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, as of November 2025, is approximately 8,728 people. This figure represents a growth of 978 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 7,750. The increase was inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 8,723 in June 2024 and an additional 86 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,327 persons per square kilometer, placing Cottesloe in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area's growth rate of 12.6% since the 2021 census surpassed the national average of 8.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 86.8% of overall population gains during recent periods, with natural growth and interstate migration also being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs 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 suggest an above-median population growth for Australian statistical areas, with Cottesloe projected to expand by 2,083 persons to reach a total of 10,811 people by 2041, marking a 23.8% increase 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 each year over the past five financial years, totalling 253 homes. As of FY-26, 7 approvals have been recorded. On average, 2.9 new residents are gained annually per dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, reflecting strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value of new homes is $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, suggesting robust commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Perth, Cottesloe shows moderately higher new home approvals, 17.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, offering 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 project Cottesloe will gain 2,078 residents by 2041. Construction maintains a reasonable pace with projected growth, although buyers may face growing competition as population increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects that may affect the area. Notable ones include 7-11 Station Street Mixed-Use Precinct, Ocean Village Cottesloe, Cottesloe Village Precinct and Town Centre Redevelopment, Solomon Street Gas Pipeline Upgrade. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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.

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 June 2025, 4956 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.7% lower than Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is similar to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. The area shows strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share 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 to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.4% and employment declined by 1.6%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.3 percentage points. Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 3.7% during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. 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 in financial year 2022, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $295,283 during the same period. This compares to figures for Greater Perth of $58,380 and $78,020 respectively. By September 2025, current estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% would be approximately $96,176 (median) and $337,213 (average). From the 2021 Census, household incomes in Cottesloe ranked between the 97th and 99th percentiles nationally. Income analysis showed that 44.1% of Cottesloe's population fell within the $40,000+ income range, differing from regional patterns where the $15,000 - $29,999 range dominated with 32.0%. Economic strength was evident through 54.4% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000. After housing costs, residents retained 88.3% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed 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 evaluation, consisted of 69.0% houses and 31.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Perth metro's 68.6% houses and 31.3% 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. Median weekly rent in Cottesloe was $550, compared to Perth metro's $450. Nationally, Cottesloe's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents 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 comprise the remaining 29.7%, with lone person households at 25.3% and group households making up 4.5%. 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 high, with 60.6% of residents aged 15 years and above holding university qualifications. This compares to 27.9% in Western Australia 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 among those aged 15 years and above, 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 area, with an enrollment of 349 students as of a recent report. The school's Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) score is 1170, indicating high educational advantage compared to national averages. The one primary school in Cottesloe focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available nearby. School capacity is limited locally, with only 4.0 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 18.1, leading many families to seek schooling in neighboring areas.

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

Transport analysis shows 43 active transport stops in Cottesloe. These include train and bus services. There are 22 routes serving these stops, providing a total of 3,465 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 216 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 495 trips per day across all routes, equating 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 excellent results across all age groups with very low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 96% of the total population (8,352 people), compared to 87.5% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 6.5 and 5.7% of residents respectively.

A significant majority, 75.5%, report being completely free of medical ailments, compared to 74.2% across Greater Perth. Cottesloe has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 23.3% (2,034 people), compared to 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 cultural diversity aligns with the broader region, as 74.2% of its residents were born in Australia, 89.0% are citizens, and 93.3% speak English exclusively at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Cottesloe, practiced by 47.7% of the population. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Perth, with 0.3% of Cottesloe's population identifying as Jewish.

The top three ancestral groups based on parental birth country are English (34.1%), Australian (23.2%), and Scottish (10.0%). Notably, French, Welsh, and South African ethnicities have higher representation in Cottesloe compared to the regional averages: French at 1.0% vs 0.7%, Welsh at 0.9% vs 0.8%, and South African at 0.9% vs 1.1%.

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

Cottesloe's median age is 44, exceeding Greater Perth's figure of 37 and the national norm of 38. The 75-84 age group comprises 8.8% of Cottesloe's population compared to Greater Perth, while the 35-44 cohort makes up 10.9%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 7.1% to 8.8%, and the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 12.7% to 13.8%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 13.7% to 12.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Cottesloe's age profile will significantly evolve. The 75-84 group is projected to grow by 71%, reaching 1,307 people from 765. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 65% of this growth. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 and 35 to 44 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.