- Est. Median Value
- $738K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $608/wk
- Safety Score
- 69/100
- Green Space
- 53%
- Current Weather
- 0.9°C
- Median Age
- 37 yrs
~56 crimes/1k/yr
clear sky
Living in Kelson
Kelson climbs the western hills of Lower Hutt, around 6 km from the city centre above Belmont, and it is the valley's treehouse suburb: around 4,500 people on bush-edged cul-de-sacs that wind up the contours until the streets simply run out of hill, with the Hutt Valley spread below as a permanent installation and the regional park waiting beyond the last letterboxes.
The suburb arrived in the 1970s through 90s waves of hillside subdivision, and the housing wears the eras' confidence: split-levels working the slopes, decks aimed at the valley panorama, and gardens negotiating treaties with the native bush that presses in generously from the gullies, keeping the tūī and kererū in daily attendance.
The defining amenity sits at the top: Kelson is a main gateway into Belmont Regional Park, whose tracks roll across the western hills toward Porirua in proper boots-required country, making the suburb's upper streets the trailhead for half the valley's weekend walkers and riders.
Kelson School anchors the community's heart, with the valley's colleges below handling the secondary years, and the commute running downhill to SH2 in minutes. Kelson's trade is honest: a hill to climb home, in exchange for bush, birds, views and the park at the top. The locals signed happily.
Is Kelson a good place to live?
Kelson is home to roughly 2,898 people across 5.4 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Kelson scores 63 out of 100, with a safety score of 69/100 and 53% green space.
Schools: Kelson has 31 schools in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $738K, and weekly rent typically sits around $608.
Lifestyle: Kelson has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 0.9°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Kelson is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.
Map
Livability Breakdown
- Safety69
- Amenities36
- Schools82
- Housing Affordability51
- Green space100
- Community89
- Transport40
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $738K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $608/wk
- Median HH Income
- $138K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +2.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Key Financial Indicators (NZD)
† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.
Nearby Suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Kelson?
- Kelson is on the western hills of Lower Hutt, around 6 km from the city centre, above Belmont, with Belmont Regional Park at its upper boundary.
- Is Kelson a gateway to Belmont Regional Park?
- Yes. Kelson's upper streets hold a main entrance to Belmont Regional Park, with walking and mountain biking tracks crossing the western hills toward Porirua.
- What schools are in Kelson?
- Kelson School is the local state primary, with the Hutt Valley's secondary schools below in the valley a short drive away.
- What is the housing like in Kelson?
- Kelson is mostly 1970s to 90s hillside housing on bush-edged cul-de-sacs, with many homes built for the valley views and native bush close behind.
- How do I get from Wellington to Kelson?
- By car, around 25 minutes via SH2, exiting at Kennedy-Good Bridge and climbing via Major Drive. Buses connect Kelson to the valley floor and Waterloo station.
- Which schools are in zone for Kelson?
- Children living in Kelson are in zone for Naenae College, St Oran's College, Kelson School, Naenae Intermediate, Hutt International Boys' School. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.
- How do I check my school zone in Kelson?
- Use the School Zone Checker on this page. Enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Schools & Enrolment Zones in Kelson
Schools in zone for Kelson
Children living in Kelson have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Naenae College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 873 · decile 2
St Oran's College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 504 · decile 10
Kelson School
Contributing · roll 258 · decile 9
Naenae Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 294 · decile 8
Hutt International Boys' School
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 653 · decile 10
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Kelson. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.
Other nearby schools
Schools close to Kelson that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).
