Randwick vs Kensington

Kensington is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 36 in Randwick. In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In Randwick, about half of households rent. In Kensington, most households rent. Units cost more in Randwick: a median of $1.25 million, against $988,000 in Kensington, and rent is higher there too. Kensington is closer to the city centre: 6.9 km, against 7.9 km. On these figures, Kensington 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

Randwick

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (15 vs 4)
  • has more childcare (24 vs 8)

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 units ($988,000 vs $1,250,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kensington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($500/wk vs $572/wk)

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

Randwick

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (12 vs 2)

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

Investors

Randwick

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (-3.5% vs -20.5%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (2.6% vs 1.7%)
  • But Kensington returns a higher gross yield on units (4.7% vs 4.2%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Randwick 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.

Randwick 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.

Randwick Kensington
Walkability 96 / 96
Randwick — Walkability: 96/100 Kensington — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 40 / 37
Randwick — Safety: 40/100 Kensington — Safety: 37/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Randwick — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kensington — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Randwick has more residents (28,943 vs 11,927); Randwick rents higher ($572/wk vs $500/wk).

Randwick Kensington
Population 28,943
+59% vs other
 11,927
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.5% -20.5%
Median age 36 32
Median household income $125,944/yr
+13% vs other
 $110,136/yr
Median weekly rent $572/wk
+13% vs other
 $500/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Randwick Kensington
0-4 5.4% / 4.2%
Randwick — 0-4: 5.4% Kensington — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 9.3% / 7.9%
Randwick — 5-14: 9.3% Kensington — 5-14: 7.9%
15-19 4.4% / 6.3%
Randwick — 15-19: 4.4% Kensington — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 6.1% / 14.9%
Randwick — 20-24: 6.1% Kensington — 20-24: 14.9%
25-34 22.2% / 21.0%
Randwick — 25-34: 22.2% Kensington — 25-34: 21.0%
35-44 16.3% / 14.0%
Randwick — 35-44: 16.3% Kensington — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 12.6% / 10.3%
Randwick — 45-54: 12.6% Kensington — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 9.2% / 8.5%
Randwick — 55-64: 9.2% Kensington — 55-64: 8.5%
65-74 6.9% / 6.0%
Randwick — 65-74: 6.9% Kensington — 65-74: 6.0%
75-84 4.6% / 4.4%
Randwick — 75-84: 4.6% Kensington — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 2.9% / 2.4%
Randwick — 85+: 2.9% Kensington — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Randwick 41.7% lone person
Randwick — Lone Person: 41.7% Randwick — Couple Families: 34.1% Randwick — Group Household: 11.7% Randwick — One Parent Families: 10.8% Randwick — Other Families: 1.8%
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.

Randwick 51.9% renting
Randwick — Owned Outright: 23.9% Randwick — Mortgage: 24.2% Randwick — Renting: 51.9%
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.

Randwick Kensington
Bachelor Degree 27.7% / 24.6%
Randwick — Bachelor Degree: 27.7% Kensington — Bachelor Degree: 24.6%
Postgraduate Degree 13.0% / 12.6%
Randwick — Postgraduate Degree: 13.0% Kensington — Postgraduate Degree: 12.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 7.4%
Randwick — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Kensington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Certificate III & IV 6.7% / 6.0%
Randwick — Certificate III & IV: 6.7% Kensington — Certificate III & IV: 6.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 2.0%
Randwick — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Kensington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.7%).

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.

Randwick Kensington
England 7.4% / 2.8%
Randwick — England: 7.4% Kensington — England: 2.8%
China 2.0% / 6.1%
Randwick — China: 2.0% Kensington — China: 6.1%
Ireland 4.3% / —
Randwick — Ireland: 4.3% Kensington — Ireland: not among its largest
New Zealand 2.1% / 1.8%
Randwick — New Zealand: 2.1% Kensington — New Zealand: 1.8%
India 1.0% / 2.9%
Randwick — India: 1.0% Kensington — India: 2.9%
Indonesia — / 2.9%
Randwick — Indonesia: not among its largest Kensington — Indonesia: 2.9%
Malaysia — / 1.8%
Randwick — Malaysia: not among its largest Kensington — Malaysia: 1.8%
South Africa 1.7% / —
Randwick — South Africa: 1.7% Kensington — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Randwick 70.2% flats / apartments
Randwick — Flats / Apartments: 70.2% Randwick — Houses: 13.8% Randwick — Townhouses: 16.0%
Kensington 72.0% flats / apartments
Kensington — Flats / Apartments: 72.0% Kensington — Houses: 21.0% Kensington — Townhouses: 7.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Randwick Kensington
Median house price $3,455,000 $3,480,888
Median unit price $1,250,000 $988,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 86 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.

