City Beach vs Wembley Downs

Wembley Downs is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 47 in City Beach. In both, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in City Beach: a median of $3.33 million, against $1.9 million in Wembley Downs, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Wembley Downs tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

City Beach

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (88% vs 72%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Wembley Downs

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,900,000 vs $3,325,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Wembley Downs

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($470/wk vs $750/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Wembley Downs

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (78/100 vs 55/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Wembley Downs

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (28% vs 12%)
  • is more walkable (78/100 vs 55/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

City Beach and Wembley Downs drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

City Beach Wembley Downs
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

City Beach Wembley Downs
Walkability 55 / 78
City Beach — Walkability: 55/100 Wembley Downs — Walkability: 78/100
Safety 71 / 73
City Beach — Safety: 71/100 Wembley Downs — Safety: 73/100
Low fire risk 63 / 100
City Beach — Low fire risk: 63/100 Wembley Downs — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
City Beach — Low flood risk: 100/100 Wembley Downs — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

City Beach rents higher ($750/wk vs $470/wk); City Beach has higher household incomes ($192,400 vs $136,552).

City Beach Wembley Downs
Population 6,805 6,743
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.0% +6.7%
Median age 47 41
Median household income $192,400/yr
+29% vs other
 $136,552/yr
Median weekly rent $750/wk
+37% vs other
 $470/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

City Beach Wembley Downs
0-4 2.8% / 5.3%
City Beach — 0-4: 2.8% Wembley Downs — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 14.8% / 15.5%
City Beach — 5-14: 14.8% Wembley Downs — 5-14: 15.5%
15-19 8.8% / 8.6%
City Beach — 15-19: 8.8% Wembley Downs — 15-19: 8.6%
20-24 5.5% / 4.9%
City Beach — 20-24: 5.5% Wembley Downs — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 5.6% / 7.6%
City Beach — 25-34: 5.6% Wembley Downs — 25-34: 7.6%
35-44 8.6% / 13.0%
City Beach — 35-44: 8.6% Wembley Downs — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 16.5% / 15.5%
City Beach — 45-54: 16.5% Wembley Downs — 45-54: 15.5%
55-64 14.7% / 11.4%
City Beach — 55-64: 14.7% Wembley Downs — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 9.5% / 8.6%
City Beach — 65-74: 9.5% Wembley Downs — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 8.4% / 6.7%
City Beach — 75-84: 8.4% Wembley Downs — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 4.7% / 2.7%
City Beach — 85+: 4.7% Wembley Downs — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

City Beach 62.5% couple families
City Beach — Couple Families: 62.5% City Beach — Lone Person: 25.7% City Beach — One Parent Families: 8.9% City Beach — Group Household: 2.1% City Beach — Other Families: 0.9%
Wembley Downs 56.6% couple families
Wembley Downs — Couple Families: 56.6% Wembley Downs — Lone Person: 26.8% Wembley Downs — One Parent Families: 13.0% Wembley Downs — Group Household: 2.9% Wembley Downs — Other Families: 0.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

City Beach 11.4% renting
City Beach — Owned Outright: 53.7% City Beach — Mortgage: 34.9% City Beach — Renting: 11.4%
Wembley Downs 15.9% renting
Wembley Downs — Owned Outright: 43.2% Wembley Downs — Mortgage: 40.9% Wembley Downs — Renting: 15.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

City Beach Wembley Downs
Bachelor Degree 26.8% / 24.2%
City Beach — Bachelor Degree: 26.8% Wembley Downs — Bachelor Degree: 24.2%
Postgraduate Degree 11.2% / 9.2%
City Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 11.2% Wembley Downs — Postgraduate Degree: 9.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 8.0%
City Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Wembley Downs — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Certificate III & IV 4.3% / 6.1%
City Beach — Certificate III & IV: 4.3% Wembley Downs — Certificate III & IV: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 4.2%
City Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% Wembley Downs — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.8%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

City Beach Wembley Downs
England 7.8% / 6.9%
City Beach — England: 7.8% Wembley Downs — England: 6.9%
South Africa 2.7% / 3.4%
City Beach — South Africa: 2.7% Wembley Downs — South Africa: 3.4%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.5%
City Beach — New Zealand: 1.5% Wembley Downs — New Zealand: 1.5%
Malaysia 1.4% / 1.3%
City Beach — Malaysia: 1.4% Wembley Downs — Malaysia: 1.3%
India 1.3% / 0.8%
City Beach — India: 1.3% Wembley Downs — India: 0.8%
China — / 1.6%
City Beach — China: not among its largest Wembley Downs — China: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

