Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Scarborough

Scarborough is a lively coastal suburb centred on Scarborough Beach and its broad foreshore reserve. The beachfront has a strip of apartments and holiday-style accommodation facing the sand, while quieter streets inland contain older single-storey homes. The esplanade and reserve are lined with cafés, casual dining and recreational spaces, and the patrolled beach, surf breaks and coastal walking paths encourage an active outdoor lifestyle. Regular bus links and a coastal road connect Scarborough with neighbouring parts of Perth, making seaside living close to the city a clear draw.

About 17,605 people live in Scarborough, with a median age of 36 and a median household income of $2,107 a week. The community is weighted towards couples, and homes are more often owner-occupied (59.7%) than rented (40.3%). The foreshore precinct has received a major public upgrade including a new transit hub, Scarborough Beach Pool, an amphitheatre, skate facilities and expanded open space, and there are approvals for close to 2,000 dwellings (422 built, about 1,200 in the pipeline including 170 affordable units). Ongoing local projects include Beachside Precinct works, a roundabout upgrade and a coastal boardwalk feasibility study linking Scarborough and Trigg; whether that suits you depends on what you want from a suburb.

On the figures, housing in Scarborough sits well above what a typical local household earned at the last Census. The median house price of $1,495,000 is about 13.6 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, and the median unit price of $846,500 is about 7.7 times that annual income — both multiples sit well above local incomes. Looking at rent, $950 a week for a house would take about 45.1% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census (a large share), while $750 a week for a unit would take about 35.6% (a sizeable share). Whether that feels expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Over the past year Scarborough recorded strong rises in values alongside solid rental growth. Median house values climbed 15.7% and unit values rose 11.1%, both sizeable increases, while house rents increased 8.6% and unit rents increased 9.8%. On the house side capital growth outpaced rental income this year; on the unit side values edged ahead of rents by a smaller margin. If rental income is your priority, the rent figures are the most relevant; if capital gains matter more, the value changes are the ones to watch. Whether that mix fits your goals and circumstances is for you to decide.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.