Cottesloe
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Cottesloe's population was approximately 8,725 as of Aug 2025. This figure represents an increase of 975 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,750. The change is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 8,723 in June 2024 and an additional 85 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,326 persons per square kilometer, placing Cottesloe in the upper quartile compared to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 12.6% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.6%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 86.8% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all demographic drivers being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses 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 growth post-2032, 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. Future demographic trends indicate an above median population growth for Australian statistical areas, with Cottesloe expected to expand by 2,083 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, showing a total increase of 23.9% over the 17 years.

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 each year. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, totalling 253 approvals across the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25, with three approvals so far in FY26. Over these five years, an average of 2.9 new residents per year has been associated with each dwelling, suggesting solid demand that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $2,190,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

In FY26, $62.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Perth, Cottesloe shows moderately higher new home approvals, with 17.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, 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 with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

The location has approximately 169 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Population forecasts indicate Cottesloe will gain 2,081 residents through to 2041. Construction is maintaining a reasonable pace with projected growth, although buyers could encounter growing competition as population increases.

Cottesloe has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 20thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 19 projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable among these are the Cottesloe Train Station Precinct Development, Solomon Street Gas Pipeline Upgrade, McCabe Street Mixed-Use Residential Precinct (Former Rocky Bay Site), and Draft Local Planning Strategy - Town of Mosman Park. The following list details those projects considered most relevant.

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

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 was 1.2% as of June 2025.

At this time, 4956 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate 2.7 percentage points lower than Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation was broadly similar to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Cottesloe shows strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 5.2% compared to the regional average of 9.3%. Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.4%, while employment declined by 1.6%, increasing unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 3.7% and labour force growth of 3.8%. State-level data to Sep-25 shows WA employment contracted by 0.82%, with the state unemployment rate at 4.3% compared to the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Cottesloe's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 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

Cottesloe's median income among taxpayers was $84,217 and average income stood at $295,283 in financial year 2022, according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This compares with Greater Perth's figures of $58,380 and $78,020 respectively. By March 2025, estimates based on a 11.61% Wage Price Index growth suggest median income will be approximately $93,995 and average income around $329,565. The 2021 Census shows household, family, and personal incomes in Cottesloe rank highly nationally, between the 97th and 99th percentiles. Income analysis reveals 44.1% of Cottesloe's population (3,847 individuals) fall within the $40,000+ income range, differing from regional patterns where $1,500 - $2,999 dominates with 32.0%. Economic strength is evident through 54.4% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 88.3% of income, indicating 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

In Cottesloe, as per the latest Census evaluation, 69.0% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 31.0% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This is comparable to Perth metro's figures of 68.6% houses and 31.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cottesloe stood at 46.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.7% and rented ones at 27.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,925, higher than Perth metro's average of $3,293. The median weekly rent in Cottesloe was $550, compared to Perth metro's $450. Nationally, Cottesloe's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and 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 constitute 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%, consisting of 25.3% lone person households and 4.5% group households. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is 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

Educational attainment in Cottesloe is notably higher than broader benchmarks. 60.6% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 27.9% in Western Australia and 30.1% in Greater Perth. The most common qualification is Bachelor degrees at 41.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 15.4% and graduate diplomas at 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% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in secondary education, 8.8% in tertiary education, and 8.1% pursuing primary education. North Cottesloe Primary School serves the local community, with an enrollment of 349 students as of a recent report. The school demonstrates high educational performance, ranked at ICSEA: 1170, placing it among the most advantaged nationally for primary schools. There is one school focused exclusively on primary education in Cottesloe, with secondary options available in nearby areas. School capacity is limited locally, with 4.0 places per 100 residents compared to 18.1 regionally, leading many families to travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

The analysis of public transport in Cottesloe shows that there are currently 43 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. There are 22 individual routes servicing these stops, which together facilitate 3,465 weekly passenger trips.

The report notes that residents have good access to public transport, with an average distance of 216 meters to the nearest transport stop. Across all routes, there is an average service frequency of 495 trips per day, translating to approximately 80 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 exceptional results with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The private health cover rate is approximately 96% (8,349 people), compared to 87.5% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.3%. Arthritis and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 6.5% and 5.7% of residents respectively.

Seventy-five point five percent declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.2% in Greater Perth. Cottesloe has 23.3% of residents aged 65 and over (2,033 people), higher than the 21.5% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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, at 47.7%. Judaism, however, is overrepresented at 0.3% compared to Greater Perth's 0.5%.

Top ancestry groups are English (34.1%), Australian (23.2%), and Scottish (10.0%). French (1.0%) and Welsh (0.9%) are overrepresented while South African (0.9%) is underrepresented compared to regional averages.

Cottesloe hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Cottesloe has a median age of 44, which is higher than Greater Perth's figure of 37 and significantly exceeds the national norm of 38. The 75-84 age group makes up 8.8% of Cottesloe's population, compared to Greater Perth's figure, while the 35-44 cohort stands at 10.9%. Post the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group has increased from 7.1% to 8.8%, and the 15-24 cohort has risen from 12.7% to 13.8%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 13.7% to 12.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling indicates significant changes in Cottesloe's age profile. The 75-84 group is projected to grow by 71%, adding 541 people to reach a total of 1,307 from the current 765. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 65% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 35-44 age groups are expected to experience population declines.