Randwick Kensington
3 bed $3.15M / $2.55M
Randwick — 3 bed: $3.15M (37 sales) Kensington — 3 bed: $2.55M (17 sales)

37 vs 17 sales

4 bed $3.83M / $3.65M
Randwick — 4 bed: $3.83M (38 sales) Kensington — 4 bed: $3.65M (16 sales)

38 vs 16 sales

5 bed $4.7M / $4.5M
Randwick — 5 bed: $4.7M (13 sales) Kensington — 5 bed: $4.5M (11 sales)

13 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.

Randwick Kensington
1 bed $880K / $742K
Randwick — 1 bed: $880K (77 sales) Kensington — 1 bed: $742K (50 sales)

77 vs 50 sales

2 bed $1.27M / $1.04M
Randwick — 2 bed: $1.27M (270 sales) Kensington — 2 bed: $1.04M (107 sales)

270 vs 107 sales

3 bed $1.8M / $1.49M
Randwick — 3 bed: $1.8M (51 sales) Kensington — 3 bed: $1.49M (20 sales)

51 vs 20 sales

Zoning mix

Randwick Kensington
Residential 58% 49%
Parks and recreation 17% 25%
Infrastructure and transport 19% 23%
Commercial 3%
same for both
Environmental 2% 0%
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

Randwick 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.

Randwick Kensington
Houses 2.6%
$1,650/wk on $3.27M
 1.7%
$1,175/wk on $3.5M
Units 4.2%
$875/wk on $1.07M
 4.7%
$842/wk on $926K

Ranking within NSW

Randwick Kensington
House price Higher than 95% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 87% of NSW —
Schools Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 6% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW

Liveability

Randwick Kensington
Grade A
same for both
Score 82/100 85/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Randwick Kensington
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
60/100
 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 10
within 5 km
 16
within 5 km

Schools

Randwick Kensington
Inside the suburb 15 4
Rated above peers 5 2
Rated at peers 5 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of New South Wales, 1.9 km
 3
The University of New South Wales, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.9% 12.8%

Schools in Randwick

  • Brigidine College Randwick Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Claremont College Independent · Primary above peers
  • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Randwick Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Centennial Park School Government · Secondary · Special school above peers
  • Coogee Boys' Preparatory School Independent · Primary at 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

Randwick Kensington
Supermarkets 4
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 73 29
Parks & reserves 19
same for both
Childcare 24 8
GPs 12 2
Pharmacies 13 2
Hospitals 3 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 1
Fuel stations 9 3
EV chargers 1
same for both

Mobility

Randwick Kensington
Walkability score 96/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 7.9 km
+13% vs other
 6.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 14 min
Public transport score 94/100
Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 1121.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 393.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 2031
 2.2%
postcode 2033
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 9
postcode 2031
 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.

Randwick Kensington
Worked from Home 57.8% / 53.0%
Randwick — Worked from Home: 57.8% Kensington — Worked from Home: 53.0%
Car (driver) 24.1% / 27.5%
Randwick — Car (driver): 24.1% Kensington — Car (driver): 27.5%
Walked Only 7.9% / 5.2%
Randwick — Walked Only: 7.9% Kensington — Walked Only: 5.2%
Bus 4.9% / 5.9%
Randwick — Bus: 4.9% Kensington — Bus: 5.9%
Car (passenger) 1.6% / 2.6%
Randwick — Car (passenger): 1.6% Kensington — Car (passenger): 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.8%).

Setting

Randwick Kensington
Elevation 75 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km
1.7 km to a named beach
 3.5 km
3.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Randwick Kensington
Connectivity score 77/100 74/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
15,679 premises
 10%
6,069 premises

Climate

Randwick 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)

Randwick 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Randwick

Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

Kensington

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Randwick

Randwick vs Maroubra Randwick vs Coogee Randwick vs Kingsford Randwick vs South Coogee Randwick vs Clovelly Randwick vs Waverley

Other comparisons with Kensington

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