Moving to Kiama Downs NSW 2533
What the official numbers say about living in Kiama Downs — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $490 a week, against a median household income of $2,103 a week.
About 86% of homes are owner-occupied and 14% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Kiama Downs grew 5% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (4,848 → 5,087 people).
Around 83% of households are families, averaging 2.8 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Scotland; most spoken languages besides English: Macedonian, Mandarin, Italian.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Kiama Downs sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 9 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (66% of workers), while 33% work from home.
Nearest train station: Minnamurra, 1.8 km north.
Nearest airport: Shellharbour Airport, 10.6 km north-west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 92 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 5 schools · 15 cafes & restaurants · 1 supermarket · 12 parks · 6 beaches — see them all on the Kiama Downs profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Minnamurra Public School 2 km · Kiama Public School 3.1 km · Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Parish Primary School 3.8 km · Kiama High School 4.3 km · Illawarra Environmental Education Centre 4.6 km
Groceries: Woolworths 2.7 km
Parks and reserves: Gainsborough Oval 350 m · Iluka Reserve 600 m · Gainsborough Chase Oval 850 m · Cameron Boyd Reserve 1 km · Bombo Hill Reserve 1.1 km · James Oates Reserve 1.6 km · Robert East Reserve 1.7 km · North Street Reserve 2.2 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Kiama Downs, most often seen first: Australian Raven · Australian Magpie · Magpie-lark · Superb Fairy-wren · Lewin's Honeyeater · Willie Wagtail.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Kiama Downs, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiama Downs here | 5,087 | — | 9/10 | 25% |
| Kiama | 7,904 | — | 9/10 | 17% |
| Shell Cove | 7,591 | — | 10/10 | 20% |
| Flinders | 7,118 | — | 7/10 | 7% |
| Shellharbour | 3,520 | — | 6/10 | 8% |
| Blackbutt | 3,291 | — | 5/10 | 40% |
| Jamberoo | 1,910 | — | 10/10 | 41% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Kiama — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Gilmore — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2533 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Kiama Downs profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $490 a week, and about 14% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 5% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 4,848 people to 5,087. It sits about 92 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Minnamurra station is roughly 1.8 km away. Local government is Kiama council, and the federal seat is Gilmore.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Kiama Downs vs Kiama · Kiama Downs vs Shell Cove.
Nearby guides: Kiama · Shell Cove · Flinders · Shellharbour · Blackbutt · Jamberoo.
Keep an eye on Kiama Downs
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