Located 56km from the centre of Sydney, St Helens Park is a well-established suburb with a young population keen to get ahead in life.

According to the latest Census, over the past five years it has grown marginally, increasing its population from 6323 in 2011 to 6602 in 2016.

Those moving to the area are seeking and finding the Australian dream where the income is comfortable, and the mortgages affordable.

So let’s explore who lives in St Helens Park and how the region has changed over the past five years

Who lives in St Helens Park

The population of St Helen’s Park is seven years younger than the state and national figures, with a median age of 31. Just over half the population (51.3%) are women and a further 48.7% are male.

Meanwhile almost a quarter (24.7%) of residents are children aged 0-14, and only 8% are older than 65. In 2011, the proportion of the population aged under 15 was even greater, with 26.6% of residents being children, while people over 65 made up just 5.3% of the population.

Of those 15 and above, 45.6% are married, 38.4% have never been married, 7.9% are divorced, 4.5% are separated, and 3.5% widowed.

Most people (82.7%) live in family households, 15.2% live alone and 2.1% live in share accommodation. Of family households, just over half (50.1%) are couples with children and they have on average two children each. This is the same number of children per family household as five years ago.

Meanwhile, 24.5% of family households are couples without children, and 24.3% are single parent families.

How St Helens Park fares financially

Residents of St Helens Park live comfortably with an income above the state and national norm, and slightly lower expenses in the form of mortgage and rent.

The median household income is $1651. This is $165 more each week than the state norm, and $213 above the national median. It’s also significantly more than five years ago when the median household income for St Helens Park was $1382.

Meanwhile, the percentage of residents earning above $3000 gross each week has also increased. In 2011, just 7.5% of residents reported an income of above $3000, while in 2016 that figure rose to 12.2%.

When it comes to mortgage expenses, St Helens Park has lower outgoings than the state norm. Each month a median of $1800 goes to a mortgage. That mortgage payment is $186 less each month the state median and only $5 more than the national figure.

It’s also slight less than five years ago when the median monthly mortgage payment in St Helens Park was $1842.

The latest figures show a median weekly rent of $380, which exactly corresponds with the NSW median and is $45 a week more than the national figure. It is however, a rise on five years ago when the St Helens Park median rent was just $320.

How St Helens Park residents live

Home ownership is a priority among St Helens Park residents. Almost half (49.5%) currently pay a mortgage, while 18.9% own their home outright. Under a third of the population (29.3%) rent. This figure represents progress on the outright ownership front. In 2011 just 15.7% of properties were owned outright, 52.5% were owned with a mortgage and 29.9% were rentals.

And these homes that people are paying off either reflect or are larger than the norm. The majority (88.7%) are stand alone houses, while 10.7% are semi-detached.

Over half (58.6%) are three bedrooms, 39.8% are four bedrooms, and only 3.4% are two-bedroom homes.

St Helens Park remains a suburb that attracts families seeking the Australian dream. First established in the 1970s, this is a place with an enduring charm, where young professionals settle down, raise a family and enjoy a lifestyle envied by most.

About United Strata

Centrally located in Mt Annan, United Strata specialises in real estate within the Macarthur region. We boast a wealth of insight into the current and future position of property in the region.

You can learn more about our services here, or contact us directly for further advice.