Cottesloe

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

Cottesloe's population was around 8,748 as of February 2026. This showed an increase of 998 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 7,750. The growth from June 2024 to February 2026 included an estimated resident population of 8,723 and 93 validated new addresses. This resulted in a density ratio of 2,332 persons per square kilometer, placing Cottesloe in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area's growth rate of 12.9% since the 2021 Census exceeded the national average of 9.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 86.8% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration being positive factors.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate post-2032 growth, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Based on demographic trends, above median population growth is projected for Australian statistical areas. Cottesloe is expected to expand by 2,083 persons to reach a total of 10,831 by 2041, reflecting an increase of 23.5% over the 17-year period.

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

Cottesloe has recorded approximately 50 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 253 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 8 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 attracted 2.9 new residents per year, reflecting robust demand that supports property values. New homes are being constructed at an average cost of $1,208,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

This financial year has seen $62.3 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Perth, Cottesloe shows moderately higher new home approvals, preserving reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. New building activity comprises 74.0% detached houses and 26.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character focused on family homes.

The location has approximately 169 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Population forecasts estimate Cottesloe will gain 2,058 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Construction maintains a reasonable pace with projected growth, although buyers may face increasing competition as population increases.

Cottesloe has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 11thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 23 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Cottesloe Village Precinct and Town Centre Redevelopment, 7-11 Station Street Mixed-Use Precinct, Ocean Village Cottesloe, and McCabe Street Mixed-Use Residential Precinct (Former Rocky Bay Site). The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Cottesloe ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Cottesloe has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 1.2%. As of September 2025, 4872 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.8% lower than Greater Perth's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Cottesloe stands at 66.1%, compared to Greater Perth's 71.6%. According to Census responses, 16.9% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. The area shows significant specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 1.9 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction has lower representation at 5.2% compared to the regional average of 9.3%. Over the year ending September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.9%, and employment declined by 3.1%, leading to an unemployment rate increase of 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cottesloe's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 15.1% over ten years.

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

The median income among taxpayers in Cottesloe SA2 is $83,598. The average income stands at $213,621. These figures are based on the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. In comparison, Greater Perth's median and average incomes are $60,748 and $80,248 respectively. By September 2025, current estimates suggest that Cottesloe SA2's median income will be approximately $91,640 and the average income will be around $234,171, taking into account a 9.62% growth in wages since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Cottesloe rank highly nationally, with household, family, and personal incomes all falling between the 97th and 98th percentiles. Income analysis shows that 44.1% of Cottesloe's population (3,857 individuals) earn within the $4000+ income range, unlike regional patterns where the dominant income bracket is $1,500 - 2,999 with 32.0%. Economic strength in Cottesloe is evident through 54.4% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, which supports elevated consumer spending. After accounting for housing costs, residents retain 88.3% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

Cottesloe's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 69.0% houses and 31.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Perth metro's 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cottesloe stood at 46.2%, with mortgaged properties at 26.7% and rented dwellings at 27.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,925, higher than Perth metro's average of $1,907. Median weekly rent in Cottesloe was $550, compared to Perth metro's $350. Nationally, Cottesloe's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 70.3% of all households, including 31.7% couples with children, 30.4% couples without children, and 7.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.7%, with lone person households at 25.3% and group households comprising 4.5%. The median household size is 2.5 people, smaller than 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

Cottesloe's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 60.6% hold university qualifications, compared to 27.9% in WA and 30.1% in Greater Perth. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 41.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.4%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%). Vocational pathways account for 16.5% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.0% and certificates at 7.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.1% currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.4% in secondary, 8.8% in tertiary, and 8.1% pursuing primary education.

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

Cottesloe has 42 operational public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 14 different routes, collectively facilitating 4,653 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents typically residing 220 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 79%, while train usage stands at 11% and cycling at 3%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 16.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 664 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 110 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Cottesloe's health outcomes show notable results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 94% of Cottesloe's total population of 8,196 people, compared to 59.0% in Greater Perth and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions were arthritis (6.5%) and asthma (5.7%). Seventy-five point five percent of residents reported being completely clear of medical ailments, higher than Greater Perth's 71.9%. Cottesloe has 24.0% of residents aged 65 and over (2,100 people), higher than Greater Perth's 16.3%. Health outcomes among seniors are broadly in line with the general population nationally.

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

Cottesloe's population, born in Australia, is 74.2%, with 89.0% being citizens, and 93.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 47.7%. Judaism, at 0.3%, is slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Perth's 0.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (34.1%), Australian (23.2%), and Scottish (10.0%). French (1.0%) Welsh (0.9%), and South African (0.9%) ethnicities show notable divergences from regional averages of 0.5%, 0.7%, and 1.0% respectively.

Cottesloe hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Cottesloe's median age is 44, which exceeds Greater Perth's figure of 37 and the national norm of 38. The 75-84 age group comprises 9.1% of Cottesloe's population compared to Greater Perth, while the 35-44 cohort makes up 10.6%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group has grown from 7.1% to 9.1%, and the 15-24 cohort increased from 12.7% to 13.9%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.7% to 11.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Cottesloe's age profile will significantly evolve. The 75-84 group is projected to grow by 64%, adding 508 people and reaching 1,307 from 798. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 64% of this growth. Meanwhile, the 35-44 cohort is projected to decline by 23 people.