St Ives Chase
Household income in the 98.7th percentile nationally, a $2,850,000 median house price and a population where 65.9% hold university qualifications make St Ives Chase one of Sydney's most economically concentrated suburbs. The 3.48 km2 pocket holds just 3,283 residents at a density of 944 per km2, meaning large lots dominate and 96% of dwellings are separate houses. Nearly half of residents (47.4%) were born overseas, running 25.8 points above the national figure, driven by strong annual overseas migration of 366 people. All four SEIFA indexes sit at decile 10, placing the suburb in the top tier of national advantage.
Population
3,283
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,306/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
31
Median House
$2.9M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $2,850,000 median house price places St Ives Chase well above Sydney's broader market, and prices rose 2.5% from $2,800,000 in 2024 to $2,871,000 in 2025. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96%, with apartments at 1.7% and semi-detached at 2.3%. Bedroom size skews large: 79.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 19.4% have 3 bedrooms, reflecting family-oriented demand on generous blocks. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,223, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.5%, just below the 30% stress threshold despite the high purchase price, because household incomes sit in the 98.7th percentile nationally. Outright owners (43.8%) outnumber mortgage holders (48.8%), indicating a mix of long-held wealth alongside active buyers.
For Buyers
The $2,850,000 median house price places St Ives Chase well above Sydney's broader market, and prices rose 2.5% from $2,800,000 in 2024 to $2,871,000 in 2025. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96%, with apartments at 1.7% and semi-detached at 2.3%. Bedroom size skews large: 79.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 19.4% have 3 bedrooms, reflecting family-oriented demand on generous blocks. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,223, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.5%, just below the 30% stress threshold despite the high purchase price, because household incomes sit in the 98.7th percentile nationally. Outright owners (43.8%) outnumber mortgage holders (48.8%), indicating a mix of long-held wealth alongside active buyers.
For Investors
A 7.3% renter share limits the tenant pool significantly, making St Ives Chase a capital-growth market rather than a yield play. Weekly rent of $950 against a $2,850,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.8%, low by Sydney standards. The 3.0% vacancy rate is moderate, not indicating oversupply, but thin rental demand means holding costs dominate. Net overseas migration adds 366 residents a year while internal migration removes 52, giving consistent net demand. Development activity recorded 30 applications in the past 12 months, predominantly alterations to existing houses rather than new supply, which supports scarcity pricing over time. Annual price growth of 2.5% is below the long-run national average, so investors need a multi-year horizon.
Development Activity
Total DAs
166
Last 12 Months
31
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+24.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above the national figure, consistent with the established-wealth profile and high rate of families with children: 52.7% of families are couples with children, one of the highest shares in Sydney. University qualifications at 65.9% are 35.8 points above national, the strongest signal of occupational concentration. Overseas-born residents at 47.4% run 25.8 points above national, led by English (999), Chinese (788) and Scottish (260) ancestries. Mandarin is the leading non-English language with 248 speakers, reflecting a substantial Chinese-background community. Average household size of 3.2 is 0.7 above national, consistent with larger family dwellings. Volunteering sits at 20.3%, above typical suburban rates.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.0%
Houses
2.3%
Townhouse
1.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure leans toward mortgage holders at 48.8%, with 43.8% owning outright and only 7.3% renting, far below the national renter share. The near-complete dominance of separate houses (96.0%) is unusual even among premium Sydney suburbs, and 79.5% of those have 4 or more bedrooms, indicating land-rich lots rather than compact infill. Price history is short but upward: $2,800,000 in 2024 rising to $2,871,000 in 2025, a 2.5% gain over one year. The price-to-family-income ratio is high even at these earnings, with a $3,355 weekly family income, meaning typical families spend roughly 16 years of gross income to buy at the median. Rent-to-income at 28.7% stays below the 30% stress benchmark for renters.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$4,223
Rent / wk
$950
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,025
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.0%
Unoccupied
31
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
18.6%
Couples, no children
3,069
