Stirling
At a median age of 48, Stirling sits 8 years older than the national figure, and that single fact explains much of what defines it. A $1,592,500 median house price, household income in the 89.7th percentile nationally, and an IRSD decile of 10 all point to established, long-held wealth concentrated in a suburb where 84.3% of residents have lived continuously for five-plus years. The renter share is just 9.9%, well below the national average, and 94.3% of dwellings are separate houses. University qualifications reach 56.4%, which is 26.3 percentage points above the national figure. This is an owner-occupier enclave in the Adelaide Hills where wealth is generational rather than aspirational.
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
74
Median House
$1.6M
Median 1Q 2026
The $1,592,500 median house price in 1Q 2026 represents a 51.5% rise from $1,051,000 just one year earlier in 1Q 2025, making Stirling one of the sharpest single-year price moves on record for the Hills corridor. That said, only two data quarters exist so the CAGR reflects a point-in-time comparison rather than a sustained trend. Stock is almost entirely detached houses (94.3%), with 42.9% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and 39.1% having three, making large family homes the norm rather than the exception. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,448, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9% against the local household income, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership at 49.4% significantly exceeds the national average, signalling a resident base that has long passed the mortgage phase.
For Buyers
The $1,592,500 median house price in 1Q 2026 represents a 51.5% rise from $1,051,000 just one year earlier in 1Q 2025, making Stirling one of the sharpest single-year price moves on record for the Hills corridor. That said, only two data quarters exist so the CAGR reflects a point-in-time comparison rather than a sustained trend. Stock is almost entirely detached houses (94.3%), with 42.9% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and 39.1% having three, making large family homes the norm rather than the exception. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,448, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9% against the local household income, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership at 49.4% significantly exceeds the national average, signalling a resident base that has long passed the mortgage phase.
For Investors
With a renter share of just 9.9% and a weekly rent of $450, the rental market in Stirling is thin by design. The 7.6% vacancy rate is elevated and signals limited rental demand relative to supply. Against a $1,592,500 median, a $450 weekly rent implies a gross yield below 1.5%, among the lowest in SA. Net internal migration averages 23 arrivals and net overseas migration 12 per year, but annual population growth is effectively flat at 0.05%. Development activity stands at 71 applications in the past 12 months, mostly pool installations and performance-assessed dwelling works rather than new supply, consistent with an established suburb that transacts on renovation rather than construction. The investment case depends entirely on capital appreciation, and the 51.5% one-year price jump, while striking, has limited supporting demand fundamentals.
Development Activity
Total DAs
391
Last 12 Months
74
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+15.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Stirling iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Stirling East Primary School
R-6 · 516 students
St Catherine's School
R-6 · 185 students
Demographics
The median age of 48 is 8 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory is accelerating, with the senior share up 13.3 percentage points and the working-age share down 8.8 points over the past decade. Young-adult share fell 1.7 points in the same period. Overseas-born residents at 20.7% sit 0.9 points below the national average, an unusually low figure for a high-income suburb, partly explained by ancestry concentrated in English (1,541), Scottish (411), German (328) and Irish (324) heritage. The average household size is 2.6, marginally above national. Couples with children account for 1,145 of 2,590 families, while couples without children number 753, consistent with the older, post-family-raising profile. University qualifications at 56.4% run 26.3 points above national, placing Stirling among the most educated communities in South Australia.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.3%
Houses
4.3%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership dominates tenure: 49.4% own outright and 40.6% hold a mortgage, with renters at just 9.9%, far below state and national averages. The stock is 94.3% separate houses, with semi-detached at 4.3% and apartments at just 1.4%, making this one of the most detached-dominant suburbs in SA. Four-plus bedroom dwellings make up 42.9% and three-bedroom 39.1%, reflecting the large-family-home character of the Hills. The median price jumped from $1,051,000 in 1Q 2025 to $1,592,500 in 1Q 2026, a 51.5% move in one year. Mortgage-to-income sits at 23.9% and rent-to-income at 19.0%, both below stress thresholds, indicating that despite high prices, existing residents are not financially strained. The 7.6% vacancy rate is high for such a low-renter area and likely reflects seasonal or short-term availability rather than structural oversupply.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,448
Rent / wk
$450
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
29.1%
Couples, no children
2,590
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 19.6% (232 workers), followed by Professional/Tech at 17.2% (203) and Education at 13.8% (163). Public Administration accounts for 7.9% and Retail 5.0%. By occupation, Professionals (591) and Managers (319) together account for more than half of employed residents, which aligns with the suburb scoring decile 9 on IEO and decile 10 on IRSD, the top tiers nationally. The unemployment rate is just 3.1%, below the national average, though the participation rate of 58.7% is modest, reflecting the older age structure with 922 residents not in the labour force. The full-time employment rate of 59.7% is reasonable for a semi-retired community. Real incomes fell by 0.8% over the decade, a slight negative, though household income in the 89.7th percentile nationally confirms sustained wealth relative to most Australian suburbs.
