Scarborough
Scarborough packs 17,605 residents into 4.99 sq km, giving it a density of 3,527 people per sq km. Its 12.8% vacancy rate is the standout housing signal, while 39.9% of households rent, above the 23.9% owning outright. The median age is 36, four years below the national figure, and 47.2% hold a university qualification, 17.1 percentage points above national levels. Overseas-born residents account for 33.7%, also above the national comparison by 12.1 points. A 30.5% turnover rate adds to the suburb's mobile profile. When buyers compare Scarborough with nearby Trigg and Doubleview, its dense dwelling mix and rental presence make it a different proposition from a detached-house-only market.
Population
17,605
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,107/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
206
A current median house price is not available for Scarborough, so affordability is better assessed through dwelling type, rent and repayment indicators. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,167, equal to 23.8% of household income, while rent is $405 a week or 19.2% of income. The 47.7% semi-detached share is higher than the 36.3% separate-house share, and 49.4% of homes have 3 bedrooms. That mix creates more attached and medium-density choice because 3,527 people live within each square kilometre. Compared with a house-dominated suburb, Scarborough is more relevant for purchasers comfortable with strata, shared walls or smaller lots. Check parking, owners corporation costs and renovation rules before relying on the monthly repayment indicator.
For Buyers
A current median house price is not available for Scarborough, so affordability is better assessed through dwelling type, rent and repayment indicators. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,167, equal to 23.8% of household income, while rent is $405 a week or 19.2% of income. The 47.7% semi-detached share is higher than the 36.3% separate-house share, and 49.4% of homes have 3 bedrooms. That mix creates more attached and medium-density choice because 3,527 people live within each square kilometre. Compared with a house-dominated suburb, Scarborough is more relevant for purchasers comfortable with strata, shared walls or smaller lots. Check parking, owners corporation costs and renovation rules before relying on the monthly repayment indicator.
For Investors
Scarborough has a sizeable renter base, with 39.9% renting compared with 23.9% owning outright. That supports a broad tenant pool because rental demand is not limited to a small segment of households. Weekly rent is $405, but a gross yield cannot be judged without a purchase price. The 12.8% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied rental market, so leasing periods and incentives deserve close attention. Development activity is also material, with 194 applications recorded over 12 months, which may increase competition between newer and existing dwellings. The outlook is supported by a 2.37% annual growth trend driven by internal migration, although that demand signal should be weighed against vacancy risk. Compared with a low-turnover suburb, Scarborough's 30.5% resident turnover may create more frequent leasing opportunities and more variable management costs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
206
Last 12 Months
206
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Scarborough
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
ST JOHN'S SCHOOL
SCARBOROUGH PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Scarborough's median age of 36 is 4 years below the national figure, while its university qualification rate of 47.2% is 17.1 percentage points above national levels. Overseas-born residents make up 33.7%, 12.1 points above the national comparison. Average household size is 2.1 people, 0.4 below the national figure, which fits the high share of couples without children at 46.9%, compared with 36.1% of couples with children. English ancestry is recorded for 7,191 residents, followed by Irish at 2,316, Scottish at 1,797 and Italian at 1,157. No religion is the largest stated affiliation at 9,187. A 30.5% turnover rate means household change is relatively active. Compared with nearby Trigg and Doubleview, these smaller households and high tertiary qualification levels are useful markers for buyers assessing the local demographic profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
36.3%
Houses
47.7%
Townhouse
16.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Scarborough's tenure pattern is tilted toward renting and mortgage ownership: 39.9% rent, 35.2% have a mortgage and 23.9% own outright. Renters therefore account for a higher share than outright owners, which helps explain the suburb's 12.8% vacancy rate and regular tenant movement. The dwelling mix is also more attached than detached, with 47.7% semi-detached homes, 36.3% separate houses and 16.1% apartments. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 49.4%, followed by two-bedroom homes at 30.3%. The mortgage-to-income measure of 23.8% is higher than the rent-to-income figure of 19.2%, while the 3,527 people per sq km density helps explain why smaller lots and shared-wall housing are common. Compared with a low-density suburb, Scarborough provides more medium-density options but requires closer attention to strata and maintenance costs.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$405
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,231
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.8%
Unoccupied
1,123
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.1%
Couples with children
46.9%
Couples, no children
15.2%
Single parent
4,463
Total families
Economy & Employment
