NSW 2759 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

St Clair

Detached housing defines St Clair: 98.5% of dwellings are separate houses, a much higher share than the 0.5% apartment base. The suburb has 19,942 residents, a median age of 36, and household income at the 77.8 percentile nationally, so it reads as a family-heavy, above-average income pocket in western Sydney. Compared with St Marys and Colyton, St Clair is more car-oriented and owner-occupied, with 47.1% of homes mortgaged and 31.2% owned outright.

St Clair urban fabric map

Population

19,942

Median Age

36.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,067/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

122

Median House

$1.1M

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

7.2 km²· 2,768.4 people/km²· Family income $2,183/wk

Homebuyers are mainly buying land and family space, because 98.5% of homes are separate houses and 45.6% have 4 or more bedrooms. The median house price is $1,075,000, while the 2025 price point reached $1,120,000, higher than the 2024 level of $995,000. Mortgage repayments of $2,167 per month sit at 24.2% of income, below the local rent share comparison of 21.3% only by a small margin, so budgets still need discipline even without a stress flag.

For Buyers

Homebuyers are mainly buying land and family space, because 98.5% of homes are separate houses and 45.6% have 4 or more bedrooms. The median house price is $1,075,000, while the 2025 price point reached $1,120,000, higher than the 2024 level of $995,000. Mortgage repayments of $2,167 per month sit at 24.2% of income, below the local rent share comparison of 21.3% only by a small margin, so budgets still need discipline even without a stress flag.

For Investors

Investor demand is shaped by a small rental pool rather than high churn. Renting is 21.7%, lower than the 47.1% mortgaged share, which can limit listing depth but also keeps family renters focused on scarce detached stock. Median rent is $440 per week and vacancy is 2.8%, while rent growth in the shift indicators is 49.0%. With 0 new development approvals in the last 12 months and internal migration averaging +347 people a year, supply pressure is the main support for returns.

Development Activity

Total DAs

584

Last 12 Months

122

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+8.9%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
72
Renovation / Extension
39
Demolition
38
Swimming Pool / Spa
23
New Dwelling
17
Subdivision
16
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
11
Commercial / Industrial
6

Schools in St Clair iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Holy Spirit Primary School

ICSEA 1043 Primary Catholic

K-6 · 331 students

Clairgate Public School

ICSEA 982 Primary Government

K-6 · 409 students

Blackwell Public School

ICSEA 980 Primary Government

K-6 · 480 students

St Clair Public School

ICSEA 975 Primary Government

K-6 · 325 students

Banks Public School

ICSEA 971 Primary Government

K-6 · 417 students

Demographics

St Clair is younger and larger-household than the national pattern. The median age is 36, which is 4.0 years below the national benchmark, and average household size is 3.0, 0.5 above national. Overseas-born residents are 28.3%, or 6.7 percentage points above national, while university attainment is 25.6%, 4.5 points below national. English ancestry leads with 5,340 people, followed by Filipino at 1,089, and Christianity is the largest religion with 11,927 people.

Age Distribution

0-14
20.9%
15-24
12.6%
25-44
28.2%
45-64
25.6%
65+
12.7%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.9%
2 bed
3.0%
3 bed
50.5%
4+ bed
45.6%

Dwelling Structure

98.5%

Houses

0.9%

Townhouse

0.5%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 31.2% Mortgage 47.1% Rent 21.7%

The housing market is almost entirely detached, with 98.5% separate houses compared with 0.5% apartments and 0.9% semi-detached homes. Prices rose from $995,000 in 2024 to $1,120,000 in 2025, a 12.6% gain, and the latest price is also the peak, with 0.0% fall from peak to latest. Ownership is stable because 31.2% own outright and 47.1% have a mortgage, while 21.7% rent. The 50.5% share of 3-bedroom homes gives upsizers a lower bedroom count than the 45.6% share of 4-plus homes suggests.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$2,167

Rent / wk

$440

HH Size

3.0

Personal Income / wk

$849

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

2.8%

Unoccupied

181

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

21.3%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

24.2%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Arabic
412
Punjabi
122
Croatian
98
Samoan
96
Hindi
92
Greek
79

