St Clair
At a median house price of $1,092,500 for a suburb just 0.94 km2 in area, St Clair punches well above what its SEIFA decile 5 position on IRSAD would suggest. The suburb's defining tension is between a highly educated workforce (48.0% university qualified, 17.9 percentage points above national) and an IEO decile of just 3, which reflects the relatively modest education and occupation outcomes compared to national peers. Renter share reaches 40.8%, and the dominant dwelling type is semi-detached at 48.8%, both unusual for a suburb with this price level. Overseas-born residents account for 38.5%, 16.9 points above national, making migration the primary demographic story here.
Population
2,634
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,890/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Median House
$1.1M
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price sits at $1,092,500 as of 1Q 2026, down 1.3% from $1,106,500 in 1Q 2025, a mild softening rather than a structural correction. Semi-detached homes dominate at 48.8% of dwellings, with separate houses at only 33.5% and apartments at 17.7%, so buyers seeking a detached home face constrained supply. Two-bedroom and three-bedroom dwellings split evenly at 40.4% and 39.1% respectively, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 18.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, which explains why households here rank in the 70.5th income percentile nationally and still manage serviceability. At $1,092,500 median, this suburb sits considerably higher than the broader SA median, but affordability metrics remain manageable relative to income.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at $1,092,500 as of 1Q 2026, down 1.3% from $1,106,500 in 1Q 2025, a mild softening rather than a structural correction. Semi-detached homes dominate at 48.8% of dwellings, with separate houses at only 33.5% and apartments at 17.7%, so buyers seeking a detached home face constrained supply. Two-bedroom and three-bedroom dwellings split evenly at 40.4% and 39.1% respectively, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 18.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, which explains why households here rank in the 70.5th income percentile nationally and still manage serviceability. At $1,092,500 median, this suburb sits considerably higher than the broader SA median, but affordability metrics remain manageable relative to income.
For Investors
A 40.8% renter share gives landlords a deep and durable tenant pool, with weekly rent of $360 and a vacancy rate of 5.2%. At this rent against the $1,092,500 median price, gross yield sits below 2%, so the case for investment rests on capital growth rather than income. Overseas migration adds 138 residents a year on average, partially offsetting net internal outflow of 231 per year, but the balance tilts negative. Rent grew 29.4% over the decade, considerably higher than real income growth of 3.8%, which has lifted rent-to-income from 51.1% to 51.8% affordability, a stable but tight picture. Eleven development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, a low number for a suburb this size, suggesting limited new supply is entering the market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
195
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-72.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in St Clair iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Woodville High School
U, 7-12 · 1170 students
Demographics
St Clair's population of 2,634 skews 8.0 years younger than the national median age, sitting at 32, which explains the mortgage-belt profile and high participation in family formation. Overseas-born residents at 38.5% run 16.9 percentage points above national, driven by English (643), Italian (213), Chinese (206) and Scottish (166) ancestries. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (45 speakers), Hindi (30), Malayalam (26), Greek (25) and Urdu (23), reflecting an increasingly South and East Asian intake. University qualifications reach 48.0%, 17.9 percentage points above the national figure, yet the IEO score sits at decile 3, an anomaly explained by the fact that many residents are early in careers or working in community and healthcare roles rather than high-salary professional services. Couples with children (823 families) outnumber couples without children (558), consistent with the suburb's young and family-oriented profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
33.5%
Houses
48.8%
Townhouse
17.7%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure structure leans heavily toward mortgage holders (47.6%) and renters (40.8%), with outright owners at just 11.5%, the lowest of the three groups. This indicates a suburb dominated by relatively recent buyers and transient residents rather than long-held, debt-free wealth. Semi-detached dwellings at 48.8% give the streetscape a terrace-like character, with separate houses at 33.5% and apartments at 17.7%. Bedroom distribution shows a two-bedroom and three-bedroom split of 40.4% and 39.1% respectively, a nearly even balance. The median price retreated from $1,106,500 to $1,092,500 between 1Q 2025 and 1Q 2026, a 1.3% decline in nominal terms. Rent-to-income at 19.0% and mortgage-to-income at 21.2% both sit below conventional stress thresholds, so while the suburb has a high-crime signal, financial pressure on residents appears contained relative to income at the 70.5th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,055
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
60
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.2%
Couples, no children
1,978
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employment sector at 18.2% (220 workers), followed by Education at 11.7% (141) and Public Administration at 10.5% (127), a cluster of public and community services that typically offers job stability rather than high wages. Professional/Tech accounts for 9.4% (114) and Retail for 7.4% (90). By occupation, Professionals lead with 517 workers, ahead of Clerical/Admin (225) and Managers (208), suggesting a workforce that is qualified but concentrated in mid-tier roles. Unemployment sits at 3.6%, below the standard full-employment benchmark, with a 73.2% participation rate and 69.5% full-time employment among those working. The SEIFA IRSAD and IRSD both land at decile 5, average nationally, while the IER decile of 8 reflects relatively strong household resources such as car access and dwelling size compared to the nation. The IEO decile of 3 remains the outlier, because high university qualifications have not yet translated into top-quartile income and occupation outcomes across the workforce.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
11,198
Unemployed
359
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.5%
Part-time
26.9%
Participation
73.2%
Employed
1,560
Occupations
Top Industries
University
48.0%
Postgraduate
12.1%
Born Overseas
38.5%
Dwellings
1,089
Transport to Work
Transport in St Clair is car-dependent, with 80.1% driving to work, above the typical inner-suburban figure, and only 9.9% using public transport. Cycling and walking account for 3.7%. No schools are recorded within the 0.94 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on neighbouring suburbs for schooling. The crime rate of 99.5 incidents per 1,000 residents is elevated, contributing to the high-crime-rate identity signal, though crime categories are not broken down in the available data. The IRSAD decile of 5 places the suburb exactly at the national median for advantage and disadvantage, with no exceptional deprivation or privilege. Rent-to-income at 19.0% keeps tenants well below the 30% stress level, and only 3.0% of residents (76 people) need daily assistance, below the national average for comparable demographics.
