St Georges Basin
A median age of 53 years, 13 years above the national figure, is the most distinctive fact about St Georges Basin. With 51.1% of dwellings owned outright and only 18.3% renting, the suburb is dominated by established, mortgage-free owner-occupiers rather than working families or investors. Household income sits in the 18th percentile nationally, yet the 56.5% rent growth over the decade shows the market is tightening. The IRSAD decile of 2 places the suburb among the lower-advantage tier nationally, driven by a low participation rate of 39.9% that reflects the retired population base rather than structural unemployment.
Population
3,215
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,113/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
65
Median House
$720K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $719,500 sits below the NSW coastal median for comparable South Coast markets, offering relative affordability. Prices moved from $712,500 in 2024 to $722,000 in 2025, a 1.3% gain. The housing stock is strongly detached-house dominated, with 86.5% separate houses and only 2.1% apartments, so buyers get genuine land. Four-bedroom-plus homes account for 41.0% of dwellings, above the national average for this size tier, and three-bedroom homes add another 39.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,690, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 35.1% exceeds the 30% stress threshold because household incomes are in the 18th percentile nationally. Buyers should model carefully against local income levels.
For Buyers
The median house price of $719,500 sits below the NSW coastal median for comparable South Coast markets, offering relative affordability. Prices moved from $712,500 in 2024 to $722,000 in 2025, a 1.3% gain. The housing stock is strongly detached-house dominated, with 86.5% separate houses and only 2.1% apartments, so buyers get genuine land. Four-bedroom-plus homes account for 41.0% of dwellings, above the national average for this size tier, and three-bedroom homes add another 39.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,690, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 35.1% exceeds the 30% stress threshold because household incomes are in the 18th percentile nationally. Buyers should model carefully against local income levels.
For Investors
St Georges Basin presents a constrained yield picture. Weekly rent of $350 against a $719,500 median implies a gross yield near 2.5%, low for a regional market. The vacancy rate of 18.6% is the critical number for landlords, signalling soft rental demand relative to stock, because the dominant demographic is retired owner-occupiers rather than renters. Only 18.3% of residents rent. Development is active at 60 applications in 12 months, mostly dwelling houses via Complying Development Certificates, which means new supply is adding to a market with limited tenant demand. Net internal migration averages 76 arrivals a year, providing a baseline of incoming households, but investors should price the high vacancy into assumptions rather than treating it as a yield opportunity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
274
Last 12 Months
65
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+41.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, placing St Georges Basin among the most age-skewed suburbs in NSW. The senior share rose 5.4 points over the decade while the young adult share fell 3.7 points, confirming the aging trajectory is ongoing. Overseas-born residents make up only 15.1%, which is 6.5 points below national, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,425), Scottish (366) and Irish (360) lead all groups. University qualifications reach just 15.5%, which is 14.6 points below the national rate, consistent with the older cohort who completed education before tertiary participation expanded. Average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below national, reflecting the high share of couples without children at 42.5% of all families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.5%
Houses
8.9%
Townhouse
2.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright ownership at 51.1% is the defining tenure characteristic, far above the national rate and consistent with a retired demographic that has paid off mortgages over decades. Mortgage holders account for 30.6% and renters just 18.3%. The stock is 86.5% separate houses and only 2.1% apartments, meaning the suburb offers a near-pure detached housing market. Four-bedroom-plus homes at 41.0% and three-bedroom at 39.3% dominate, suggesting the original housing was built for families and is now occupied by couples or single retirees. Price history shows a modest 1.3% gain from $712,500 in 2024 to $722,000 in 2025. The vacancy rate of 18.6% is high relative to the renter share of 18.3%, indicating that a portion of housing stock functions as holiday or seasonal accommodation.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,690
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$545
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.6%
Unoccupied
295
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.4% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
35.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.5%
Couples, no children
2,475
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 19.4% of the workforce (145 workers), followed by Construction at 15.8% (118) and Public Administration at 13.3% (99). This distribution reflects both the aged care demand generated by the 53-year median age and the service infrastructure for a growing regional population. The unemployment rate is 4.6%, close to the national average, but the participation rate of just 39.9% is the telling number: 1,417 residents are not in the labour force, the majority being retirees. Real income grew 19.3% over the decade in nominal terms. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 3 and IRSAD decile of 2 place the suburb below average nationally on both disadvantage and advantage indexes, which is partly a statistical artifact of the low participation rate compressing employment-based scores.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
6,019
Unemployed
259
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.0%
Part-time
38.4%
Participation
39.9%
Employed
1,055
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.5%
Postgraduate
3.5%
Born Overseas
15.1%
Dwellings
1,278
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total at 93.5% of commuters driving, compared to the national average that includes far higher public transport use. Only 0.5% use public transport, reflecting the rural-coastal setting where bus services are infrequent. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families rely on neighbouring suburbs for education. The need-for-assistance rate of 10.5% (320 residents) is elevated relative to the national average, consistent with the aged demographic. Volunteering runs at 13.8%, which indicates reasonable community participation. The IRSAD decile of 2 places St Georges Basin in the lower-advantage tier nationally, but this is substantially driven by the retired income base rather than acute deprivation. Rent-to-income at 31.4% exceeds the stress threshold for the renting minority.
