6 min drive to Carlisle + 5 min transfer + 19 min train
0 min
Cycle to Perth CBD
0 min
Walk to Perth CBD
Demographics & Census
32 yrs
Median Age
Perth Metro avg: 39 yrs
$1827/wk
Household Income
Perth Metro avg: $1720/wk
5.4%
Unemployment
Perth Metro avg: 0.0%
51%
Home Ownership
Perth Metro avg: 0%
6.4%
WFH Rate
Perth Metro avg: 0.0%
2.4
Household Size
Perth Metro avg: 2.6
Employment
St James
Full-time 34.7%Part-time 21.0%Unemployed 3.4%Not in labour 40.9%
Dwelling Types
St James
House 70.0%Semi-detached 25.7%Flat/Unit 4.1%
Commute Mode
St James
Car 79.8%Transit 9.8%Bicycle 1.3%Walk 1.5%WFH 7.6%
Country of Birth
Australia
55.6%
England
4.2%
India
3.4%
Malaysia
2.7%
China
2.1%
Language at Home
English only
69.5%
Mandarin
1.9%
Arabic
0.6%
Italian
0.6%
Hindi
0.5%
Frequently Asked Questions about St James
Is St James safe?
St James has a safety score of 13/100, which is well below average for Perth suburbs. A higher score means lower reported crime per resident. Crime is split fairly evenly between property and violent offences. Crime has been trending up in recent years. Nearby suburbs for comparison: East Victoria Park (18/100), Bentley (WA) (9/100), Carlisle (24/100). (Data as of July 2026)
How much does it cost to rent in St James?
Median weekly rent in St James is $750/wk, which is around the Perth median. Nearby suburbs for comparison: East Victoria Park ($750/wk), Bentley (WA) ($750/wk), Carlisle ($780/wk). (Data as of July 2026)
What are schools like in St James?
St James has a school rating of 63/100 across 1 schools, which is above average for Perth. The highest-rated school is Santa Clara School (Primary). The rating is based on NAPLAN results for schools within the suburb. (Data as of July 2026)
How far is St James from Perth CBD?
St James is 21 minutes by car, or 42 minutes by public transport, or 30 minutes by park-and-ride from Perth CBD. The suburb is highly walkable with many amenities nearby. (Data as of July 2026)
Is St James affordable to buy in?
The median house price in St James is $905K, up 6.6% over the past year. Units are more accessible at a median of $740K. For renters, median weekly rent is $750/wk. Nearby suburbs for comparison: East Victoria Park ($1.2M), Bentley (WA) ($805K), Carlisle ($960K). (Data as of July 2026)
Burb Score · burbscore.com/suburb/st-james
⚠️ Safety Concern💰 Affordable🌳 Established
St James is an affordable, established suburb south of the river, popular with students and budget renters thanks to its proximity to Curtin University and Bentley shopping centre. The area has a longstanding reputation for higher crime: police helicopters and sirens are a recurring theme, and locals regularly field questions about its safety. The Armadale train line connects it to the CBD, though car ownership remains common along the Albany Highway corridor.
At $905k and rent of $750/week, the local housing market is 11% below the Perth metro median. St James sits a 21-minute drive from the CBD (42 min by transit), and most residents drive (67%). The area's 13/100 safety rating is 39 points below the metro average of 52. It has 1 school with a combined rating of 63/100, well above average. This is a younger suburb with a median age of 32, where households bring in $1,827/week.
“First day in town. First impression: why the hell are there shopping carts on every other street? Is it a Perth thing? A St James thing? Please fill me in!”— 126 upvotes in community discussion