Maranatha Christian School
Full Primary · roll 155 · decile 7 · 1.9 km away
Belmont School (Lower Hutt)
Contributing · roll 293 · decile 7 · 2.1 km away
Taita Central School
Contributing · roll 115 · decile 2 · 2.1 km away
Avalon Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 170 · decile 2 · 2.4 km away
St Michael's School (Taita)
Full Primary · roll 125 · decile 2 · 2.5 km away
Avalon School
Contributing · roll 215 · decile 2 · 2.7 km away
Pomare School
Contributing · roll 98 · decile 1 · 2.7 km away
Taita College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 344 · decile 2 · 2.9 km away
Kimi Ora School
Specialist School · roll 137 · decile 8 · 2.9 km away
Raphael House Rudolf Steiner Area School
Composite · roll 280 · decile 10 · 3.3 km away
Boulcott School
Contributing · roll 325 · decile 7 · 3.3 km away
Dyer Street School
Contributing · roll 195 · decile 4 · 3.3 km away
Rata Street School
Contributing · roll 313 · decile 2 · 3.6 km away
St Bernadette's School (Naenae)
Full Primary · roll 121 · decile 3 · 3.6 km away
Naenae School
Contributing · roll 349 · decile 1 · 3.7 km away
Wā Ora Montessori
Composite · roll 252 · decile 8 · 4.1 km away
Te Puni School - Te kura o Te Puni
Contributing · roll 156 · decile 3 · 4.1 km away
Eastern Hutt School
Contributing · roll 581 · decile 9 · 4.2 km away
Tui Glen School
Full Primary · roll 171 · decile 2 · 4.3 km away
St Bernard's College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 684 · decile 6 · 4.4 km away
Chilton Saint James School
Composite · roll 255 · decile 10 · 4.4 km away
Koraunui School
Contributing · roll 174 · decile 3 · 4.5 km away
Tawhai School
Contributing · roll 323 · decile 5 · 4.7 km away
Sts Peter and Paul School (L Hutt)
Full Primary · roll 439 · decile 9 · 4.8 km away
Waterloo School
Contributing · roll 507 · decile 8 · 4.8 km away
Hutt Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 598 · decile 8 · 5.0 km away
Rubbish & Recycling
- Rubbish collection
- Friday (weekly)
- Recycling & glass crate
- Friday (fortnightly, Week 1)
- Next recycling
- 14 August
Check your exact collection days on the Hutt City Council website →
Rubbish bin
Non-recyclable general waste. Put out every Friday.
Recycling bin
Paper, cardboard, metal cans, rigid plastic containers. Put out every second Friday.
Glass crate
Glass bottles and jars. Blue crate collected every second Friday alongside recycling.
Collection data sourced from Hutt City Council.
Explore Kelson
Things to do(2)
Hutt City Martial Arts Ltd
Laverton Park
Parks & green spaces(1)
Laverton Park
Healthcare
Pharmacies and clinics for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Eat & Drink in Kelson
Places to eat & drink(2)
Soul Food Cafe Lower Hutt
Dandi Candy Wholesaler
Tradies & Services in Kelson
Tradies & services(6)
Belmont Engineering
Fabricare Floorcare
Hutt Gas and Plumbing
Merwe Contracting
Plimmer Plumbing Ltd
VDM Construction and Retaining Ltd
Shops in Kelson
Shops(4)
Adjustable Shelving Ltd
Four Square Kelson
Maryflower
Pete's Picnic Tables
Beauty & Fitness in Kelson
Beauty & fitness(3)
Hair by Chevy
hairby_ananya
Hutt City Martial Arts Ltd
Professional Services in Kelson
Professional services(2)
Clear Imaging
Lynette Jones Photography
Kelson Weather
Current conditions: 0.9°C, clear sky
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 20.72 | 14.24 | 2.25 | 11.33 |
| ☀️ Feb | 19.66 | 14.19 | 3.15 | 10.64 |
| 🍂 Mar | 17.6 | 11.94 | 2.66 | 10.19 |
| 🍂 Apr | 16.7 | 10.94 | 4.59 | 7.91 |
| 🍂 May | 14.49 | 8.95 | 4.63 | 7.03 |
| ❄️ Jun | 13.18 | 7.36 | 2.52 | 6.63 |
| ❄️ Jul | 11.91 | 6.74 | 3.18 | 6.21 |
| ❄️ Aug | 11.54 | 6.55 | 3.99 | 7.73 |
| 🌸 Sep | 13.65 | 8.52 | 3.92 | 8.77 |
| 🌸 Oct | 14.75 | 9.03 | 3.75 | 10.19 |
| 🌸 Nov | 16.06 | 10.69 | 3.01 | 10.97 |
| ☀️ Dec | 18.25 | 13.11 | 3.07 | 10.59 |
Kelson Community
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