Toorak Gardens vs Kensington

Kensington is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 47 in Toorak Gardens. In Toorak Gardens, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. In Kensington, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Toorak Gardens: a median of $2.59 million, against $1.21 million in Kensington, and rent is higher there too. Kensington is closer to the city centre: 4.6 km, against 5.2 km. On these figures, Toorak Gardens tends to suit couples, while Kensington suits renters, people living alone, and 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Toorak Gardens has more separate houses rather than flats (65% vs 30%)
  • Kensington has more childcare (4 vs 0)

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 ($1,210,000 vs $2,590,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Toorak Gardens leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 22%)
  • Kensington has a bigger rental market to choose from (51% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

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

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Toorak Gardens carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 62/100)
  • Kensington has more units and townhouses to downsize into (70% vs 35%)

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 (3.8% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Toorak Gardens 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.

Toorak Gardens 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.

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Walkability 84 / 90
Toorak Gardens — Walkability: 84/100 Kensington — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 50 / 38
Toorak Gardens — Safety: 50/100 Kensington — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Toorak Gardens — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kensington — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 82 / 19
Toorak Gardens — Low flood risk: 82/100 Kensington — Low flood risk: 19/100

Demographics

Toorak Gardens has higher household incomes ($118,872 vs $70,460); Toorak Gardens has more residents (2,604 vs 1,808).

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Population 2,604
+31% vs other
 1,808
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.7% +2.2%
Median age 47 43
Median household income $118,872/yr
+41% vs other
 $70,460/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+6% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Toorak Gardens Kensington
0-4 3.4% / 4.1%
Toorak Gardens — 0-4: 3.4% Kensington — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 11.8% / 8.8%
Toorak Gardens — 5-14: 11.8% Kensington — 5-14: 8.8%
15-19 7.8% / 5.9%
Toorak Gardens — 15-19: 7.8% Kensington — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 6.0% / 5.5%
Toorak Gardens — 20-24: 6.0% Kensington — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 9.1% / 15.2%
Toorak Gardens — 25-34: 9.1% Kensington — 25-34: 15.2%
35-44 9.6% / 12.6%
Toorak Gardens — 35-44: 9.6% Kensington — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 13.2% / 12.7%
Toorak Gardens — 45-54: 13.2% Kensington — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 13.6% / 11.1%
Toorak Gardens — 55-64: 13.6% Kensington — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 13.9% / 12.9%
Toorak Gardens — 65-74: 13.9% Kensington — 65-74: 12.9%
75-84 8.5% / 8.2%
Toorak Gardens — 75-84: 8.5% Kensington — 75-84: 8.2%
85+ 3.0% / 3.0%
Toorak Gardens — 85+: 3.0% Kensington — 85+: 3.0%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Toorak Gardens 39.5% lone person
Toorak Gardens — Lone Person: 39.5% Toorak Gardens — Couple Families: 46.9% Toorak Gardens — One Parent Families: 9.8% Toorak Gardens — Group Household: 2.9% Toorak Gardens — Other Families: 0.8%
Kensington 57.0% lone person
Kensington — Lone Person: 57.0% Kensington — Couple Families: 24.3% Kensington — One Parent Families: 12.6% Kensington — Group Household: 5.0% Kensington — Other Families: 1.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Toorak Gardens 26.6% renting
Toorak Gardens — Owned Outright: 47.5% Toorak Gardens — Mortgage: 25.9% Toorak Gardens — Renting: 26.6%
Kensington 50.8% renting
Kensington — Owned Outright: 24.9% Kensington — Mortgage: 24.3% Kensington — Renting: 50.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Bachelor Degree 27.1% / 23.6%
Toorak Gardens — Bachelor Degree: 27.1% Kensington — Bachelor Degree: 23.6%
Postgraduate Degree 13.3% / 10.1%
Toorak Gardens — Postgraduate Degree: 13.3% Kensington — Postgraduate Degree: 10.1%
Certificate III & IV 6.6% / 7.8%
Toorak Gardens — Certificate III & IV: 6.6% Kensington — Certificate III & IV: 7.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 7.3%
Toorak Gardens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Kensington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 3.5%
Toorak Gardens — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Kensington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.1%).

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.

