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. 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.
Local council: Adelaide Hills (67% of the suburb; the rest sits in a neighbouring council)
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
First quarter 2026
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
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. 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
109
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+11.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Upper Sturt
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Upper Sturt Primary School
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
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
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. 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.
Mortgage / mo
$1,800
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$345
Census 2021
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
47.0%
Couples with children
40.3%
Couples, no children
9.7%
Single parent
300
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.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
552
Unemployed
26
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.3%
Part-time
39.2%
Participation
68.1%
Employed
526
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
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. 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
73.2%
Public Transport
4.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
18.0%
Growth Outlook
Population at 1,005 reflects a small and stable resident base in a suburb with limited land for new development at 7.32 square kilometres. Annual resident turnover of 13.7% is low compared to higher-density suburbs, which means demand builds quietly rather than cycling rapidly. Development applications totalled just 18 in 12 months, primarily additions and retaining works, confirming minimal infill activity. The combination of constrained supply, strong incomes, and low renter share historically supports price floors in downturns, though the rapid one-year gain increases short-term correction risk.
Population trend: Adelaide Hills council area
About 67% of Upper Sturt sits in Adelaide Hills; the rest is in a neighbouring council. These are the council area's residents, not Upper Sturt'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
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.
What schools are in Upper Sturt?
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.
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), 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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