Cheltenham vs St Clair
Cheltenham (median $991,500) is roughly 11% cheaper to buy into than St Clair ($1,110,000). Over the past year, St Clair (-7%) ran 16.0 percentage points ahead of Cheltenham (-23%) on house-price growth.
Buying in Cheltenham or St Clair?
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Cheltenham and St Clair side by side
| Measure | Cheltenham | St Clair |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $991,500 | $1,110,000 |
| Median unit | $250,560 | $274,320 |
| House price change, 12 months | -23.0% | -7.0% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $600/wk | $630/wk |
| Unit rent | $310/wk | $572/wk |
| Owner occupied | 77.0% | 59.0% |
| Renter occupied | 21.0% | 41.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 1001 | 996 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 54 | 46 |
| Transit score | 0 | 0 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | 2,236 | 2,634 |
| Median age | 44 | 32 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 403 mm | 403 mm |
| Mean max, January | 29.9°C | 29.9°C |
Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.
Which suits whom
Cheltenham scores higher on walkability (54/100 vs 46/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Cheltenham (1001) sits above St Clair (996). Cheltenham skews owner-occupied (77%), St Clair runs more rental-dense (59% owner).
- For buyers
- Cheltenham is the lower entry point at $991,500 median, 11% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Cheltenham delivers the better gross yield (3.15% vs 2.95%), but St Clair has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
- For families
- Cheltenham edges out on average school ICSEA (1001 vs 996).
Cheltenham vs St Clair: common questions
Is Cheltenham or St Clair cheaper to buy in?
Cheltenham has the lower median house price at $991,500, roughly 11% below St Clair ($1,110,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Cheltenham or St Clair?
Over the past 12 months, St Clair grew -7% vs -23% in Cheltenham, a gap of 16.0 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Cheltenham or St Clair have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Cheltenham scores 1001 vs 996 in St Clair. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Cheltenham or St Clair?
Cheltenham scores 54/100 on walkability vs 46/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Cheltenham or St Clair?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.15% in Cheltenham vs 2.95% in St Clair. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
Keep comparing
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