Cottesloe

Cottesloe has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Estimates derived from ABS population updates for the wider region and subsequent address checks by AreaSearch indicate the suburb of Cottesloe has a population of approximately 8,960 as of May 2026. Compared to the 2021 Census count of 7,750, this represents a population expansion of 1,210 individuals, or 15.6%. This projection is based on a resident population figure of 8,958 calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 ERP release, combined with 93 validated new addresses registered after the census. The suburb's density stands at 2,389 persons per square kilometer, placing it within the highest quarter of all Australian locations evaluated by AreaSearch. With a 15.6% expansion rate, the suburb of Cottesloe outpaced both the national growth benchmark of 9.3% and the broader SA3 region to rank among the leading local areas for population growth. The main driver was overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 87.0% of the population increase, though positive contributions were also recorded from natural increase and interstate movements.

Future projections for the suburb of Cottesloe incorporate ABS and Geoscience Australia SA2-level data published in 2024 using a 2022 baseline. In instances where specific SA2 regions lack coverage, or for periods extending beyond 2032, growth calculations apply cohort-specific rates from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections, which also utilized 2022 data. Over the 16 years leading to 2041, the suburb of Cottesloe is forecast to experience population growth that exceeds the national median, increasing by 1,867 residents based on aggregated SA2 models, which represents an overall gain of 20.8%.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Cottesloe among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Analysis of ABS building approvals indicates that Cottesloe averages approximately 50 residential building approvals per year, resulting in an estimated 253 new homes over the preceding 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 17 approvals have been registered. An average of 3.3 additional residents moved to the suburb for each new residence completed between FY-21 and FY-25, showing that demand is outpacing supply, which commonly drives up property prices and heightens buyer competition. Newly constructed dwellings carry an average estimated construction cost of $2,190,000, indicating that development is heavily concentrated in the high-end, luxury market. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $62.3 million this financial year, demonstrating substantial investment in local commercial enterprises.

In comparison to Greater Perth, residential construction in Cottesloe is slightly more active, running 17.0% above the metropolitan average per resident over the 5 year timeframe, which helps maintain options for buyers while supporting property values. Houses make up 76.0% of the recent builds, while apartments and medium-to-high density structures account for 24.0%, reinforcing the suburban character of the neighborhood with standalone dwellings suited to those wanting larger spaces. The ratio of approximately 173 residents for each approved dwelling highlights an expanding community.

Projections indicate that Cottesloe is set to add 1,865 new residents by 2041, calculated from the most recent quarterly estimates by AreaSearch. Construction activity is keeping pace with these projections, but incoming residents are likely to face strong competition for available properties as the local population increases.

Cottesloe has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 44thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and development projects play a major role in regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 23 projects expected to influence the local area. Key developments include the Cottesloe Village Precinct and Town Centre Redevelopment, Ocean Village Cottesloe, the mixed-use precinct at 7-11 Station Street, and the McCabe Street Mixed-Use Residential Precinct at the former Rocky Bay site, with relevant details provided below.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The exceptional employment performance in Cottesloe places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Cottesloe is home to a highly qualified workforce with a strong concentration of professionals, an unemployment rate of only 1.4%, and an annual employment expansion of 2.4%, according to aggregated regional statistics. In March 2026, the employed resident population stood at 5,033, with unemployment sitting 2.7 percentage points below the Greater Perth average of 4.2%. Participation in the labor force is slightly lower than typical, recorded at 66.6% versus 70.2% across Greater Perth. Census records indicate that 16.9% of working residents operated from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of pandemic-related restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. The suburb exhibits a high concentration of professional & technical workers, with their share of employment being 1.9 times the regional average. Conversely, construction plays a minor role, representing 5.2% of the workforce compared to 9.3% across the metropolitan area. The local economy offers relatively few jobs within the suburb itself, as shown by the imbalance between local working positions and the number of employed residents.

Based on SALM and ABS figures aggregated from local statistical divisions, the past 12 months saw employment rise by 2.4% while the total labor force grew by 2.7%, resulting in a 0.3 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 2.0%, labor force growth of 2.5%, and an increase in unemployment of 0.4 percentage points. National employment projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context on future demand. By mapping these five-year and ten-year national industry growth forecasts against local employment distributions, local job numbers are projected to rise by 7.4% over five years and 15.1% over ten years, assuming a simple weighting based on industry mix without adjusting for localized population shifts. Across Australia, overall employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying widely by sector.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Based on the latest postcode-level ATO data released for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in Cottesloe recorded a median income of $84,217 and an average income of $295,283. These figures are exceptionally high by national standards, comparing to a median of $60,748 and an average of $80,248 across Greater Perth. Adjusting for a 10.93% increase in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $93,422 for the median and $327,557 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes all ranked within the 97th to 98th percentiles across the nation. The largest income bracket contains 44.1% of local residents, representing 3,951 people who earn over $4,000 weekly, contrasting with the wider metropolitan region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is most common at 32.0%. This economic strength is reflected in the 54.4% of households earning more than $3,000 weekly, which supports high retail and service spending. Residents retain 88.3% of their earnings after meeting housing costs, showing substantial disposable income, and the area is positioned in the 10th decile on the SEIFA index.

