Scarborough
Median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, the oldest in this cohort, and the labour force participation rate of 47.1% means more than half the adult population is outside the workforce entirely. Healthcare employs 22.7% of workers, more than double the second sector (Education at 11.4%), reflecting a suburb where the resident demographic both generates and consumes health services. Despite the aging profile, mortgage stress runs at 33.0%, above the 30% threshold, driven by $1,907/month repayments against a household income at just the 33.9th national percentile ($1,336/week). Outright ownership at 40.3% is the highest in this cohort, consistent with a suburb of long-established retirees who bought decades ago.
Population
9,178
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,336/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
40
Median House
$478K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated $478,000 median is affordable by Brisbane standards, but the 33.0% mortgage-to-income ratio flags stress for new buyers because household incomes sit at only the 33.9th percentile nationally. Three-bedroom homes at 42.0% and four-plus at 26.8% dominate the detached stock (60.6%), while apartments at 29.1% provide smaller alternatives. Outright ownership at 40.3% is the highest in this cohort, meaning much of the housing stock is held by long-term owners who may release it through downsizing. Two-bedrooms at 24.5% cater to retiree downsizers and couples. All 3 local schools sit above the 1,000 ICSEA benchmark, with Southern Cross Catholic College leading at 1,041 (1,653 students). The 9.6% vacancy rate indicates some oversupply.
For Buyers
The estimated $478,000 median is affordable by Brisbane standards, but the 33.0% mortgage-to-income ratio flags stress for new buyers because household incomes sit at only the 33.9th percentile nationally. Three-bedroom homes at 42.0% and four-plus at 26.8% dominate the detached stock (60.6%), while apartments at 29.1% provide smaller alternatives. Outright ownership at 40.3% is the highest in this cohort, meaning much of the housing stock is held by long-term owners who may release it through downsizing. Two-bedrooms at 24.5% cater to retiree downsizers and couples. All 3 local schools sit above the 1,000 ICSEA benchmark, with Southern Cross Catholic College leading at 1,041 (1,653 students). The 9.6% vacancy rate indicates some oversupply.
For Investors
The 31.3% renter share is near the national average, but the 9.6% vacancy rate is well above, suggesting structural oversupply that may be linked to holiday-let withdrawals from the long-term market. At $350/week rent against a $478,000 estimated price, gross yield is approximately 3.8%. Net overseas migration of 518 per year is high for the suburb's size and provides the primary demand driver, while internal migration runs negative at 110 departures annually. With 38 DAs lodged in 12 months (including subdivision and multi-dwelling applications), the development pipeline is active. The 26.7% turnover rate is moderate. Rent-to-income at 26.2% is above average, meaning tenants are stretched.
Development Activity
Total DAs
90
Last 12 Months
40
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-7.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Scarborough iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Southern Cross Catholic College
Prep-12 · 1653 students
Australian Trade College North Brisbane
11-12 · 286 students
Scarborough State School
Prep-6 · 776 students
Demographics
The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, and 40.1% of families are couples without children, consistent with empty-nesters and retirees. English ancestry dominates at 4,198, with Irish (1,451), Scottish (1,219) and German (557) forming a strongly Anglo-Celtic and European base. Just 25.6% were born overseas, 4.0 points above national but low for a Queensland coastal suburb. Non-English language speakers are minimal: German (27), Afrikaans (19), Italian (17), French (16) and Arabic (15). Average household size of 2.2 is below the 2.5 national norm. The 9.0% need-assistance rate (789 people) is high, driven by the elderly population, and the 3,432 people outside the labour force exceed the 2,175 full-time employed.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
60.6%
Houses
8.7%
Townhouse
29.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses lead at 60.6%, with apartments at 29.1% and semi-detached at 8.7%, a mix that reflects coastal medium-density zoning. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 42.0%, with four-plus at 26.8%. The tenure profile is distinctive: outright owners at 40.3% far exceed the national average, mortgage holders sit at 28.4%, and renters at 31.3%. Studios/one-bedrooms at 6.7% and two-bedrooms at 24.5% cater to the downsizer market. The estimated median of $478,000 is rent-derived. Mortgage-to-income at 33.0% exceeds the stress threshold because the household income of $1,336/week sits at just the 33.9th national percentile. This mismatch between housing costs and incomes is a key constraint.
