Stirling
At 48, Stirling's median age sits 8 years above the national figure, shaping a settled profile across 3,067 residents. University attainment is 56.4%, or 26.3 percentage points above national levels, and household income ranks at the 89.7th percentile. A crime rate of 26.7 per 1,000 supports the suburb's low-crime identity. Compared with nearby Aldgate and Bridgewater, Stirling reads as a premium, established hillside market with older residents, high owner occupation and limited apartment stock.
Local council: Adelaide Hills
Population
3,067
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,368/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
81
Median House
$1.6M
First quarter 2026
Stirling suits buyers seeking established detached housing rather than apartment-led stock. The separate-house share is 94.3%, far above the 1.4% apartment share, and 42.9% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, giving larger households more choice. Monthly mortgage repayments are $2,448, equal to 23.9% of household income, while 46.7% of homes are owned outright and 38.4% carry a mortgage. Compared with smaller, higher-density markets, Stirling's cost reflects its large-house, low-turnover character.
For Buyers
Stirling suits buyers seeking established detached housing rather than apartment-led stock. The separate-house share is 94.3%, far above the 1.4% apartment share, and 42.9% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, giving larger households more choice. Monthly mortgage repayments are $2,448, equal to 23.9% of household income, while 46.7% of homes are owned outright and 38.4% carry a mortgage. Compared with smaller, higher-density markets, Stirling's cost reflects its large-house, low-turnover character.
For Investors
Investment conditions are selective rather than broad-based. Only 9.4% of households rent, compared with 46.7% owning outright, so the tenant pool is smaller and the suburb is less rental-oriented than a typical metropolitan market. Weekly rent is $450 and vacancy is 7.6%, which gives renters more choice than in a tightly constrained market. Development activity is material, with 79 applications recorded across 12 months, including land division, a restaurant change of use and dwelling alterations.
Development Activity
Total DAs
415
Last 12 Months
81
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 Stirling
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Stirling East Primary School
Demographics
Stirling has an older and more settled population than Australia overall: the median age is 48, or 8 years above national levels, and 84.3% of residents stayed at the same address during the reference period. English ancestry accounts for 1,541 people, followed by Scottish at 411, German at 328 and Irish at 324. No religion is recorded for 1,590 residents, while Christianity accounts for 1,259. University attainment is 56.4%, 26.3 percentage points above national levels, supporting the suburb's professional profile. Average household size is 2.6, only 0.1 above the national figure, with couples with children forming 46.7% of families. Compared with nearby Aldgate and Bridgewater, Stirling's combination of education, stability and older age is especially pronounced.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.3%
Houses
4.3%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Stirling's housing market is premium and overwhelmingly detached. The latest median is also the peak, so there is no peak-to-latest decline in the available history. Housing is concentrated in 4-plus-bedroom dwellings at 42.9% and 3-bedroom dwellings at 39.1%, while only 1.4% are apartments and 4.3% are semi-detached. Tenure is more secure than rental-led markets, with 46.7% owned outright, 38.4% mortgaged and 9.4% rented. Compared with a higher-density suburb, this mix points to larger established homes, fewer investor-owned units and a higher purchase threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$2,448
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$450
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,058
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.6%
Unoccupied
95
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.7%
Couples with children
42.3%
Couples, no children
9.7%
Single parent
896
Total families
Economy & Employment
Stirling's economy is led by healthcare at 19.6% of employment, Professional and Technical services at 17.2%, education at 13.8%, public administration at 7.9% and retail at 5.0%. Professionals number 591 and managers 319, helping explain household income at the 89.7th percentile. Unemployment is 2.9%, participation is 60.9% and the full-time employment rate is 57.4%, indicating a relatively capable labour market. The 922 people outside the labour force sit alongside an older population and help explain why strong professional incomes do not apply uniformly across households. Socioeconomic results are consistently high: IEO is decile 9, IER decile 10, IRSD decile 10 and IRSAD decile 9, placing Stirling above most areas on education, resources and disadvantage measures.
Unemployment
2.9%
Labour Force
1,531
Unemployed
45
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.4%
Part-time
38.8%
Participation
60.9%
Employed
1,486
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.4%
Postgraduate
18.4%
Born Overseas
20.7%
Dwellings
1,151
Transport to Work
Stirling is best suited to residents comfortable with car-based travel and a quieter, established setting. Car drivers account for 65.2% of travel, compared with 4.0% using public transport and 3.0% walking or cycling, while 23.8% work from home. School access centres on Stirling East Primary School, a government primary campus; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. A crime rate of 26.7 per 1,000, based on 82 incidents, supports the suburb's low-crime profile, and the rate is more informative than the raw total because the population is 3,067. Social conditions are strong, with IRSAD at decile 9, IRSD at decile 10 and volunteering at 28.8%, all pointing to resources above the broader state baseline.
Drive
65.2%
Public Transport
4.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
23.8%
Growth Outlook
Growth is steady but shaped by ageing. The annual trend is 1.35%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver, while the wider area's population change is 10.8% across 10 years. Stirling's trajectory is labelled Aging: the senior share has risen 4.6 percentage points, while the young share has fallen 1.3 points and the working share has fallen 1.5 points. Gentrification signals are mixed, with a score of 30 and a stage of Early signs, while another shift measure records a score of 16 and Not gentrifying. Compared with a rapidly changing inner suburb, this points to measured demographic change rather than wholesale replacement. Rent growth is 3.3%, and the recorded affordability trend is Improving.
Population trend: Adelaide Hills council area
Stirling sits in the Adelaide Hills council area. These are the council area's residents, not Stirling's.
Residents 2025
42,875
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
82
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
26.7
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
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 seeking premium detached housing, strong socioeconomic conditions and a quieter lifestyle. Its median age is 48, crime rate is 26.7 per 1,000 and 94.3% of dwellings are separate houses. Car dependence is high at 65.2%, so transport preferences matter.
What schools are in Stirling?
Stirling East Primary School is the identified local school, operating in the government primary sector. Families should confirm enrolment zones for the exact address because school access can vary across 6.73 square kilometres. Secondary options may require travel beyond the suburb.
Is Stirling safe?
Stirling recorded 82 crimes, equivalent to 26.7 incidents per 1,000 residents. That supports its low-crime profile, although conditions can vary by street and offence type. The suburb has 3,067 residents, so the per-capita rate is more useful than the raw incident count.
How is Stirling's population changing?
The wider area records 10.8% population change across 10 years, with annual growth trending at 1.35% and overseas migration the primary driver. Stirling is also on an Aging trajectory: the senior share rose 4.6 percentage points while the young share fell 1.3 points.
What development is happening in Stirling?
There were 79 development applications across 12 months. Examples include a 1-into-2 land division, a shop-to-restaurant change of use and dwelling alterations involving a deck and outbuilding. This indicates active small-scale change rather than a clearly stated large housing estate.
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), SA Department for Housing and Urban Development (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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