Stirling
At just 1.32 square kilometres, Stirling packs one of the ACT's most educated populations into a compact footprint, with 49.7% of residents holding university qualifications, nearly 20 points above the national figure. Household income sits in the 83.8th percentile nationally, and the suburb scores decile 8 or 9 across all four SEIFA indexes. The median age of 46 is 6 years above national, reflecting a deeply established owner base where 45.3% own outright, far higher than typical mortgage-belt suburbs. Separate houses account for 82.4% of dwellings, and four-plus bedroom homes make up 52.6% of the housing stock, signalling families and long-term residents rather than transient renters.
Population
2,191
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,206/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$635K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $635,000 is below the ACT's broader Canberra market median, which makes Stirling a relatively accessible entry point into a high-income, established suburb. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,258, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing mix strongly favours detached living: 82.4% of homes are separate houses and 52.6% have four or more bedrooms, compared to ACT-wide averages that include far more apartments. Only 0.9% of dwellings are apartments. Semi-detached homes at 16.6% fill the gap for those seeking lower-maintenance options. With 45.3% of homes owned outright, the suburb trades infrequently, which constrains buyer choice but also dampens price volatility.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $635,000 is below the ACT's broader Canberra market median, which makes Stirling a relatively accessible entry point into a high-income, established suburb. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,258, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing mix strongly favours detached living: 82.4% of homes are separate houses and 52.6% have four or more bedrooms, compared to ACT-wide averages that include far more apartments. Only 0.9% of dwellings are apartments. Semi-detached homes at 16.6% fill the gap for those seeking lower-maintenance options. With 45.3% of homes owned outright, the suburb trades infrequently, which constrains buyer choice but also dampens price volatility.
For Investors
The rental profile in Stirling is thin by ACT standards. Only 23.5% of households rent, compared to the national average of closer to 30%, and the weekly median rent is $460. The vacancy rate of 5.3% is elevated, suggesting supply exceeds current tenant demand. Development activity is minimal at 2 applications lodged in the past 12 months, both lease variations for secondary residences rather than new supply. Migration is balanced, with average net overseas arrivals of 12 per year and internal net movement of 23. Gross yield against the $635,000 median sits below 3.8%, which is low. The investment case is not driven by yield or volume, but by the suburb's sustained top-decile socioeconomic position and its low-churn, owner-dominated tenure structure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
13
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Stirling's median age of 46 is 6 years above the national median, placing it firmly in the aging-resident category. The senior share grew 13.3 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 8.8 points, a faster demographic shift than most ACT suburbs. Overseas-born residents represent 26.0% of the population, 4.4 points above the national figure. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (822 residents), Irish (274) and Scottish (237), with German (113) also notable. The university qualification rate of 49.7% runs 19.6 points above national, consistent with the suburb's high public administration and professional workforce. Average household size is 2.6, just above the national figure, driven by couples-with-children families (712) dominating the household mix.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.4%
Houses
16.6%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership patterns reflect long-term stability: 45.3% of households own outright, 31.2% carry a mortgage and 23.5% rent. Outright owners outnumber renters by nearly 2-to-1, an unusually strong signal of established wealth relative to the national tenure split. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 82.4%, with 52.6% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and 36.7% having three bedrooms, so smaller households are underrepresented. Apartments account for just 0.9% of dwellings. At $635,000 estimated median, Stirling sits below many comparable high-SEIFA ACT suburbs despite the premium demographic profile. Rent-to-income at 20.9% and mortgage-to-income at 23.6% are both below stress thresholds, meaning neither buyers nor renters face acute affordability pressure.
Mortgage / mo
$2,258
Rent / wk
$460
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,020
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.3%
Unoccupied
43
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.6%
Couples, no children
1,695
Total families
Economy & Employment
The dominant industry is Public Administration at 36.5% of employed residents (252 workers), reflecting Stirling's position within the ACT's Canberra government precinct. Healthcare (12.9%) and Education (12.2%) follow, with Professional/Tech at 11.7%. By occupation, Professionals (285) and Managers (181) hold the top two spots, together accounting for over half the employed workforce. The unemployment rate is 4.0% and the full-time employment rate is 65.6%. Participation sits at 52.2%, below what incomes would suggest, because the aging population (median age 46) leaves 769 residents not in the labour force. The SEIFA IEO decile of 9 confirms Stirling's workforce ranks in the top tier nationally for educational and occupational advantage.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
1,005
Unemployed
51
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.6%
Part-time
30.4%
Participation
52.2%
Employed
906
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.7%
Postgraduate
15.5%
Born Overseas
26.0%
Dwellings
769
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 82.0% of residents driving to work, above the national average, with only 6.0% using public transport and 3.9% walking or cycling. The compact 1.32 km2 area sits within the Weston Creek district, providing proximity to services without dense urban infrastructure. The suburb scores decile 9 on IEO (education and occupation advantage) and decile 8 on IRSAD (relative advantage and disadvantage), placing it comfortably above average nationally. Volunteering is notable at 21.0% of residents, above typical suburban rates. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on schools in adjoining suburbs. Need for assistance sits at 11.3% (239 residents), slightly higher than expected given the low-disadvantage decile score, consistent with the aging population structure.
Drive
82.0%
Public Transport
6.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.05%/yr
(+1 people/yr)
EstablishedStirling is tracking slow, stable growth: annual population change is 0.05%, or roughly 1 person per year, and the 10-year population rise was just 5.1%. The current population of 2,191 is forecast to reach approximately 2,171 by 2031 under the medium scenario, essentially flat. Migration is balanced, with average net overseas arrivals of 12 and internal net of 23 per year. Rent has grown 41.5% over the decade, well above income growth of negative 0.8% in real terms, meaning affordability has worsened from 38.9% in 2011 to 45.1% in 2021. The gentrification score is 39 with early signs noted, though the suburb is already at high SEIFA advantage so the ceiling for further socioeconomic movement is limited.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+12
Net Internal / yr
+23
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Stirling compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stirling a good suburb to live in?
Stirling ranks in the top tier nationally on SEIFA measures, with decile 9 for education and occupation advantage (IEO) and decile 8 on IRSAD. Household income sits in the 83.8th percentile nationally. The suburb offers a quiet, established setting with 82.4% detached houses and a 45.3% outright ownership rate, though car dependence is high at 82.0% and public transport use is just 6.0%.
What is the median house price in Stirling?
The estimated median house price is $635,000 as of 2025, below many comparable high-income ACT suburbs. Weekly median rent is $460. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,258, representing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold despite the suburb's premium profile.
What schools are in Stirling?
No schools are recorded within the Stirling suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the Weston Creek district. The resident population is highly educated, with 49.7% holding university qualifications, which is 19.6 points above the national figure.
Is Stirling safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Stirling in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, Stirling scores decile 8 on IRSD (the index of relative disadvantage), placing it well above average nationally. Only 11.3% of residents need daily assistance, and the suburb has a stable, long-term owner base with 45.3% owning outright, both consistent with a low-disadvantage profile.
Is Stirling good for property investment?
The investment case is subdued. At $635,000 median and $460 weekly rent, gross yield is under 3.8%, which is low. The vacancy rate of 5.3% indicates supply exceeds current demand. Only 23.5% of households rent, limiting the tenant pool. Just 2 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. The suburb's strength is capital stability rather than yield or growth.
How is Stirling's population changing?
Population growth is nearly flat at 0.05% annually, with a 5.1% increase over the past 10 years. The population is aging: the senior share rose 13.3 points while the working-age share fell 8.8 points over the decade. The medium forecast holds the population near 2,170 through 2031, with net migration of about 35 people per year keeping numbers stable.
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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