Kinglake (Vic.)

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Kinglake's population is estimated at around 1,873 as of May 2026, according to Districts' evaluation of ABS population updates for the wider region and new address verifications. Compared to the 1,662 residents recorded in the 2021 Census, this represents an expansion of 211 individuals (12.7%). This population shift is calculated from the estimated resident population of 1,873, which Districts determined by examining the ABS's latest ERP data release from June 2025 alongside an additional 7 validated new addresses since the Census. This population level translates to a density of 16.3 persons per square kilometer, indicating a spacious residential environment. The 12.7% rate of expansion in the suburb of Kinglake since the 2021 census outpaced the broader SA3 area (1.8%) and the state, positioning the locality as a regional leader in population gains. Demographic growth in the suburb of Kinglake was primarily underpinned by natural increase, which accounted for approximately 57% of the overall population increase in recent times, though positive contributions were also observed across all other factors, including interstate and overseas migration.

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Kinglake has a balanced workforce distributed across professional and manual occupations, with the building sector showing particularly strong representation. The area has an unemployment rate of 5.1% and experienced an estimated employment expansion of 3.4% over the prior year, according to Districts' aggregation of local statistical data. As of March 2026, there are 1,096 employed residents, with the unemployment rate tracking 0.3% higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 4.8%, while workforce participation is standard at 73.2% compared to 70.2% in Greater Melbourne. Census data indicates a moderate 21.7% of the workforce worked from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of Covid-19 restrictions.

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According to the latest ATO statistics compiled by Districts for the 2023 financial year, taxpayer incomes in the suburb of Kinglake sit below the national average. The median income for taxpayers in the suburb of Kinglake is $50,881, and the average income is $63,744, compared to $57,688 and $75,164 in Greater Melbourne. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index increase of 9.62% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates would be approximately $55,776 for the median and $69,876 for the average as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census shows that household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Kinglake are all moderate, placing between the 47th and 49th percentiles. In terms of distribution, the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is the most common, accounting for 38.5% of residents (721 people), which is similar to the wider region where of the population falls into this range. Discretionary income stands at after housing costs, and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the th decile for income.

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The residential mix in Kinglake at the time of the latest Census was dominated by separate houses at 99.2%, with other formats such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative dwellings making up 0.8%, compared to the metropolitan Melbourne split of 67.9% houses and 32.1% alternative styles. Home ownership rates in Kinglake stood significantly higher than the Melbourne metropolitan average, with 35.4% owning their homes outright, while the remaining properties were held under a mortgage (59.2%) or rented (5.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,733 was well below the Melbourne metropolitan average of $2,000, and the median weekly rent was $300, compared to $390 in metropolitan Melbourne. Globally across the country, Kinglake's mortgage payments sit below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are considerably lower than the national figure of $375.

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Families make up the majority of households at 73.7%, consisting of couples with children (32.1%), couples without children (31.9%), and single-parent homes (9.2%). The remaining 26.3% are non-family households, with single-person households accounting for 23.7% and group homes making up 2.6%. The median household size of 2.6 people is equal to the Greater Melbourne average.

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Educational attainment in the area presents some challenges, with the proportion of residents holding a university degree (18.0%) sitting well below the Greater Melbourne average of 37.0%. This gap offers an opportunity for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 11.9%, followed by graduate diplomas at 3.1% and postgraduate degrees at 3.0%. Practical and technical qualifications are highly prevalent, with 48.9% of residents aged 15 and over holding vocational qualifications, split between advanced diplomas (14.3%) and certificates (34.6%).

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Public transport options in Kinglake consist of 3 active stops providing bus services. These stops are served by 1 separate route, which offers a total of 146 passenger trips per week. Transit access is classified as limited, with residents living an average of 1242 meters from the nearest stop. Given the residential nature of the suburb, most working residents commute out of the area, with private cars being the main mode of travel for 97% of commuters. Average vehicle ownership stands at 1.9 cars per household, which is higher than the regional average. Around 21.7% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may be associated with pandemic restrictions.

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Analysis of mortality rates and chronic illness indicators by Districts indicates that Kinglake faces notable health challenges, with common medical issues prevalent among both younger and older populations, while private health insurance coverage is slightly lower than the SA2 average, at approximately 52% of the population (~975 people) compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne.

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Kinglake displays lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with citizens making up 90.9% of the population, 89.9% born in Australia, and 96.8% using only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 30.3% of residents. The most notable difference in religious affiliation is in the Other category, which represents 1.4% of the population compared to 2.3% in Greater Melbourne.

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The median age of 43 in Kinglake is higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and the national average of 38. The age distribution shows a high concentration of residents in the 55 - 64 age bracket (16.1%), whereas the 25 - 34 bracket is smaller (10.0%) than in Greater Melbourne. Since 2021, the cohort aged 75 to 84 has increased from 3.2% to 5.5% of the population, and the group aged 65 to 74 grew from 9.7% to 11.0%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 17.5% to 15.3%, and the 5 to age group declined from to . Looking forward to demographic projections indicate notable shifts, with the cohort aged to expected to grow significantly, increasing by residents () from to .

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Kinglake currently has an estimated 101 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 64 children aged 0-2 and 43 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 25% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 12% by 2041 (to approximately 113 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 177. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 11.0 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally.