Scarborough, Perth Coastal Lifestyle & Unit Yield Hub
Iconic coastal urban centre in the City of Stirling, postcode 6019. Scarborough has evolved from a traditional beach town into a year-round coastal urban hub off the back of major foreshore redevelopment. Houses around $1.31m provide blue-chip coastal land holdings, while units around $750k deliver powerful 4.98% yields and +15.38% annual growth. Expect ~34 minutes to the Perth CBD via high-frequency bus and train, or ~13 minutes’ drive off-peak.
Coastal urban centre | High-income, active demographic | Units driving yield & growth in one postcode
Why Scarborough Outperforms
Scarborough is one of Perth’s most interesting coastal “dual-engine” markets. Detached houses around $1,307,500 capture scarce coastal land in a premium lifestyle location, while units around $750,000 are the primary entry point to the postcode—offering +15.38% annual growth, 4.98% gross yields and rapid leasing. With 621 sales a year and ~12 days on market, this is a fast, high-velocity market.
That combination is rare: a world-class foreshore urban hub with vertical density on the water’s edge and quieter family streets in the east feeding into the elite Churchlands Senior High School catchment. Houses deliver long-term land banking and school-led capital preservation, while units provide a liquid, high-yield entry into one of Perth’s most recognisable coastal strips.
Want coastal lifestyle, elite school options and serious unit yield? Scarborough is one of Perth’s strongest “coastal growth + cashflow” markets—if you’re finance ready.
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Houses vs Units in Scarborough
House = coastal land bank; Units = lifestyle & yield engine
Houses
High-value coastal homes on scarce land, popular with families targeting both the beach lifestyle and the Churchlands Senior High School intake zone on the eastern side of the suburb.
Performance Metrics
- 12-month growth: +9.59%
- Yield: ~3.74% gross
- Rent: ~$975/week median
- DOM: ~11 days
- Sales: ~260/year
Best For
Families: Securing coastal lifestyle plus Churchlands SHS catchment in the eastern residential pockets.
Investors: Long-term land banking, renovation and R30/R40 development upside away from the high-rise foreshore strip.
Units / Apartments
The suburb’s current market leader. Units are the key entry to a prestigious coastal postcode with strong rental demand and direct walkability to Scarborough’s redeveloped foreshore.
Performance Metrics
- 12-month growth: +15.38%
- Yield: ~4.98% gross
- Rent: ~$740/week median
- DOM: ~12 days
- Sales: ~361/year (highly liquid)
Best For
Investors: High-yield, high-liquidity coastal units with strong rent growth and manageable negative cashflow.
Downsizers & professionals: Affluent young professionals and empty nesters seeking low-maintenance, high-amenity coastal living.
Market Insight: Scarborough acts as the “urban amenity” counterpart to ultra-low-density coastal suburbs like Trigg and City Beach. As those markets push toward $2.3–$3.06m, high-income buyers and investors increasingly turn to Scarborough for a mix of lifestyle, accessibility and unit diversification.
Scarborough Property Metrics
Current verified statistics you need to know
House Median: ~$1.31m
Prestige coastal houses in the City of Stirling.
- Annual growth: +9.59%
- Quarterly: consolidating after strong gains
- Rent: ~$975/week median
- Sales: ~260/year
Units: ~$750k Median
Key growth & yield segment for investors.
- Annual growth: +15.38%
- Yield: 4.98% gross
- Rent: ~$740/week
- Sales: ~361/year
Days on Market
One of Perth’s most liquid coastal markets.
- Houses: ~11 days
- Units: ~12 days
- Effectively “bidding war” tempo
- Finance pre-approval is critical
Rental Yields
Clear split between land bank (houses) and cashflow (units).
- Houses: ~3.74% yield
- Units: ~4.98% yield
- Rent growth: houses ~+17.3%, units ~+9.2% (12 months)
- Very low vacancy, rapid leasing
Supply & Rates
Constrained stock and rising outgoings to factor in.
- 58.40% owner-occupied / 41.60% investors
- City of Stirling council rates ~ $2,250 p.a.
- Water rates ~ $1,350 p.a.
- High-amenity strata for units can materially impact net yield
Stamp Duty Snapshot
Important for budgeting realistically.
- House @ $1,307,500 ≈ $58,497 duty
- Unit @ $750,000 ≈ $29,741 duty
- WA general rates (non-concessional) applied
- Duty is on top of deposit, strata & other costs
Who Lives in Scarborough?
