St Albans is an inner-north Christchurch suburb, around 2 km north of Cathedral Square. It borders the central city (south), Merivale (west), Mairehau (north) and Edgeware (east).

Where is Edgeware Village?

Edgeware Village on Edgeware Road is the local commercial hub of St Albans, with cafés, restaurants, the Edgeware Pak'nSave, a pharmacy and the standard mix of suburban retail.

How did the earthquakes affect St Albans?

St Albans was significantly damaged in the 2010 to 2011 Canterbury earthquakes. The Cranmer Court building (1876) was demolished in 2012. Some streets lost considerable heritage housing stock to demolition and red-zoning.

How do I get from central Christchurch to St Albans?

By car, around 5 to 10 minutes via Colombo Street or Cranford Street. Bus services include the Yellow Line and Number 17, running regularly from the central Bus Interchange.

What schools are in St Albans?

St Albans School (state co-ed primary) is the main local school. Older students typically attend Shirley Boys' High School or central-city schools including Christchurch Boys' High and Christchurch Girls' High.

Which schools are in zone for St Albans?

Children living in St Albans are in zone for Emmanuel Christian School, St Bede's College, Christchurch Adventist School, Burnside High School, Villa Maria College, Christchurch Boys' High School, Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine Waiora, St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christ The King School (Burnside), Middleton Grange School, Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College, He Tīwai Mātauranga Heaton Normal Intermediate, Marian College, St Albans Catholic School (Christchurch), St Albans School. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.

How do I check my school zone in St Albans?

Use the School Zone Checker on this page — enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.

St Albans, Canterbury | Schools, Lifestyle & Local Guide

Living in St Albans

St Albans is one of Christchurch's inner-north suburbs, around 2 km north of Cathedral Square. It was settled in the 1860s as one of the original four "garden suburb" extensions of Christchurch, and a lot of the original Victorian and Edwardian housing stock is still there, though significantly knocked about by the 2010 to 2011 earthquakes.

St Albans is famous, in the local way these things go, for having more churches per capita than any other Christchurch suburb. The Methodist mission set up here early, and the legacy of Methodist, Anglican, Catholic and various smaller denominations is still visible in the church buildings around Edgeware and Westminster Streets. Edgeware Village is the local shopping and café hub.

The earthquakes hit St Albans hard. The iconic Cranmer Court building (1876, formerly the Christchurch Normal School) was demolished in 2012 after major damage. Some streets lost half their heritage stock to red-zoning. Recovery has been steady but visible.

St Albans School handles the primary catchment. Older students attend Shirley Boys' High or central-city schools. The suburb has been gentrifying since the late 2010s, with the surviving heritage homes restored and infill housing arriving.

Is St Albans a good place to live?

St Albans is home to roughly 13,986 people across 10.1 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, St Albans scores 58 out of 100, with a safety score of 58/100 and 2% green space.

Schools: St Albans has 69 schools in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.

Housing: The estimated median value is around $1.00M, and weekly rent typically sits around $400.

Lifestyle: St Albans has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 6.7°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.

Whether St Albans is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.

Map

Livability Breakdown

Safety58
Amenities100
Schools86
Housing Affordability37
Green space10
Community56
Transport19

Property & Economics

Est. Median Value: $1.00M
Median Weekly Rent: $400/wk
Median HH Income: $83K/yr
Pop. Growth (5yr): +8.8%
Data Year: 2023

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.

Nearby Suburbs

Browse all suburbs in Christchurch City →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is St Albans?: St Albans is an inner-north Christchurch suburb, around 2 km north of Cathedral Square. It borders the central city (south), Merivale (west), Mairehau (north) and Edgeware (east).
Where is Edgeware Village?: Edgeware Village on Edgeware Road is the local commercial hub of St Albans, with cafés, restaurants, the Edgeware Pak'nSave, a pharmacy and the standard mix of suburban retail.
How did the earthquakes affect St Albans?: St Albans was significantly damaged in the 2010 to 2011 Canterbury earthquakes. The Cranmer Court building (1876) was demolished in 2012. Some streets lost considerable heritage housing stock to demolition and red-zoning.
How do I get from central Christchurch to St Albans?: By car, around 5 to 10 minutes via Colombo Street or Cranford Street. Bus services include the Yellow Line and Number 17, running regularly from the central Bus Interchange.
What schools are in St Albans?: St Albans School (state co-ed primary) is the main local school. Older students typically attend Shirley Boys' High School or central-city schools including Christchurch Boys' High and Christchurch Girls' High.

Schools & Enrolment Zones in St Albans

Schools in zone for St Albans

Children living in St Albans have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.

