New South Wales · Suburb Profile

Kelso NSW — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Kelso, New South Wales. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Kelso NSW is 10,039 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Kelso is $803 per week ($41,756 per year). Median rent in Kelso is $360 per week ($1,560 per month). Kelso has a median age of 36 years, younger than the national median of 38. Kelso has a population density of 315.5 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Kelso is England. The most common religion is Catholic (34% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kelso is $1,800.

There were 338 recorded offences in Kelso in 2025-26, a rate of 34 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (80 offences).

Kelso Map

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Kelso Population

residents (Census 2021)

Kelso Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$803/wk

$41,756 per year

#3580 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$360/wk

$1,560 per month

#2908 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

36years

2 years younger than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$1,800/mo

Avg household size: 2.7 · 0.7 per bedroom

Kelso Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.3% (4,954) Female 50.7% (5,089)

Population Density

315.5

people per km²

10,039 people · 31.8 km²

Households

2.7

Avg household size

0.7

Persons per bedroom

$2,040

Family income/wk

Kelso Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Kelso Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

45.5% 1,109 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

54.5% 1,326 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Kelso Country of Birth

Australia

96.5%

England

1.7%

India

0.7%

China

0.2%

Germany

0.2%

Fiji

0.2%

Indonesia

0.2%

Croatia

0.1%

Bangladesh

0.1%

Canada

0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Kelso Religion

Catholic

34.5%

No Religion

32.8%

Anglican

16.9%

Not stated

6.9%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

3.4%

Uniting Church

3.2%

Christian (other)

1.3%

Hinduism

1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Kelso Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

51.6%

Year 10 or equivalent

33.1%

Year 11 or equivalent

7.9%

Year 9 or equivalent

7.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Kelso Languages Spoken at Home

Other

25.8%

IAL Punjabi

15.1%

SAL Tot

13.8%

Arabic

13.2%

IAL Nepali

11.9%

IAL Sinhal

6.9%

SAL Tagalog

6.9%

Italian

6.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Kelso Employment

💼

Employed full-time

40.1% 2,851 people

⏰

Employed part-time

21.4% 1,518 people

🔍

Unemployed

3.0% 216 people

🏠

Not in labour force

35.5% 2,523 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Kelso Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

47.4%

Bachelor Degree

23.7%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

16.6%

Postgraduate Degree

5.8%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

3.3%

Certificate I/II

3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Kelso Occupation

Professionals

24.6%

Technicians & Trade Workers

17.8%

Community & Personal Service

16.5%

Clerical & Administrative

12.6%

Managers

12.0%

Labourers

6.2%

Sales Workers

5.3%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

5.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Kelso Field of Study

Management & Commerce

21.3%

Engineering

16.8%

Society & Culture

14.5%

Health

12.5%

Education

11.6%

Architecture & Building

8.3%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

6.0%

Creative Arts

2.7%

Agriculture & Environment

2.5%

Natural & Physical Sciences

2.0%

Information Technology

1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Kelso Dwelling Types

Separate house

93.4%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

5.1%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Kelso Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.5%

$1-$149/wk

0.6%

$150-$299/wk

1.1%

$300-$399/wk

2.5%

$400-$499/wk

5.7%

$500-$649/wk

4.5%

$650-$799/wk

6.3%

$800-$999/wk

6.5%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

7.7%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.5%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.6%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.8%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

13.7%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

9.8%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

6.9%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

4.6%

$4,000+/wk

8.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Kelso Marital Status

💍

Married

45.6% 3,558

↔️

Separated

4.2% 325

📋

Divorced

8.3% 647

🕊️

Widowed

5.1% 396

👤

Never married

36.8% 2,870

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Kelso Ancestry

Australian

33.4%

English

32.3%

Irish

9.8%

Scottish

7.4%

Aboriginal Australianralian

6.5%

Other

4.1%

German

2.2%

Italian

1.5%

Dutch

0.9%

Chinese

0.7%

Indian

0.6%

Filipino

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Kelso School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

21.7%

Secondary — Government

20.7%

Primary — Catholic

17.7%

Vocational Education

12.2%

Pre-school

11.8%

Secondary — Catholic

10.4%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

3.2%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Kelso Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

7.5% 1,421

✅

No need for assistance

92.5% 17,606

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Kelso Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

14.4% 1,062

—

Not a volunteer

85.6% 6,309

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Kelso Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

3.1%

$300-$449/mo

1.9%

$450-$599/mo

1.9%

$600-$799/mo

3.0%

$800-$999/mo

4.1%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

14.8%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

22.8%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

31.2%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

11.6%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

5.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Kelso How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

77.2%

Did not go to work

12.6%

Car (passenger)

6.1%

Walked only

1.7%

Truck

1.1%

Other

0.3%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.3%

Bicycle

0.3%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.2%

Bus

0.1%

Ferry

0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Kelso Car Ownership

0 vehicles

5.3%

1 vehicle

29.7%

2 vehicles

42.7%

3 vehicles

14.2%

4+ vehicles

8.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Kelso Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

2.1%

2 bedrooms

5.4%

3 bedrooms

32.8%

4 bedrooms

50.7%

5 bedrooms

7.8%

6+ bedrooms

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Kelso Population Mobility

18.3%

moved in the last year

46.8%

moved in the last 5 years

4.4%

unemployment rate (Census)

