.0% Kensington — Bangladesh: not among its largest
India 2.4% / 2.9%
Eastlakes — India: 2.4% Kensington — India: 2.9%
Philippines 2.9% / 1.3%
Eastlakes — Philippines: 2.9% Kensington — Philippines: 1.3%
Greece 2.6% / 1.5%
Eastlakes — Greece: 2.6% Kensington — Greece: 1.5%
England — / 2.8%
Eastlakes — England: not among its largest Kensington — England: 2.8%
Malaysia — / 1.8%
Eastlakes — Malaysia: not among its largest Kensington — Malaysia: 1.8%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Eastlakes 69.5% flats / apartments
Eastlakes — Flats / Apartments: 69.5% Eastlakes — Houses: 28.5% Eastlakes — Townhouses: 2.0%
Kensington 72.0% flats / apartments
Kensington — Flats / Apartments: 72.0% Kensington — Houses: 21.0% Kensington — Townhouses: 7.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Eastlakes Kensington
Median house price $2,228,000 $3,480,888
Median unit price $735,000 $988,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 20 sales
 35 days
from 31 sales

House price by bedroom count

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

Eastlakes Kensington
3 bed $2.17M / $2.55M
Eastlakes — 3 bed: $2.17M (18 sales) Kensington — 3 bed: $2.55M (17 sales)

18 vs 17 sales

4 bed $2.25M / $3.65M
Eastlakes — 4 bed: $2.25M (17 sales) Kensington — 4 bed: $3.65M (16 sales)

17 vs 16 sales

5 bed $2.91M / $4.5M
Eastlakes — 5 bed: $2.91M (8 sales) Kensington — 5 bed: $4.5M (11 sales)

8 vs 11 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.

Eastlakes Kensington
1 bed $588K / $742K
Eastlakes — 1 bed: $588K (6 sales) Kensington — 1 bed: $742K (50 sales)

6 vs 50 sales

2 bed $735K / $1.04M
Eastlakes — 2 bed: $735K (71 sales) Kensington — 2 bed: $1.04M (107 sales)

71 vs 107 sales

3 bed $828K / $1.49M
Eastlakes — 3 bed: $828K (8 sales) Kensington — 3 bed: $1.49M (20 sales)

8 vs 20 sales

Zoning mix

Eastlakes Kensington
Infrastructure and transport 62% 23%
Residential 34% 49%
Parks and recreation 2% 25%
Commercial 2% 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

Eastlakes Kensington
New dwellings approved 857
across Bayside (NSW)
 455
across Randwick
Approvals change year on year +98% -26%

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.

Eastlakes Kensington
Houses — 1.7%
$1,175/wk on $3.5M
Units 4.2%
$720/wk on $900K
 4.7%
$842/wk on $926K

Ranking within NSW

Eastlakes Kensington
House price Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Income Higher than 30% of NSW —
Schools — Higher than 88% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 6% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 94% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 1% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW

Liveability

Kensington scores higher overall (85 vs 58); Kensington is more walkable (96 vs 76).

Eastlakes Kensington
Grade B A
Score 58/100 85/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Eastlakes carries more crime risk (74 vs 63).

Eastlakes Kensington
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 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 27
within 5 km
 16
within 5 km

Schools

Eastlakes Kensington
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
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 2.6% 12.8%

Schools in Eastlakes

  • Eastlakes Public School Government · Primary below peers

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

Eastlakes Kensington
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 1 29
Parks & reserves 7 19
Childcare 3 8
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 1 2
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1 3
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Eastlakes sits further from the CBD (11.9 km vs 6.9 km).

Eastlakes Kensington
Walkability score 76/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 11.9 km
+42% vs other
 6.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 14 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 203.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 393.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 2018
 2.2%
postcode 2033
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 8
postcode 2018
 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.

Eastlakes Kensington
Worked from Home 29.3% / 53.0%
Eastlakes — Worked from Home: 29.3% Kensington — Worked from Home: 53.0%
Car (driver) 45.6% / 27.5%
Eastlakes — Car (driver): 45.6% Kensington — Car (driver): 27.5%
Bus 10.0% / 5.9%
Eastlakes — Bus: 10.0% Kensington — Bus: 5.9%
Walked Only 4.7% / 5.2%
Eastlakes — Walked Only: 4.7% Kensington — Walked Only: 5.2%
Car (passenger) 6.9% / 2.6%
Eastlakes — Car (passenger): 6.9% Kensington — Car (passenger): 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.0%).

Setting

Eastlakes Kensington
Elevation 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.1 km
4.4 km to a named beach
 3.5 km
3.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Eastlakes Kensington
Connectivity score 74/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
3,060 premises
 10%
6,069 premises

Climate

Eastlakes 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)

Eastlakes Kensington
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³ 5.3 µg/m³
PM10 16.8 µg/m³ 12.9 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.64 pphm 0.73 pphm

Council rates

Eastlakes Kensington
Average residential rate $1,217/yr $1,641/yr
Council Bayside (NSW) Randwick

Federal electorate

Eastlakes Kensington
Division Kingsford Smith
same for both
Member Matt Thistlethwaite
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Eastlakes

Apartments Inner Multicultural Parks Urban

Kensington

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Eastlakes

Eastlakes vs Mascot Eastlakes vs Rosebery Eastlakes vs Kingsford Eastlakes vs Pagewood Eastlakes vs Daceyville

Other comparisons with Kensington

Kensington vs Randwick Kensington vs Waterloo Kensington vs Rosebery Kensington vs Kingsford Kensington vs Zetland Kensington vs Centennial Park
Full data on Eastlakes Full data on Kensington
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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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