St Kilda West
With 5,578 residents per square kilometre packed into just 0.53 km2, St Kilda West is one of Melbourne's most densely settled pockets. Over half the residents rent (52.4%), apartments account for 71.3% of dwellings, and the vacancy rate sits at 20.3%, well above typical metropolitan levels. Yet household income places the suburb in the 74.4th percentile nationally, meaning earning power is meaningfully higher than average even as the housing stock is overwhelmingly transient in character. University qualifications reach 60.6%, which is 30.5 percentage points above the national figure, signalling a highly educated workforce concentrated in professional and knowledge sectors.
Population
2,951
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,983/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$1.4M
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $1,435,000 reflects the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter, and the long-run picture shows modest growth: from $1,142,500 in 2013 to $1,435,000 today, a 25.6% total gain and a CAGR of 1.6% over 14 years. That pace is lower than many inner-Melbourne markets, partly because only 8.4% of dwellings are separate houses, so the sample is thin and volatile. Apartments dominate at 71.3%, with two-bedroom units the most common at 40% of stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. For buyers seeking a house rather than an apartment, competition for the scarce detached stock is intense given less than 1-in-10 dwellings fits that description.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,435,000 reflects the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter, and the long-run picture shows modest growth: from $1,142,500 in 2013 to $1,435,000 today, a 25.6% total gain and a CAGR of 1.6% over 14 years. That pace is lower than many inner-Melbourne markets, partly because only 8.4% of dwellings are separate houses, so the sample is thin and volatile. Apartments dominate at 71.3%, with two-bedroom units the most common at 40% of stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. For buyers seeking a house rather than an apartment, competition for the scarce detached stock is intense given less than 1-in-10 dwellings fits that description.
For Investors
A 52.4% renter share gives landlords a deep, stable tenant pool, and the suburb's 74.4th-percentile household income supports consistent rent payment. Weekly rent of $385 is the current benchmark, producing a rent-to-income ratio of 19.4% for tenants, which stays comfortably below stress levels. The main caution is a 20.3% vacancy rate, high compared to most Melbourne suburbs, which implies meaningful competition among landlords in the apartment segment that dominates at 71.3% of stock. Development activity is low at just 3 applications in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is minimal. The 14-year CAGR of 1.6% means capital growth has been subdued compared to broader inner-Melbourne, with long-term investors relying more on rental income stability than price appreciation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, yet the composition differs: average household size of 1.9 is 0.6 below national, driven by a high share of couples with no children (36.8% of families) and the near-absence of one-parent families. Overseas-born residents reach 31.3%, which is 9.7 percentage points above the national average, and the most common non-English languages are Hindi (37 speakers), Greek (26), Italian (14) and Portuguese (11). Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, with English (1,077) and Irish (458) the top two groups. University qualifications at 60.6% run 30.5 points above national, one of the highest education rates in Victoria. The volunteering rate of 20.9% is also notable, suggesting a civically engaged resident base despite the high turnover rate of 34.5%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
8.4%
Houses
20.1%
Townhouse
71.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tells the core story: 52.4% of residents rent, compared to a national renting share well below that, while outright owners account for 23.4% and mortgage holders for 24.2%. Apartments make up 71.3% of dwellings and semi-detached dwellings a further 20.1%, leaving separate houses at just 8.4%. Two-bedroom units dominate at 40%, followed by studios and one-bedrooms at 32.7%, while three-bedroom dwellings make up only 17.1%. The median house price was $1,435,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024, up 25.6% from the $1,142,500 trough in 2013 over 14 years. The price series shows high volatility: the median reached $4,085,500 in Jan-Mar 2024 before falling 64.9% to the current level, a pattern typical of small-sample quarters rather than genuine market collapse. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300 against a 26.8% mortgage-to-income ratio.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,300
Rent / wk
$385
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,314
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.3%
Unoccupied
359
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.8%
Couples, no children
