Calgary Realtor

Community Spotlight

Kensington

Kensington is Calgary’s best-known inner-city shopping and dining district, sitting within the Hillhurst and Sunnyside communities just across the river from downtown, with the Peace Bridge, LRT, and Bow River pathway all close by.

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$305,700

Condo Benchmark Price*

5,475

Hillhurst Residents (2021)

5.15

Months of Supply (Condo)*

*CREB® does not publish a Kensington-specific benchmark. Figures reflect CREB®’s City Centre district (which includes the Hillhurst\/Sunnyside area around Kensington), apartment condominiums, June 2026. Walk Score does not publish a distinct score for Hillhurst.

Life in Kensington

Kensington refers to the commercial and residential district straddling the Hillhurst and Sunnyside communities, just north of the Bow River from downtown. Known for independent boutiques, cafes, and the Plaza Theatre, Kensington offers a walkable mix of character homes, low-rise apartments, and newer infill condos, with the Sunnyside LRT station and Peace Bridge providing a quick commute downtown.

Who It's Right For

Buyers who want inner-city walkability and a strong independent retail scene without the density of Beltline or downtown, including young professionals, downsizers, and anyone prioritizing an easy walk or LRT ride to work.

Kensington Real Estate Market

CREB® reports housing statistics by district rather than by individual community, and the Kensington\/Hillhurst area falls within CREB®’s City Centre district. The figures below are the exact, most recent published numbers for that district, not estimates, so treat them as the closest available official read on the Kensington market.

Metric (source, period)Figure
Apartment\/condo benchmark price (CREB® City Centre district, Jun. 2026)$305,700 (-8.86% year-over-year)
Row\/townhouse benchmark price (CREB® City Centre district, Jun. 2026)$585,100 (-4.33% year-over-year)
Detached benchmark price (CREB® City Centre district, Jun. 2026)$996,800 (+1.06% year-over-year)
Months of supply, apartment\/condo (City Centre district, Jun. 2026)5.15 months
Sales-to-new-listings ratio, apartment\/condo (City Centre district, Jun. 2026)44.36%

Source: CREB® June 2026 monthly stats package (City Centre district). Figures update monthly, contact me for the latest numbers or a custom Kensington market report.

Who Lives in Kensington

According to the 2021 Census of Canada (City of Calgary Community Profiles), 5,475 residents lived in Hillhurst, the community that contains the Kensington commercial district, compared with 1,291,790 across Calgary. 15% of residents are aged 0 to 14, close to the citywide rate of 18%, and 11% are aged 65+, below the citywide rate of 13%.

 

24% of Hillhurst households spend 30% or more of their income on shelter, close to the citywide rate of 23%, and 21% of residents are immigrants, below the citywide rate of 33%. Median household income before tax was $93,000 in Hillhurst versus $98,000 citywide, and 91% of residents speak English most often at home, compared with 75% citywide.

Source: City of Calgary Community Profiles, Hillhurst (2021 Census of Canada).

Pros

  • Calgary’s best-known independent shopping and dining district, anchored by the Plaza Theatre and dozens of local boutiques and cafes
  • Sunnyside LRT station and the Peace Bridge put downtown within a short commute on foot, bike, or transit
  • Condo benchmark price of $305,700 (CREB® City Centre district, Jun. 2026) is well below the citywide detached benchmark, a lower entry point into inner-city living
  • Bow River pathway access and Riley Park nearby for outdoor recreation

Cons

  • Apartment condo prices in the City Centre district were down 8.86% year-over-year as of June 2026, with months of supply near 5.15, a buyer’s market that sellers should plan around
  • Parking is limited around the main Kensington commercial strip, especially on weekend evenings
  • Limited larger family-sized housing; the area is dominated by condos, low-rise apartments, and smaller character homes
  • Popular restaurant and bar patios can mean more noise close to the core retail strip

Frequently Asked Questions About Kensington

Not officially. Kensington is the commercial and residential district straddling the Hillhurst and Sunnyside communities, just north of the Bow River from downtown. Housing statistics and census data are reported under Hillhurst and Sunnyside individually.
5,475 residents lived in Hillhurst as of the 2021 Census of Canada, compared with 1,291,790 across Calgary (City of Calgary Community Profiles). Sunnyside, the adjacent community, has its own separate population count.
CREB® doesn’t publish a Kensington-specific benchmark. The closest official figure is CREB®’s City Centre district apartment condominium benchmark price, which was $305,700 in June 2026, down 8.86% from a year earlier. I can pull building-specific comparables for a more precise read.
Conditions favour buyers. In June 2026, the City Centre district’s apartment condo months of supply sat at 5.15 months with a sales-to-new-listings ratio of 44.36% (CREB®), both signals of a buyer’s market.
Walk Score doesn’t publish a distinct score for Hillhurst, but Kensington is widely regarded as one of Calgary’s most walkable commercial districts, with the Sunnyside LRT station, Bow River pathway, and Peace Bridge all within walking distance.
A mix of condos and low-rise apartments close to the retail strip, plus character homes and newer infill on the surrounding residential streets of Hillhurst and Sunnyside.
It can work for smaller households. 15% of Hillhurst residents are aged 0 to 14, close to the citywide rate of 18%, though larger family-sized housing is more limited than in suburban communities.

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