Ancestry

English
5,340
Other
3,619
Irish
1,405
Scottish
1,236
Filipino
1,089
Ancestry NS
1,066

Household Composition

20.4%

Couples, no children

17,560

Total families

Economy & Employment

The local workforce sits above average for income, with household earnings at the 77.8 percentile nationally and median household income of $2,067 a week. Healthcare is the largest industry at 16.2% and 882 workers, ahead of Construction at 12.4% and Education at 10.4%, so employment is tied to essential services and trades. Full-time work is strong at 67.3%, but participation is 55.1% and unemployment is 5.0%. Clerical and admin roles lead occupations with 1,698 workers, higher than Professionals at 1,310.

Unemployment

5.4%

Labour Force

11,332

Unemployed

613

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
3
Disadvantage
2
Economic resources
1
Education & occupation
4

Full-time

67.3%

Part-time

27.7%

Participation

55.1%

Employed

8,254

Occupations

Clerical/Admin 1,698
Professionals 1,310
Machinery/Drivers 1,265
Community/Personal 947
Labourers 920
Managers 901
Sales 866

Top Industries

Healthcare 16.2%
Construction 12.4%
Education 10.4%
Manufacturing 8.3%
Retail 7.7%

University

25.6%

Postgraduate

5.3%

Born Overseas

28.3%

Dwellings

6,317

Transport to Work

Daily life is built around cars. Car driving accounts for 90.4% of commuting, far higher than public transport at 2.1% and walking or cycling at 1.0%, so access to work and shops is easiest for households with vehicles. There are 0 schools listed inside St Clair, which is lower than school-rich Penrith pockets, so catchment checking matters for families. The upside is space and income resilience: 3.0 people per household and a 77.8 national income percentile support local services and family demand.

Drive

90.4%

Public Transport

2.1%

Walk / Cycle

1.0%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+2.54%/yr

(+515 people/yr)

Established

Growth is running faster than a flat established-suburb pattern, with the trend adding 2.54% or 515 people a year. The medium forecast lifts population from 20,438 in 2026 to 23,013 in 2031, compared with 20,292 in 2025. Migration is led by Internal migration, averaging +347 net internal movers a year, above the +197 net overseas figure. The gentrification score is 40 and the stage is Active, while the shift trajectory is Declining young, with the young share down 2.3 points despite 49.0% rent growth.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Internal Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+197

Net Internal / yr

+347

40

Gentrification Signal

Active

Net internal migration +347/yr, Accelerating: 13% → 47%

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How St Clair compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 1%
Household Income
Top 22%
Rent Level
Top 10%
Apartments
Bottom 10%
Renters
Top 46%
Uni Educated
Top 45%
Public Transport
Bottom 35%
Born Overseas
Top 16%
Density
Top 4%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is St Clair (Penrith - NSW) a good suburb to live in?

St Clair suits households wanting detached homes, with 98.5% separate houses and an average household size of 3.0. It is very car-dependent, with 90.4% driving to work, so it works best for families comfortable with driving.

What is the median house price in St Clair (Penrith - NSW)?

The median house price is $1,075,000. Recent pricing moved from $995,000 in 2024 to $1,120,000 in 2025, a 12.6% rise, placing the latest reading at the market peak.

What schools are in St Clair (Penrith - NSW)?

There are 0 schools listed within St Clair itself. Families should check current catchments and nearby Penrith-area options, especially because 45.6% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and attract family buyers.

Is St Clair (Penrith - NSW) safe?

A suburb-specific crime rate is not available for St Clair, so safety should be checked through current police maps and inspections. The suburb has 19,942 residents and a strongly car-based commuting pattern at 90.4%.

Is St Clair (Penrith - NSW) good for property investment?

St Clair has investment support from scarce rental stock, with 21.7% renting and vacancy at 2.8%. Median rent is $440 per week, while 0 new development approvals suggest limited immediate supply pressure.

How is St Clair (Penrith - NSW)'s population changing?

Population growth is strong, with the trend adding 2.54% or 515 people a year. The medium forecast rises from 20,438 in 2026 to 23,013 in 2031, led by internal migration averaging +347 people annually.

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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