Emmanuel Christian School
Composite (Year 1-10) · roll 287 · decile 8
St Bede's College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 811 · decile 9
Christchurch Adventist School
Composite · roll 285 · decile 6
Burnside High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 2738 · decile 9
Villa Maria College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 835 · decile 9
Christchurch Boys' High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1434 · decile 8
Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine Waiora
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1302 · decile 9
St Thomas of Canterbury College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 708 · decile 8
Christ The King School (Burnside)
Full Primary · roll 309 · decile 8
Middleton Grange School
Composite · roll 1387 · decile 9
Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 2123 · decile 3
He Tīwai Mātauranga Heaton Normal Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 536 · decile 10
Marian College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 436 · decile 9
St Albans Catholic School (Christchurch)
Contributing · roll 108 · decile 9
St Albans School
Contributing · roll 562 · decile 8

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Enter your address to check your school zone in St Albans. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.

Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.

Other nearby schools

Schools close to St Albans that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).

Selwyn House School
Full Primary · roll 288 · decile 10 · 1.0 km away
Ferndale Te Ahu
Specialist School · roll 141 · decile 9 · 1.1 km away
St Andrew's College (Christchurch)
Composite · roll 1640 · 1.3 km away
St Margaret's College
Composite · roll 866 · decile 10 · 1.3 km away
St Francis of Assisi Catholic School
Full Primary · roll 463 · decile 7 · 1.3 km away
Paparoa Street School
Contributing · roll 324 · decile 10 · 1.4 km away
Elmwood Normal School
Contributing · roll 527 · decile 10 · 1.4 km away
Mairehau Primary School
Full Primary · roll 367 · decile 5 · 1.4 km away
Rangi Ruru Girls' School
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 705 · decile 10 · 1.5 km away
St Mary's School (Christchurch)
Full Primary · roll 119 · decile 4 · 1.7 km away
Te Hiwa Shirley Primary School
Contributing · roll 354 · decile 3 · 1.8 km away
The Cathedral Grammar School
Full Primary · roll 242 · decile 10 · 2.1 km away
Mairehau High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 420 · decile 4 · 2.2 km away
St Patrick's School (Bryndwr)
Full Primary · roll 169 · decile 7 · 2.2 km away
Waimairi School
Contributing · roll 312 · decile 9 · 2.2 km away
Christ's College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 708 · decile 10 · 2.3 km away
Kingslea School
Specialist School · roll 125 · 2.4 km away
Pareawa Banks Avenue School
Contributing · roll 354 · decile 6 · 2.4 km away
Papanui Primary School
Contributing · roll 225 · decile 6 · 2.5 km away
Te Oraka
Intermediate · roll 192 · decile 4 · 2.5 km away
Christchurch East School
Full Primary · roll 289 · decile 3 · 2.6 km away
St Joseph's School (Papanui)
Full Primary · roll 427 · decile 9 · 2.7 km away
Papanui High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1444 · decile 7 · 2.8 km away
St Michael's Church School
Full Primary · roll 124 · decile 8 · 2.8 km away
Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery
Composite · roll 650 · decile 8 · 3.0 km away
Tūora Fendalton School
Contributing · roll 405 · decile 10 · 3.3 km away
Catholic Cathedral College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 598 · decile 8 · 3.4 km away
Te Kura o Matarangi - Northcote School
Contributing · roll 151 · decile 3 · 3.6 km away
Wairakei School (Christchurch)
Contributing · roll 201 · decile 10 · 3.6 km away
Medbury Preparatory School
Full Primary · roll 372 · decile 10 · 3.7 km away
Bishopdale School Te Kura o Papakōhatu
Contributing · roll 165 · decile 3 · 3.8 km away
Casebrook Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 441 · decile 6 · 3.8 km away
Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 675 · decile 8 · 3.8 km away
St Teresa's School (Riccarton)
Full Primary · roll 168 · decile 6 · 3.9 km away
Te Pā o Rākaihautū
Composite · roll 209 · decile 2 · 4.0 km away
Tuia Burnside Primary School
Contributing · roll 313 · decile 8 · 4.0 km away
Whītau School
Contributing · roll 285 · decile 2 · 4.0 km away
Wharenui School
Full Primary · roll 393 · decile 3 · 4.0 km away
Redwood School (Christchurch)
Contributing · roll 285 · decile 8 · 4.1 km away
Te Aratai College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 1277 · decile 3 · 4.3 km away
Sacred Heart School (Christchurch)
Full Primary · roll 185 · decile 4 · 4.3 km away
Te Kura o Te Mātāpuna Isleworth School
Contributing · roll 225 · decile 5 · 4.3 km away
Addington Te Kura Taumatua
Contributing · roll 335 · decile 3 · 4.4 km away
Kahikatea Kirkwood Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 284 · decile 8 · 4.4 km away
Ilam School
Contributing · roll 368 · decile 9 · 4.5 km away
Cotswold Mātāhae School
Contributing · roll 537 · decile 8 · 4.6 km away
Te Huarahi Linwood Avenue School
Contributing · roll 328 · decile 2 · 4.6 km away
Waltham School
Full Primary · roll 246 · decile 3 · 4.6 km away
Chisnallwood Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 418 · decile 5 · 4.7 km away
Waitākiri Primary School
Contributing · roll 520 · decile 8 · 4.8 km away
Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate School
Intermediate · roll 485 · decile 4 · 4.8 km away
Westburn Te Kura O Hereora
Full Primary · roll 450 · decile 10 · 4.8 km away
Breens Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 277 · decile 9 · 5.0 km away
Te Rito Harakeke - Marshland School
Full Primary · roll 578 · decile 9 · 5.0 km away

