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

Scarborough's population is approximately 20,129 as of November 2025. This represents an increase of 2,577 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,552. The growth was inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,052 in June 2024 and an additional 147 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 4,050 persons per square kilometer, placing Scarborough among the top 10% of locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 14.7% since the 2021 census exceeds the national average of 8.9%. This growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 74.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 uses growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future population dynamics anticipate an above median growth for national areas. By 2041, Scarborough is projected to increase by 2,815 persons, reflecting a total increase of 13.6% over the 17-year period.

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 approximately 107 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY21-FY25536 homes were approved, with an additional 113 approved so far in FY26. On average, 5 people have moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years.

This indicates supply is lagging demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $469,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY26, $4.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Perth, Scarborough has 33.0% more development per person over the past five years, maintaining good buyer choice while supporting existing property values.

Recent construction comprises 27.0% detached dwellings and 73.0% townhouses or apartments, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. The area has approximately 368 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established location. By 2041, Scarborough is projected to grow by 2,738 residents. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should 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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 21 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones include White Sands Development, The Dunes Beachfront Residences, Iconic Scarborough, and Myka Residences, with the following list highlighting those most relevant.

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

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

Scarborough has a highly educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate was 1.8% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.3%.

As of September 2025, 13,698 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 2.2%, below Greater Perth's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation is high at 73.1%, compared to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and mining. Scarborough has a strong specialization in mining with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level, while retail trade has limited presence at 6.3% compared to the regional 9.3%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population count versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 4.3%, labour force grew by 3.8%, decreasing the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In Greater Perth, employment rose by 2.9%, labour force grew by 3.0%, with a marginal increase in unemployment. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows WA employment contracted by 0.27% (losing 5,520 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 4.6%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Scarborough's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, assuming no changes in 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 financial year 2022 shows that Scarborough SA2 has one of the highest incomes in Australia. The median income is $68,935 and the average income stands at $93,878. This contrasts with Greater Perth's figures where the median income is $58,380 and the average income is $78,020. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $78,724 (median) and $107,209 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals individual earnings stand out at the 92nd percentile nationally with a weekly income of $1,232. Income brackets indicate that the majority, 31.5% or 6,340 people, earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. Notably, 32.5% earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 16.1% of income but strong earnings place disposable income at the 73rd percentile nationally. 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

As of the latest Census evaluation in Scarborough, dwelling structures comprised 36.2% houses and 63.8% other dwellings including semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Perth metro's structure which was 59.6% houses and 40.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Scarborough stood at 24.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.6% and rented ones at 40.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,154, higher than Perth metro's average of $1,950. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure for Scarborough was recorded at $405, compared to Perth metro's $350. Nationally, Scarborough's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than 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 constitute 58.1% of all households, consisting of 21.0% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 41.9%, with lone person households at 34.5% and group households making up 7.4%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.4.

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

Scarborough's educational attainment exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 44.7% hold university qualifications compared to WA's 27.9% and the SA4 region's 29.0%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 31.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 31.2% of residents holding them - advanced diplomas at 12.0% and certificates at 19.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.5% 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

Scarborough has 60 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. Five different routes service these stops, offering a total of 1,324 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 163 meters to the nearest stop.

The services run frequently, with an average of 189 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 22 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

Scarborough shows excellent health outcomes across all age groups, with very low prevalence of common conditions. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 68% (13,727 people), compared to Greater Perth's 59.9%. Nationally, it stands at 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 7.7 and 6.6% respectively. A total of 75.6% report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Greater Perth's 73.0%. As of 2021, 13.9% (2,803 people) are aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Perth's 18.3%. Despite this, seniors' health outcomes align with the general population's profile.

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's population, as per the 2016 Census, had 14.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 33.7% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, with 39.8%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.3%, compared to Greater Perth's 1.4%.

In ancestry, English (29.7%) and Australian (21.7%) were the top groups, both higher than regional averages of 23.5% and 16.8% respectively. Irish ancestry was also notable at 9.6%. French (1.0%), Welsh (0.9%), and South African (1.1%) ethnicities were overrepresented compared to regional figures of 0.6%, 0.6%, and 1.0% respectively.

Scarborough's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Scarborough's median age is 36 years, nearly matching Greater Perth's average of 37 years, which is modestly below Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Scarborough has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (21.7%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.2%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the latest data, the percentage of residents aged 35-44 has increased from 17.7% to 18.6%, while the percentage of residents aged 25-34 has decreased from 23.9% to 21.7%. By 2041, Scarborough's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 88%, adding 866 residents and reaching a total of 1,847 residents. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 60% of population growth, reflecting broader demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 5-14 and 0-4 age groups are projected to experience population declines.