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional and technical services lead at 21.1% of local workers (246 people), followed by Healthcare at 14.2% (165) and Finance at 11.8% (137). By occupation, Professionals (555) and Managers (356) together hold the majority of jobs, which directly explains why household income sits in the 98.7th percentile nationally. The unemployment rate is 4.6% and the full-time employment rate is 65.5%, with 922 residents not in the labour force, partly explained by the older-skewing resident base and high share of retirees. All four SEIFA indexes score decile 10, including both IEO (education and occupation advantage) and IRSAD (economic resources), meaning the suburb faces no internal tension between education level and material wealth. Real income grew 11.0% over the decade.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
11,259
Unemployed
437
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.5%
Part-time
29.9%
Participation
56.2%
Employed
1,348
Occupations
Top Industries
University
65.9%
Postgraduate
23.2%
Born Overseas
47.4%
Dwellings
996
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 89.2% driving to work, well above national averages, because bus services are the only public transport option and only 2.9% of residents use them. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD nationally, the top advantage tier, and 3.2% of residents need daily assistance despite the older median age, a low rate consistent with a healthy, high-income population. Rent-to-income at 28.7% keeps renters just under the stress threshold, though the 7.3% renter share means few residents face this position. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring St Ives and Turramurra. The 3.48 km2 area and density of 944 per km2 means substantial green space per dwelling compared to denser Sydney suburbs.
Drive
89.2%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.94%/yr
(+215 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 16.2% over the decade to reach 3,283 residents, and the annual trend rate is 0.94%, translating to about 215 additional people per year. Medium forecasts project growth continuing to roughly 24,210 by 2031 for the broader statistical area, driven overwhelmingly by overseas migration at 366 net arrivals annually compared to internal net outflow of 52. The young-adult share rose 1.5 points and the senior share rose 1.6 points over the period, suggesting the suburb is attracting both international families and aging in place. The gentrification score is 15 with a stage reading not gentrifying, which makes sense given the suburb is already at the top of the national advantage distribution with no room to climb further. Affordability fell from 89.3% in 2011 to 65.4% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+366
Net Internal / yr
-52
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +16% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +366/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How St Ives Chase compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Ives Chase a good suburb to live in?
St Ives Chase scores decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, the top national advantage tier, with household incomes in the 98.7th percentile. University qualifications at 65.9% are 35.8 points above the national figure. The main trade-offs are the $2,850,000 median house price and high car dependency at 89.2% of residents driving to work.
What is the median house price in St Ives Chase?
The median house price is $2,850,000, rising 2.5% from $2,800,000 in 2024 to $2,871,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $4,223 and weekly rent is $950. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.5% is just below the 30% stress benchmark even at these income levels.
What schools are in St Ives Chase?
No schools are recorded inside the St Ives Chase boundary in this dataset. Families use schools in neighbouring St Ives, which is within a short drive. The local population is highly educated, with 65.9% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 35.8 points above the national figure.
Is St Ives Chase safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available in this dataset for St Ives Chase. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage nationally, the highest tier, and only 3.2% of its 3,283 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage, low-risk area.
Is St Ives Chase good for property investment?
Gross yield is below 1.8% at $950 weekly rent against a $2,850,000 median, making this a capital-growth market. Annual price growth was 2.5% over 2024-2025 and only 7.3% of residents rent. Overseas migration adds 366 net residents annually, supporting long-term demand, but investors need a multi-year horizon.
How is St Ives Chase's population changing?
Population grew 16.2% over the decade at an annual trend rate of 0.94%, or about 215 new residents per year. Overseas migration is the primary driver at 366 net arrivals annually, offsetting internal outflow of 52. Medium projections estimate continued growth for the broader statistical area through 2031.
What languages are spoken in St Ives Chase?
About 47.4% of residents were born overseas, which is 25.8 points above the national figure. Mandarin is the leading non-English language with 248 speakers, followed by Cantonese (58), Persian (21) and Italian (19), reflecting a significant Chinese-background community alongside other international residents.
How much development activity is there in St Ives Chase?
There were 30 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, primarily alterations to existing dwelling houses and complying development certificates rather than new dwellings. This low new-supply pipeline supports price stability in a suburb where 96% of dwellings are already separate houses on established lots.
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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