Question 1

Is Kensington a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Kensington is an inner-eastern Sydney suburb centred on the University of New South Wales, where a strong student and academic presence sits alongside longer-term residents. Streets mix low-rise apartments with older terrace and single-storey homes, and small cafés, takeaways and shops line Anzac Parade. Transport links, Centennial Parklands and nearby beaches are all within easy reach.

Most homes are rented, 56.1%, with 44.0% owner-occupied. Major projects are reshaping the area: the Randwick Campus Redevelopment includes a children’s hospital and research centre with planned links to UNSW and elements already under construction, and UNSW’s campus plan will add a Village Green and a western car park conversion delivering more than 800 student beds. Council planning for Anzac Parade establishes a town-centre renewal framework, an affordable housing levy targeting roughly 299 affordable dwellings and funding for streetscape, pedestrian and cycling improvements. Whether Kensington suits you depends on whether you want a lively, student-oriented inner-eastern suburb with close green space and ongoing local development.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Kensington?

Accepted Answer

On the figures for Kensington, housing costs sit well above what local households recorded at the last Census. An average house rent of $1,395 a week would be about 65.9% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, while unit rent of $825 a week would be about 39.0% of that income. A unit priced at about $1,033,000 works out to roughly 9.4 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, which places buying a unit well above local incomes. If you are renting rather than buying, the rent-share numbers will be the most relevant; if buying, the price multiple is the key figure.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Kensington a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Over the past 12 months, Kensington's house market saw values fall sharply while rents rose modestly. Median house values dropped 15.7% while house rents increased 2.3% over the year. Units showed a different pattern: median unit values edged down slightly, by 1.8%, while unit rents rose 3.8%.

Put simply, the year brought a large fall in house capital value alongside modest rent growth, whereas units experienced only a small dip in value with somewhat stronger rent growth. For someone weighing Kensington up as an investment, the value figures speak to capital movement and the rent figures speak to rental income; which matters more will depend on your own goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	N/A	$1.03M
Change in value Past 12 months	-15.7%	-1.8%
Sold Past 3 months	8	30
Median days on market Past 12 months	75	37
Average rent Past 12 months	$1395	$825
Change in rent Past 12 months	2.3%	3.8%

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