Belair vs Upper Sturt

Upper Sturt is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 47 in Belair. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Belair is closer to the city centre: 12.7 km, against 19 km.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Belair has more childcare (6 vs 0)
  • Upper Sturt carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 32/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Upper Sturt

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($345/wk vs $376/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Belair sits closer to the CBD (12.7 km vs 19 km)
  • Upper Sturt is more walkable (37/100 vs 17/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Belair has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • Upper Sturt is more walkable (37/100 vs 17/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Belair and Upper Sturt drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Belair Upper Sturt
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Belair Upper Sturt
Walkability 17 / 37
Belair — Walkability: 17/100 Upper Sturt — Walkability: 37/100
Safety 68 / 80
Belair — Safety: 68/100 Upper Sturt — Safety: 80/100
Low fire risk 53 / 24
Belair — Low fire risk: 53/100 Upper Sturt — Low fire risk: 24/100

Demographics

Belair has more residents (4,718 vs 1,005); Belair skews older (47 vs 41).

Belair Upper Sturt
Population 4,718
+79% vs other
 1,005
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.0% +5.7%
Median age 47 41
Median household income $117,780/yr
+2% vs other
 $115,908/yr
Median weekly rent $376/wk
+8% vs other
 $345/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Belair Upper Sturt
0-4 4.6% / 6.1%
Belair — 0-4: 4.6% Upper Sturt — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 11.6% / 13.3%
Belair — 5-14: 11.6% Upper Sturt — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 6.5% / 6.0%
Belair — 15-19: 6.5% Upper Sturt — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 5.5% / 4.3%
Belair — 20-24: 5.5% Upper Sturt — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 6.7% / 10.1%
Belair — 25-34: 6.7% Upper Sturt — 25-34: 10.1%
35-44 12.3% / 14.0%
Belair — 35-44: 12.3% Upper Sturt — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 14.5% / 15.1%
Belair — 45-54: 14.5% Upper Sturt — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 12.7% / 13.6%
Belair — 55-64: 12.7% Upper Sturt — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 12.7% / 13.2%
Belair — 65-74: 12.7% Upper Sturt — 65-74: 13.2%
75-84 8.8% / 3.6%
Belair — 75-84: 8.8% Upper Sturt — 75-84: 3.6%
85+ 4.1% / 0.9%
Belair — 85+: 4.1% Upper Sturt — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Belair 57.6% couple families
Belair — Couple Families: 57.6% Belair — Lone Person: 28.7% Belair — One Parent Families: 10.2% Belair — Group Household: 2.6% Belair — Other Families: 0.9%
Upper Sturt 60.5% couple families
Upper Sturt — Couple Families: 60.5% Upper Sturt — Lone Person: 24.0% Upper Sturt — One Parent Families: 12.4% Upper Sturt — Group Household: 1.3% Upper Sturt — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Belair 8.6% renting
Belair — Owned Outright: 44.3% Belair — Mortgage: 47.0% Belair — Renting: 8.6%
Upper Sturt 6.5% renting
Upper Sturt — Owned Outright: 36.4% Upper Sturt — Mortgage: 57.1% Upper Sturt — Renting: 6.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Belair Upper Sturt
Bachelor Degree 23.1% / 17.0%
Belair — Bachelor Degree: 23.1% Upper Sturt — Bachelor Degree: 17.0%
Certificate III & IV 8.8% / 11.4%
Belair — Certificate III & IV: 8.8% Upper Sturt — Certificate III & IV: 11.4%
Postgraduate Degree 10.1% / 7.3%
Belair — Postgraduate Degree: 10.1% Upper Sturt — Postgraduate Degree: 7.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 9.5%
Belair — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Upper Sturt — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 3.7%
Belair — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Upper Sturt — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.1%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Belair Upper Sturt
England 8.6% / 6.9%
Belair — England: 8.6% Upper Sturt — England: 6.9%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.2%
Belair — New Zealand: 0.9% Upper Sturt — New Zealand: 1.2%
Germany 0.8% / 1.2%
Belair — Germany: 0.8% Upper Sturt — Germany: 1.2%
Scotland 1.0% / 0.5%
Belair — Scotland: 1.0% Upper Sturt — Scotland: 0.5%
China 1.1% / —
Belair — China: 1.1% Upper Sturt — China: not among its largest
South Africa 1.0% / —
Belair — South Africa: 1.0% Upper Sturt — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.5%
Belair — Philippines: not among its largest Upper Sturt — Philippines: 0.5%
Malaysia — / 0.5%
Belair — Malaysia: not among its largest Upper Sturt — Malaysia: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Belair 89.0% houses
Belair — Houses: 89.0% Belair — Townhouses: 9.6% Belair — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Upper Sturt 98.0% houses
Upper Sturt — Houses: 98.0% Upper Sturt — Townhouses: 0.0% Upper Sturt — Flats / Apartments: 2.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Belair Upper Sturt
Median house price $1,230,500 $1,242,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $610,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 40 sales
 49 days
from 12 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Belair Upper Sturt
3 bed $1.09M / $1.09M
Belair — 3 bed: $1.09M (36 sales) Upper Sturt — 3 bed: $1.09M (12 sales)

