Originally a ceramics manufacturing centre, the area is now mostly residential, including a number of schools.

The Western shores of the Whau River in Kelston was home to an Archibald Brothers clay and pottery yard in the late 19th century.

The results were 26.4% European (Pākehā); 16.6% Māori; 35.0% Pasifika; 37.6% Asian; 2.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander".

Of those at least 15 years old, 960 (21.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,944 (43.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,521 (34.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications.

It is renowned for its rugby union team, the Kelston Boys High 1st XV.

[citation needed][12] Kelston Girls' College is a single-sex state secondary (years 9–15) school with a roll of 501.

Some senior classes are held in conjunction with Kelston Boys High School.

The Kelston campus is coeducational state special school with a roll of students.