Suburb report · QLD 4020
Scarborough
Prepared by the property strategists at Chase Wealth Australia
Compare with
Investment Score
Enter your details to see this suburb's Investment Score, medians, yields and growth.
Population
10,791
Scarborough suburb profile
Who lives in Scarborough
Scarborough is 31km by straight line from central Brisbane. Scarborough is home to 10,791 people, a scale matched by fewer than 15% of Queensland suburbs. By population it is number 82 of 317 suburbs within 40km of the Brisbane CBD. A median age of 54 puts Scarborough in the oldest fifth of Queensland suburbs, older than 94% of them. Of the 317 suburbs within 40km of the Brisbane CBD, 313 have a younger median age. In the other suburb of the Scarborough-Newport statistical area the median age is 44, so Scarborough runs 10 years older than its statistical-area neighbours.
Income and home ownership
Median household income is $76,900, below the $98,100 of the median Queensland suburb. The other suburb of the Scarborough-Newport statistical area has $139,200, putting Scarborough 44.8% below its statistical-area neighbours. Among the 317 suburbs within 40km of the Brisbane CBD, 281 report a higher median household income. 68.7% of households own their home and 31.3% rent, close to the 69.2% ownership of a typical Queensland suburb. 151 of the 317 suburbs within 40km of the Brisbane CBD have a higher ownership share. That is 7.6 points below the 76.3% ownership share in the other suburb of the Scarborough-Newport statistical area.
Household mix
At the 2021 Census, 4,022 households lived in Scarborough, more than in 88% of Queensland suburbs. Lone-person households lead the mix: families with children 30.7%, couples without children 33.3%, people living alone 33.8% and group households 2.1%. On the share of families with children it ranks 288 of 317 suburbs within 40km of the Brisbane CBD. The share of families with children, 30.7%, is lower than in 86% of Queensland suburbs. Couples without children are unusually common at 33.3%, more than in 80% of Queensland suburbs. Families with children are 30.7% of households in Scarborough and 46% across the rest of the Scarborough-Newport statistical area.
Housing supply
130 new dwellings were approved across the Scarborough-Newport statistical area in the year to June 2025, 58% below its 2020 to 2024 average of 312 a year. The Scarborough-Newport statistical area had 18,187 residents in 2025 and takes in Scarborough and neighbouring suburbs. That is 7.1 approvals per 1,000 residents of that area, heavier than 77% of Queensland statistical areas. The busiest year for approvals since 2020 was 2022, with 426, and the quietest was 2024, with 100.
Population trend
From 2020 to 2025, the Scarborough-Newport statistical area grew its population by 24.3%, well ahead of most areas, against 9.7% for Queensland as a whole. The median Queensland statistical area grew 6.3% over the same 5 years, 18 points slower than this one. It ranks at the 94th percentile of Queensland statistical areas for population growth over the period. Year by year, the change ran from 3.7% in 2025 to 5.7% in 2021.
Against its neighbours
The sharpest contrast among the nearby suburbs is Mango Hill, where the median age is 32 compared with 54 here. On the median age, Redcliffe comes closest to Scarborough: 53 against 54. Deception Bay sits 9km away, with a median household income of $73,000 against $76,900 here.
Location
Demographics
ABS Data by Region to 2025, on ABS Census 2021 suburb baselineHousehold Mix Census 2021
Growth Projection Calculator
Projections for Scarborough load with the full report once your details are in.
Similar Suburbs
Reading this report
Every figure in the Scarborough data table is dated at its source. Supply and population change cover the Scarborough-Newport statistical area, whose boundary differs from Scarborough's, and our guide to reading a suburb report explains how our buyers agents weigh them.
$100M+
in property acquired for clients
1,200+
properties sourced and settled
500+
clients guided the whole way
98%
client retention rate
Speak with a Property Expert
Book a strategy session. We'll review your position and map your next purchase.
What best describes you?
This report is market intelligence prepared by Chase Wealth Australia for general information only. Figures are statistical estimates for the suburb, not valuations of any individual property, and do not constitute financial or credit advice. Consider your circumstances and seek professional advice before acting. Demographic figures are sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2021 (licensed CC BY 4.0) where available.