Stirling vs Upper Sturt

Upper Sturt is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 48 in Stirling. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Stirling, about half of households are couple families. In Upper Sturt, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Stirling: a median of $1.6 million, against $1.24 million in Upper Sturt, and rent is higher there too. Stirling is closer to the city centre: 16.6 km, against 19 km. On these figures, Stirling tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Upper Sturt suits buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Upper Sturt

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 41/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (73% vs 64%)
  • But Stirling has more childcare (6 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Upper Sturt

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($610,000 vs $1,055,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,242,500 vs $1,601,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 24%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Upper Sturt

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($345/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Stirling

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 37/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (16.6 km vs 19 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Stirling

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 37/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 18%)
  • But Upper Sturt carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 41/100)

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

Stirling 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.

Stirling 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.

Stirling Upper Sturt
Walkability 82 / 37
Stirling — Walkability: 82/100 Upper Sturt — Walkability: 37/100
Safety 59 / 80
Stirling — Safety: 59/100 Upper Sturt — Safety: 80/100
Low fire risk 73 / 24
Stirling — Low fire risk: 73/100 Upper Sturt — Low fire risk: 24/100

Demographics

Stirling has more residents (3,067 vs 1,005); Stirling rents higher ($450/wk vs $345/wk).

Stirling Upper Sturt
Population 3,067
+67% vs other
 1,005
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.4% +5.7%
Median age 48 41
Median household income $123,136/yr
+6% vs other
 $115,908/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+23% vs other
 $345/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Stirling Upper Sturt
0-4 4.1% / 6.1%
Stirling — 0-4: 4.1% Upper Sturt — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 13.9% / 13.3%
Stirling — 5-14: 13.9% Upper Sturt — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 6.7% / 6.0%
Stirling — 15-19: 6.7% Upper Sturt — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 3.6% / 4.3%
Stirling — 20-24: 3.6% Upper Sturt — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 6.4% / 10.1%
Stirling — 25-34: 6.4% Upper Sturt — 25-34: 10.1%
35-44 10.9% / 14.0%
Stirling — 35-44: 10.9% Upper Sturt — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 16.1% / 15.1%
Stirling — 45-54: 16.1% Upper Sturt — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 12.1% / 13.6%
Stirling — 55-64: 12.1% Upper Sturt — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 14.9% / 13.2%
Stirling — 65-74: 14.9% Upper Sturt — 65-74: 13.2%
75-84 8.2% / 3.6%
Stirling — 75-84: 8.2% Upper Sturt — 75-84: 3.6%
85+ 2.8% / 0.9%
Stirling — 85+: 2.8% Upper Sturt — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Stirling 53.2% couple families
Stirling — Couple Families: 53.2% Stirling — Lone Person: 33.1% Stirling — One Parent Families: 11.1% Stirling — Group Household: 1.5% Stirling — Other Families: 1.0%
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.

Stirling 9.9% renting
Stirling — Owned Outright: 49.4% Stirling — Mortgage: 40.6% Stirling — Renting: 9.9%
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.

Stirling Upper Sturt
Bachelor Degree 23.4% / 17.0%
Stirling — Bachelor Degree: 23.4% Upper Sturt — Bachelor Degree: 17.0%
Certificate III & IV 7.4% / 11.4%
Stirling — Certificate III & IV: 7.4% Upper Sturt — Certificate III & IV: 11.4%
Postgraduate Degree 11.3% / 7.3%
Stirling — Postgraduate Degree: 11.3% Upper Sturt — Postgraduate Degree: 7.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 9.5%
Stirling — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Upper Sturt — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.0% / 3.7%
Stirling — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.0% Upper Sturt — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.4%).

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.

Stirling Upper Sturt
England 9.2% / 6.9%
Stirling — England: 9.2% Upper Sturt — England: 6.9%
Germany 0.9% / 1.2%
Stirling — Germany: 0.9% Upper Sturt — Germany: 1.2%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.2%
Stirling — New Zealand: 0.8% Upper Sturt — New Zealand: 1.2%
Scotland 1.0% / 0.5%
Stirling — Scotland: 1.0% Upper Sturt — Scotland: 0.5%
South Africa 1.2% / —
Stirling — South Africa: 1.2% Upper Sturt — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.5%
Stirling — Philippines: not among its largest Upper Sturt — Philippines: 0.5%
Malaysia — / 0.5%
Stirling — Malaysia: not among its largest Upper Sturt — Malaysia: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Stirling 94.1% houses
Stirling — Houses: 94.1% Stirling — Townhouses: 4.3% Stirling — Flats / Apartments: 1.6%
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

Stirling Upper Sturt
Median house price $1,601,000 $1,242,500
Median unit price $820,000 —
Median land price $1,055,000 $610,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 32 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.

