Stirling
Stirling combines an established, older resident base with unusually strong household finances: household income ranks at the 83.8th percentile, while the median age of 46 is 6.0 years above the national figure. With 2,191 residents in 1.32 square kilometres, it is compact and relatively dense at 1,656.6 people per square kilometre. Separate houses account for 82.4% of dwellings, creating a conventional suburban form. Buyers can compare Stirling with nearby Waramanga and Weston when weighing land, renovation potential and local amenity. The profile suits households seeking stability, space and access to Canberra's public-sector employment rather than a high-turnover apartment market.
Local council: Unincorporated ACT
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
3
Stirling is most relevant to buyers seeking established detached housing, with 82.4% of dwellings classed as separate houses and 52.6% containing 4 or more bedrooms. That mix can support families, multigenerational households and buyers wanting renovation scope, although individual sale prices should be compared carefully across 3-bedroom and 4-plus-bedroom homes. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $2,258, while weekly rent is $460. Mortgage costs equal 23.6% of household income and rent equals 20.9%, both below common stress thresholds. Compared with smaller or apartment-oriented options nearby, Stirling may trade lower-density flexibility for older housing stock and fewer compact dwellings.
For Buyers
Stirling is most relevant to buyers seeking established detached housing, with 82.4% of dwellings classed as separate houses and 52.6% containing 4 or more bedrooms. That mix can support families, multigenerational households and buyers wanting renovation scope, although individual sale prices should be compared carefully across 3-bedroom and 4-plus-bedroom homes. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $2,258, while weekly rent is $460. Mortgage costs equal 23.6% of household income and rent equals 20.9%, both below common stress thresholds. Compared with smaller or apartment-oriented options nearby, Stirling may trade lower-density flexibility for older housing stock and fewer compact dwellings.
For Investors
Stirling has a moderate rental profile, with 23.0% of occupied dwellings rented and weekly rent at $460. The vacancy rate is 5.3%, so investors should allow for leasing competition and property-specific presentation rather than assume uninterrupted occupancy. A current purchase price is essential before calculating gross yield, but the 82.4% separate-house share points to a family rental market more than an apartment-led one. Only 3 development applications were recorded over 12 months, limiting evidence of a major supply surge. Annual growth is forecast at 1.35%, driven primarily by overseas migration, which may support demand more steadily than short-term speculative activity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
15
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-25.0%
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 6.0 years above the national figure, and its population profile is moving older. University attainment is 49.7%, or 19.6 percentage points above the national comparison, while 26.0% of residents were born overseas, 4.4 points above the national level. Average household size is 2.6, only 0.1 above the national figure. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 822 people, followed by Irish at 274 and Scottish at 237. Christianity accounts for 1,038 residents and no religion for 908, while 81.7% stayed at the same address over the reference period. The combination of high education, stable tenure and older age distinguishes Stirling from a younger, higher-turnover suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.4%
Houses
16.6%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Stirling's housing structure is strongly detached: separate houses represent 82.4% of dwellings, compared with 0.9% apartments and 16.6% semi-detached homes. Four or more bedrooms account for 52.6%, higher than the 36.7% share of 3-bedroom homes, which helps explain the suburb's appeal to established households. Ownership is also prominent, with 44.2% owned outright and 30.4% under mortgage, while 23.0% are rented. The outright ownership share is higher than both the mortgage and renting shares, indicating a mature tenure pattern. Buyers comparing Stirling with Waramanga or Weston should focus on land size, dwelling condition and bedroom configuration because a single suburb-wide median would obscure meaningful property differences.
Mortgage / mo
$2,258
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$460
Census 2021
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
45.6%
Couples with children
38.5%
Couples, no children
14.6%
Single parent
577
Total families
Economy & Employment
Stirling's employment base is closely linked to Canberra's public sector: Public Administration represents 36.5% of listed industry employment, followed by Healthcare at 12.9%, Education at 12.2%, Professional and Technical services at 11.7% and Construction at 5.5%. Professionals number 285 and Managers 181, supporting the household income position at the 83.8th percentile. Unemployment is 3.9%, but participation is 54.4%, with 769 people outside the labour force; the median age of 46 helps explain why participation is lower than in a younger workforce. Education and occupation rank in decile 9, above the IER, IRSD and IRSAD measures at decile 8. That pattern indicates strong skills and employment status alongside slightly less exceptional economic-resource results.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
984
Unemployed
38
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.8%
Part-time
33.0%
Participation
54.4%
Employed
946
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.7%
Postgraduate
15.5%
Born Overseas
26.0%
Dwellings
769
Transport to Work
Daily life in Stirling is strongly car-oriented: 70.1% of commuters drive, compared with 5.1% using public transport and 3.3% walking or cycling. That difference matters because the suburb covers only 1.32 square kilometres but has density of 1,656.6 people per square kilometre, making local street layout and parking important practical considerations. Working from home accounts for 14.5%, while volunteering is 21.0%, adding useful community participation. The IRSAD result is decile 8, above the middle of the national distribution, consistent with established household resources. Families should confirm nearby school options, sectors, year levels and enrolment zones against the exact address. For safety, use current ACT incident information and inspect the immediate street environment rather than infer risk from demographic indicators.
Drive
70.1%
Public Transport
5.1%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
14.5%
Growth Outlook
Stirling has an established growth outlook, with annual growth forecast at 1.35% and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. The wider-area population change is 10.8% over 10 years, indicating expansion without requiring a rapid redevelopment cycle. Demographically, the trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 4.6 percentage points while the young share fell 1.3 points, a stronger shift than the 0.9% real-income growth. Gentrification signals are mixed but still early, with a score of 30 and stage labelled Early signs, versus a separate shift score of 16 labelled Not gentrifying. This supports measured renewal through renovations and selective redevelopment rather than assuming a wholesale change in Stirling's housing market.
Population trend: Unincorporated ACT council area
Stirling sits in the Unincorporated ACT council area. These are the council area's residents, not Stirling's.
Residents 2025
484,630
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.7%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.3%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 suits households wanting established detached housing, with 82.4% of dwellings separate houses and a median age of 46. Car use is higher than public transport use, at 70.1% versus 5.1%, so it is better suited to residents comfortable with driving than those seeking a strongly transit-led lifestyle.
What is the median house price in Stirling?
A current median house price should be verified against recent Stirling sales and comparable listings. The housing mix is 82.4% separate houses, with 36.7% 3-bedroom and 52.6% 4 or more-bedroom dwellings, so like-for-like comparisons are more useful than relying on an apartment-influenced ACT median.
What schools are in Stirling?
School options and enrolment zones should be checked for the exact address, including sector and year levels. Stirling's travel pattern is car-led, with 70.1% driving and 5.1% using public transport, so route times and catchment boundaries can matter more than the suburb label when comparing schools.
Is Stirling safe?
Safety should be assessed using current ACT Police incident information and an inspection of the immediate street environment. Stirling has 2,191 residents across 1.32 square kilometres, so suburb-wide impressions may differ from conditions around a particular block, park or shopping area.
Is Stirling good for property investment?
Stirling may suit a long-term investor seeking established houses, with weekly rent of $460, a 5.3% vacancy rate and 23.0% of dwellings rented. Forecast growth is 1.35% annually and is driven by overseas migration, but a current purchase price is needed to test yield and borrowing returns.
How is Stirling's population changing?
The wider-area population change is 10.8% over 10 years, while annual growth is forecast at 1.35% and driven by overseas migration. Stirling is also aging: the senior share increased by 4.6 percentage points and the young share declined by 1.3 points, so growth is likely to occur alongside changing household needs.
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).
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