St Marys
A 21.9% house price rise in a single year, from $915,000 to $1,115,500, sets St Marys apart from most SA suburbs where appreciation runs in single digits. This compact 1.83 km2 suburb holds 3,010 residents at a median age of 35, five years below the national median, and 47.3% hold university qualifications, which is 17.2 percentage points above the national figure. Healthcare alone accounts for 29.2% of local employment, anchoring the suburb to the large health precinct nearby. Overseas-born residents at 35.4% sit 13.8 points above national, shaping a linguistically varied population where Nepali, Mandarin and Arabic are the most common non-English languages.
Population
3,010
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,490/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
27
Median House
$1.1M
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $1,115,500 in Q1 2026, up from $915,000 just four quarters earlier, a 21.9% gain that is well above typical SA market appreciation. Separate houses make up 66.3% of dwellings, semi-detached 22.7% and apartments 11%, giving buyers reasonable choice across types. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.8% of stock, with 4-plus bedroom properties at 19.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,654, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 25.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers at median income face manageable repayments compared to most capital city markets. Outright owners account for 24.9% and mortgage holders 38.5%, indicating a suburb still being bought into rather than held by debt-free long-term owners.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $1,115,500 in Q1 2026, up from $915,000 just four quarters earlier, a 21.9% gain that is well above typical SA market appreciation. Separate houses make up 66.3% of dwellings, semi-detached 22.7% and apartments 11%, giving buyers reasonable choice across types. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.8% of stock, with 4-plus bedroom properties at 19.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,654, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 25.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers at median income face manageable repayments compared to most capital city markets. Outright owners account for 24.9% and mortgage holders 38.5%, indicating a suburb still being bought into rather than held by debt-free long-term owners.
For Investors
Renters make up 36.5% of households, comparable to inner-city averages, providing a reliable tenant pool at weekly rents of $285. The vacancy rate of 5.3% is elevated, suggesting some softness in rental demand that investors should factor into hold costs. Against the $1,115,500 median, the $285 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 1.3%, which is low, so the investment case depends on capital growth continuing. The 21.9% price gain over the past year is a strong headline, but with only two data points available this may not reflect a sustained trend. Development activity records 24 applications in the past 12 months, a moderate level relative to the suburb's size, with recent lodgements including dwelling alterations and a commercial change-of-use, suggesting incremental rather than large-scale supply addition.
Development Activity
Total DAs
173
Last 12 Months
27
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+22.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in St Marys iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Bernadette's School
R-6 · 205 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure, reflecting a younger working-age cohort rather than a family-heavy or retirement profile. University qualifications reach 47.3%, which is 17.2 percentage points above the national average, ranking St Marys in the upper tier of SA educational attainment. Overseas-born residents at 35.4% run 13.8 points above national, and the suburb's linguistic profile reflects this: Nepali (55 speakers), Mandarin (44), Arabic (39), Punjabi (38) and Malayalam (33) are the leading non-English languages, consistent with recent South Asian and Middle Eastern settlement. English and Scottish ancestry still predominate, led by English (928) and Scottish (247), alongside a growing Indian community (194). Average household size of 2.4 is marginally below the national figure, consistent with the younger couples-and-singles profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.3%
Houses
22.7%
Townhouse
11.0%
Apartment
Tenure
House prices moved from $915,000 in Q1 2025 to $1,115,500 in Q1 2026, a 21.9% rise that significantly outpaces broader SA market conditions. Tenure sits at 24.9% owned outright, 38.5% with mortgage and 36.5% renting, skewing toward mortgage holders compared to many established suburbs where outright ownership dominates. Separate houses account for 66.3% of stock, with semi-detached at 22.7% and apartments at 11%, providing a density profile higher than outer suburbs but lower than inner-city areas. The three-bedroom share of 48.8% anchors demand from small families and couples, while the 28% two-bedroom share appeals to renters and investors. Rent-to-income at 19.1% is well below the 30% stress level, meaning tenants at median wages are not under pressure compared to many urban markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,654
Rent / wk
$285
