Kensington vs South Perth

Kensington is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 42 in South Perth. In both, most households own their home. In Kensington, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. In South Perth, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in South Perth: a median of $2.1 million, against $1.65 million in Kensington. On these figures, Kensington tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget, while South Perth suits 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 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (82% vs 34%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 38%)

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

First-home buyers

Kensington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,650,000 vs $2,100,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Perth

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

South Perth

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (66% vs 18%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 13%)

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

Investors

Kensington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Kensington South Perth
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.

Kensington South Perth
Walkability 77 / 75
Kensington — Walkability: 77/100 South Perth — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 35 / 30
Kensington — Safety: 35/100 South Perth — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Kensington — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Perth — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 26
Kensington — Low flood risk: 100/100 South Perth — Low flood risk: 26/100

Demographics

South Perth has more residents (12,596 vs 4,627); Kensington has higher household incomes ($129,792 vs $105,352).

Kensington South Perth
Population 4,627 12,596
+172% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.3% +4.5%
Median age 38 42
Median household income $129,792/yr
+19% vs other
 $105,352/yr
Median weekly rent $375/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kensington South Perth
0-4 5.3% / 4.3%
Kensington — 0-4: 5.3% South Perth — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 14.6% / 7.7%
Kensington — 5-14: 14.6% South Perth — 5-14: 7.7%
15-19 7.8% / 4.9%
Kensington — 15-19: 7.8% South Perth — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 6.2% / 7.5%
Kensington — 20-24: 6.2% South Perth — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 12.2% / 15.8%
Kensington — 25-34: 12.2% South Perth — 25-34: 15.8%
35-44 14.0% / 13.0%
Kensington — 35-44: 14.0% South Perth — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 15.9% / 12.3%
Kensington — 45-54: 15.9% South Perth — 45-54: 12.3%
55-64 10.8% / 13.6%
Kensington — 55-64: 10.8% South Perth — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 8.5% / 12.9%
Kensington — 65-74: 8.5% South Perth — 65-74: 12.9%
75-84 3.3% / 6.2%
Kensington — 75-84: 3.3% South Perth — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 1.3% / 1.8%
Kensington — 85+: 1.3% South Perth — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kensington 29.7% lone person
Kensington — Lone Person: 29.7% Kensington — Couple Families: 50.8% Kensington — One Parent Families: 11.6% Kensington — Group Household: 5.9% Kensington — Other Families: 2.0%
South Perth 52.4% lone person
South Perth — Lone Person: 52.4% South Perth — Couple Families: 29.1% South Perth — One Parent Families: 8.7% South Perth — Group Household: 7.6% South Perth — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kensington 28.2% renting
Kensington — Owned Outright: 29.7% Kensington — Mortgage: 42.0% Kensington — Renting: 28.2%
South Perth 43.5% renting
South Perth — Owned Outright: 34.0% South Perth — Mortgage: 22.4% South Perth — Renting: 43.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Kensington South Perth
England 6.2% / 7.2%
Kensington — England: 6.2% South Perth — England: 7.2%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.1%
Kensington — New Zealand: 2.2% South Perth — New Zealand: 2.1%
India 1.0% / 2.6%
Kensington — India: 1.0% South Perth — India: 2.6%
South Africa 1.3% / 2.0%
Kensington — South Africa: 1.3% South Perth — South Africa: 2.0%
Malaysia 0.9% / 2.3%
Kensington — Malaysia: 0.9% South Perth — Malaysia: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.2%).

Qualifications

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

Kensington South Perth
Bachelor Degree 23.8% / 25.4%
Kensington — Bachelor Degree: 23.8% South Perth — Bachelor Degree: 25.4%
Postgraduate Degree 8.1% / 11.3%
Kensington — Postgraduate Degree: 8.1% South Perth — Postgraduate Degree: 11.3%
Certificate III & IV 8.0% / 7.8%
Kensington — Certificate III & IV: 8.0% South Perth — Certificate III & IV: 7.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 8.7%
Kensington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% South Perth — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 3.3%
Kensington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% South Perth — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kensington 81.9% houses
Kensington — Houses: 81.9% Kensington — Townhouses: 12.4% Kensington — Flats / Apartments: 5.6%
South Perth 33.9% houses
South Perth — Houses: 33.9% South Perth — Townhouses: 36.5% South Perth — Flats / Apartments: 29.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kensington South Perth
Median house price $1,650,000 $2,100,000
Median unit price $690,000 $700,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 12 days
from 26 sales
 35 days
from 87 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.

