Cottesloe
Household income ranks at the 98.7th percentile, placing Cottesloe well above national benchmarks for financial capacity. Its 7,750 residents live at a density of 2,066.1 people per square kilometre, while the median age of 44 is 4 years above the national figure. A 13.9% vacancy rate is unusually important because it points to a more flexible housing market than tightly held suburbs. Compared with nearby Claremont and Mosman Park, Cottesloe reads as a compact, established coastal market, supported by 45.3% outright ownership and a highly educated workforce.
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
Cottesloe suits buyers prioritising established housing, coastal amenity and access to larger homes, although a current suburb-wide median house price should be checked through recent comparable sales and an address-level valuation. The monthly mortgage figure is $3,925, compared with weekly rent of $550. Mortgage costs represent 27.1% of household income, higher than the 16.4% rent-to-income measure, so purchasers should test repayments against their own budget. Separate houses account for 69.0% of dwellings, while 37.1% have 4 or more bedrooms and 36.7% have 3 bedrooms. That mix supports family buyers more than apartment-only demand.
For Buyers
Cottesloe suits buyers prioritising established housing, coastal amenity and access to larger homes, although a current suburb-wide median house price should be checked through recent comparable sales and an address-level valuation. The monthly mortgage figure is $3,925, compared with weekly rent of $550. Mortgage costs represent 27.1% of household income, higher than the 16.4% rent-to-income measure, so purchasers should test repayments against their own budget. Separate houses account for 69.0% of dwellings, while 37.1% have 4 or more bedrooms and 36.7% have 3 bedrooms. That mix supports family buyers more than apartment-only demand.
For Investors
Cottesloe has a substantial owner base, with 45.3% of dwellings owned outright, but renters still account for 26.8% of households and weekly rent is $550. The 13.9% vacancy rate is a major caution because available stock can make leasing outcomes less predictable compared with tighter rental markets. Development activity is recorded at 0 over the past 12 months, which may limit new competition over time, although it does not remove the immediate vacancy risk. Forecast rent growth of 14.6% and overseas migration as the primary growth driver support the demand case, but investors should allow for slower letting periods and property-specific tenant appeal.
Schools in Cottesloe
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
SEAVIEW COMMUNITY KINDERGARTEN
NORTH COTTESLOE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Cottesloe has an older and more highly educated profile than national benchmarks: the median age is 44, or 4 years above national, while 65.9% of residents have university qualifications, 35.8 percentage points above the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 25.8%, 4.2 points above national, without forming a majority. English ancestry is recorded for 3,743 people, followed by Scottish at 1,093 and Irish at 1,089. No religion is reported by 3,648 residents compared with 3,454 identifying with Christianity. Household size is 2.5, equal to the national comparison, because couples without children make up 43.8% of families. Compared with nearby Claremont and Mosman Park, Cottesloe's profile is shaped strongly by age, education and smaller households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.0%
Houses
12.5%
Townhouse
18.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Cottesloe's tenure pattern reflects established wealth: 45.3% of dwellings are owned outright, higher than the 26.4% with a mortgage, while 26.8% are rented and 1.5% have another tenure arrangement. Separate houses account for 69.0% of homes versus 18.5% apartments and 12.5% semi-detached dwellings. Larger formats are common, with 37.1% of homes containing 4 or more bedrooms and 36.7% containing 3 bedrooms; 2-bedroom homes represent 20.2% and 0 or 1-bedroom homes 6.0%. Mortgage costs equal 27.1% of household income, compared with 16.4% for rent, so ownership is more manageable for higher-income households than for buyers relying on average earnings. A current median house price should be confirmed from recent sales rather than inferred from the housing mix.
