Moving to Kiama NSW 2533
What the official numbers say about living in Kiama — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $478 a week, against a median household income of $1,572 a week.
About 72% of homes are owner-occupied and 23% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Kiama grew 26% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (6,272 → 7,904 people).
Around 69% of households are families, averaging 2.3 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, United States; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Spanish, Greek.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Kiama sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 9 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (62% of workers), while 33% work from home.
Nearest train station: Kiama, 500 m north-east.
Nearest airport: Shellharbour Airport, 13.9 km north-west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 96 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 3 schools · 40 cafes & restaurants · 1 supermarket · 15 parks · 7 beaches — see them all on the Kiama profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Parish Primary School 350 m · Kiama Public School 600 m · Kiama High School 700 m
Groceries: Woolworths 900 m
Parks and reserves: Coronation Park 400 m · Stead Reserve 500 m · Peace Park 500 m · Chapman Point Reserve 600 m · Hindmarsh Park 750 m · Rotary Park 850 m · Kiama Lions Club Park 900 m · Kendalls Beach Reserve 1000 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Kiama, most often seen first: Australian Magpie · Australian Raven · Magpie-lark · Superb Fairy-wren · Lewin's Honeyeater · Rainbow Lorikeet.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Kiama, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiama here | 7,904 | — | 9/10 | 17% |
| Kiama Downs | 5,087 | — | 9/10 | 25% |
| Gerringong | 4,165 | — | 9/10 | 5% |
| Jamberoo | 1,910 | — | 10/10 | 41% |
| Shell Cove | 7,591 | — | 10/10 | 20% |
| Flinders | 7,118 | — | 7/10 | 7% |
| Shellharbour | 3,520 | — | 6/10 | 8% |
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 profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $478 a week, and about 23% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 26% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 6,272 people to 7,904. It sits about 96 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Kiama station is roughly 0.5 km away. Local government is Kiama council, and the federal seat is Gilmore.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Kiama vs Kiama Downs · Kiama vs Gerringong.
Nearby guides: Kiama Downs · Gerringong · Jamberoo · Shell Cove · Flinders · Shellharbour.
Keep an eye on Kiama
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