Toorak Gardens Kensington
England 4.2% / 4.9%
Toorak Gardens — England: 4.2% Kensington — England: 4.9%
India 2.7% / 5.1%
Toorak Gardens — India: 2.7% Kensington — India: 5.1%
China 3.4% / 2.5%
Toorak Gardens — China: 3.4% Kensington — China: 2.5%
Italy 1.0% / 2.1%
Toorak Gardens — Italy: 1.0% Kensington — Italy: 2.1%
New Zealand 1.4% / 0.9%
Toorak Gardens — New Zealand: 1.4% Kensington — New Zealand: 0.9%
Vietnam 1.6% / —
Toorak Gardens — Vietnam: 1.6% Kensington — Vietnam: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Toorak Gardens 65.1% houses
Toorak Gardens — Houses: 65.1% Toorak Gardens — Townhouses: 30.2% Toorak Gardens — Flats / Apartments: 4.7%
Kensington 29.9% houses
Kensington — Houses: 29.9% Kensington — Townhouses: 42.6% Kensington — Flats / Apartments: 27.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Median house price $2,590,000 $1,210,000
Median unit price $730,000 $765,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 19 sales
 20 days
from 16 sales

Zoning mix

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Residential 95% 87%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 10%
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

Toorak Gardens Kensington
New dwellings approved 250
across Burnside
 227
across Norwood Payneham and St Peters
Approvals change year on year +32% +141%

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.

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Houses 3.0%
$1,640/wk on $2.8M
 3.8%
$760/wk on $1.05M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Toorak Gardens Kensington
House price Higher than 98% of SA Higher than 64% of SA
Income Higher than 92% of SA —
Schools — Higher than 25% of SA
Walkability Higher than 95% of SA Higher than 99% of SA
Affordability Higher than 4% of SA —
EV adoption Higher than 96% of SA Higher than 93% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of SA Higher than 87% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 16% of SA Higher than 40% of SA

Liveability

Toorak Gardens scores higher overall (91 vs 56).

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Grade A+ B
Score 91/100 56/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Kensington carries more flood risk (81 vs 18); Kensington carries more crime risk (62 vs 50).

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
50/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood Low
18/100
 High
81/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 3.4 km
 3
Adelaide University, Magill Campus, 3.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.9% 3.0%

Schools in Toorak Gardens

  • St Patrick's Special School Catholic · Combined · Special school

Schools in Kensington

  • Marryatville Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mary MacKillop College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Joseph's Memorial School - Junior Primary Campus Catholic · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Cafes & restaurants 2
same for both
Parks & reserves 1 4
Childcare 0 4
Hospitals 1 0
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Walkability score 84/100 90/100
Distance to Adelaide 5.2 km
+12% vs other
 4.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 55.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 50.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 5065
 1.9%
postcode 5068
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 49
postcode 5065
 45
postcode 5068

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.

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Car (driver) 63.1% / 60.5%
Toorak Gardens — Car (driver): 63.1% Kensington — Car (driver): 60.5%
Worked from Home 18.0% / 17.2%
Toorak Gardens — Worked from Home: 18.0% Kensington — Worked from Home: 17.2%
Bus 5.3% / 8.8%
Toorak Gardens — Bus: 5.3% Kensington — Bus: 8.8%
Car (passenger) 6.3% / 4.2%
Toorak Gardens — Car (passenger): 6.3% Kensington — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 3.5% / 5.3%
Toorak Gardens — Walked Only: 3.5% Kensington — Walked Only: 5.3%
Bicycle 3.7% / 3.4%
Toorak Gardens — Bicycle: 3.7% Kensington — Bicycle: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.1%).

Setting

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Elevation 79 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 80 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.3 km 13.3 km

NBN connectivity

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
1,184 premises
 0%
1,063 premises

Climate

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Annual rainfall 457 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Toorak Gardens Kensington
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 1.12 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Average residential rate $2,410/yr $1,995/yr
Council Burnside Norwood Payneham and St Peters

Federal electorate

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Division Sturt
same for both
Member Claire Clutterham
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Toorak Gardens Kensington
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Toorak Gardens

Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Retirees Townhouses

Kensington

Cafe Culture Inner Parks Professionals River Townhouses Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Toorak Gardens

Toorak Gardens vs Norwood Toorak Gardens vs Glenside Toorak Gardens vs Linden Park Toorak Gardens vs Dulwich Toorak Gardens vs Tusmore Toorak Gardens vs Rose Park

Other comparisons with Kensington

Kensington vs Norwood Kensington vs Kensington Park Kensington vs Leabrook Kensington vs Beulah Park Kensington vs Marryatville
Full data on Toorak Gardens 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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