Mortgage / mo
$3,925
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$550
Census 2021
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
44.9%
Couples with children
43.8%
Couples, no children
10.3%
Single parent
2,045
Total families
Economy & Employment
Cottesloe combines high household resources with a professional employment base. Weekly household income is $3,351 and ranks at the 98.7th percentile, while all 4 reported SEIFA deciles sit at 10 across education and occupation, economic resources, disadvantage, and overall advantage. That top-decile position aligns with 1,797 professionals and 801 managers. Healthcare is the largest industry at 22.0%, representing 690 workers, followed by Professional and Tech at 17.6% or 552, Education at 9.7% or 304, Mining at 8.1% or 255, and Finance at 6.5% or 204. Unemployment is 3.5% and participation is 64.0%, while 55.6% of workers are full time. The industry mix helps explain why local incomes sit well above national levels.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
4,180
Unemployed
145
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.6%
Part-time
38.7%
Participation
64.0%
Employed
4,035
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
65.9%
Postgraduate
18.0%
Born Overseas
25.8%
Dwellings
2,896
Transport to Work
Cottesloe has a car-led travel pattern, with 64.7% driving to work compared with 8.9% using public transport and 5.0% walking or cycling. Working from home accounts for 17.5%, which may reduce daily commuting pressure. Two local education options provide a government primary school and a government community kindergarten; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb lines. Density is 2,066.1 people per square kilometre across 3.75 square kilometres, supporting access to established services but also increasing pressure on parking and local movement. Socioeconomic advantage is above most areas, with IRSAD, IRSD, IEO and IER all at decile 10. Volunteering is 28.8%, while 2.6% need assistance with core activities. For current safety decisions, review WA Police incident maps and recent street-level reports.
Drive
64.7%
Public Transport
8.9%
Walk / Cycle
5.0%
Work from Home
17.5%
Population Forecast
+0.77%/yr
(+69 people/yr)
EstablishedCottesloe has an established forecast profile, with annual growth of 0.77% driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 4.7% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased by 6.4 points and the young share has fallen by 1.7 points. Forecast rent growth of 14.6% is higher than the annual population trend of 0.77%, suggesting housing demand can strengthen without rapid household expansion. Gentrification signals are mixed, with a score of 29 and a stage of Early signs, while the separate shift measure records a score of 17 and Not gentrifying. Compared with a high-growth fringe market, this points to gradual change within an established suburb rather than broad-based expansion.
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 is suited to households seeking established coastal living, strong incomes and access to local education. Household income ranks at the 98.7th percentile, but the median age of 44 is 4 years above national, so the suburb has an older profile than Australia overall. Transport is car-led, with 64.7% driving to work compared with 8.9% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Cottesloe?
A current median house price should be confirmed through recent comparable sales and an address-level valuation rather than assumed. Cottesloe has 69.0% separate houses, 18.5% apartments and 37.1% homes with 4 or more bedrooms. The monthly mortgage figure is $3,925, compared with weekly rent of $550.
What schools are in Cottesloe?
Cottesloe has 2 listed local education options: 1 government primary school and 1 government community kindergarten. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone, year-level availability and intake rules before committing to an address, because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries. The local housing mix includes 37.1% homes with 4 or more bedrooms.
Is Cottesloe safe?
A current crime rate should be checked through WA Police incident maps and recent local reports, as conditions can vary by street and time. Cottesloe sits at IRSAD decile 10 and IRSD decile 10, indicating socioeconomic advantage above most areas, but those measures do not replace a direct safety check. The suburb has 7,750 residents across 3.75 square kilometres.
Is Cottesloe good for property investment?
Cottesloe has an established investment profile, with 26.8% of households renting and weekly rent of $550. However, the 13.9% vacancy rate is a clear risk because tenants have more available choice than in tighter markets. Development activity is 0 over 12 months, while forecast rent growth of 14.6% and overseas migration provide supportive demand signals.
How is Cottesloe's population changing?
Cottesloe has 7,750 residents today, while the wider-area forecast records 4.7% population change over 10 years and an annual trend of 0.77%. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 6.4 points and the young share down 1.7 points. Overseas migration is the primary driver, so change is gradual and older-skewed compared with a growth-frontier suburb.
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.
Explore Cottesloe on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map