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$785
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.3%
Unoccupied
70
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.0%
Couples, no children
2,244
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry by a wide margin, employing 29.2% of the local workforce (336 workers), which is unusually concentrated even compared to state averages where healthcare typically accounts for 13-15%. Education follows at 10.3% and Construction at 8.7%, with Professional/Tech at 7.0% and Public Admin at 6.1% rounding out the top five. By occupation, Professionals lead at 435 workers, followed by Community/Personal service at 237 and Managers at 168. The unemployment rate of 6.4% is above the national benchmark, which may reflect the suburb's high overseas-born share (35.4%) and the mixed skill-recognition pathways for recent migrants. Full-time employment accounts for 58.5% of employed residents and the participation rate sits at 64.3%, with 734 residents not in the labour force. Household income sits at the 46.6th percentile nationally, just below the median.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.5%
Part-time
35.1%
Participation
64.3%
Employed
1,513
Occupations
Top Industries
University
47.3%
Postgraduate
13.7%
Born Overseas
35.4%
Dwellings
1,250
Transport to Work
Public transport use at 7.9% is modest, with 82.9% of residents commuting by car, a pattern typical of inner-southern Adelaide suburbs at this density. Walking and cycling account for 2.8% of commutes. The crime rate is 78.7 incidents per 1,000 residents per year, which provides context for safety assessments, though without SA-average data for comparison residents should weigh this against the suburb's broader profile. Rent-to-income of 19.1% keeps housing costs manageable for renters, and mortgage-to-income of 25.6% is below the stress threshold, suggesting households are not financially stretched compared to many comparable price points nationally. The volunteering rate of 17.5% indicates community engagement above the passive end of the spectrum. With a density of 1,644 people per km2, St Marys sits at medium density, offering street-level amenity without the congestion of inner-city precincts.
Drive
82.9%
Public Transport
7.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
237
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
78.7
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How St Marys compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Marys a good suburb to live in?
St Marys suits younger households and professionals, with a median age of 35 (5 years below national) and 47.3% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 17.2 points above the national figure. Rent-to-income sits at 19.1% and mortgage-to-income at 25.6%, both well below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are manageable compared to many comparable SA markets.
What is the median house price in St Marys?
The median house price is $1,115,500 as of Q1 2026, up 21.9% from $915,000 in Q1 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,654, and weekly rent is $285. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.6% is below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in St Marys?
No schools are recorded within the St Marys boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Despite this, 47.3% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 17.2 points above the national average, indicating a highly educated local population.
Is St Marys safe?
The crime rate is 78.7 incidents per 1,000 residents annually, based on 237 total recorded incidents for a population of 3,010. Residents should compare this figure against their own risk tolerance and against SA-wide averages for context when assessing safety.
Is St Marys good for property investment?
The 21.9% house price rise in a single year, from $915,000 to $1,115,500, is a strong headline. However, weekly rent of $285 against a $1,115,500 median implies a gross yield near 1.3%, which is low. The 5.3% vacancy rate is elevated, so investors should factor holding costs carefully. The 36.5% renter share provides tenant pool depth.
How is St Marys's population changing?
Population stands at 3,010 with a median age of 35, which is 5 years below the national median, suggesting a younger demographic base. Overseas-born residents at 35.4% are 13.8 points above national, with a turnover rate of 25.9% indicating moderate mobility. The 47.3% university qualification rate supports demand from knowledge-economy workers.
What languages are spoken in St Marys?
About 35.4% of residents were born overseas, which is 13.8 points above the national figure. The leading non-English languages are Nepali (55 speakers), Mandarin (44), Arabic (39), Punjabi (38) and Malayalam (33), reflecting recent South Asian and Middle Eastern settlement alongside longer-established migration communities.
How much development is happening in St Marys?
There were 24 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, a moderate level for a 1.83 km2 suburb with 3,010 residents. Recent applications include dwelling alterations, a commercial change-of-use and a detached dwelling variation, indicating incremental infill activity rather than large-scale new supply.
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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