Kealba vs Keilor East

Kealba is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 43 in Keilor East. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Keilor East: a median of $1.11 million, against $772,000 in Kealba, and rent is higher there too. Keilor East is closer to the city centre: 17.6 km, against 21.7 km. On these figures, Kealba tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Keilor East

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (24 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 4)
  • But Kealba has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Kealba

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($650,000 vs $1,027,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($771,500 vs $1,115,000)
  • has cheaper units ($494,500 vs $630,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kealba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($370/wk vs $406/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Keilor East

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (17.6 km vs 21.7 km)
  • is more walkable (66/100 vs 54/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Keilor East

ahead on 5 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (19% vs 7%)
  • carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

Kealba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.9% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Kealba Keilor East
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.

Kealba Keilor East
Walkability 54 / 66
Kealba — Walkability: 54/100 Keilor East — Walkability: 66/100
Safety 24 / 55
Kealba — Safety: 24/100 Keilor East — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 80 / 70
Kealba — Low fire risk: 80/100 Keilor East — Low fire risk: 70/100
Low flood risk 48 / 54
Kealba — Low flood risk: 48/100 Keilor East — Low flood risk: 54/100

Demographics

Keilor East has more residents (15,078 vs 3,226); Keilor East has higher household incomes ($99,372 vs $80,184).

Kealba Keilor East
Population 3,226 15,078
+367% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.0% +3.9%
Median age 39 43
Median household income $80,184/yr $99,372/yr
+24% vs other
Median weekly rent $370/wk $406/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kealba Keilor East
0-4 5.6% / 5.4%
Kealba — 0-4: 5.6% Keilor East — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 11.6% / 12.2%
Kealba — 5-14: 11.6% Keilor East — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 5.3% / 5.8%
Kealba — 15-19: 5.3% Keilor East — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 6.1% / 4.9%
Kealba — 20-24: 6.1% Keilor East — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 15.8% / 10.9%
Kealba — 25-34: 15.8% Keilor East — 25-34: 10.9%
35-44 13.4% / 12.9%
Kealba — 35-44: 13.4% Keilor East — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 12.9% / 14.2%
Kealba — 45-54: 12.9% Keilor East — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 12.3% / 10.9%
Kealba — 55-64: 12.3% Keilor East — 55-64: 10.9%
65-74 11.9% / 9.8%
Kealba — 65-74: 11.9% Keilor East — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 4.2% / 9.6%
Kealba — 75-84: 4.2% Keilor East — 75-84: 9.6%
85+ 1.2% / 3.4%
Kealba — 85+: 1.2% Keilor East — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kealba 45.4% couple families
Kealba — Couple Families: 45.4% Kealba — Lone Person: 27.0% Kealba — One Parent Families: 23.7% Kealba — Group Household: 2.5% Kealba — Other Families: 1.5%
Keilor East 51.4% couple families
Keilor East — Couple Families: 51.4% Keilor East — Lone Person: 27.5% Keilor East — One Parent Families: 16.9% Keilor East — Group Household: 2.8% Keilor East — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kealba 18.8% renting
Kealba — Owned Outright: 41.1% Kealba — Mortgage: 40.1% Kealba — Renting: 18.8%
Keilor East 19.3% renting
Keilor East — Owned Outright: 47.3% Keilor East — Mortgage: 33.4% Keilor East — Renting: 19.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kealba Keilor East
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 15.2%
Kealba — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Keilor East — Bachelor Degree: 15.2%
Certificate III & IV 12.7% / 11.4%
Kealba — Certificate III & IV: 12.7% Keilor East — Certificate III & IV: 11.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 7.5%
Kealba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Keilor East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 4.1%
Kealba — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Keilor East — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.2%
Kealba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Keilor East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.2%).

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.

Kealba Keilor East
Vietnam 9.5% / 2.7%
Kealba — Vietnam: 9.5% Keilor East — Vietnam: 2.7%
Italy 2.0% / 5.7%
Kealba — Italy: 2.0% Keilor East — Italy: 5.7%
India 1.4% / 2.0%
Kealba — India: 1.4% Keilor East — India: 2.0%
Greece 1.1% / 1.9%
Kealba — Greece: 1.1% Keilor East — Greece: 1.9%
England 1.2% / 1.2%
Kealba — England: 1.2% Keilor East — England: 1.2%
New Zealand 1.4% / 0.7%
Kealba — New Zealand: 1.4% Keilor East — New Zealand: 0.7%
Iraq 1.4% / —
Kealba — Iraq: 1.4% Keilor East — Iraq: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kealba 92.9% houses
Kealba — Houses: 92.9% Kealba — Townhouses: 5.1% Kealba — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Keilor East 80.6% houses
Keilor East — Houses: 80.6% Keilor East — Townhouses: 18.4% Keilor East — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kealba Keilor East
Median house price $771,500 $1,115,000
Median unit price $494,500 $630,000
Median land price $650,000 $1,027,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 23 sales
 23 days
from 174 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.