Drive
93.5%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.11%/yr
(+171 people/yr)
EstablishedThe SA2-level population reached 15,444 in 2025, up 21% over 10 years, and medium forecasts project a rise to 16,733 by 2031, an annual rate of 1.11%. Net internal migration averages 76 arrivals a year and overseas migration adds 46, making growth balanced across both streams. The gentrification score of 16 classifies the suburb as not gentrifying: income growth and price growth have not yet produced the demographic shift that the 56.5% rent growth over the decade would otherwise suggest. Affordability worsened from 60.4% in 2011 to 64.4% in 2021 because rent growth outpaced income growth. The aging trajectory means population growth is partially offset by natural decrease, so the headline 1.11% annual rate is supported primarily by in-migration of retirees and sea-changers rather than family formation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+46
Net Internal / yr
+76
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +19% since 2011, Net internal migration +76/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How St Georges Basin compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Georges Basin a good suburb to live in?
St Georges Basin suits retirees and sea-changers well: 51.1% of homes are owned outright, the median age is 53 and the detached housing stock is 86.5%. The IRSAD decile of 2 reflects low incomes rather than deprivation, and the population has grown 21% over 10 years. It is less suited to families who need nearby schools or public transport, with only 0.5% using transit.
What is the median house price in St Georges Basin?
The median house price is $719,500, based on recent 2024-2025 data. Prices rose 1.3% from $712,500 in 2024 to $722,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,690, but at a 35.1% mortgage-to-income ratio this exceeds the stress threshold given local household incomes in the 18th percentile nationally.
What schools are in St Georges Basin?
No schools are recorded inside the St Georges Basin suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the Shoalhaven local area. The local university qualification rate is 15.5%, which is 14.6 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the older demographic cohort.
Is St Georges Basin safe?
Crime statistics are not available for St Georges Basin in this dataset. As context, the suburb's IRSD decile of 3 places it in the lower-middle tier of relative disadvantage nationally, and 10.5% of residents (320 people) require daily assistance, reflecting the aged population rather than socioeconomic risk. The 78.7% resident stability rate suggests a settled, low-transience community.
Is St Georges Basin good for property investment?
Investors face challenging conditions: a vacancy rate of 18.6% against a renter share of only 18.3% indicates soft rental demand. Weekly rent of $350 on a $719,500 median gives a gross yield near 2.5%. Development is active at 60 applications in 12 months. Annual population growth of 1.11% and net internal migration of 76 per year provide modest demand support, but high vacancy should be factored into any investment model.
How is St Georges Basin's population changing?
The SA2 population reached 15,444 in 2025 and is forecast to grow to 16,733 by 2031 at 1.11% annually. Over the past decade, the population rose 21%. Growth is driven by balanced in-migration: 76 net internal arrivals and 46 net overseas arrivals per year. The suburb is aging, with the senior share up 5.4 points and young adult share down 3.7 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in St Georges Basin?
There were 60 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, predominantly single dwelling houses via Complying Development Certificates. This rate is moderate for a suburb of 3,215 residents and suggests steady organic growth rather than a development boom, consistent with the 1.11% annual population growth forecast.
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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