City Beach 87.6% houses
City Beach — Houses: 87.6% City Beach — Townhouses: 5.3% City Beach — Flats / Apartments: 7.1%
Wembley Downs 72.5% houses
Wembley Downs — Houses: 72.5% Wembley Downs — Townhouses: 23.6% Wembley Downs — Flats / Apartments: 3.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

City Beach Wembley Downs
Median house price $3,325,000 $1,900,000
Median unit price — $560,000
Median land price — $1,450,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 50 days
from 79 sales
 26 days
from 79 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

City Beach Wembley Downs
3 bed $2.7M / $1.61M
City Beach — 3 bed: $2.7M (15 sales) Wembley Downs — 3 bed: $1.61M (48 sales)

15 vs 48 sales

4 bed $3.2M / $2.2M
City Beach — 4 bed: $3.2M (51 sales) Wembley Downs — 4 bed: $2.2M (54 sales)

51 vs 54 sales

5 bed $5.1M / $2.3M
City Beach — 5 bed: $5.1M (27 sales) Wembley Downs — 5 bed: $2.3M (9 sales)

27 vs 9 sales

Development activity

City Beach Wembley Downs
New dwellings approved 133
across Cambridge
 1,557
across Stirling
Approvals change year on year +42% +23%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

City Beach Wembley Downs
Houses 2.9%
$1,650/wk on $3M
 3.3%
$1,275/wk on $2M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within WA

City Beach Wembley Downs
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 99% of WA Higher than 93% of WA
Schools Higher than 49% of WA —
Walkability Higher than 84% of WA Higher than 93% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 100% of WA Higher than 93% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of WA Higher than 86% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 5% of WA Higher than 12% of WA

Liveability

Wembley Downs is more walkable (78 vs 55); Wembley Downs scores higher overall (94 vs 76).

City Beach Wembley Downs
Grade A A+
Score 76/100 94/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

City Beach carries more bushfire risk (37 vs 0).

City Beach Wembley Downs
Bushfire Low
37/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
29/100
 Low
27/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
55/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

City Beach Wembley Downs
Inside the suburb 4 2
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 3 1
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Western Australia, 7.9 km
 3
ECU City Campus, 8.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.0% 3.6%

Schools in City Beach

  • Kapinara Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • City Beach Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Holy Spirit School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • The Japanese School in Perth Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in Wembley Downs

  • Hale School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Wembley Downs Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

City Beach Wembley Downs
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 6 1
Parks & reserves 10 9
Childcare 3 5
GPs 1 2
Pharmacies 1
same for both
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

City Beach Wembley Downs
Walkability score 55/100 78/100
Distance to Perth 11.2 km 11.6 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 17 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 128.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 81.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.5%
postcode 6015
 1.9%
postcode 6019
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 6015
 27
postcode 6019

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

City Beach Wembley Downs
Car (driver) 69.9% / 72.1%
City Beach — Car (driver): 69.9% Wembley Downs — Car (driver): 72.1%
Worked from Home 17.9% / 14.0%
City Beach — Worked from Home: 17.9% Wembley Downs — Worked from Home: 14.0%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 4.4%
City Beach — Car (passenger): 3.9% Wembley Downs — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Bus 3.3% / 3.8%
City Beach — Bus: 3.3% Wembley Downs — Bus: 3.8%
Train 1.6% / 2.6%
City Beach — Train: 1.6% Wembley Downs — Train: 2.6%
Bicycle 1.9% / 1.5%
City Beach — Bicycle: 1.9% Wembley Downs — Bicycle: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.1%).

Setting

City Beach Wembley Downs
Elevation 56 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.0 km
1.1 km to a named beach
 2.1 km
2.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

City Beach Wembley Downs
Connectivity score 83/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
2,734 premises
 53%
2,699 premises

Climate

City Beach Wembley Downs
Annual rainfall 716 mm 650 mm
Summer max (Jan) 29.8°C —
Winter min (Jul) 10.4°C —

Council rates

City Beach Wembley Downs
Average residential rate $2,113/yr $1,615/yr
Council Cambridge Stirling

Federal electorate

City Beach Wembley Downs
Division Curtin
same for both
Member Kate Chaney
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

City Beach Wembley Downs
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

City Beach

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Large Blocks Luxury Middle-Ring Professionals Quiet Transport Hub

Wembley Downs

Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Quiet Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with City Beach

City Beach vs Scarborough City Beach vs Floreat City Beach vs Mount Claremont City Beach vs Swanbourne

Other comparisons with Wembley Downs

Wembley Downs vs Scarborough Wembley Downs vs Doubleview Wembley Downs vs Floreat Wembley Downs vs Woodlands Wembley Downs vs Churchlands
Full data on City Beach Full data on Wembley Downs
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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