Young professionals, active families, affluent downsizers and investors
58.40% Home Ownership
Scarborough has a strong base of committed owner-occupiers alongside a substantial investor presence—58.40% of dwellings are owner-occupied, with 41.60% held as investments. This mix underpins both market stability and liquidity.
- Balance of long-term residents and lifestyle renters
- Investor share supports deep rental pool
- Strong transaction volumes reduce exit risk
- Eastern streets offer quieter, family-friendly feel
Affluent, Economically Active Base
A large share of residents are professionals and high-income households, reflected in a median weekly household income of ~$2,107. This supports high borrowing capacity and resilience to rate changes, especially for unit investors and family buyers.
- Strong serviceability for $750k–$1.5m loans
- Sustained demand for premium coastal rentals
- Supports both the house and unit segments
- Favourable demographic for negative gearing strategies
Median Age: ~36 Years
With a median age of 36, Scarborough skews young and aspirational. The population is dominated by active professionals, young families and wealthy downsizers who value both recreation and lifestyle convenience.
- High-energy, coastal urban vibe
- Strong cohort of 30–39 year olds
- Consistent demand for both houses and larger units
- Attractive to downsizers wanting to stay by the coast
Coastal, Transit-Linked Suburb
Scarborough combines immediate foreshore access with strong bus connections to the rail network, plus fast off-peak car access to the CBD and Karrinyup Shopping Centre.
- ~34 minutes to Perth CBD via bus + Glendalough train
- 13-minute off-peak drive to the CBD (12.7km)
- Short drive to Mitchell Freeway and Karrinyup
- Direct access to Scarborough Beach foreshore
Scarborough’s Coastal Advantage
Iconic foreshore, fast off-peak access, and high-frequency bus links
Route 990 Bus Spine
Scarborough’s public transport relies on high-frequency bus services linking the coast to the rail network at Glendalough and Stirling stations.
Transit Benefits
- ~34 minutes to Perth CBD (bus + train)
- Route 990 operates every ~15–20 minutes in peak
- Direct connection into Perth’s employment core
- Reduces full car dependency for many households
Investor Note: Reliable bus-rail connectivity supports tenant demand even in the absence of an on-suburb rail station.
Glendalough Station Access
While Scarborough has no station of its own, Glendalough Station (approx. 5.8km away) acts as the key rail node for CBD commuters via the Joondalup Line.
Rail Highlights
- Nearest station: Glendalough (~5.8km)
- Trains every few minutes in peak periods
- Easy transfers for CBD and broader metro access
- Supports workers commuting beyond the CBD core
Commuter Choice: Residents typically combine local buses, rail and car use depending on time of day and work patterns.
Foreshore & Karrinyup Amenity
Scarborough’s amenity mix spans the pedestrian-focused foreshore strip and the major regional centre at Karrinyup, only a short drive away.
Key Amenities
- Foreshore cafés, bars and restaurants along The Esplanade
- Karrinyup Shopping Centre (~4.6km, 10–15 mins drive)
- Local supermarkets including Coles and Scarboro Super Deli
- Easy access to neighbouring Stirling and Innaloo centres
Lifestyle: This is a “walk to café and beach” suburb with a much deeper amenity stack than a simple surf village.
Parks, Pool & Promenades
Scarborough’s recreational infrastructure is one of its defining strengths, with extensive public investment in open space, water facilities and shared paths.
Key Features
- Scarborough Beach Pool (heated outdoor beachside pool)
- Civic spaces like Scarborough Square and children’s playgrounds
- Direct access to Scarborough Beach for swimming and surfing
- Upper and lower promenades for walking, running and cycling
Owner-Occupier Appeal: Coastal recreation on your doorstep is a key reason many buyers accept the price premium and competition in this suburb.
Schools in Scarborough
Coastal lifestyle with high-performing school options nearby
Scarborough Primary School
St John’s School, Scarborough
Churchlands Senior High School
School Catchment Reality Check
CRITICAL: Access to Churchlands SHS is a major premium driver for many Scarborough buyers. Always verify the current local intake area boundaries with the WA Education Department before relying on school zoning—being in or out of catchment can materially change property value.