1,752
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional and technical services lead employment at 20.2% of workers (281 people), followed by Healthcare at 14.7% (205) and Education at 9.4% (131), with Finance at 8% (111) rounding out the top sectors. This concentration in knowledge industries explains why household income sits in the 74.4th percentile nationally despite a high renter share. By occupation, Professionals (696) and Managers (392) are the two largest groups, consistent with the 60.6% university qualification rate. The unemployment rate is 4.8%, slightly above the metropolitan average, and the full-time employment rate is 70%. Labour force participation at 68.2% is reasonable for the age profile, with 567 residents not in the labour force. There are no SEIFA index scores available for this suburb, so disadvantage comparisons cannot be drawn from that dataset.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.0%
Part-time
25.2%
Participation
68.2%
Employed
1,674
Occupations
Top Industries
University
60.6%
Postgraduate
21.0%
Born Overseas
31.3%
Dwellings
1,409
Transport to Work
Active travel is unusually high for a suburb this close to the water: 18% of residents walk or cycle to work, well above the national average, reflecting the compact 0.53 km2 footprint and proximity to foreshore paths. Car use at 76% remains dominant, while public transport accounts for just 2%. No schools are recorded within the St Kilda West boundary, so families depend on institutions in adjacent suburbs. The crime rate is 77.6 incidents per 1,000 residents annually, with property and deception offences accounting for 155 of the 229 total crimes, a pattern common in high-density inner-city areas with retail strips and tourist traffic. Rent-to-income at 19.4% keeps tenants well below the 30% stress threshold, and only 2.5% of residents (69 people) require daily assistance, both indicating a largely healthy and financially stable population despite the high vacancy and turnover.
Drive
76.0%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
18.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
229
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
77.6
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How St Kilda West compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Kilda West a good suburb to live in?
St Kilda West suits renters and educated professionals well. Household income is in the 74.4th percentile nationally and university qualifications reach 60.6%, which is 30.5 points above national. The 0.53 km2 footprint means everything is walkable, with 18% of residents commuting on foot or by bike. The main trade-off is a 20.3% vacancy rate, suggesting active competition among landlords in a largely apartment-based market.
What is the median house price in St Kilda West?
The median house price was $1,435,000 in the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter, up 25.6% from $1,142,500 in 2013 over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 26.8%. Note that only 8.4% of dwellings are separate houses, so the median reflects a small, volatile sample.
What schools are in St Kilda West?
No schools are recorded within the St Kilda West boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 60.6% holding university qualifications, which is 30.5 percentage points above the national figure, so demand for quality schools in the broader area is high.
Is St Kilda West safe?
The recorded crime rate is 77.6 incidents per 1,000 residents annually, with 229 total crimes in the reference period. Property and deception offences are the dominant category at 155 incidents, followed by justice procedures offences (33) and crimes against the person (30). This pattern is typical of dense inner-city areas with high foot traffic rather than residential violence.
Is St Kilda West good for property investment?
The 52.4% renter share and household income at the 74.4th percentile nationally support consistent rental demand. Weekly rent is $385 and the 14-year price CAGR is 1.6%, which is modest compared to broader inner Melbourne. The 20.3% vacancy rate is the key risk, indicating surplus apartment supply. Development activity is minimal at just 3 applications in 12 months, so new supply pressure is low.
How is St Kilda West's population changing?
No forward population forecast is available for St Kilda West. The suburb has a resident population of 2,951 across 0.53 km2. Turnover is high, with 34.5% of residents having moved in the five years before the Census, which is typical of renter-majority inner suburbs. The minimal development pipeline of 3 approvals in 12 months suggests population is stable rather than growing.
What languages are spoken in St Kilda West?
About 31.3% of residents were born overseas, which is 9.7 percentage points above the national average. The most common non-English languages spoken at home are Hindi (37 speakers), Greek (26), Italian (14) and Portuguese (11), reflecting a modest but internationally diverse resident mix in the suburb's 2,951-person population.
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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