Upper Sturt
A population of just 1,005 people across 7.32 square kilometres tells the core story of Upper Sturt: this is one of Adelaide's most sparsely settled premium foothills pockets. The median house price reached $1,357,000 in 1Q 2026, placing it well above the state median, while household income sits at the 84.5th percentile nationally. Only 6.5% of residents rent, compared to the national average of roughly 30%, reflecting a community of committed long-term owners. University qualifications reach 42.2%, which is 12.1 percentage points above the national figure, and the suburb logged just 12 recorded crimes in a year, giving a crime rate of 11.9 per 1,000 residents.
Population
1,005
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,229/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$1.4M
Median 1Q 2026
The $1,357,000 median house price in 1Q 2026 is the entry point for a market where every dwelling is a separate house, 100% of the stock with no apartments or semi-detached properties. Prices rose 25.9% from $1,077,500 in 1Q 2025, a sharp one-year gain that compresses affordability considerably. Mortgage repayments average $1,800 per month and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 18.6%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price, because household incomes are strong at the 84.5th percentile nationally. Bedroom composition leans large: 42.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 45.9% have 3 bedrooms, so buyers gain substantial space compared to metropolitan norms. Turnover is low at 13.7%, meaning properties are rarely listed, which reinforces price pressure on the few homes that do come to market.
For Buyers
The $1,357,000 median house price in 1Q 2026 is the entry point for a market where every dwelling is a separate house, 100% of the stock with no apartments or semi-detached properties. Prices rose 25.9% from $1,077,500 in 1Q 2025, a sharp one-year gain that compresses affordability considerably. Mortgage repayments average $1,800 per month and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 18.6%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price, because household incomes are strong at the 84.5th percentile nationally. Bedroom composition leans large: 42.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 45.9% have 3 bedrooms, so buyers gain substantial space compared to metropolitan norms. Turnover is low at 13.7%, meaning properties are rarely listed, which reinforces price pressure on the few homes that do come to market.
For Investors
Upper Sturt is a poor yield market rather than a poor investment market. Weekly rent of $345 against a $1,357,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.3%, which is very low, and the 6.5% renter share means demand for rental properties is thin by design. The vacancy rate of 6.1% confirms limited rental competition. Development activity recorded only 18 applications in 12 months, mostly extensions and retaining walls rather than new dwellings, so supply is constrained and the 100% separate-house stock is not being diluted. The 25.9% price gain in one year supports a capital-growth rather than income story. Low turnover at 13.7% means investors who do hold benefit from scarcity, but rental income should not be the primary return expectation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
103
Last 12 Months
20
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
Schools in Upper Sturt iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Upper Sturt Primary School
R-6 · 97 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 is 1 year above the national figure, consistent with an established, family-oriented owner base. University qualifications at 42.2% run 12.1 percentage points above the national rate, pointing to a professional and managerial resident mix. Only 17.9% of residents were born overseas, which is 3.7 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (485), Scottish (124), Irish (111) and German (97) are the four leading groups. The average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above the national figure. Couples with children account for 375 families compared to 246 couples without children, a profile that fits the large dwelling sizes. The volunteering rate of 27.1% is notably high, signalling a socially engaged community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Every dwelling in Upper Sturt is a separate house, a uniformity rare among Adelaide suburbs at any price point. Tenure skews heavily toward ownership: 57.1% hold mortgages and 36.4% own outright, leaving just 6.5% renting, far lower than the national average. The large-bedroom bias is strong, with 42.3% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and 45.9% having 3, which reflects the family-oriented demographic. The median house price climbed from $1,077,500 in 1Q 2025 to $1,357,000 in 1Q 2026, a 25.9% rise in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.6% stays comfortably below stress levels, which explains why the sharp price increase has not dislodged existing owners. Stock availability is constrained by a 13.7% annual turnover rate.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,800
Rent / wk
$345
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,009
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
23
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.6%
Couples, no children
861
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education is the dominant employer at 21.1% of local workers (80 people), followed by Healthcare at 16.8% (64) and Construction at 11.1% (42). Professional/Tech and Public Admin each account for 9.7% (37 workers each), giving a combined knowledge-sector weighting above 30%. By occupation, Professionals lead with 167 workers, followed by Managers at 93 and Clerical/Admin at 66. The full-time employment rate is 59.0% and the unemployment rate is 4.9%, in line with state averages. Household income sits at the 84.5th percentile nationally, driven by the professional-occupation mix rather than a single dominant employer. The participation rate of 65.2% suggests a working-age population actively engaged in the labour market.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.0%
Part-time
36.1%
Participation
65.2%
Employed
502
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.2%
Postgraduate
12.6%
Born Overseas
17.9%
Dwellings
346
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 89.2% of commuters driving, compared to the national average, with only 5.0% using public transport, reflecting the foothills location outside Adelaide's bus and tram network. Walking and cycling account for 2.4%. Crime is extremely low: 12 total recorded incidents gives a rate of 11.9 per 1,000 residents, well below the metropolitan average. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby Hills and CBD institutions. The need-for-assistance rate is 4.1%, representing 39 residents, consistent with a generally healthy and able-bodied population. Rent-to-income sits at 15.5%, below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 18.6% is also comfortable. Volunteering at 27.1% signals strong community participation relative to state and national norms.
Drive
89.2%
Public Transport
5.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
12
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
11.9
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Upper Sturt compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Upper Sturt a good suburb to live in?
Upper Sturt suits families and professionals seeking space, low crime, and a well-educated neighbourhood. Household income is at the 84.5th percentile nationally, the crime rate is just 11.9 per 1,000 residents, and 42.2% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 12.1 points above the national figure. The trade-off is car dependence, with 89.2% of commuters driving, and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Upper Sturt?
The median house price was $1,357,000 in 1Q 2026, up 25.9% from $1,077,500 in 1Q 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.6%. Weekly rent averages $345, reflecting a small rental market of only 6.5% of dwellings.
What schools are in Upper Sturt?
No schools are recorded within the Upper Sturt boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Adelaide Hills suburbs. Despite this, the suburb is highly educated, with 42.2% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 12.1 percentage points above the national average.
Is Upper Sturt safe?
Upper Sturt recorded just 12 total crimes in the year, giving a crime rate of 11.9 per 1,000 residents. This is low by metropolitan Adelaide standards. The suburb's identity signals include a low-crime-rate classification, consistent with its high-income, owner-dominated, stable resident base where 86.3% of residents stayed in the same address over the year.
Is Upper Sturt good for property investment?
The capital growth story is strong, with prices rising 25.9% in one year to $1,357,000, but rental yields are very low. Weekly rent of $345 against the median price implies a gross yield near 1.3%, and only 6.5% of dwellings are rented. The 6.1% vacancy rate and 18 development applications suggest limited supply growth, which supports capital values over the longer term.
How is Upper Sturt's population changing?
Upper Sturt has a small, stable population of 1,005 residents across 7.32 square kilometres. Annual resident turnover is only 13.7%, with 86.3% of residents staying at the same address, indicating low churn. Development activity is minimal at 18 applications in 12 months, mostly extensions rather than new dwellings, so significant population growth is unlikely in the near term.
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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