62.0%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Kelso Indigenous Population

9.3%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

1,786

Indigenous residents

17,340

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Kelso Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

1,075

Asthma

548

Arthritis

380

Diabetes

288

Heart disease

235

Lung condition

181

Cancer

158

Kidney disease

103

Stroke

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Kelso Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

9.5%

$1-$149/wk

4.6%

$150-$299/wk

5.3%

$300-$399/wk

4.6%

$400-$499/wk

3.4%

$500-$649/wk

3.6%

$650-$799/wk

10.3%

$800-$999/wk

11.9%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

12.1%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

8.9%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

8.0%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.8%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

9.1%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

1.2%

$3,500+/wk

1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Kelso Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

42.4%

Couple — no children

24.9%

Couple — no children under 15

13.4%

One parent — children under 15

13.4%

One parent — no children under 15

6.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Kelso Military Service

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

0.1% 5

🏅

Previously served

2.9% 215

👤

Never served

97.0% 7,175

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Kelso Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

14.1% 1,034

—

Did not provide

85.9% 6,312

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Kelso Children Ever Born

No children

27.8%

1 child

12.1%

2 children

29.3%

3 children

20.1%

4 children

8.0%

5+ children

2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Kelso When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

102

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

172

2011–2015

118

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Kelso Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

21.2%

5–14 hours

28.7%

15–29 hours

14.2%

30+ hours

9.5%

Did not do domestic work

26.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Kelso Household Size

1 person

20.5%

2 persons

34.6%

3 persons

16.3%

4 persons

17.3%

5 persons

7.6%

6+ persons

3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Kelso Where Residents Moved From

Same address

7,664

Moved from NSW

1,080

Moved — same area (SA2)

535

Moved from QLD

Moved from VIC

Moved from overseas

Moved from TAS

Moved from SA

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Kelso Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

78.9%

Step family — no other children

12.9%

Blended family — no other children

6.4%

Intact family — other children present

0.8%

Other couple — children only

0.6%

Step family — other children present

0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Kelso Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 338 total

Theft

Other Against Property

Assault

Other Against Person

Drug Offences

Property Damage

Weapons

Sexual Offences

Robbery

Offence trend by year:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR — bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Kelso Schools

schools nearby

government

978

avg ICSEA score

2,620

total students

Scots All Saints College Independent

Combined · K-12 · 779 students

1087

ICSEA

Holy Family Catholic Primary School Kelso Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 463 students

1028

ICSEA

Raglan Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 191 students

978

ICSEA

Denison College of Secondary Education, Kelso High Campus Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 813 students

936

ICSEA

Kelso Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 374 students

859

ICSEA

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Kelso with map →

Kelso Rent Prices & Affordability

21%

of income

Affordable

Household Income $1,737/wk

Median Rent $360/wk

Rent-to-Income 20.7%

Rent is under 25% of household income — generally considered affordable.

If you earn X in Kelso

Your weekly income

≈ $7,527/month

Median rent $360/wk

Left after rent $1,377/wk

Rent share 20.7%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Cobar

Income: $937/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $160/wk

Hillston

Income: $852/wk Rent: $220/wk Save: $140/wk

Griffith (NSW)

Income: $831/wk Rent: $300/wk Save: $60/wk

Telarah

Income: $689/wk Rent: $300/wk Save: $60/wk

West Bathurst

Income: $729/wk Rent: $310/wk Save: $50/wk

Doonside

Income: $647/wk Rent: $350/wk Save: $10/wk

Walgett

Income: $823/wk Rent: $175/wk Save: $185/wk

Bourke

Income: $860/wk Rent: $180/wk Save: $180/wk

Kelso vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

Harris Park

Pop: 5,043 Income: $802/wk Rent: $360/wk

Swansea (NSW)

Pop: 5,044 Income: $569/wk Rent: $330/wk

South West Rocks

Pop: 5,058 Income: $533/wk Rent: $323/wk

Woolooware

Pop: 5,060 Income: $1,131/wk Rent: $550/wk

Junee

Pop: 5,066 Income: $729/wk Rent: $260/wk

West Kempsey

Pop: 5,073 Income: $493/wk Rent: $290/wk

Compare Kelso (NSW)

Kelso (NSW) vs Harris Park →Kelso (NSW) vs Swansea (NSW) →Kelso (NSW) vs South West Rocks →Kelso (NSW) vs Woolooware →

Frequently Asked Questions About Kelso

What is the population of Kelso NSW?

The population of Kelso NSW is 10,039 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 315.5 people per km².Kelso is ranked #639 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Kelso?

The median personal income in Kelso NSW is $803 per week, or $41,756 per year.The median household income is $1,737 per week.Family income is $2,040 per week.Kelso is ranked #3,580 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Kelso?

Median rent in Kelso NSW is $360 per week ($1,560 per month).Rent represents 20.7% of household income, which is considered affordable.Kelso ranks #2,908 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Kelso?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kelso NSW is $1,800. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Kelso?

The median age in Kelso NSW is 36 years.This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Kelso a good suburb to live in?

Kelso is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 10,039.The median income is $803/wk, which is above the NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (20.7% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 12098. All dollar figures in AUD.