Cottesloe
Household income in the 98.7th percentile makes Cottesloe the wealthiest suburb in this dataset, yet the 13.9% vacancy rate suggests a significant portion of its housing stock sits unoccupied, likely investment properties or holiday homes. SEIFA decile 10 across all 4 indices is a clean sweep only a handful of Australian suburbs achieve. With 65.9% university-educated residents, 35.8 percentage points above the national average, and professionals making up 47% of the workforce, Cottesloe functions as Perth's western suburbs' intellectual and financial centre of gravity.
Population
7,750
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,351/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$830K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The rent-derived $830,000 estimate almost certainly understates the true market for a SEIFA decile 10 beachside suburb. Mortgage costs of $3,925/month consume 27.1% of household income, staying under the stress threshold because family incomes average $4,593/week. Detached houses are 69.0% of stock, with 37.1% having 4+ bedrooms and 36.7% having 3 bedrooms. North Cottesloe Primary School (ICSEA 1164, 348 enrolled) ranks in approximately the top 5% nationally. Public transport usage at 10.7% is unusually high for Perth, likely reflecting the Cottesloe train station on the Fremantle line.
For Buyers
The rent-derived $830,000 estimate almost certainly understates the true market for a SEIFA decile 10 beachside suburb. Mortgage costs of $3,925/month consume 27.1% of household income, staying under the stress threshold because family incomes average $4,593/week. Detached houses are 69.0% of stock, with 37.1% having 4+ bedrooms and 36.7% having 3 bedrooms. North Cottesloe Primary School (ICSEA 1164, 348 enrolled) ranks in approximately the top 5% nationally. Public transport usage at 10.7% is unusually high for Perth, likely reflecting the Cottesloe train station on the Fremantle line.
For Investors
The 27.2% renting rate is notably high for an ultra-affluent suburb, but the 13.9% vacancy rate is problematic, suggesting substantial stock sits empty. Weekly rent of $550 against an $830,000 estimated median yields approximately 3.4% gross, though actual purchase prices would compress this. Zero development applications in 12 months means no new supply entering the market. The capital growth thesis rests on beachside land scarcity: fixed coastal supply, decile 10 demographics, and 4.7% population growth over 10 years constraining what little turnover exists.
Schools in Cottesloe iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
North Cottesloe Primary School
K-6 · 348 students
Demographics
The median age of 44 is 4 years above the national median. University attainment at 65.9% is 35.8 percentage points above the national average, the 2nd highest in this dataset. English ancestry dominates (3,743), with Scottish (1,093) and Irish (1,089) close behind. Only 25.8% were born overseas, 4.2 percentage points above the national figure, and the language profile is predominantly European: Italian (42), French (27), Mandarin (22). The 28.8% volunteering rate is the highest in this dataset, more than double the national average, indicating exceptionally strong civic participation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.0%
Houses
12.5%
Townhouse
18.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses make up 69.0%, with apartments at 18.5% and semi-detached at 12.5%. The apartment share is notably higher than other affluent Perth suburbs, reflecting waterfront apartment developments. Ownership splits to 46.0% outright and 26.8% mortgaged, with 27.2% renting. Mortgage costs consume 27.1% of income, below the stress line. The 22.9% residential turnover rate is moderate, meaning roughly 1 in 5 residents moved within 5 years. Bedrooms skew large (37.1% 4+ bedrooms) but the 20.2% 2-bedroom share reflects the apartment segment.
Mortgage / mo
$3,925
Rent / wk
$550
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,458
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.9%
Unoccupied
468
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.7%
Couples, no children
5,869
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (22.0%) and professional/tech (17.6%) together employ 39.6% of workers, an overwhelmingly white-collar concentration. Mining at 8.1% reflects Perth's FIFO economy, where mining-sector professionals live in coastal suburbs and fly to remote sites. Professionals (1,797) and managers (801) together account for 68% of all occupations, the highest ratio in this dataset. Unemployment at 3.7% is among the lowest recorded. SEIFA IEO decile 10 and IER decile 10 confirm that Cottesloe's education converts directly to economic resources, with no gap between the two.
Unemployment
1.3%
Labour Force
5,004
Unemployed
65
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.9%
Part-time
37.4%
Participation
60.5%
Employed
3,805
Occupations
Top Industries
University
65.9%
Postgraduate
18.0%
Born Overseas
25.8%
Dwellings
2,896
Transport to Work
North Cottesloe Primary School (Government, ICSEA 1164, 348 enrolled) ranks in approximately the top 5% nationally for educational advantage. Public transport usage at 10.7% is one of the highest in Perth's western suburbs, aided by the Cottesloe train station. Walking and cycling at 6.0% is above average. The 2.6% need-for-assistance rate is the lowest in this dataset. SEIFA decile 10 across all indices and the 28.8% volunteering rate together indicate a suburb with both material advantage and active community engagement, a combination rarer than either alone.
Drive
78.4%
Public Transport
10.7%
Walk / Cycle
6.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.77%/yr
(+69 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is projected to reach 9,061 by 2031 from 8,958 in 2025, growing at just 0.77% annually (69 people/year). The suburb grew 4.7% over the past decade, constrained by built-out land. Overseas migration adds +210/year, while internal migration is marginally positive (+21/year). The aging trajectory is the steepest in this dataset: senior share rose 6.4 percentage points, working-age share fell 4.7 percentage points, and young share declined 1.7 percentage points. Affordability has improved from 46.3% to 37.7% mortgage-to-income, because incomes grew faster than prices.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+210
Net Internal / yr
+21
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +12% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +210/yr, Accelerating: -2% → 14%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cottesloe compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cottesloe a good suburb to live in?
Cottesloe ranks SEIFA decile 10 across all 4 indices, with the 98.7th percentile household income, 3.7% unemployment, and a school scoring ICSEA 1164. Public transport at 10.7% is unusually accessible for Perth. The cost of entry is the barrier: the $830,000 estimate understates true market prices for this beachside location.
What is the median house price in Cottesloe?
The rent-derived estimate is $830,000 (2025), but actual sale prices for this SEIFA decile 10 beachside suburb typically run significantly higher. Mortgage costs of $3,925/month consume 27.1% of household income, under the stress threshold due to the $4,593/week average family income.
What schools are in Cottesloe?
North Cottesloe Primary School (Government, ICSEA 1164, 348 enrolled) is the sole school within the suburb boundary. Its ICSEA of 1164 is 164 points above the national median, placing it in approximately the top 5% nationally. Secondary students typically attend schools in Mosman Park or Claremont.
Is Cottesloe safe?
Suburb-level crime data is not available for Cottesloe in the current dataset. SEIFA IRSD decile 10 (least disadvantaged) and IER decile 10 (highest economic resources) statistically correlate with the lowest crime rates nationally. The 2.6% need-for-assistance rate, the lowest in this dataset, also indicates community wellbeing.
Is Cottesloe good for property investment?
The 13.9% vacancy rate is a significant concern, and gross yield is approximately 3.4% ($550/week on $830,000 est.). Zero DAs in 12 months means no new supply. The investment case is long-term capital preservation in a SEIFA decile 10 beachside location with fixed land supply. This is a wealth-storage play, not a rental income strategy.
How is Cottesloe's population changing?
Growth is minimal at 0.77% annually (69 people/year), with just 4.7% total growth over the past decade. The suburb is aging steeply: senior share rose 6.4 percentage points and working-age share fell 4.7 percentage points. Overseas migration (+210/year) is the primary population source, with internal flows near neutral (+21/year).
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), 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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