Cottesloe displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The housing stock in Cottesloe at the time of the latest Census consisted of 69.0% separate houses and 31.0% semi-detached properties, townhouses, and apartments, compared to metropolitan Perth where separate houses comprised 77.8% of dwellings and other types made up 22.1%. Outright home ownership was high at 46.2%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (26.7%) or tenants (27.1%). The median mortgage payment of $3,925 per month was significantly higher than the Perth metropolitan average of $1,907, while the median weekly rent was $550, compared to $350 across the metropolitan area. Nationally, local mortgage commitments are higher than the Australian median of $1,863, and rents exceed the national median of $375.

Cottesloe features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up 70.3% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 31.7%, couples without children at 30.4%, and single-parent households at 7.3%. The remaining 29.7% are non-family households, with single-person households representing 25.3% and group households making up 4.5% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 residents, slightly below the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in Cottesloe places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational qualifications in Cottesloe are high relative to wider benchmarks, with 60.6% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to 27.9% across WA and 30.1% across Greater Perth. This high level of education positions the suburb well for professional opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 41.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 15.4% and graduate diplomas at 4.2%. Vocational training accounts for 16.5% of qualifications for those aged 15 and over, split between advanced diplomas at 9.0% and certificates at 7.5%.

A high proportion of residents are active students, with 30.1% of the population currently enrolled in education. This group includes 9.4% in secondary school, 8.8% in higher education, and 8.1% in primary school.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport analysis identifies 42 active transit stops in Cottesloe, including both train and bus options. These stops are served by 14 routes, which together accommodate 4,653 weekly passenger journeys. Access is favorable, with residents living an average of 220 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and most working residents commute to other areas, with private vehicles being the main travel method at 79%, followed by trains at 11% and cycling at 3%. Households average 1.6 vehicles. The 2021 Census recorded 16.9% of residents working from home, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

Transit services run an average of 664 trips daily across all local routes, which averages out to approximately 110 weekly services per stop.

Cottesloe's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health indicators show very positive outcomes for Cottesloe, with AreaSearch assessments indicating low rates of chronic illness and low mortality rates across all age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, with policyholders equivalent to approximately 144% of the total population, representing 12,937 people. This compares to coverage rates of 59.0% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

Arthritis and asthma are the most common health conditions reported by residents, affecting 6.5% and 5.7% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 75.5% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Residents aged 65 and older make up 23.1% of the local population, totaling 2,069 people, which is higher than the 16.1% average for Greater Perth. Senior residents display strong health outcomes, with national health rankings that align closely with the broader local population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Cottesloe records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cultural diversity metrics show the area aligns closely with metropolitan averages, with 74.2% of residents born in Australia, 89.0% holding citizenship, and 93.3% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the main religious affiliation, representing 47.7% of residents. The most notable religious difference is Judaism, which accounts for 0.3% of the population, matching the 0.3% average for Greater Perth.

In terms of parent country of birth, the three most common ancestries are English at 34.1% of the population, which is higher than the regional average of 28.0%, Australian at 23.2%, and Scottish at 10.0%. Specific ethnic backgrounds show minor variations from regional trends, with Welsh representing 0.9% of the population compared to 0.7% regionally, French representing 1.0% compared to 0.5%, and South Australian representing 0.9% compared to 1.0%.

Cottesloe hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

With a median age of 44, Cottesloe is older than Greater Perth at 37 and the national average of 38. The 75 - 84 age group represents 8.9% of the population, showing stronger representation than in Greater Perth, whereas the 35 - 44 cohort is less common at 10.7%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has risen from 7.1% to 8.9%, and the 15 to 24 group has increased from 12.7% to 14.1%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 13.7% to 11.4%. Demographic models project that the age profile will shift by 2041, with the 75 to 84 cohort increasing by 61%, or 485 individuals, growing from 797 to 1,283. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to make up 65% of the total population growth. In contrast, the 5 to 14 and 35 to 44 cohorts are projected to experience a reduction in numbers.