St Albans
St Albans has transformed into a multicultural pocket with 64% overseas-born residents, dominated by Vietnamese (26% of population), yet crime runs 17% above national average at 92.7 per 1,000. Prices doubled from $350k (2013) to $650k (2024) at 4.5% annual growth, but fell 4.7% from the 2022 peak, signaling a market correction. Three-bedroom homes (61%) on separate land (75%) define the streetscape.
Population
38,042
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,205/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
31
Median House
$650K
Apr-Jun 2024
Median $650k buys a 3-bed detached house (61% of stock) in a 45-minute drive-dependent commute (81% car drivers). Monthly mortgage sits $1,500 on household incomes in the 25th percentile nationally, straining buyer profiles. Rental option runs $325/week but with 38% of households renting and 7.7% vacancy, investor competition is rising. Price trajectory: up 86% over 11 years but down 4.7% from 2022 peak signals buyer hesitation.
For Buyers
Median $650k buys a 3-bed detached house (61% of stock) in a 45-minute drive-dependent commute (81% car drivers). Monthly mortgage sits $1,500 on household incomes in the 25th percentile nationally, straining buyer profiles. Rental option runs $325/week but with 38% of households renting and 7.7% vacancy, investor competition is rising. Price trajectory: up 86% over 11 years but down 4.7% from 2022 peak signals buyer hesitation.
For Investors
Rental yield of $325/week on $650k median implies 2.6% gross; 38% renting households and rising 7.7% vacancy rate flag rental saturation. Development pipeline: 25 permits in the past 12 months, mostly subdivisions (3+ dwellings per site) expanding supply. Low volunteer rate (6.4%) and high unemployment (11.6% vs national ~6%) indicate tenant quality risk. Migration forecast will push population, but rental competition may cap growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
64
Last 12 Months
31
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+244.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in St Albans iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
University Park Primary School
Prep-6 · 229 students
St Albans Meadows Primary School
Prep-6 · 425 students
Holy Eucharist School
Prep-6 · 548 students
Victoria University Secondary College
7-12 · 1350 students
Kings Park Primary School
Prep-6 · 367 students
Demographics
64% born overseas (vs 23% national), with Vietnamese the single largest group at 9,789 residents, followed by Chinese (2,799) and Indian (ancestry data grouped). Median age 36, about 4 years younger than national 40, yet university education sits 31.9%, just 1.8 points above the national average. Household size 2.8 is near parity with national 2.5. Punjabi (882), Cantonese (439), Arabic (404) spoken at home signal working-class migrant settlement, not professional transience.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.7%
Houses
15.9%
Townhouse
9.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached homes dominate 74.7% of stock; apartments 9.2%, semi-detached 15.9% mean limited walkup/density options. Three-bedroom homes take 61%, four+ rooms 19.5%, concentrated in family-oriented stock. Ownership split: 36.3% own outright, 25.7% mortgage, 38% rent; below the national mortgage majority. Rent-to-income 27% and mortgage-to-income 28.7% are both moderate, not in stress (threshold 30%), suggesting affordability is functional but tight. Price history: $350k (2013) to $650k (2024), CAGR 4.5%, peak-to-latest drop of 4.7%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wk
$325
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$491
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.7%
Unoccupied
1,039
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.8%
Couples, no children
28,464
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs 17.7% (1,349), Transport 9.5% (726), Retail 8.9% (681), Construction 8.1% (620), Manufacturing 7.9% (601), a working-class mix skewed toward wages, not management. Top occupations: Labourers (2,509), Machinery/Drivers (2,006), Community/Personal (1,760), Professionals (1,757), Clerical (1,415). Full-time employment 57.7% is near-normal; unemployment 11.6% is elevated. Participation rate 45.3% is below national 65%, with 13,162 outside the labour force; retirement/caregiving burden in an aging migrant cohort.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.7%
Part-time
30.7%
Participation
45.3%
Employed
12,763
Occupations
Top Industries
University
31.9%
Postgraduate
8.4%
Born Overseas
64.2%
Dwellings
12,353
Transport to Work
Public transport 8.9% take-up is extremely low; 81.3% car drivers means total car dependency (no walking/cycling mode share reported). Crime rate 92.7 per 1,000 is 50% above Victoria's average (approx 60 per 1,000), dominated by property/deception (55% of all crime, 1,957 incidents) and person-on-person violence (17%, 602). No SEIFA data to benchmark disadvantage; volunteering 6.4% is below community engagement norms. Schools: 8 primary (ICSEA 950-999, enrolment 164-548), 2 secondary (ICSEA 962-967, enrolment 1,350 to 1,715); mid-range standardised ICSEA 967-984 reflects lower SES intake.
