St James
Nearly half of St James residents were born overseas at 41.3%, while 46.9% hold university qualifications, 16.8 percentage points above the national comparison. The suburb has a young median age of 32, a population of 4,894 and a density of 2,941.6 people per square kilometre. Compared with nearby Victoria Park, St James presents a more detached residential profile, with 70.2% of homes being separate houses and only 4.1% apartments. Its 47.0% renting share and household income percentile of 65.9 point to a mobile, working-age population. That combination supports demand from professionals, students and overseas-born households because the suburb is close to established inner-south amenities while retaining a predominantly house-based streetscape.
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
St James suits buyers who value detached housing and access to established urban services, although a current median house price should be checked through recent comparable sales. Separate houses account for 70.2% of dwellings, while semi-detached homes make up 25.7%, creating more choice than the 4.1% apartment share. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.9%, followed by four-bedroom or larger homes at 25.6%. The listed mortgage figure is $1,842 per month, with mortgage costs at 23.3% of household income, higher than the 18.1% rent-to-income figure. Compared with a smaller-unit market, this dwelling mix may suit households seeking space, but the 47.0% renter share means buyers should assess turnover, condition and likely resale appeal street by street.
For Buyers
St James suits buyers who value detached housing and access to established urban services, although a current median house price should be checked through recent comparable sales. Separate houses account for 70.2% of dwellings, while semi-detached homes make up 25.7%, creating more choice than the 4.1% apartment share. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.9%, followed by four-bedroom or larger homes at 25.6%. The listed mortgage figure is $1,842 per month, with mortgage costs at 23.3% of household income, higher than the 18.1% rent-to-income figure. Compared with a smaller-unit market, this dwelling mix may suit households seeking space, but the 47.0% renter share means buyers should assess turnover, condition and likely resale appeal street by street.
For Investors
St James has a substantial tenant base, with 47.0% of households renting compared with 18.1% owning outright, supporting a broad leasing market. Weekly rent is $330 and the vacancy rate is 9.5%, which is a higher holding-risk signal than a tightly supplied market because landlords may face longer letting periods or stronger competition. Rent growth across the wider area is 11.9%, while the growth trend is 1.18% annually and overseas migration is the primary driver. No development activity was recorded over the last 12 months, which limits an immediate supply pipeline. Compared with a lower-rent outer suburb, St James may benefit from location and migration demand, but investors should not estimate gross yield until a current purchase price is confirmed.
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
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
SANTA CLARA SCHOOL
Demographics
St James has a median age of 32, which is 8 years below the national comparison, and its 46.9% university-qualified share is 16.8 percentage points above national levels. Overseas-born residents represent 41.3%, or 19.7 percentage points above the national comparison, helping explain the presence of Mandarin, Nepali and Urdu speakers. English is the largest reported ancestry at 1,491 people, followed by Other at 1,047, Irish at 436, Scottish at 390 and Chinese at 389. No religion is reported by 2,120 residents, compared with 1,595 identifying with Christianity and 259 with Buddhism. Compared with nearby Victoria Park, St James has a similarly urban catchment but a more residential household pattern, with an average household size of 2.4, just 0.1 below the national comparison.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.2%
Houses
25.7%
Townhouse
4.1%
Apartment
Tenure
St James is detached-dominant, with 70.2% of dwellings being separate houses, 25.7% semi-detached and 4.1% apartments. The most common format is three bedrooms at 49.9%, while 25.6% have four or more bedrooms and 19.2% have two bedrooms. Tenure is more rental-oriented than ownership-oriented: 47.0% rent, 33.6% hold a mortgage and 18.1% own outright. Mortgage tenure is therefore above outright ownership by 15.5 percentage points, reflecting a sizeable active-buyer segment. Compared with nearby Victoria Park's more urban setting, St James gives households greater access to detached and semi-detached stock. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 23.3% and rent-to-income is 18.1%, so housing costs are not flagged as stressed, although buyers still need current sales evidence because no median house price is available.