Mortgage / mo
$1,907
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$712
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.6%
Unoccupied
429
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.0% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.1%
Couples, no children
6,834
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 22.7% (609 workers), more than double Education at 11.4% (305), reflecting the suburb's role as both a healthcare employment hub and a consumer of aged-care services. Construction at 10.1% (271), Public Admin at 8.0% (215) and Professional/Tech at 7.6% (204) follow. The participation rate of 47.1% is well below the national average, with 3,432 people outside the labour force entirely, largely because the retired population outnumbers workers. Professionals (904), Clerical/Admin (556) and Managers (540) lead occupations. Unemployment at 6.3% is above average. All four SEIFA indices sit at decile 7, indicating moderate-to-above-average advantage driven by accumulated assets rather than current earned income.
Unemployment
1.9%
Labour Force
14,091
Unemployed
271
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.6%
Part-time
32.1%
Participation
47.1%
Employed
3,530
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.1%
Postgraduate
7.1%
Born Overseas
25.6%
Dwellings
4,015
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 87.7%, with public transport at 2.7% and walking/cycling at 3.7%. Three schools all exceed the 1,000 ICSEA benchmark: Southern Cross Catholic College (1,041, 1,653 students, Combined), Australian Trade College North Brisbane (1,026, 286 students, Independent Secondary), and Scarborough State School (1,015, 776 students, Government Primary). SEIFA scores uniformly sit at decile 7 across all four indices, confirming above-average advantage. The 9.0% need-assistance rate (789 people) is among the highest in this cohort, driven by the aged population. Rent-to-income at 26.2% is above average, suggesting renters face more financial pressure than the suburb's SEIFA reading implies.
Drive
87.7%
Public Transport
2.7%
Walk / Cycle
3.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.69%/yr
(+347 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 1.69% per year (347 persons), with overseas migration adding 518 annually while internal migration runs negative at 110 departures per year. The 10-year population change of 23.0% is above the national average. Growth is occurring across all age groups, but the senior share expanded 1.7 points and the young share grew 2.1 points over the decade, indicating that new family arrivals partly offset the aging base. Real income growth of 8.8% over the decade is modest, barely keeping pace with inflation. The gentrification score of 36 shows early signs, with the suburb accelerating from 6% to 24% decade-over-decade growth. Projected population reaches approximately 22,062 by 2031.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+518
Net Internal / yr
-110
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +32% since 2011, Net internal outflow -110/yr, Strong overseas inflow +518/yr, Accelerating: 6% → 24%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Scarborough compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Scarborough a good suburb to live in?
Scarborough suits retirees and empty-nesters (median age 53, 40.3% outright owners). SEIFA decile 7 indicates above-average advantage, and all 3 schools exceed the 1,000 ICSEA benchmark. However, mortgage stress at 33.0% is above the threshold, and the participation rate of 47.1% signals a suburb where most adults are outside the workforce.
What is the median house price in Scarborough?
The estimated median house price is $478,000 (rent-derived, 2025). Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,907 produce a 33.0% mortgage-to-income ratio, above the stress threshold, because household income sits at just the 33.9th national percentile ($1,336/week). Median weekly rent is $350.
What schools are in Scarborough?
Three schools serve the suburb, all above the 1,000 ICSEA benchmark: Southern Cross Catholic College (1,041, 1,653 students, Combined), Australian Trade College North Brisbane (1,026, 286 students, Independent Secondary), and Scarborough State School (1,015, 776 students, Government Primary).
Is Scarborough safe?
Crime data is not available for Scarborough in the current dataset. SEIFA IRSD decile 7 indicates below-average disadvantage. The 40.3% outright ownership rate and 73.3% residential stability suggest a settled, low-turnover community. The 9.0% need-assistance rate is high but reflects age-related disability rather than social deprivation.
Is Scarborough good for property investment?
The 31.3% renter share provides a moderate tenant pool, with gross yield of approximately 3.8% ($350/week on $478,000). The 9.6% vacancy rate is a concern and may reflect holiday accommodation. Overseas migration adds 518 per year, but internal migration is negative at 110 departures. There were 38 DAs lodged in 12 months.
How is Scarborough's population changing?
Population grows at 1.69% per year (347 persons), with 23.0% growth over the past decade. Overseas migration adds 518 annually, offset by 110 internal departures. The median age of 53 is 13 years above national. The senior share grew 1.7 points over the decade, but the young share also grew 2.1 points.
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.
Explore Scarborough on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map