Kensington South Perth
2 bed $1.58M / $1.45M
Kensington — 2 bed: $1.58M (10 sales) South Perth — 2 bed: $1.45M (14 sales)

10 vs 14 sales

3 bed $1.61M / $1.75M
Kensington — 3 bed: $1.61M (18 sales) South Perth — 3 bed: $1.75M (40 sales)

18 vs 40 sales

4 bed $1.78M / $2.5M
Kensington — 4 bed: $1.78M (19 sales) South Perth — 4 bed: $2.5M (47 sales)

19 vs 47 sales

Development activity

Kensington South Perth
New dwellings approved 442
across South Perth
same for both
Approvals change year on year +24%
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.

Kensington South Perth
Houses 4.4%
$840/wk on $1M
 3.9%
$895/wk on $1.2M
Units — 5.7%
$750/wk on $680K

Ranking within WA

Kensington South Perth
House price —
same for both
Income — Higher than 71% of WA
Schools Higher than 66% of WA Higher than 50% of WA
Walkability Higher than 93% of WA Higher than 92% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 94% of WA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of WA Higher than 98% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 50% of WA Higher than 22% of WA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 69% of WA

Liveability

Kensington scores higher overall (84 vs 62).

Kensington South Perth
Grade A B
Score 84/100 62/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

South Perth carries more flood risk (74 vs 0).

Kensington South Perth
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
65/100
 High
70/100
Flood None
0/100
 High
74/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Kensington South Perth
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Curtin University of Technology, 3.1 km
 3
ECU City Campus, 2.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.4% 4.1%

Schools in Kensington

  • Kensington Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Kent Street Senior High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Kensington Secondary School Government · Secondary · Special school

Schools in South Perth

  • Wesley College Independent · Combined above peers
  • South Perth Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Columba's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Hensman Street Elementary Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Kensington South Perth
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 3 25
Parks & reserves 9 8
Childcare 5 6
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 1
same for both
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 3
EV chargers 3 1
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Kensington South Perth
Walkability score 77/100 75/100
Distance to Perth 6.2 km
+6% vs other
 5.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min
same for both
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 105.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 317.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 6151
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 26
postcode 6151
same for both

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.

Kensington South Perth
Car (driver) 67.4% / 63.8%
Kensington — Car (driver): 67.4% South Perth — Car (driver): 63.8%
Worked from Home 12.2% / 13.8%
Kensington — Worked from Home: 12.2% South Perth — Worked from Home: 13.8%
Bus 9.1% / 11.0%
Kensington — Bus: 9.1% South Perth — Bus: 11.0%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 5.4%
Kensington — Car (passenger): 5.7% South Perth — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Bicycle 3.1% / 2.3%
Kensington — Bicycle: 3.1% South Perth — Bicycle: 2.3%
Walked Only 1.5% / 2.6%
Kensington — Walked Only: 1.5% South Perth — Walked Only: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.4%).

Setting

Kensington South Perth
Elevation 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.3 km
4.7 km to a named beach
 10.2 km

NBN connectivity

Kensington South Perth
Connectivity score 98/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 95%
2,024 premises
 99%
8,876 premises

Climate

Kensington South Perth
Annual rainfall 650 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Federal electorate

Kensington South Perth
Division Swan
same for both
Member Zaneta Mascarenhas
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Kensington South Perth
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kensington

Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Quiet Transport Hub

South Perth

Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals River Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kensington

Kensington vs Como Kensington vs East Victoria Park Kensington vs Victoria Park Kensington vs Bentley

Other comparisons with South Perth

South Perth vs Como South Perth vs Victoria Park
Full data on Kensington Full data on South Perth
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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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