Mortgage / mo
$1,842
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$330
Census 2021
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
39.4%
Couples with children
41.7%
Couples, no children
15.0%
Single parent
1,177
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is St James's largest employment industry at 16.3%, with 332 workers, followed by Education at 11.3% and 231 workers, Professional and Technical services at 11.3% and 230, Construction at 7.6% and 156, and Public Administration at 7.4% and 150. Professionals lead the occupation profile with 745 people, ahead of Trades at 382 and Community or Personal services at 376. Labour-force participation is 70.7%, unemployment is 5.4% and full-time employment is 59.2%. The education and occupation profile ranks above the middle, with an IEO decile of 7, but the IER decile is 2, while IRSD is 4 and IRSAD is 5. That gap suggests qualifications and professional employment do not translate evenly into household resources, because healthcare, education and service work can combine with varied earnings and tenure costs.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
2,948
Unemployed
160
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.2%
Part-time
35.9%
Participation
70.7%
Employed
2,788
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
46.9%
Postgraduate
12.9%
Born Overseas
41.3%
Dwellings
1,932
Transport to Work
St James covers 1.66 square kilometres at a density of 2,941.6 people per square kilometre, giving it a compact, built-up feel. Daily travel is more car dependent than transit led: 73.1% travel as car drivers compared with 9.8% using public transport, 2.9% walking or cycling and 7.6% working from home. One listed school is Santa Clara School, a non-government provider; families should check enrolment zones and transport routes against the exact address. Compared with a transit-first inner suburb, the travel profile makes parking and road access important practical considerations. The IRSAD decile is 5, around the middle of the national scale, while no crime rate is available to support a safety comparison. For household decisions, the compact layout, nearby urban services and 16.0% volunteering rate add practical strengths, but current local incident information should be checked separately.
Drive
73.1%
Public Transport
9.8%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
7.6%
Population Forecast
+1.18%/yr
(+288 people/yr)
EstablishedSt James has a positive growth outlook, with annual growth running at 1.18% and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 5.4% over 10 years, while the forecast trajectory is labelled Stable rather than rapid expansion. Gentrification signals are mixed: the forecast gentrification score is 31 at the Early signs stage, but the broader shift measure records a score of 45 at the Active stage. Rent growth of 11.9%, real income growth of 37.6% and a 6.0 percentage-point rise in the working share help explain why demand is building without a major development pipeline. Compared with a static market, growth above zero and migration-led demand should support gradual change, while the stable trajectory indicates that redevelopment and demographic shifts are likely to be incremental.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+1,192
Net Internal / yr
-366
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +17% since 2011, Net internal outflow -366/yr, Strong overseas inflow +1192/yr, Accelerating: 1% → 16%
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 can suit residents wanting a compact, residential suburb with strong access to Perth's inner south. It has 4,894 residents, a median age of 32 and 70.2% separate houses. Daily travel is car-led, with 73.1% driving, so transport needs vary by address.
What is the median house price in St James?
A current median house price cannot be quoted reliably from the available figures. Buyers should compare recent sales by dwelling type and condition. St James has 49.9% three-bedroom homes and a listed mortgage figure of $1,842 per month, useful for testing affordability rather than setting a valuation.
What schools are in St James?
One listed school is Santa Clara School, classified as a non-government school. Families should confirm enrolment boundaries, year levels and travel times for the exact address, especially because school access can differ across a compact 1.66 square kilometre suburb.
Is St James safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available for a reliable safety judgement. Check recent local incidents and speak with residents before deciding. St James has 4,894 residents and a density of 2,941.6 people per square kilometre, so conditions can vary between busy and quieter streets.
Is St James good for property investment?
St James has a sizeable rental market, with 47.0% of households renting, weekly rent of $330 and a vacancy rate of 9.5%. Rent growth is 11.9% and overseas migration is the main growth driver. Investors should confirm current prices and leasing demand before estimating yield.
How is St James's population changing?
Growth is gradual rather than rapid. Annual growth is forecast at 1.18%, while population change across the wider area is 5.4% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, and the trajectory is Stable. Gentrification is rated Early signs with a score of 31.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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