Stirling North
With 59.2% of residents male, Stirling North sits well above any national average for gender balance, a pattern driven by its mining and public administration workforce. The suburb of 2,793 people covers 68 square kilometres near Port Augusta, scoring decile 8 on IRSAD nationally, which places it in the upper tier of advantage for a regional SA community. Household income reaches the 66.1st percentile nationally, stronger than its modest size and location might suggest. Rent-to-income at 13.7% and mortgage-to-income at 16.5% are both well below stress thresholds, meaning residents carry relatively light housing costs compared to metropolitan benchmarks.
Population
2,793
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,831/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
28
Separate houses account for 99% of the dwelling stock, making Stirling North one of the most detached-dominant suburbs in SA. With no current median sale price recorded in the dataset, buyers should note that weekly rents average $250 and monthly mortgage repayments run $1,306, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Ownership is strong: 35.5% own outright and 48.8% carry a mortgage, leaving only 15.8% as renters. Bedroom mix leans toward larger homes, with 46.7% having three bedrooms and 45.4% having four or more, which is above average for regional SA and suits family buyers. The semi-detached share is just 0.4%, confirming the almost exclusive house-and-land character.
For Buyers
Separate houses account for 99% of the dwelling stock, making Stirling North one of the most detached-dominant suburbs in SA. With no current median sale price recorded in the dataset, buyers should note that weekly rents average $250 and monthly mortgage repayments run $1,306, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Ownership is strong: 35.5% own outright and 48.8% carry a mortgage, leaving only 15.8% as renters. Bedroom mix leans toward larger homes, with 46.7% having three bedrooms and 45.4% having four or more, which is above average for regional SA and suits family buyers. The semi-detached share is just 0.4%, confirming the almost exclusive house-and-land character.
For Investors
The 9.1% vacancy rate is elevated compared to healthy market norms of around 3%, which constrains rental demand and limits short-term upside for landlords. Weekly rent of $250 is modest in absolute terms, though the rent-to-income ratio of 13.7% is low for tenants. Development activity sits at 24 applications in the past 12 months, a moderate level for a suburb of 2,793 people. Net internal migration averages 23 arrivals per year and overseas migration contributes 12, giving a balanced inflow that supports gradual rental demand. Population grew 5.1% over the decade, slower than many comparable regional centres, so investors should target owner-occupier demand rather than a high-yield rental model. The low vacancy rate in nearby Port Augusta urban area may redirect overflow tenants toward Stirling North.
Development Activity
Total DAs
158
Last 12 Months
28
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+16.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Stirling North iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Stirling North Primary School
R-6 · 317 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5.0 years below the national figure, giving Stirling North a noticeably younger profile than most Australian suburbs. Overseas-born residents make up just 5.8%, which is 15.8 percentage points below the national average, and English ancestry dominates at 868 of 2,793 residents, followed by Scottish (200) and Irish (186). University qualifications reach only 12.9%, which is 17.2 percentage points below national, consistent with a workforce concentrated in trade and service roles. Average household size of 2.6 is 0.1 above national, and 42.3% of families are couples with children, pointing to a younger family-oriented community. The volunteering rate of 17.3% is above typical metropolitan levels, reflecting strong community participation in this regional setting.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.0%
Houses
0.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99%, with semi-detached at 0.4% and no recorded apartment stock. Bedroom sizes skew large: 45.4% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 46.7% have three, making undersized stock rare. Tenure splits to 35.5% outright owners, 48.8% with a mortgage and 15.8% renting. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.5% and rent-to-income of 13.7% are both below stress thresholds, which means housing costs are manageable relative to incomes in the 66.1st percentile nationally. The 9.1% vacancy rate is above typical healthy market levels, suggesting some oversupply or a pool of investment properties sitting empty, which may moderate price growth.
