St Albans
A population of 38,042 gives St Albans a substantial urban footprint, with density reaching 2,964.5 residents per square kilometre. Overseas-born residents account for 64.2%, or 42.6 percentage points above the national figure, while the median age of 36 is 4 years below national levels. Housing remains mainly detached, with 74.7% of dwellings being separate houses, even though 37.3% of households rent. This combination supports established family housing and culturally connected services because overseas migration is the primary growth driver. Compared with nearby Kings Park and Sunshine North, buyers should weigh St Albans's established housing base, lower household income position and strong migrant demand.
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
38
Median House
$730K
October to December 2025
The housing mix is practical for families because 74.7% of dwellings are separate houses and 61.1% have 3 bedrooms. Mortgage repayments average $1,500 per month, equal to 28.7% of income, while 15.9% of homes are semi-detached and 9.2% are apartments. Compared with the 2013 market, the long-term price uplift is substantial, so buyers should test renovation costs and borrowing buffers carefully.
For Buyers
The housing mix is practical for families because 74.7% of dwellings are separate houses and 61.1% have 3 bedrooms. Mortgage repayments average $1,500 per month, equal to 28.7% of income, while 15.9% of homes are semi-detached and 9.2% are apartments. Compared with the 2013 market, the long-term price uplift is substantial, so buyers should test renovation costs and borrowing buffers carefully.
For Investors
St Albans has a sizeable tenant base, with 37.3% of households renting, higher than the 35.6% owned outright. Weekly rent is $325 and the vacancy rate is 7.7%, giving tenants more choice than in a tightly constrained rental market but also reducing the case for assuming automatic rental growth. Rents have grown by 32.0%, while overseas migration is the primary population driver and can sustain demand for established homes. There were 37 development matters in 12 months, including small subdivisions, which may gradually add competition and renewal activity. The investment case therefore depends on buying well because rental demand, vacancy and future local supply are all material to returns.
Development Activity
Total DAs
76
Last 12 Months
38
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+216.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in St Albans
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Holy Eucharist School
Kings Park Primary School
Sacred Heart School
St Albans East Primary School
St Albans Heights Primary School
Demographics
St Albans has a younger age profile than Australia overall: the median age is 36, or 4 years below the national figure. Overseas-born residents make up 64.2%, which is 42.6 percentage points above the national level. Vietnamese ancestry is the largest named group at 9,789 people, followed by Chinese ancestry at 2,799. Christianity counts 15,461 residents, Buddhism 5,932 and no religion 7,484. University attainment is 31.9%, 1.8 percentage points above national levels, while average household size is 2.8, or 0.3 above national levels. Punjabi, Canton and Arabic are recorded for 882, 439 and 404 people. Compared with nearby Kings Park and Sunshine North, cultural and language needs should be central to local services because overseas migration is the primary growth driver.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.7%
Houses
15.9%
Townhouse
9.2%
Apartment
Tenure
St Albans is detached-dominant, with 74.7% of dwellings separate houses, 15.9% semi-detached and 9.2% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 61.1% of the stock and 4-bedroom homes or larger make up 19.5%, supporting a family-oriented housing pattern. Renting at 37.3% is higher than outright ownership at 35.6%, while 25.2% carry a mortgage. Housing costs are material but not flagged as stressed, with rent at 27.0% and mortgages at 28.7% of income. Compared with the earlier market, the price gain is strong, so land, condition and tenure should be assessed carefully.
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $325.
$470
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $470 · units $420
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
41.4%
Couples with children
30.3%
Couples, no children
24.7%
Single parent
9,391
Total families
Economy & Employment
St Albans's employment base is led by Healthcare at 17.7% or 1,349 workers, followed by Transport at 9.5%, Retail at 8.9%, Construction at 8.1% and Manufacturing at 7.9%. Labourers number 2,509, with Trades at 2,011 and Machinery/Drivers at 2,006, showing a strong practical and logistics orientation alongside the healthcare sector. Unemployment is 10.8% and participation is 48.7%, while household income of $1,205 per week sits at the 25.4th percentile, below the national midpoint. SEIFA reinforces that lower-income profile: IEO is decile 2, while IER, IRSD and IRSAD are each decile 1. That combination helps explain why a substantial healthcare sector coexists with lower socioeconomic scores and a high share of trade, labour and driving occupations.
