City Beach
Large detached homes, a median age of 47 and household income at the 99.2 percentile give City Beach a clear established-wealth profile. Its 6,805 residents live at a density of 694.5 people per square kilometre, while 87.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 68.9% contain four or more bedrooms. Compared with the more apartment-oriented coastal setting of Scarborough, the suburb is more strongly family-house based. The age profile is 7.0 years above the national figure, so demand is shaped by established households more than rapid turnover. Growth is slow at 0.48% annually, although overseas migration remains the primary driver.
Population
6,805
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,700/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
City Beach suits buyers seeking land, space and established amenity, but a current median house figure should not be assumed, so recent settled sales and property-specific evidence matter more than a headline estimate. The housing mix is 87.6% separate houses, with 68.9% of homes offering four or more bedrooms and only 2.3% studio or one-bedroom dwellings. Weekly rent is $750, while mortgage costs are $4,000 per month and mortgage payments equal 25.0% of household income. Compared with apartment-oriented coastal suburbs, this is a larger-home market, and its 50.5% outright ownership rate points to long-held property.
For Buyers
City Beach suits buyers seeking land, space and established amenity, but a current median house figure should not be assumed, so recent settled sales and property-specific evidence matter more than a headline estimate. The housing mix is 87.6% separate houses, with 68.9% of homes offering four or more bedrooms and only 2.3% studio or one-bedroom dwellings. Weekly rent is $750, while mortgage costs are $4,000 per month and mortgage payments equal 25.0% of household income. Compared with apartment-oriented coastal suburbs, this is a larger-home market, and its 50.5% outright ownership rate points to long-held property.
For Investors
Investment appeal rests on an affluent, owner-dominated market rather than a high-yield profile. Weekly rent is $750 and rent accounts for 20.3% of household income, while only 10.7% of households rent. Vacancy is 7.7%, which may give tenants more choice than in tighter markets, although the detached housing base and four-plus-bedroom share can support family demand. Household income sits at the 99.2 percentile nationally, supporting payment capacity, but the mortgage-to-income ratio is already 25.0%. Compared with lower-income rental markets, City Beach is less exposed to severe rent stress but has a narrower tenant pool because housing costs are premium. Growth is forecast at 0.48% a year, driven by overseas migration.
Schools in City Beach
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
HOLY SPIRIT SCHOOL
THE JAPANESE SCHOOL IN PERTH
CITY BEACH PRIMARY SCHOOL
KAPINARA PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
City Beach has an older, highly educated profile: median age is 47, which is 7.0 years above the national figure, and 63.8% of residents hold a university qualification, 33.7 percentage points higher than the national result. Overseas-born residents account for 30.9%, or 9.3 points above the national share, with English, Irish, Scottish and Italian ancestry prominent. Italian is the most common listed non-English language at 47 speakers, followed by Mandarin at 32 and Greek at 31. Couples with children make up 53.0% of families, while couples without children represent 38.5%, helping explain the 2.8-person average household size, 0.3 above national. Compared with nearby Scarborough, City Beach has a more pronounced older and larger-household profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.6%
Houses
5.3%
Townhouse
7.1%
Apartment
Tenure
City Beach's housing is overwhelmingly detached and owner-held. Separate houses account for 87.6% of dwellings, compared with 7.1% apartments and 5.3% semi-detached homes. Tenure is split between 50.5% owned outright, 32.9% with a mortgage and 10.7% rented, with another 6.0% in other arrangements. The bedroom profile is unusually spacious: 68.9% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, 21.2% have three, and only 7.6% have two. Weekly rent is $750, mortgage cost is $4,000 monthly, and housing stress measures are 20.3% rent-to-income and 25.0% mortgage-to-income. A current median house price and price-to-income ratio should not be assumed. Compared with denser Scarborough, this is a larger-home, low-apartment housing market.
