St James
At a median age of 32, St James runs a full 8 years below the national figure, and that youth shapes everything else about this 1.66 km2 pocket 8km south of Perth. The $439,000 median house price keeps it affordable, which pulls in renters who now make up 47.6% of households, well above the owner-occupier norm. University qualifications reach 46.9%, which is 16.8 points above national, and 41.3% of residents were born overseas, nearly 20 points higher than the country as a whole. Despite the educated, international profile, the suburb scores only decile 2 on the IER economic resources index, a gap driven by the heavy rental base rather than low local incomes.
Population
4,894
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,827/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$439K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $439,000 median makes St James one of the more accessible suburbs within 8km of the Perth CBD, and the stock favours families: 70.2% are separate houses and only 4.1% are apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.9% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings add another 25.6%, so buyers chasing space have real choice rather than the small footprints common closer to the city. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,842, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold even though household income sits in the 65.9th percentile. That affordability gap explains why 34.0% of households carry a mortgage while only 18.3% own outright, a younger buyer base still working down its loans.
For Buyers
The $439,000 median makes St James one of the more accessible suburbs within 8km of the Perth CBD, and the stock favours families: 70.2% are separate houses and only 4.1% are apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.9% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings add another 25.6%, so buyers chasing space have real choice rather than the small footprints common closer to the city. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,842, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold even though household income sits in the 65.9th percentile. That affordability gap explains why 34.0% of households carry a mortgage while only 18.3% own outright, a younger buyer base still working down its loans.
For Investors
Renters make up 47.6% of households, far above the owner-occupier majority elsewhere, giving landlords an unusually deep tenant pool for a detached-house suburb. Weekly rent of $330 against the $439,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%, stronger than the sub-2% returns common in premium Perth markets. The 9.5% vacancy rate is the main caution, signalling some softness in finding tenants quickly. Demand is underpinned by a young median age of 32, which is 8 years below national, and the 41.3% overseas-born share that turns over faster than settled owner suburbs, with mobility at 30.0%. Development is quiet at 0 applications in 12 months, so supply is stable and existing stock holds its scarcity value.
Development Activity
Total DAs
20
Last 12 Months
0
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
Schools in St James iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Santa Clara School
PP-6 · 192 students
Demographics
St James skews young and international. The median age of 32 sits 8.0 years below the national figure, and 41.3% of residents were born overseas, which is 19.7 points above national. University qualifications reach 46.9%, running 16.8 points higher than the country as a whole, a profile that fits the suburb's proximity to Curtin University. English ancestry leads at 1,491 residents, followed by Irish (436), Scottish (390) and Chinese (389). The top non-English languages are Mandarin (87 speakers), Nepali (49) and Urdu (44), reflecting a strong South and East Asian student presence. Average household size is 2.4, only 0.1 below national, and couples with children (1,372 families) outnumber couples without children (973), consistent with a working-age family and renter mix.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.2%
Houses
25.7%
Townhouse
4.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward renting: 47.6% rent, 34.0% carry a mortgage and just 18.3% own outright, the inverse of most established suburbs where outright owners dominate. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 70.2% separate houses, with semi-detached at 25.7% and apartments only 4.1%, so density stays low at 2,941.6 residents per km2 despite the rental skew. Three-bedroom homes account for 49.9% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom 25.6%, pointing to family-scale housing rather than investor studios. The $439,000 median keeps both rent-to-income at 18.1% and mortgage-to-income at 23.3% below the 30% stress line, a rare combination that makes the suburb workable for renters and buyers alike on incomes in the 65.9th percentile.
Mortgage / mo
$1,842
Rent / wk
$330
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$888
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.5%
Unoccupied
203
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.0%
Couples, no children
3,243
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 16.3% (332 workers), followed by Education and Professional/Tech tied at 11.3% each (231 and 230), with Construction at 7.6% and Public Admin at 7.4%. By occupation, Professionals (745) form the largest group ahead of Community/Personal services (376) and Clerical/Admin (310), aligning with the decile 7 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is 5.7% and the participation rate is 67.4%, with 1,650 residents in full-time work. The standout anomaly is the IER economic resources score at decile 2, well below the decile 7 IEO, because the 47.6% renter base depresses aggregate household wealth measures even though incomes sit at the 65.9th percentile.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.2%
Part-time
32.1%
Participation
67.4%
Employed
2,652
Occupations
Top Industries
University
46.9%
Postgraduate
12.9%
Born Overseas
41.3%
Dwellings
1,932
Transport to Work
Transport leans on cars, with 79.1% driving, above the national norm, while public transport carries 10.6% and only 3.1% walk or cycle, reflecting the suburb's outer-Perth setting rather than an inner-city grid. No schools are recorded inside the 1.66 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, though the area's draw is its closeness to Curtin University. The IRSAD advantage score reads decile 5, mid-range nationally, and only 3.9% of residents (179 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the young median age of 32. Affordability is the real livability lever here: rent-to-income at 18.1% leaves households more disposable income than higher-priced Perth suburbs.
Drive
79.1%
Public Transport
10.6%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How St James compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St James a good suburb to live in?
St James suits younger renters and families, with a median age of 32, which is 8 years below national, and an affordable $439,000 median house price. University qualifications reach 46.9%, 16.8 points above national. It scores decile 5 on IRSAD advantage, mid-range, and sits about 8km south of the Perth CBD near Curtin University.
What is the median house price in St James?
The median house price in St James is $439,000, affordable for a suburb 8km from the Perth CBD. Weekly rent averages $330 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,842, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in St James?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.66 km2 St James boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident base is well educated, with university qualifications at 46.9%, which is 16.8 points above the national figure, helped by proximity to Curtin University.
Is St James safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for St James in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 4 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, mid-range nationally, and only 3.9% of its residents (179 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a moderate-profile residential area.
Is St James good for property investment?
Rent of $330 a week against a $439,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.9%, stronger than the sub-2% common in premium Perth markets. A 47.6% renter share provides a deep tenant pool, though the 9.5% vacancy rate is a caution and development is flat at 0 applications over 12 months.
How is St James's population changing?
St James has a young median age of 32, 8 years below national, and a high turnover rate of 30.0%, meaning roughly a third of residents move within five years. The churn is driven by the 47.6% renter share and 41.3% overseas-born population, many of them students near Curtin University.
What languages are spoken in St James?
About 41.3% of St James residents were born overseas, 19.7 points above the national figure. English is the dominant language, with Mandarin (87 speakers), Nepali (49), Urdu (44) and Arabic (29) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a strong South and East Asian student presence.
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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