Stirling Upper Sturt
3 bed $1.4M / $1.09M
Stirling — 3 bed: $1.4M (29 sales) Upper Sturt — 3 bed: $1.09M (12 sales)

29 vs 12 sales

4 bed $1.77M / $1.41M
Stirling — 4 bed: $1.77M (34 sales) Upper Sturt — 4 bed: $1.41M (7 sales)

34 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Upper Sturt has more land zoned for conservation (44% vs 4%).

Stirling Upper Sturt
Residential 46% 10%
Rural and farming 39% 46%
Environmental 4% 44%
Parks and recreation 8% 0%
Commercial 3% 0%
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

Stirling Upper Sturt
New dwellings approved 95
across Adelaide Hills
same for both
Approvals change year on year +53%
same for both

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.

Stirling Upper Sturt
Houses 2.7%
$800/wk on $1.52M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Stirling Upper Sturt
House price Higher than 80% of SA Higher than 68% of SA
Income Higher than 93% of SA Higher than 89% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 94% of SA Higher than 77% of SA
Affordability Higher than 56% of SA Higher than 69% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 98% of SA Higher than 89% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of SA Higher than 72% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 10% of SA —

Liveability

Stirling is more walkable (82 vs 37); Stirling scores higher overall (82 vs 53).

Stirling Upper Sturt
Grade A B
Score 82/100 53/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Upper Sturt carries more bushfire risk (76 vs 27); Stirling carries more crime risk (41 vs 20).

Stirling Upper Sturt
Bushfire Low
27/100
 High
76/100
Crime Moderate
41/100
 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

Stirling Upper Sturt
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Stirling

  • Stirling East Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Catherine's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Upper Sturt

  • Upper Sturt Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Stirling Upper Sturt
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 15 1
Parks & reserves 9 10
Childcare 6 0
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1 3

Mobility

Upper Sturt sits further from the CBD (19 km vs 16.6 km).

Stirling Upper Sturt
Walkability score 82/100 37/100
Distance to Adelaide 16.6 km 19 km
+14% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 24 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 36/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 91.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 18.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.6%
postcode 5152
 1.6%
postcode 5156
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 58
postcode 5152
 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.

Stirling Upper Sturt
Car (driver) 65.0% / 72.5%
Stirling — Car (driver): 65.0% Upper Sturt — Car (driver): 72.5%
Worked from Home 23.7% / 17.8%
Stirling — Worked from Home: 23.7% Upper Sturt — Worked from Home: 17.8%
Bus 4.3% / 3.6%
Stirling — Bus: 4.3% Upper Sturt — Bus: 3.6%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 2.8%
Stirling — Car (passenger): 3.9% Upper Sturt — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Walked Only 2.7% / 1.1%
Stirling — Walked Only: 2.7% Upper Sturt — Walked Only: 1.1%
Train — / 1.3%
Stirling — Train: not among its largest Upper Sturt — Train: 1.3%

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

Setting

Stirling Upper Sturt
Elevation 493 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 396 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 18.9 km 15.0 km

NBN connectivity

Stirling Upper Sturt
Connectivity score 61/100 41/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
1,523 premises
 0%
391 premises

Climate

Stirling 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)

Stirling 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

Stirling Upper Sturt
Average residential rate $2,727/yr
same for both
Council Adelaide Hills
same for both

Federal electorate

Stirling Upper Sturt
Division Mayo
same for both
Member Rebekha Sharkie
same for both
Party Centre Alliance
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Stirling

Acreage Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Retirees

Upper Sturt

Acreage Middle-Ring Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Stirling

Stirling vs Aldgate Stirling vs Crafers Stirling vs Crafers West Stirling vs Heathfield Stirling vs Piccadilly Stirling vs Mount George

Other comparisons with Upper Sturt

Upper Sturt vs Belair Upper Sturt vs Hawthorndene Upper Sturt vs Crafers West Upper Sturt vs Heathfield Upper Sturt vs Ironbank Upper Sturt vs Coromandel East
Full data on Stirling 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.

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