St Ives

Population growth drivers in St Ives are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

AreaSearch indicates that the population of St Ives stands at approximately 23,013 in May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,348 residents, or 6.2%, relative to the 2021 Census when 21,665 individuals were recorded. This population shift is calculated utilizing the ABS estimated resident population of 22,932 from June 2025 alongside 127 validated new addresses registered after the Census. Consequently, the local density reaches 1,294 persons per square kilometer, a level exceeding the average across nationally analyzed areas. The 6.2% expansion rate outpaced both the SA3 area at 4.4% and the wider SA4 region, establishing St Ives as a regional leader in population growth. This upward trajectory was almost exclusively fueled by overseas migration, which served as the sole contributor to population gains recently.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, issued in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, are implemented for each SA2 area. For regions where this data is unavailable, SA2 projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are substituted. Age-specific growth rates derived from these datasets are projected forward for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on these demographic patterns, future expansion is projected to sit just under the national median, with the local population expected to rise by 1,685 individuals by 2041 when measured from the most recent annual ERP statistics, yielding an overall increase of 7.0% across the 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within St Ives when compared nationally

St Ives registers approximately 94 residential building approvals annually, yielding 472 approved dwellings over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, and 53 during FY-26 so far. An average ratio of 1.9 people moving to the area for every completed home during the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25 points to a balanced relationship between supply and demand, fostering stable market conditions. Newly built properties command an average value of $756,000, indicating a developer focus on high-end, premium housing. Additionally, commercial approvals have reached $47.2 million this financial year, pointing to strong local business investment.

St Ives displays a development rate slightly ahead of Greater Sydney, exceeding the regional per capita average by 11.0% over the 5 year timeframe, which helps sustain property values while providing options for buyers. The composition of new construction comprises 58.0% standalone houses and 42.0% medium and high-density dwellings, showing a rising volume of medium-density choices that diversify price options from standard family residences to more compact, budget-friendly layouts. St Ives displays typical low-density features, averaging approximately 298 people for every approved home.

Demographic forecasts point to an increase of 1,604 residents in St Ives through to 2041, calculated from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current construction trends suggest that incoming housing volume will easily satisfy this demand, creating favorable buyer conditions and potentially supporting population expansion beyond current forecasts.

St Ives has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and urban planning changes are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 29 developments that are anticipated to influence the local area. High-profile projects include Hermitage St Ives, St Ives Indoor Sports Centre, St Ives Shopping Village Redevelopment, and Ellis Residences, with details provided for the most significant works.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The employment environment in St Ives shows above-average strength when compared nationally

St Ives is characterized by a highly educated labor force, with strong representation in the technology sector, a low unemployment rate of 3.2%, and a 1.7% rise in estimated jobs over the past year. As of March 2026, working residents count 10,928, while the unemployment rate is 0.9% lower than the Greater Sydney average of 4.1%. However, participation in the workforce is lower at 61.5% compared to 69.1% across Greater Sydney. Census records indicate that a high 60.8% of the working population worked from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of Covid-19 restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. Local representation in the professional & technical sector is especially high, at 1.6 times the regional average, whereas construction is underrepresented at 5.3% compared to the regional average of 8.6%. The comparison of Census working population to resident population suggests that local employment opportunities within this largely residential suburb are relatively limited.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics for the year ending March 2026, local employment grew by 1.7% and the labor force expanded by 1.4%, which reduced the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. During the same timeframe, Greater Sydney recorded a 1.9% increase in jobs and a 1.9% rise in the labor force, accompanied by a minor decline. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 provide context for local demand trends. These projections, mapped across five and ten-year intervals, are aligned with the local employment structure to project growth. Nationally, employment is anticipated to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual industries vary. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the St Ives employment distribution indicates a local jobs increase of 7.5% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, representing a simple weighted model that does not incorporate local population forecasts.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

ATO postcode data for the financial year 2023 indicates that incomes in the St Ives SA2 are exceptionally high compared to national standards, with a median of $64,662 and an average of $110,616. This exceeds Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current income estimates for March 2026 are approximately $71,335 for the median and $122,032 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in St Ives ranked in the 84th to 96th percentiles nationally. Weekly earnings of $4000+ are received by 37.7% of the community, or 8,675 individuals, differing from the wider region where a peak of 30.9% of people fall in the $1,500 - 2,999 category. A significant 49.6% earn over $3,000 weekly, highlighting local affluence that supports retail activity. Rent and mortgage costs consume 15.0% of household income, placing residents in the 96th percentile for disposable income, while the local SEIFA income score falls into the 10th decile.