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
59.7%
Part-time
37.2%
Participation
58.7%
Employed
1,430
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.4%
Postgraduate
18.4%
Born Overseas
20.7%
Dwellings
1,151
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 85.6% using a vehicle as driver, with public transport at 5.3% and active transport at 4.0%, typical for a Hills suburb without dense bus or train access. Stirling scores decile 10 on IRSD, the highest advantage tier nationally, and decile 9 on IRSAD and IEO. The crime rate of 26.7 incidents per 1,000 residents covers 82 total incidents, a low count for a community of 3,067. Rent-to-income at 19.0% keeps tenants comfortable, and mortgage-to-income at 23.9% is well below stress level. The volunteering rate of 28.8% is well above the national average, indicating strong civic participation consistent with the suburb's established, community-rooted character. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families access schooling in neighbouring areas.
Drive
85.6%
Public Transport
5.3%
Walk / Cycle
4.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.05%/yr
(+1 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is near-stagnant, with an annual rate of 0.05% and 10-year growth of just 5.1%. Medium forecasts project the resident count holding near 2,168 to 2,171 through 2031, a change of fewer than 5 people per year. Historical records show 2,163 residents in 2023, 2,169 in 2024 and 2,167 in 2025, confirming a flat plateau. Net internal migration of 23 per year and overseas migration of 12 per year are the primary inflows, but these are offset by outflows, leaving near-zero net growth. The gentrification stage reads not gentrifying, consistent with a suburb already at decile 10 on IRSD with no room to climb. Rent grew 41.5% over the decade while real incomes declined 0.8%, compressing affordability from 38.9% in 2011 to 45.1% in 2021. The turnover rate of 15.7% reflects a highly stable resident base, with 84.3% of residents having stayed put.
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
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 ranks in decile 10 on IRSD and decile 9 on IEO and IRSAD, among the highest advantage tiers nationally. Household income sits in the 89.7th percentile, the crime rate is low at 26.7 incidents per 1,000 residents, and 84.3% of residents have stayed continuously, the clearest signal of satisfaction with the area. The main trade-off is a $1,592,500 median house price and near-total car dependency.
What is the median house price in Stirling?
The median house price is $1,592,500 as of 1Q 2026, up 51.5% from $1,051,000 in 1Q 2025. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,448. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 23.9%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the premium price level.
What schools are in Stirling?
No schools are recorded within the Stirling suburb boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in neighbouring Hills suburbs. Locally, 56.4% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 26.3 percentage points above the national figure, reflecting a highly educated adult population.
Is Stirling safe?
Stirling recorded 82 total incidents over the reference period, giving a crime rate of 26.7 per 1,000 residents, a low figure relative to most SA suburbs. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSD nationally and only 3.7% of its 3,067 residents (112 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage, low-crime environment.
Is Stirling good for property investment?
The rental market is thin: just 9.9% of residents rent, weekly rent is $450, and the 7.6% vacancy rate is elevated. Against a $1,592,500 median, gross yield is below 1.5%, very low by any standard. Annual population growth is 0.05%, offering little demand-side support. Returns depend on capital appreciation, which rose 51.5% year-on-year to 1Q 2026, though this pace is unlikely to be sustained.
How is Stirling's population changing?
Population is essentially flat, with 2,163 residents in 2023, 2,169 in 2024 and 2,167 in 2025. Annual growth is 0.05%, and medium forecasts show the total reaching just 2,171 by 2031. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 13.3 points and working-age share down 8.8 points over the past decade.
How much development is happening in Stirling?
There were 71 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, predominantly pool installations, retaining walls and residential dwelling works. Most are performance-assessed rather than accepted-development applications, consistent with a hilly, regulated Hills Face Zone context. New supply is minimal, reinforcing the scarcity that supports the premium $1,592,500 median price.
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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