Unemployment
10.8%
Labour Force
15,497
Unemployed
1,668
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.3%
Part-time
39.0%
Participation
48.7%
Employed
13,829
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
31.9%
Postgraduate
8.4%
Born Overseas
64.2%
Dwellings
12,353
Transport to Work
St Albans provides practical local school access, with 10 schools comprising 8 primary schools, 1 secondary school and 1 special school. The sector mix is 7 government schools and 3 Catholic schools, giving families several options, although exact enrolment zones should be checked against the property address. Daily travel is more car-oriented because 69.5% drive to work, higher than the 1.4% who walk or cycle, while 7.7% use public transport and 14.3% work from home. Safety requires attention: 3,526 offences equate to a crime rate of 92.7 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences at 1,957, more than crimes against the person at 602. The IRSAD score is in decile 1, so buyers should compare streets, routes and services carefully rather than relying only on suburb-wide averages.
Drive
69.5%
Public Transport
7.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
14.3%
Population Forecast
+0.32%/yr
(+68 people/yr)
EstablishedSt Albans has an established, slow-growth outlook. The annual trend is 0.32%, while population change across the wider area is 9.0% over 10 years, a steadier pace than rapid-growth corridors. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is Mixed rather than consistently expansionary. The gentrification signals are also selective: the shift profile records a score of 30 and stage Early signs, while the separate gentrification score is 10 with stage Not gentrifying. Housing rents have grown 32.0%, yet the suburb experienced a 4.6% COVID dip and has recovered only 0.4%, with recovery still incomplete. This points to gradual renewal because migration supports demand, while established housing and socioeconomic conditions limit broad transformation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+547
Net Internal / yr
-609
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -609/yr, Strong overseas inflow +547/yr
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 can suit households seeking established detached housing, cultural variety and access to 10 local schools. The median age is 36 and 74.7% of dwellings are separate houses, while 69.5% drive to work compared with 7.7% using public transport. Check the exact address against crime and enrolment conditions before deciding.
What schools are in St Albans?
St Albans has 10 local schools: 8 primary schools, 1 secondary school and 1 special school. The sector mix is 7 government schools and 3 Catholic schools. School choice depends on the exact address, so families should confirm government enrolment zones and Catholic application requirements before signing a contract.
Is St Albans safe?
Safety is a material consideration. Recorded crime was 3,526 offences at 92.7 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences at 1,957, more than crimes against the person at 602. Compare the exact street, lighting, transport route and school journey rather than relying only on a suburb-wide rate.
Is St Albans good for property investment?
St Albans can suit investors seeking established houses in a rental market where 37.3% of households rent, higher than the 35.6% owned outright. Weekly rent is $325, vacancy is 7.7% and rent growth is 32.0%. A total of 37 development matters in 12 months adds supply and renewal activity to the assessment.
How is St Albans's population changing?
The suburb has 38,042 residents today. Population change across the wider area is 9.0% over 10 years, while the annual trend is 0.32%, so growth is steady rather than rapid. Overseas migration is the primary driver and the trajectory is Mixed, with a 1.8 percentage point rise in senior share.
What languages are spoken in St Albans?
St Albans has 64.2% overseas-born residents, which is 42.6 percentage points above the national figure. Commonly recorded languages include Punjabi at 882 people, Canton at 439 and Arabic at 404. Vietnamese ancestry is the largest named ancestry group at 9,789, alongside English and Chinese ancestry.
What development is happening in St Albans?
There were 37 development matters lodged in the previous 12 months. Recent examples include a 3-lot subdivision and a 2-lot subdivision, pointing to ongoing small-scale redevelopment. Buyers should check permits, overlays and nearby applications because site-by-site changes can affect parking, privacy and streetscape.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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