Explore St Albans

Things to do(12)

Rutland Reserve

Unbreakable Training Centre

Rugby Park

Malvern Park Playground

Mainland Football

Abberley Park

Alan Wright's School of Ballroom Dancing

Crusaders Global Academy

UMA Christchurch

Fit For A Queen

Pilates Personal Fitness Studio

St Albans Park Bowls

Parks & green spaces(4)

Rutland Reserve

Rugby Park

Malvern Park Playground

Abberley Park

Healthcare(8)

Bealey Pharmacy

St Albans Medical Centre

Christchurch PsychMed

Christchurch Immigration Health

Merivale Retirement Village

Southern Endoscopy Centre

St Albans Medical Centre

Month	High (°C)	Low (°C)	Rainfall (mm/day)	Sunshine (hrs/day)
☀️ Jan	21.68	13.19	43.2	11.9
☀️ Feb	21.15	12.72	110.83	9.31
🍂 Mar	19.08	10.5	55.6	9.1
🍂 Apr	17.46	8.82	50.53	8.4
🍂 May	14.74	5.88	53.83	6.44
❄️ Jun	12.28	4.69	54.43	5.54
❄️ Jul	11.09	3.19	133.5	5.81
❄️ Aug	12.53	3.43	54.37	7.48
🌸 Sep	14.83	5.56	56.93	8.76
🌸 Oct	16.56	6.69	59.03	10.38
🌸 Nov	18.32	9.66	74.93	11.41
☀️ Dec	20.6	12.03	58.93	10.64

Living in St Albans

Is St Albans a good place to live?

Map

Livability Breakdown

Property & Economics

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools & Enrolment Zones in St Albans

Schools in zone for St Albans

Emmanuel Christian School

St Bede's College

Christchurch Adventist School

Burnside High School

Villa Maria College

Christchurch Boys' High School

Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine Waiora

St Thomas of Canterbury College

Christ The King School (Burnside)

Middleton Grange School

Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College

He Tīwai Mātauranga Heaton Normal Intermediate

Marian College

St Albans Catholic School (Christchurch)

St Albans School

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Other nearby schools

Selwyn House School

Ferndale Te Ahu

St Andrew's College (Christchurch)

St Margaret's College

St Francis of Assisi Catholic School

Paparoa Street School

Elmwood Normal School

Mairehau Primary School

Rangi Ruru Girls' School

St Mary's School (Christchurch)

Te Hiwa Shirley Primary School

The Cathedral Grammar School

Mairehau High School

St Patrick's School (Bryndwr)

Waimairi School

Christ's College

Kingslea School

Pareawa Banks Avenue School

Papanui Primary School

Te Oraka

Christchurch East School

St Joseph's School (Papanui)

Papanui High School

St Michael's Church School

Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery

Tūora Fendalton School

Catholic Cathedral College

Te Kura o Matarangi - Northcote School

Wairakei School (Christchurch)

Medbury Preparatory School

Bishopdale School Te Kura o Papakōhatu

Casebrook Intermediate

Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate

St Teresa's School (Riccarton)

Te Pā o Rākaihautū

Tuia Burnside Primary School

Whītau School

Wharenui School

Redwood School (Christchurch)

Te Aratai College

Sacred Heart School (Christchurch)

Te Kura o Te Mātāpuna Isleworth School

Addington Te Kura Taumatua

Kahikatea Kirkwood Intermediate

Ilam School

Cotswold Mātāhae School

Te Huarahi Linwood Avenue School

Waltham School

Chisnallwood Intermediate

Waitākiri Primary School

Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate School

Westburn Te Kura O Hereora

Things to do(12)

Parks & green spaces(4)

Healthcare(8)

Places to eat & drink(43)