Suburb report · WA 6019
Scarborough
Prepared by the property strategists at Chase Wealth Australia
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Population
19,807
Scarborough suburb profile
Who lives in Scarborough
At 10km from the Perth CBD, Scarborough belongs to the middle suburbs of Perth. Scarborough is one of the most populous suburbs in Western Australia, with 19,807 residents, more than 98% of the state's suburbs. Among the 270 suburbs within 40km of the Perth CBD, it ranks 10 by population. Residents are slightly younger than the state norm, a median age of 36 against 39. Of the 270 suburbs within 40km of the Perth CBD, 66 have a younger median age.
Income and home ownership
Households earn a median $119,000 a year, above the $105,400 of the median Western Australian suburb. On household income it ranks 115 of 270 suburbs within 40km of the Perth CBD. 59.7% of households own their home and 40.3% rent, one of the lowest ownership shares in Western Australia. Among suburbs within 40km of the Perth CBD, 40 have a lower share of owner-occupiers than Scarborough.
Household mix
The 2021 Census counted 7,639 occupied private dwellings in Scarborough, one of the larger housing stocks in Western Australia. People living alone are the largest household type at 34.4%, ahead of families with children at 31% and couples at 27.1%. On the share of families with children it ranks 244 of 270 suburbs within 40km of the Perth CBD. Few Western Australian suburbs have more group households: 7.4% of households, ahead of 96% of the state. The 27.1% share of couples without children is typical for Western Australia.
Housing supply
Approvals have fallen sharply: 31 new dwellings were approved across the Scarborough statistical area in the year to June 2025, against its 2020 to 2024 average of 122 a year. Supply figures here are for the Scarborough statistical area, home to 20,490 residents in 2025, which closely matches Scarborough. Per head of population the pipeline is thin: 1.5 approvals per 1,000 residents of that area against 4.4 for the median Western Australian area. The busiest year for approvals since 2020 was 2024, with 289, and the quietest was 2023, with 23.
Population trend
The population of the Scarborough statistical area grew 14.3% from 2020 to 2025, faster than most of Western Australia, against 12.3% for Western Australia as a whole. Over those 5 years a typical Western Australian statistical area added 9.7%, putting this area 4.6 points ahead. It ranks at the 78th percentile of Western Australian statistical areas for population growth over the period. Growth was strongest in the year to 2023 (5%) and weakest in the year to 2022 (1%).
Against its neighbours
Of the nearby suburbs listed below, Karrinyup differs most on the share of families with children: 50.5% there against 31% in Scarborough. Innaloo matches Scarborough on the median age, at 36. Stirling sits 4km away, with a median household income of $126,200 against $119,000 here.
Location
Demographics
ABS Data by Region to 2025, on ABS Census 2021 suburb baselineHousehold Mix Census 2021
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Reading this report
Every figure in the Scarborough data table is dated at its source. Supply and population change cover the Scarborough statistical area, whose boundary differs from Scarborough's, and our guide to reading a suburb report explains how our buyers agents weigh them.
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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.