Scarborough vs Nearby Coastal Suburbs
How Scarborough balances urban amenity, price and unit accessibility
Scarborough: ~$1.307m
Coastal urban amenity & unit accessibility
- House growth: +9.59%
- Units: +15.38% growth & 4.98% yield
- Churchlands SHS access in eastern zone
- Stamp duty ~ $58k at median house
- Strong competition, ~12-day DOM
Trigg: ~$2.3m
Ultra-premium, low-density exclusivity
- Elite, tightly held community
- House growth: +28.49% (very strong)
- ~ $1m+ premium over Scarborough
- Yield around 2.51% (low cashflow)
- Limited dining/retail vs Scarborough/Karrinyup
Wembley Downs: ~$1.868m
Large blocks & high owner-occupier rate
- Bigger landholdings for family homes
- 82%+ owner-occupier stability
- Excellent access to Churchlands SHS
- 5–10 mins drive to reach the beach
- Limited unit stock, lower liquidity
City Beach: ~$3.06m
Pinnacle prestige & low liquidity
- Perth’s top-tier prestige coastal market
- House growth: +9.29%
- Very high barrier to entry vs Scarborough
- Extremely low turnover and stock
- Focused on generational landholding, not yield
The Verdict: Scarborough is the strategic middle ground on Perth’s western coastal strip: more affordable and amenity-rich than Trigg and City Beach, with better unit diversification than Wembley Downs, and a powerful combination of foreshore lifestyle, Churchlands SHS access and high unit yields.
Can You Afford Scarborough?
Calculate repayments for houses (~$1.31m) or high-yield units (~$750,000)
Who Should Buy in Scarborough?
Coastal lifestyle, yield, and education-driven demand in one suburb
Growth-Focused House Investors
If your priority is long-term capital appreciation and land scarcity, Scarborough houses deliver: premium coastal land, strong demand, and, in the east, access to Churchlands SHS.
Yield & Cashflow Investors
The unit market is tailor-made for investors needing strong income and liquidity. 4.98% yields, +15.38% growth and sub-1% vacancy are rare in a coastal postcode of this profile.
Owner-Occupiers & Strategic Families
Professional couples and families looking to combine coastal living with elite schooling often land in Scarborough’s eastern residential pockets, where Churchlands SHS access drives long-term demand.
Value-Add & Renewers
Older homes away from the foreshore provide scope for renovation, subdivision (where zoning allows), or strategic improvements to boost rental and resale appeal in a high-demand coastal market.
Scarborough Buyer FAQs
Key questions serious Scarborough buyers should be asking
Why are units growing faster than houses in Scarborough?
Unit growth (+15.38%) is being driven by two forces: lower entry cost (median $750k vs $1.307m for houses) and immediate access to the foreshore’s urban amenity. Higher yields (4.98%), lower stamp duty and strong investor/downsizer demand are funnelling capital into the unit segment, which moves faster than the more expensive house market.
Is Scarborough a bad choice if I rely on public transport?
It depends on your expectations. Scarborough has no train station, so you must use a high-frequency bus (e.g. Route 990) to connect to Glendalough or Stirling stations, then transfer to rail. The total commute to the CBD is around 34 minutes. If you need a direct, walkable train link, a rail-adjacent suburb may be better; if you’re comfortable with a bus-train combo, Scarborough is workable.
How worried should I be about more high-rise apartments on the foreshore?
Densification is a deliberate planning choice for the foreshore and key commercial corridors to support the new coastal urban centre. That will mean more towers, more residents and more activity in the west. However, low-rise family streets further east remain protected by different zoning and, in many cases, the Churchlands SHS catchment premium, which helps preserve their character and long-term value.
Which is the better bet: a cheaper house or a premium unit?
For cashflow and momentum, a well-chosen unit (especially 2-bed) currently offers better yields and faster growth. For long-term generational wealth, a house— particularly in the Churchlands catchment—offers superior land value and scarcity, but with higher negative cashflow and stamp duty. The “right” choice depends on your income, timeline and risk tolerance.
Is noise, nightlife and coastal erosion a serious issue here?
Nightlife and road noise are concentrated along the foreshore and major routes (West Coast Highway and Scarborough Beach Road). Eastern residential streets are noticeably quieter. Coastal erosion is a long-term consideration for absolute beachfront holdings, but recent foreshore works provide engineered protection. As always, check specific properties for both noise exposure and coastal risk as part of your due diligence.
Have specific questions about buying or investing in Scarborough?
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Helpful Tools & Guides
Everything you need for a successful Scarborough purchase
Repayment Calculator
Run numbers on both Scarborough houses (~$1.31m) and units (~$750k).
Use CalculatorTransperth Services
View Route 990 and connecting rail timetables via Glendalough and Stirling.
View TimetablesCurrent Scarborough Listings
See what’s currently for sale in Scarborough—houses and units.
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