36 vs 12 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $1.41M
Belair — 4 bed: $1.3M (46 sales) Upper Sturt — 4 bed: $1.41M (7 sales)

46 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Upper Sturt has more rural and farming land (46% vs 0%); Belair has more land zoned for conservation (78% vs 44%).

Belair Upper Sturt
Environmental 78% 44%
Rural and farming 0% 46%
Residential 22% 10%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Belair Upper Sturt
New dwellings approved 188
across Mitcham
 95
across Adelaide Hills
Approvals change year on year +32% +53%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Belair Upper Sturt
Houses 3.9%
$975/wk on $1.3M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Belair Upper Sturt
House price Higher than 67% of SA Higher than 68% of SA
Income Higher than 92% of SA Higher than 89% of SA
Schools Higher than 30% of SA —
Walkability Higher than 70% of SA Higher than 77% of SA
Affordability Higher than 72% of SA Higher than 69% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 95% of SA Higher than 89% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of SA Higher than 72% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 49% of SA —

Liveability

Upper Sturt is more walkable (37 vs 17).

Belair Upper Sturt
Grade B
same for both
Score 54/100 53/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Upper Sturt carries more bushfire risk (76 vs 47); Belair carries more crime risk (32 vs 20).

Belair Upper Sturt
Bushfire Moderate
47/100
 High
76/100
Crime Low
32/100
 Low
20/100
Flood Low
27/100
 —
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Belair Upper Sturt
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Tonsley, 6.7 km
 None

Schools in Belair

  • Belair Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St John's Grammar School - Secondary Campus Independent · Combined below peers
  • St John's Grammar School - Junior Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Upper Sturt

  • Upper Sturt Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Belair Upper Sturt
Cafes & restaurants 5 1
Parks & reserves 7 10
Childcare 6 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 13 3

Mobility

Upper Sturt sits further from the CBD (19 km vs 12.7 km).

Belair Upper Sturt
Walkability score 17/100 37/100
Distance to Adelaide 12.7 km 19 km
+50% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min 24 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Bus
 36/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 64.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 18.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 5052
 1.6%
postcode 5156
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 63
postcode 5052
 57
postcode 5156

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Belair Upper Sturt
Car (driver) 67.7% / 72.5%
Belair — Car (driver): 67.7% Upper Sturt — Car (driver): 72.5%
Worked from Home 19.0% / 17.8%
Belair — Worked from Home: 19.0% Upper Sturt — Worked from Home: 17.8%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 2.8%
Belair — Car (passenger): 4.1% Upper Sturt — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Bus 2.4% / 3.6%
Belair — Bus: 2.4% Upper Sturt — Bus: 3.6%
Train 3.7% / 1.3%
Belair — Train: 3.7% Upper Sturt — Train: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.5%).

Setting

Belair Upper Sturt
Elevation 288 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 396 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.8 km 15.0 km

NBN connectivity

Belair Upper Sturt
Connectivity score 63/100 41/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 32%
1,915 premises
 0%
391 premises

Climate

Belair Upper Sturt
Annual rainfall 969 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.4°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Belair Upper Sturt
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 1.12 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Belair Upper Sturt
Average residential rate $2,296/yr $2,727/yr
Council Mitcham Adelaide Hills

Federal electorate

Belair Upper Sturt
Division Boothby Mayo
Member Louise Miller-Frost Rebekha Sharkie
Party Australian Labor Party Centre Alliance

First Home Owner Grant

Belair Upper Sturt
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Belair

Acreage Easy Commute Middle-Ring Professionals Retirees River Trains Transport Hub

Upper Sturt

Acreage Middle-Ring Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Belair

Belair vs Blackwood Belair vs Hawthorndene Belair vs Eden Hills Belair vs Torrens Park Belair vs Panorama Belair vs Glenalta

Other comparisons with Upper Sturt

Upper Sturt vs Hawthorndene Upper Sturt vs Stirling Upper Sturt vs Crafers West Upper Sturt vs Heathfield Upper Sturt vs Ironbank Upper Sturt vs Coromandel East
Full data on Belair Full data on Upper Sturt
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or