Kealba Keilor East
3 bed $749K / $995K
Kealba — 3 bed: $749K (39 sales) Keilor East — 3 bed: $995K (147 sales)

39 vs 147 sales

4 bed $788K / $1.25M
Kealba — 4 bed: $788K (42 sales) Keilor East — 4 bed: $1.25M (105 sales)

42 vs 105 sales

5 bed $970K / $1.34M
Kealba — 5 bed: $970K (7 sales) Keilor East — 5 bed: $1.34M (19 sales)

7 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Kealba Keilor East
Residential 43% 50%
Parks and recreation 29% 28%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 13%
Other and special use 11% 2%
Industrial 7% 6%
Commercial 1%
same for both
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

Kealba Keilor East
New dwellings approved 670
across Brimbank
 702
across Moonee Valley
Approvals change year on year +40% +82%

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.

Kealba Keilor East
Houses 4.9%
$650/wk on $690K
 3.6%
$750/wk on $1.09M
Units — 5.2%
$600/wk on $605K

Ranking within VIC

Kealba Keilor East
House price Higher than 46% of VIC Higher than 70% of VIC
Income Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 8% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 70% of VIC

Liveability

Keilor East is more walkable (66 vs 54); Keilor East scores higher overall (52 vs 44).

Kealba Keilor East
Grade C B
Score 44/100 52/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Kealba carries more crime risk (76 vs 45); Keilor East carries more bushfire risk (30 vs 20).

Kealba Keilor East
Bushfire Low
20/100
 Low
30/100
Crime High
76/100
 Moderate
45/100
Flood Moderate
52/100
 Moderate
46/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
 High
70/100
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Kealba Keilor East
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
Victoria University Footscray Park, 9.1 km
 2
Victoria University Footscray Park, 7.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 2.6%

Schools in Kealba

  • St Paul's Kealba Catholic School Catholic · Primary above peers

Schools in Keilor East

  • Essendon Keilor College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • St Peter's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Keilor Heights Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Kealba Keilor East
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 7
Parks & reserves 3 24
Childcare 4 8
GPs 0 6
Pharmacies 1 3
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 2
same for both
Waterways 2 6

Mobility

Kealba sits further from the CBD (21.7 km vs 17.6 km).

Kealba Keilor East
Walkability score 54/100 66/100
Distance to Melbourne 21.7 km
+19% vs other
 17.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min 24 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 44.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 359.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3021
 1.0%
postcode 3033
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 3021
 24
postcode 3033

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.

Kealba Keilor East
Car (driver) 68.2% / 58.6%
Kealba — Car (driver): 68.2% Keilor East — Car (driver): 58.6%
Worked from Home 24.1% / 33.6%
Kealba — Worked from Home: 24.1% Keilor East — Worked from Home: 33.6%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 3.9%
Kealba — Car (passenger): 3.7% Keilor East — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Train 2.6% / 2.2%
Kealba — Train: 2.6% Keilor East — Train: 2.2%
Bus 0.6% / 0.7%
Kealba — Bus: 0.6% Keilor East — Bus: 0.7%
Walked Only 0.4% / 0.8%
Kealba — Walked Only: 0.4% Keilor East — Walked Only: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.2%).

Setting

Kealba Keilor East
Elevation 65 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 70 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 13.5 km 12.4 km

NBN connectivity

Kealba Keilor East
Connectivity score 75/100 79/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
1,309 premises
 15%
6,757 premises

Climate

Kealba Keilor East
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Kealba Keilor East
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 18.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Kealba Keilor East
Average residential rate $1,847/yr $2,027/yr
Council Brimbank Moonee Valley

Federal electorate

Kealba Keilor East
Division Fraser Maribyrnong
Member Daniel Mulino Jo Briskey
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Kealba Keilor East
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kealba

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Quiet River

Keilor East

Middle-Ring Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kealba

Kealba vs St Albans Kealba vs Sunshine North Kealba vs Keilor Downs Kealba vs Keilor

Other comparisons with Keilor East

Keilor East vs Avondale Heights Keilor East vs Sunshine North Keilor East vs Airport West Keilor East vs Keilor Keilor East vs Niddrie Keilor East vs Keilor Park
Full data on Kealba Full data on Keilor East
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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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