Mortgage / mo
$1,306
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$925
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.1%
Unoccupied
79
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
13.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.5%
Couples, no children
1,754
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public Administration leads employment at 17.9% (121 workers), followed by Healthcare at 15.7% (106) and Education at 12.0% (81), reflecting Stirling North's role as a service hub near Port Augusta. Mining contributes 8.6% (58 workers) and Construction 8.3% (56), consistent with the regional industrial base around the Spencer Gulf. By occupation, Community and Personal Services ranks first at 179 workers, ahead of Professionals (146) and Clerical/Admin (146). The unemployment rate is low at 3.2% and full-time employment reaches 66.7%. SEIFA scores place the suburb at decile 8 on both IRSD and IRSAD nationally, above the state median and in the upper tier for a regional SA community. Real income growth was slightly negative at -0.8% over the decade, a mild squeeze despite otherwise stable employment conditions.
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
66.7%
Part-time
30.1%
Participation
46.7%
Employed
1,031
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.9%
Postgraduate
1.8%
Born Overseas
5.8%
Dwellings
775
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme at 91.4% of commuters driving, with only 0.6% using public transport, reflecting the regional setting and limited transit infrastructure compared to metropolitan SA. The crime rate of 38.3 incidents per 1,000 residents is a useful reference point, though no breakdown by category is available in the dataset. IRSAD decile 8 nationally signals a low-disadvantage community for its regional context. Rent-to-income at 13.7% keeps tenants comfortably housed. Assistance needs are low at 4.0% of residents (83 people), and housing stress indicators show no stress flags for either renters or mortgage holders. No schools are recorded within the 68 square kilometre suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Port Augusta facilities.
Drive
91.4%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.05%/yr
(+1 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth was 5.1% over the decade, reaching 2,793, though annual momentum has slowed to roughly 1 person per year. The medium forecast holds the population near 2,170 through 2031, essentially flat. The trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 13.3 percentage points over the decade while the working-age share fell 8.8 points, a structural shift that will reduce the labour pool over time. Rent growth of 41.5% over the period outpaced real income growth, worsening affordability from 38.9% in 2011 to 45.1% in 2021. Gentrification is not occurring, consistent with a regional industrial town rather than a lifestyle destination. Migration is balanced, with 23 internal arrivals and 12 overseas arrivals per year, providing modest but steady inflow to offset the aging profile.
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
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
107
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
38.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Stirling North compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stirling North a good suburb to live in?
Stirling North scores decile 8 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the upper tier for a regional SA community. Household incomes reach the 66.1st percentile nationally, housing stress is absent (mortgage-to-income 16.5%, rent-to-income 13.7%), and the unemployment rate is 3.2%. The main trade-offs are high car dependence at 91.4% and a 9.1% vacancy rate that reflects a quieter property market.
What is the median house price in Stirling North?
No median sale price is recorded in the current dataset for Stirling North. As a reference, weekly rent averages $250 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,306, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.5%, well below stress levels. The 99% separate-house stock and large bedroom sizes suggest the market is affordable relative to SA metro areas.
What schools are in Stirling North?
No schools are recorded within the Stirling North boundary in this dataset. Families rely on educational facilities in nearby Port Augusta, which is the regional centre. Despite limited local school data, 12.9% of residents hold university qualifications and the education sector employs 12.0% of the local workforce.
Is Stirling North safe?
The recorded crime rate is 38.3 incidents per 1,000 residents (107 total incidents). No category breakdown is available in this dataset. The suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSAD index nationally, consistent with a low-disadvantage community, and only 4.0% of residents (83 people) require daily assistance.
Is Stirling North good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. The 9.1% vacancy rate is elevated above healthy market levels of around 3%, limiting rental yield reliability. Weekly rent of $250 is modest. Population grew 5.1% over the decade but the medium forecast is near-flat through 2031. The low-stress housing market and balanced migration of 35 net arrivals per year provide a stable floor, but investors should expect modest returns rather than strong capital growth.
How is Stirling North's population changing?
The population reached 2,793, up 5.1% over the decade, but annual growth has slowed to about 1 person per year. The medium forecast holds the population near 2,170 through 2031. The profile is aging, with the senior share rising 13.3 percentage points over the decade, while net migration of around 35 arrivals per year (23 internal and 12 overseas) provides modest offset.
How much development activity is there in Stirling North?
There were 24 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, a moderate level for a suburb of 2,793 residents. Recent examples include outbuildings, stores and caravan covers, consistent with the 99% separate-house stock. The low new dwelling count reflects an established suburb rather than a growth corridor.
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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