St Ives is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

At the time of the latest Census, the housing mix in St Ives consisted of 70.3% separate houses and 29.7% alternative housing types, such as townhouses, apartments, and other dwellings, compared to the Sydney metro ratio of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Ives reached 42.7%, which was notably higher than the Sydney metro average, with mortgaged properties comprising 41.7% and rented homes making up 15.6%. The median monthly mortgage payment was $3,500 and the median weekly rent was $700, both exceeding the Sydney metro benchmarks of $2,427 and $470. Globally within Australia, St Ives mortgage costs are well above the national median of $1,863, and weekly rents exceed the Australian average of $375.

St Ives features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up the vast majority of households at 83.2%, consisting of couples with children at 47.7%, couples without children at 26.2%, and single-parent homes at 8.8%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 16.8%, which includes single-person households at 15.8% and group households at 0.9%. The median local household size is 2.9 people, exceeding the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

St Ives demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Residents of St Ives achieve high levels of education, with 54.0% of individuals aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to NSW at 32.2% and Australia at 30.4%. This strong educational profile positions the suburb well for professional opportunities. Bachelor degrees are held by 32.9% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 17.8% and graduate diplomas at 3.3%. Vocational qualifications are held by 19.9% of residents aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 8.8%.

Enrolment rates are high, with 32.1% of the population engaged in formal study. This student cohort includes 12.0% in primary schools, 9.3% in high schools, and 5.8% in tertiary programs.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport infrastructure in St Ives includes 136 active stops, primarily served by buses. A network of 93 distinct routes operates across these stops, delivering 2,240 weekly passenger journeys. Accessibility is high, with residents living an average of 182 meters from their nearest transit stop. Commuting patterns reflect the residential nature of the suburb, with most workers traveling outside the area; private vehicles remain the dominant mode of travel at 85%, followed by trains at 7%. Households own an average of 1.5 vehicles, which is higher than the regional average. A high 60.8% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

Transit services average 320 trips daily across all active routes, which equates to roughly 16 weekly passenger trips at each individual transit stop. The local map highlights the 100 closest transit stops to the central point of the suburb.

St Ives's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health data shows highly positive results in St Ives, with AreaSearch noting low mortality rates and a low prevalence of chronic illnesses across all age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, encompassing roughly 75% of the local population, or 17,328 people. This exceeds the Greater Sydney average of 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

Arthritis and asthma are the most common medical diagnoses, affecting 6.4% and 5.6% of residents, respectively. A high 75.6% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 22.4% of the population, totaling 5,143 people, which is higher than the Greater Sydney proportion of 15.5%. Older residents demonstrate strong health outcomes, aligning with positive national trends.

St Ives is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

St Ives shows considerable cultural diversity, with 48.4% of its residents born outside Australia and 34.1% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, represented by 43.4% of the population. Judaism shows a significant local concentration at 8.3% of residents, which is substantially higher than the Greater Sydney average of 0.8%.

In terms of parental heritage, English ancestry leads at 22.5% of the population, followed by Chinese ancestry at 16.7% (which is higher than the regional average of 8.4%) and Australian ancestry at 15.8%. Other ethnic groups also show notable patterns, with South Australian background accounting for 3.9% of residents compared to 0.5% regionally, Korean ancestry at 1.9% compared to 1.1%, and Russian ancestry at 0.6% compared to 0.4% regionally.

St Ives's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in St Ives is 43 years, which is older than the Greater Sydney average of 37 years and the national average of 38 years. The local age distribution features a high proportion of children aged 5 - 14 at 16.5%, while young adults aged 25 - 34 are less represented at 5.0% compared to Greater Sydney. Since 2021, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 grew from 11.3% to 13.7%, whereas children aged 0 to 4 decreased from 4.7% to 3.5%. Demographic projections for 2041 indicate that the cohort aged 85+ will grow by 967 people, or 99%, rising from 975 to 1,943. Residents aged 65+ are expected to account for 89% of all local population growth, pointing to an aging profile. In contrast, the cohorts aged 55 to 64 and 0 to 4 are expected to decrease in size.