Drive
80.1%
Public Transport
9.9%
Walk / Cycle
3.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.11%/yr
(-23 people/yr)
EstablishedSt Clair's population is declining slowly, with annual growth at minus 0.11% or about 23 fewer residents per year. The 10-year population change sits at just 0.5%, effectively flat. Medium forecasts project a continued gentle decline from around 20,237 in 2026 to 20,123 by 2031. The primary migration driver is overseas arrivals adding 138 residents a year on average, but net internal outflow of 231 per year more than offsets this, producing a net negative. The gentrification score of 8 on a 100-point scale indicates no meaningful gentrification pressure, consistent with the IRSAD decile 5 position and the stable affordability reading. The aging trajectory is evident, with the senior share rising 7.1 points and the working-age share falling 2.5 points over the decade, a demographic shift that will gradually reduce participation and household formation rates.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+138
Net Internal / yr
-231
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -231/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
262
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
99.5
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How St Clair compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Clair a good suburb to live in?
St Clair ranks at IRSAD decile 5, the national median on advantage and disadvantage. Household income sits in the 70.5th percentile nationally, and mortgage-to-income at 21.2% stays below stress thresholds. The main cautions are an elevated crime rate of 99.5 incidents per 1,000 residents and a vacancy rate of 5.2%, which signal a more transient rental market than some neighbouring suburbs.
What is the median house price in St Clair?
The median house price is $1,092,500 as of 1Q 2026, down 1.3% from $1,106,500 in 1Q 2025. Weekly rent averages $360 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,733, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%. The suburb sits well above the broader SA median, driven by its compact 0.94 km2 footprint and proximity to inner Adelaide.
What schools are in St Clair?
No schools are recorded inside the St Clair boundary in this dataset, so families depend on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. Despite this, 48.0% of residents hold university qualifications, 17.9 percentage points above the national figure, indicating that education access via nearby schools has produced a highly credentialled resident base.
Is St Clair safe?
The recorded crime rate is 99.5 incidents per 1,000 residents based on 262 total crimes, which is elevated relative to suburban norms and forms part of the suburb's high-crime-rate identity signal. Crime category breakdowns are not available in the current dataset. The IRSD decile of 5 places the suburb at the national median on relative disadvantage, suggesting moderate rather than extreme socioeconomic risk factors.
Is St Clair good for property investment?
The 40.8% renter share provides a wide tenant pool, but weekly rent of $360 against a $1,092,500 median implies a gross yield below 2%, meaning returns depend on capital growth. Rent grew 29.4% over the decade, well above real income growth of 3.8%. Net internal outflow of 231 residents per year offsets overseas arrivals of 138, giving a negative net migration position that limits demand growth.
How is St Clair's population changing?
Population is declining at minus 0.11% per year, about 23 fewer residents annually. The 10-year change is just 0.5%, and medium forecasts project a further decline from 20,237 in 2026 to 20,123 by 2031. The demographic profile is aging, with the senior share up 7.1 points over the decade, while net internal outflow of 231 per year is only partially offset by overseas migration of 138.
What languages are spoken in St Clair?
With 38.5% of residents born overseas, 16.9 percentage points above the national figure, the suburb has a notably multicultural character. Top non-English languages are Mandarin (45 speakers), Hindi (30), Malayalam (26), Greek (25) and Urdu (23), reflecting a South Asian and East Asian intake alongside established Italian (213) and Chinese (206) ancestry communities.
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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