Scarborough

Population growth drivers in Scarborough are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Scarborough's population is around 20,438 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,886 people (16.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,552 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,052 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 151 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 4,112 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly sought resource. Scarborough's 16.4% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 74.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years post-2032, AreaSearch is utilising the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Anticipating future population dynamics, an above-median population growth of national areas is projected, with the area expected to increase by 2,815 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 11.9% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Scarborough was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Scarborough has averaged around 107 new dwelling approvals per year, with 536 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 136 so far in FY-26. With an average of 5 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is substantially lagging demand, which generally means heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $469,000, showing that developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. Additionally, $4.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, reflecting the area's residential character.

Compared to Greater Perth, Scarborough has slightly more development (33.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), maintaining good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. Recent construction comprises 27.0% detached dwellings and 73.0% townhouses or apartments. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. The location has approximately 368 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area.

Looking ahead, Scarborough is expected to grow by 2,429 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Scarborough has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 10thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 21 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include The Dunes Beachfront Residences, Myka Residences, Iconic Scarborough, and Marbella Beachside, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 conditions in Scarborough rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Scarborough possesses a highly educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of just 1.9%, and 4.4% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 13,820 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 2.2% below Greater Perth's rate of 4.1%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (82.1% compared to Greater Perth's 71.9%). Based on Census responses, a low 10.7% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and mining. The area shows particularly strong specialization in mining, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. Meanwhile, retail trade has a limited presence with 6.3% employment compared to 9.3% regionally. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 4.4% while the labour force increased by 4.3%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Perth, where employment rose by 2.3%, the labour force grew by 2.6%, and unemployment rose 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Scarborough. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Scarborough's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Scarborough SA2 is among the top percentile nationally, with the median assessed at $70,950 while the average income stands at $95,885. This contrasts with Greater Perth's figures of a median income of $60,748 and an average income of $80,248. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $77,775 (median) and $105,109 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals individual earnings stand out at the 92nd percentile nationally ($1,232 weekly). Income brackets indicate the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 31.5% of residents (6,437 people), consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 32.0% in the same category. A significant 32.5% earn above $3,000 weekly, reflecting pockets of prosperity that drive robust local economic activity. High housing costs consume 16.1% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 73rd percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Scarborough displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure within Scarborough, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 36.2% houses and 63.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Perth metro's 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Scarborough lagged that of Perth metro, at 24.1%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (35.6%) or rented (40.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Perth metro average at $2,154, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $405, compared to Perth metro's $1,907 and $350. Nationally, Scarborough's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceed the national figure of $375.

Scarborough features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 58.1% of all households, comprising 21.0% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 41.9%, with lone person households at 34.5% and group households comprising 7.4% of the total. The median household size of 2.1 people is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

Educational attainment in Scarborough significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 44.7% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 27.9% in WA and 29.0% in SA4 region. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 31.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 31.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (19.2%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.6% in primary education, 7.2% in tertiary education, and 5.6% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 80 active transport stops operating within Scarborough, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 5 individual routes, collectively providing 1,333 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 163 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 78%, with 10% by train and 6% by bus. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 10.7% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 190 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 16 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data demonstrates outstanding results across Scarborough, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups, and the rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 69% of the total population (14,040 people). This compares to 59.0% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 7.7% and 6.6% of residents, respectively, while 75.6% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Working-age residents are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 14.7% of residents aged 65 and over (3,010 people), which is lower than the 16.3% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Scarborough was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Scarborough is more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets, with 14.0% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 33.7% born overseas. The main religion in Scarborough is Christianity, which makes up 39.8% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 0.3% of the population, compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Scarborough are English, comprising 29.7% of the population, Australian, comprising 21.7% of the population, and Irish, comprising 9.6% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: French is notably overrepresented at 1.0% of Scarborough (vs 0.5% regionally), Welsh at 0.9% (vs 0.7%) and South Australian at 1.1% (vs 1.0%).

Scarborough's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

With a median age of 37, Scarborough is equal to the Greater Perth figure of 37 and remains comparable to Australia's 38 years. The 25 - 34 age group shows strong representation at 20.8% compared to Greater Perth, whereas the 15 - 24 cohort is less prevalent at 9.5%. This 25 - 34 concentration is well above the national 14.4%. In the period since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 4.0% to 5.3% of the population. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 23.9% to 20.8%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Scarborough's age structure. Leading the demographic shift, the 75 to 84 group will grow by 70% (761 people), reaching 1,847 from 1,085. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those 65+ comprising 58% of projected growth. On the other hand, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.