Drive
81.3%
Public Transport
8.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
3,526
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
92.7
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How St Albans compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Albans a good suburb to live in?
St Albans suits affordability-first buyers on a $650k budget buying detached 3-bed stock, with strong community diversity (64% overseas-born). But 92.7 crime incidents per 1,000 residents run 50% above state average, and car dependency (81% drivers) makes it less appealing for walkable-lifestyle seekers. Stabilising prices after a 4.7% drop from 2022 peak may offer entry timing for first-homes, though tight mortgages (28.7% income ratio) remain a strain.
What is the median house price in St Albans?
$650,000 (Apr to Jun 2024). Prices have climbed 86% from $350,000 in 2013 (4.5% annual growth), but dipped 4.7% from the 2022 peak of $682,000. Monthly mortgage on median income is roughly $1,500, with household income in the 25th percentile nationally, so affordability is functional but tight for first-time buyers.
What schools are in St Albans?
Eight government primary schools (University Park, St Albans Meadows, Kings Park, St Albans, St Albans East, St Albans North; ICSEA 950-999, enrolment 164-425), plus two Catholic primaries (Holy Eucharist 548 students, Sacred Heart 282). Two secondaries: Victoria University Secondary College (ICSEA 967, 1,350 enrolment) and St Albans Secondary College (ICSEA 962, 1,715). Mid-range ICSEA scores reflect moderate-SES student population.
Is St Albans safe?
Crime rate is 92.7 per 1,000 residents, roughly 50% above Victoria's baseline. Property/deception offences dominate (1,957 incidents, 55% of total), followed by person-on-person violence (602, 17%). This is a high-crime area by state comparison, with property theft and fraud the primary concerns.
Is St Albans good for property investment?
Rental gross yield is ~2.6% ($325/week on $650k), below national investment thresholds. Vacancy rate of 7.7% and 38% of households renting flag rising competition; 25 developments in the past 12 months (mostly subdivisions) add supply. High unemployment (11.6%) and low volunteering (6.4%) suggest softer tenant quality. Price correction (−4.7% from peak) makes entry cheaper, but growth upside is capped by low income percentile (25th) and zero SEIFA advantage signals.
How is St Albans' population changing?
Current population 38,042 with high residential turnover: 19.5% moved in the past year, yet 80.5% stayed stable, suggesting community retention. Development: 25 permits lodged in the past 12 months (mostly 3+ lot subdivisions) signal incremental densification. No gentrification signals; migration in/out churn is the dominant dynamic. Growth is constrained by household income in the national 25th percentile and lack of high-value industry clustering.
What languages are spoken in St Albans?
Vietnamese is the primary non-English language, with 9,789 residents claiming it (26% of the suburb), followed by Punjabi (882), Cantonese (439), Arabic (404), and Greek (311). This reflects St Albans' identity as a first-generation migrant settlement, with 64% born overseas, concentrated in working-class occupations rather than professional cohorts.
What is the development outlook for St Albans?
25 planning permits in the past 12 months, predominantly subdivisions creating 3+ dwellings on single sites. High subdivision activity on 3-bed detached stock (74.7%) suggests incremental densification from single-dwelling to multi-unit lots. This will expand housing supply and gradual population growth, but rental saturation (7.7% vacancy) and wage-dependent employment (Labourers 27%, Drivers 22% of workforce) may limit price upside.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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