St Ives
Large family houses and top decile wealth define St Ives more than apartment turnover. The suburb has 18,384 residents, a median age of 43 and household income at the 96.7th percentile nationally. Compared with neighbouring Pymble and Gordon, it reads less like a station village and more like a car-based family market, because 66.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 54.0% have 4 or more bedrooms. A $2,505,000 median house price reflects that established-wealth profile.
Population
18,384
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,888/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
197
Median House
$2.5M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers are buying scale, schools and low housing stress at a high entry price. The median house price is $2,505,000, while the latest price-summary reading reached $2,640,000 in 2025, up 9.3% from 2024 and at 0.0% below its recorded peak. Family-sized stock dominates, with 54.0% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and 66.2% being separate houses, although apartments still make up 26.1%. Mortgage costs absorb 27.7% of income, lower than a stress setting because local household incomes are high.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are buying scale, schools and low housing stress at a high entry price. The median house price is $2,505,000, while the latest price-summary reading reached $2,640,000 in 2025, up 9.3% from 2024 and at 0.0% below its recorded peak. Family-sized stock dominates, with 54.0% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and 66.2% being separate houses, although apartments still make up 26.1%. Mortgage costs absorb 27.7% of income, lower than a stress setting because local household incomes are high.
For Investors
St Ives is more a capital-preservation market than a high-churn rental play. Only 16.9% of homes are rented, below many investor-heavy suburbs, and weekly rent is $688. The 5.8% vacancy rate is higher than a scarce-rental setting, so tenant selection and pricing matter. Demand is still supported by 165 development applications in 12 months and forecast overseas migration averaging +366 people a year, but low rental depth means investors need a longer horizon.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1,016
Last 12 Months
197
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+18.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in St Ives iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Ives North Public School
K-6 · 846 students
Masada College
K-12 · 368 students
St Ives Public School
K-6 · 465 students
Brigidine College St Ives
7-12 · 793 students
Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 221 students
Demographics
St Ives is older, highly educated and strongly international. The median age is 43, which is 3.0 years above the national figure, while 64.0% of residents hold a university qualification, 33.9 percentage points above national levels. Overseas-born residents make up 48.6%, or 27.0 points above national, helping explain large Chinese ancestry counts of 3,941 and Mandarin as the leading non-English language count at 1,094. Average household size is 2.9, also 0.4 above national.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.2%
Houses
7.6%
Townhouse
26.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is tightly held and owner-led. Outright owners account for 42.5% of households and mortgage holders another 40.6%, leaving renters at only 16.9%, lower than typical inner rental markets. Prices rose from $2,415,000 in 2024 to $2,640,000 in 2025, a 9.3% one-year gain, with the latest figure matching the peak. The structure is family-oriented because 66.2% of dwellings are separate houses, 7.6% are semi-detached and 26.1% are apartments, while 54.0% have 4 or more bedrooms.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,467
Rent / wk
$688
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,077
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.8%
Unoccupied
384
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.4%
Couples, no children
16,343
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy is powered by high-skill, high-income work. Professional and tech roles lead at 19.4% of workers, followed by healthcare at 15.0%, finance at 12.8%, education at 10.2% and retail at 6.6%. Occupations reinforce this, with 3,199 professionals and 1,957 managers. Unemployment is 4.7% and full-time work is 66.2% of employed residents, while participation is 54.9% because 5,554 people are not in the labour force. All SEIFA measures sit in decile 10 nationally, matching the income profile.
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
66.2%
Part-time
29.1%
Participation
54.9%
Employed
7,639
Occupations
Top Industries
University
64.0%
Postgraduate
22.5%
Born Overseas
48.6%
Dwellings
6,289
Transport to Work
Livability is strongest for families who value schools, space and car access. There are 7 local schools across Government, Independent and Catholic sectors, with ICSEA scores ranging from 1113 to 1164. St Ives North Public School leads at 1164 with 846 enrolments, followed closely by Masada College at 1162 and St Ives Public School at 1155. Compared with rail-based centres, transport is car-oriented: 85.2% drive to work, 4.8% use public transport and 3.8% walk or cycle. IRSAD decile 10 supports access to services and opportunity.
Drive
85.2%
Public Transport
4.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.94%/yr
(+215 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than speculative. The forecast trend is 0.94% a year, or about 215 residents annually, taking the medium population path from 23,134 in 2026 to 24,210 in 2031. Overseas migration is the main driver at an average +366 people a year, much higher than the -52 average net internal movement, so new demand is likely to come from international households rather than local churn. The gentrification score is 15 and the stage is Not gentrifying, because St Ives is already a premium, established market.
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 compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Ives a good suburb to live in?
Yes for households prioritising space, schools and high-income stability. St Ives has 7 local schools, 54.0% of homes with 4 or more bedrooms and an IRSAD decile of 10, but it is car-oriented with 85.2% driving to work.
What is the median house price in St Ives?
The median house price in St Ives is $2,505,000. The latest price-summary figure reached $2,640,000 in 2025, up 9.3% from 2024, placing the suburb well above many family markets.
What schools are in St Ives?
St Ives has 7 local schools across Government, Independent and Catholic sectors. Leading ICSEA results include St Ives North Public School at 1164, Masada College at 1162 and St Ives Public School at 1155.
Is St Ives safe?
For safety, check current NSW Police or BOCSAR maps before purchase, as street-level patterns can change. The local context is strongly family-oriented, with 7 schools, 54.0% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and IRSAD decile 10.
Is St Ives good for property investment?
St Ives suits long-term investors more than yield-focused buyers. Only 16.9% of homes are rented, weekly rent is $688 and vacancy is 5.8%, while overseas migration adds an average +366 people a year.
How is St Ives's population changing?
St Ives is forecast to keep growing at 0.94% a year, or about 215 people annually. The medium path rises from 23,134 residents in 2026 to 24,210 in 2031, driven mainly by overseas migration.
What languages are spoken in St Ives?
St Ives is highly international, with 48.6% of residents born overseas. Mandarin is the largest non-English language count at 1,094, followed by Canton at 370, Korean at 194 and Persian ED at 176.
Is there much development in St Ives?
Yes. St Ives recorded 165 development applications over 12 months, including dwelling house works and swimming pools. That is significant activity for an established suburb and reflects ongoing reinvestment in large family properties.
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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