St Ives Chase

An assessment of population growth drivers in St Ives Chase reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of St Ives Chase's population is estimated at around 3,366 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 83 people (2.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,283 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3,352, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 6 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 967 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. St Ives Chase's 2.5% growth since census positions it within 1.9 percentage points of the SA3 area (4.4%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Anticipating future population dynamics, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is expected, with the suburb expected to grow by 189 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 5.2% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in St Ives Chase, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

St Ives Chase recorded approximately five residential properties granted approval per year based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Around 25 homes were approved between the financial years FY-21 and FY-25, with one approval so far in FY-26.

The area has experienced population decline, suggesting that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering good choice to buyers. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $975,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. Compared to Greater Sydney, St Ives Chase records significantly lower building activity, 61.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties, though building activity has accelerated in recent years. The area's construction levels are also below national averages, reflecting its maturity and possible planning constraints.

Recent construction comprises 86.0% detached dwellings and 14.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. St Ives Chase has approximately 302 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts estimate an increase of 175 residents by 2041 (from AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

AreaSearch has identified two projects that could impact the area. Key projects include the St Ives North Public School Upgrade, Ku-ring-gai Transport Oriented Development, Newcastle-Sydney and Wollongong-Sydney Rail Line Upgrades, and NSW Government Low and Mid-Rise Housing Reforms (Northern Beaches).

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AreaSearch analysis indicates St Ives Chase maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

St Ives Chase has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 3.3%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, there are 1,553 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.9% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in St Ives Chase is lower at 61.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. According to Census responses, 64.5% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The key industries for employment among residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. Notably, professional & technical jobs are at 1.7 times the regional average, while construction shows lower representation at 4.7%.

Local employment opportunities appear limited as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.1%, but employment decreased by 0.7%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.2% and labour force expand by 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to St Ives Chase's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on 30 June 2023 for financial year 2023, St Ives Chase had a median income among taxpayers of $59,356 and an average level of $104,740. These figures are exceptionally high nationally compared to Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $65,482 (median) and $115,549 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census ranked household incomes exceptionally high at the 98th percentile ($3,306 weekly). Income analysis shows that 41.7% of residents (1,403 people) fall into the $4000+ bracket, diverging from regional levels where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 30.9%. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 55.3% exceeding $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 16.6% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 97th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

St Ives Chase had 96.0% houses and 4.0% other dwellings in the latest Census, compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Ives Chase was 43.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 48.6% and rented ones at 7.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $4,223, higher than Sydney metro's $2,427. Median weekly rent in St Ives Chase was $950, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, St Ives Chase's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 90.7% of all households, including 57.6% couples with children, 25.7% couples without children, and 6.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 9.3%, with lone person households at 8.8% and group households at 1.0%. The median household size is 3.2 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

St Ives Chase has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above, with 54.9% holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%, indicating a significant educational advantage for the area. Bachelor degrees are the most common type of qualification in St Ives Chase, held by 33.4% of residents aged 15 and above, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 18.1% and graduate diplomas at 3.4%. Vocational pathways account for 19.0% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 9.8% and certificates 9.2%.

Educational participation is particularly high in St Ives Chase, with 34.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.5% in primary education, 10.3% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 20 active transport stops operating within St Ives Chase. These stops are serviced by 12 individual routes, collectively providing 989 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 172 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 88%, with 7% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.9 per dwelling, above the regional average.

A high 64.5% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions). Service frequency averages 141 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 49 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

St Ives Chase shows exceptional health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Approximately 68% of the total population (2,295 people) has private health cover, which is higher than Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (6.1%) and arthritis (5.0%). 76.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 20.2% (679 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

St Ives Chase 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 Chase has a significant level of cultural diversity, with 33.7% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 47.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in St Ives Chase, accounting for 42.2% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in St Ives Chase compared to the Greater Sydney average, with 7.1% of the population identifying as Jewish.

The top three ancestry groups based on country of birth of parents are English (23.0%), Chinese (18.2%), and Australian (16.7%). Some ethnic groups have notable divergences in representation: South Australian at 4.0%, Russian at 0.7%, and Hungarian at 0.4%.

St Ives Chase's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in St Ives Chase is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's national median age of 38 years. The age group of 5-14 years has a strong representation at 19.3%, compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 3.7%. This concentration of the 5-14 age group is well above the national average of 12.0%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 11.4% to 13.6% of the population, while the 0 to 4 cohort has declined from 4.4% to 3.2%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in St Ives Chase. Leading this shift is the 85+ age group, which is expected to grow by 88%, reaching a population of 209 from 111. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 84% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 55 to 64 and 0 to 4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.