Mortgage / mo
$4,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$750
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,228
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.7%
Unoccupied
193
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
53.0%
Couples with children
38.5%
Couples, no children
7.5%
Single parent
1,888
Total families
Economy & Employment
City Beach's labour market is affluent and professional. Healthcare is the largest industry at 21.2% with 514 workers, followed by Professional/Tech at 18.8% and 457, Education at 11.6% and 281, Mining at 9.9% and 239, and Finance at 5.3% and 129. Occupations reinforce that profile: Professionals number 1,310 and Managers 718, ahead of Clerical/Admin at 351, Community/Personal at 256 and Sales at 236. Unemployment is 3.8% across a labour force of 3,361, while participation is 60.0%. Household income is $3,700 weekly at the 99.2 percentile. IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD all sit in decile 10, consistent with socioeconomic advantage above the national median. Compared with lower-income suburbs, the notable combination is high status and a 60.0% participation rate, reflecting the suburb's older age profile and 2,060 people outside the labour force.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
3,361
Unemployed
129
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.4%
Part-time
41.4%
Participation
60.0%
Employed
3,232
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.8%
Postgraduate
18.8%
Born Overseas
30.9%
Dwellings
2,309
Transport to Work
Life in City Beach is car-oriented and suited to households that value space, beaches and local schools. About 71.0% of residents drive to work, compared with 3.5% using public transport and 3.4% walking or cycling; 18.2% work from home, which can reduce daily commuting needs. Four nearby schools provide a mix of 2 government primary schools and 2 non-government schools, including a Japanese school presence. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb lines. Socioeconomic advantage is in the highest national decile, with IRSAD at 10, while 3.9% of residents need assistance. Compared with transit-led inner suburbs, City Beach is more dependent on private cars and offers a more spacious residential setting.
Drive
71.0%
Public Transport
3.5%
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
18.2%
Population Forecast
+0.48%/yr
(+36 people/yr)
EstablishedCity Beach is an established, slow-growth suburb rather than a high-turnover expansion area. The forecast trend is 0.48% annual growth, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 7.1% over 10 years, above zero but modest beside faster growth corridors. The demographic trajectory is labelled Declining young, with the young share down 2.3 points and the senior share up 2.0 points. Gentrification is rated score 0, stage Not gentrifying, while the shift indicators record 32 and Early signs. Rent growth of 15.4% and real income growth of 14.2% may support established demand. Compared with newer development fronts, City Beach's outlook is gradual and shaped more by renewal than expansion.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+110
Net Internal / yr
+8
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How City Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City Beach a good suburb to live in?
Yes, especially for households prioritising detached homes, established amenities and a quieter coastal setting. City Beach has 6,805 residents, 87.6% separate houses and an IRSAD decile of 10. Its median age of 47 is 7 years above national, so it may suit established families and downsizers more than younger renters seeking lower costs.
What is the median house price in City Beach?
A current median house price is not stated for City Beach. Buyers should compare recent settled sales and property-specific evidence rather than rely on an inferred number. The suburb's housing profile is house-led: 87.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 68.9% have four or more bedrooms, and weekly rent is $750.
What schools are in City Beach?
Four nearby schools are associated with City Beach: 2 government primary schools and 2 non-government schools. The mix includes local primary provision and a Japanese school presence. Check the exact enrolment zone for each address because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries. Compared with many inner areas, the local mix is more primary-focused.
Is City Beach safe?
City Beach has strong socioeconomic conditions, with both IRSAD and IRSD at decile 10, but those measures do not establish street-level safety. Check current police incident information and visit the exact street at different times before deciding. The 3.9% assistance-need rate provides social context, but it is not a crime measure.
Is City Beach good for property investment?
City Beach can suit long-term investors seeking an affluent, owner-dominated market, but yield needs careful checking. Weekly rent is $750, vacancy is 7.7% and only 10.7% of households rent. Household income ranks at the 99.2 percentile, while annual growth is forecast at 0.48%. Compared with lower-income suburbs, tenant affordability may be stronger but entry costs are likely higher.
How is City Beach's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is forecast at 7.1% over 10 years, with annual growth of 0.48%. Overseas migration is the primary driver. City Beach is also labelled Declining young: the young share has fallen 2.3 points while the senior share has risen 2.0 points. Compared with a rapidly expanding corridor, change should be gradual and shaped by established households.
What languages are spoken in City Beach?
Overseas-born residents make up 30.9% of City Beach, which is 9.3 percentage points above the national share. Italian is the most common listed language at 47 speakers, followed by Mandarin at 32, Greek at 31, German at 26 and Canton at 21. Compared with the national mix, overseas migration is a more visible part of local change.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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