Scarborough's employment base is led by healthcare at 16.5% and 1,348 workers, followed by professional and technical services at 11.7% with 950 workers, education at 11.7% with 950, mining at 10.8% with 879 and construction at 9.9% with 808. The mix is supported by 73.2% labour-force participation, 62.9% full-time employment and unemployment of 3.7%. Professionals number 3,470 and managers 1,586, reinforcing the suburb's highly qualified profile. Household income is $2,107 per week at the 79.8th percentile, above the national comparison. SEIFA education and occupation sits in decile 9, while IRSAD is also decile 9; the economic resources decile of 6 is lower than both, suggesting occupational advantage does not translate evenly into measured household resources. Compared with a less qualified labour market, this industry and occupation mix supports demand for professional services, education and health-related employment.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
11,024
Unemployed
403
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.9%
Part-time
30.8%
Participation
73.2%
Employed
10,621
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
47.2%
Postgraduate
11.0%
Born Overseas
33.7%
Dwellings
7,627
Transport to Work
Scarborough's daily travel is car-led: 77.1% drive, compared with 4.1% using public transport and 2.7% walking or cycling. A further 11.8% work from home. Car use is therefore much higher than public transport use, making parking and road access more important than a transit-only lifestyle. Two local schools provide a government primary option and a non-government school, giving families a basic local choice; check exact enrolment zones because boundaries can cut across suburb streets. IRSAD is in decile 9, above the midpoint, and household income ranks at the 79.8th percentile. Safety decisions should rely on current WA Police and council information and include an inspection of the exact street at different times. Compared with a more transit-oriented suburb, Scarborough is better suited to residents who can use a car or work from home.
Drive
77.1%
Public Transport
4.1%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
11.8%
Population Forecast
+2.37%/yr
(+431 people/yr)
EstablishedScarborough is an established suburb with a 2.37% annual growth trend, driven primarily by internal migration. Population change across the wider area runs at 36.1% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 5.9 percentage points and the working share down 3.7 points. Gentrification is at an Active stage with a score of 59, higher than the shift gentrification score of 34, which is marked Early signs. Rent growth of 35.0% adds pressure to the housing market, even as the affordability measure changed from 53.2% in 2011 to 50.4% in 2021 and is labelled Improving. Growth is therefore being shaped by internal migration and redevelopment interest, while the aging trajectory means future demand may increasingly favour accessible homes, smaller dwellings and convenient services.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+148
Net Internal / yr
+538
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +56% since 2011, Net internal migration +538/yr, Accelerating: 6% → 47%
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 can suit residents seeking a dense suburb with 17,605 people, a median age of 36 and a household income at the 79.8th percentile. Its IRSAD decile of 9 is above the midpoint, while 77.1% drive to work. Compared with a quieter, low-density suburb, it has more attached housing, rental activity and daily movement.
What is the median house price in Scarborough?
A current median house price is not available for Scarborough. As practical benchmarks, weekly rent is $405 and the monthly mortgage indicator is $2,167, equal to 23.8% of household income. Buyers should compare recent sales by dwelling type, because 47.7% of homes are semi-detached and 36.3% are separate houses.
What schools are in Scarborough?
Scarborough has 2 local schools: Scarborough Primary School, a government primary school, and St John's School, a non-government school. Families should check the exact address against current enrolment zones, as access can differ between streets and year levels. Compared with suburbs without a local school, this provides a basic nearby choice.
Is Scarborough safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available for Scarborough, so use current WA Police and council information and inspect the exact street at different times. The suburb covers 4.99 sq km and includes busy activity areas as well as residential streets, making a street-level check more useful than assuming conditions are uniform.
Is Scarborough good for property investment?
Scarborough may suit investors targeting rental demand, with 39.9% renting and weekly rent of $405. However, the 12.8% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied market, and 194 development applications over 12 months may add competition. Compared with a low-turnover suburb, its 30.5% turnover can create more leasing activity but also more management work.
How is Scarborough's population changing?
Growth across the wider area is running at 2.37% a year and is driven by internal migration. Ten-year population change is 36.1%, while Scarborough has an Aging trajectory, with the senior share up 5.9 points and the working share down 3.7 points. Its gentrification score is 59 at Active stage, higher than the shift score of 34.
What languages are spoken in Scarborough?
Overseas-born residents account for 33.7%, above the national comparison by 12.1 percentage points. Portuguese is recorded for 190 residents, Italian for 95, Mandarin for 70, French for 65 and German for 58. Compared with a less internationally connected suburb, these figures point to several established language groups.
What development is happening in Scarborough?
Scarborough recorded 194 development applications over the past 12 months, including additions to single houses and commercial change-of-use matters. That is a higher level of activity than a period with no approvals, but the count does not equal 194 new dwellings. Buyers should check proposed works, parking impacts and the planning status of any nearby application.
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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