Cooloongup vs Safety Bay

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Safety Bay: a median of $841,000, against $730,000 in Cooloongup.

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

Safety Bay

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 4)
  • carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 77/100)

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

First-home buyers

Cooloongup

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($535,000 vs $620,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($730,000 vs $841,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Cooloongup sits closer to the CBD (48.4 km vs 50.5 km)
  • Safety Bay is more walkable (53/100 vs 19/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Safety Bay

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (53/100 vs 19/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 77/100)

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

Cooloongup and Safety Bay drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Cooloongup Safety Bay
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.

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Walkability 19 / 53
Cooloongup — Walkability: 19/100 Safety Bay — Walkability: 53/100
Safety 23 / 44
Cooloongup — Safety: 23/100 Safety Bay — Safety: 44/100
Low fire risk 41 / 83
Cooloongup — Low fire risk: 41/100 Safety Bay — Low fire risk: 83/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Cooloongup — Low flood risk: 100/100 Safety Bay — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Safety Bay has higher household incomes ($75,140 vs $62,764); Safety Bay skews older (44 vs 42).

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Population 6,696 7,662
+14% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.6% +3.4%
Median age 42 44
Median household income $62,764/yr $75,140/yr
+20% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $310/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cooloongup Safety Bay
0-4 5.4% / 5.2%
Cooloongup — 0-4: 5.4% Safety Bay — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 12.0% / 12.4%
Cooloongup — 5-14: 12.0% Safety Bay — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 5.7% / 5.4%
Cooloongup — 15-19: 5.7% Safety Bay — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 5.4% / 4.0%
Cooloongup — 20-24: 5.4% Safety Bay — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 12.8% / 11.0%
Cooloongup — 25-34: 12.8% Safety Bay — 25-34: 11.0%
35-44 10.9% / 12.1%
Cooloongup — 35-44: 10.9% Safety Bay — 35-44: 12.1%
45-54 12.6% / 12.5%
Cooloongup — 45-54: 12.6% Safety Bay — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 14.5% / 14.4%
Cooloongup — 55-64: 14.5% Safety Bay — 55-64: 14.4%
65-74 11.8% / 12.5%
Cooloongup — 65-74: 11.8% Safety Bay — 65-74: 12.5%
75-84 6.4% / 7.8%
Cooloongup — 75-84: 6.4% Safety Bay — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 2.4% / 2.8%
Cooloongup — 85+: 2.4% Safety Bay — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cooloongup 40.4% lone person
Cooloongup — Lone Person: 40.4% Cooloongup — Couple Families: 31.3% Cooloongup — One Parent Families: 22.5% Cooloongup — Group Household: 4.1% Cooloongup — Other Families: 1.8%
Safety Bay 39.1% lone person
Safety Bay — Lone Person: 39.1% Safety Bay — Couple Families: 41.6% Safety Bay — One Parent Families: 15.7% Safety Bay — Group Household: 2.7% Safety Bay — Other Families: 1.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cooloongup 28.3% renting
Cooloongup — Owned Outright: 31.7% Cooloongup — Mortgage: 39.9% Cooloongup — Renting: 28.3%
Safety Bay 20.0% renting
Safety Bay — Owned Outright: 41.7% Safety Bay — Mortgage: 38.3% Safety Bay — Renting: 20.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Certificate III & IV 19.3% / 19.6%
Cooloongup — Certificate III & IV: 19.3% Safety Bay — Certificate III & IV: 19.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 8.1%
Cooloongup — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Safety Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Bachelor Degree 4.2% / 8.2%
Cooloongup — Bachelor Degree: 4.2% Safety Bay — Bachelor Degree: 8.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 1.6%
Cooloongup — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Safety Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%
Postgraduate Degree 0.8% / 1.7%
Cooloongup — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8% Safety Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

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.

Cooloongup Safety Bay
England 10.6% / 14.5%
Cooloongup — England: 10.6% Safety Bay — England: 14.5%
New Zealand 5.3% / 3.7%
Cooloongup — New Zealand: 5.3% Safety Bay — New Zealand: 3.7%
Scotland 1.5% / 1.7%
Cooloongup — Scotland: 1.5% Safety Bay — Scotland: 1.7%
South Africa 1.0% / 1.0%
Cooloongup — South Africa: 1.0% Safety Bay — South Africa: 1.0%
Philippines 1.6% / —
Cooloongup — Philippines: 1.6% Safety Bay — Philippines: not among its largest
Thailand — / 0.6%
Cooloongup — Thailand: not among its largest Safety Bay — Thailand: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cooloongup 91.5% houses
Cooloongup — Houses: 91.5% Cooloongup — Townhouses: 7.7% Cooloongup — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Safety Bay 93.6% houses
Safety Bay — Houses: 93.6% Safety Bay — Townhouses: 0.0% Safety Bay — Flats / Apartments: 6.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Median house price $730,000 $841,000
Median unit price $535,000 $620,000
Median land price — $648,888
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 56 sales
 17 days
from 59 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.

Cooloongup Safety Bay
3 bed $700K / $790K
Cooloongup — 3 bed: $700K (68 sales) Safety Bay — 3 bed: $790K (66 sales)

68 vs 66 sales

4 bed $750K / $902K
Cooloongup — 4 bed: $750K (48 sales) Safety Bay — 4 bed: $902K (55 sales)

48 vs 55 sales

5 bed $840K / $1.22M
Cooloongup — 5 bed: $840K (7 sales) Safety Bay — 5 bed: $1.22M (6 sales)

7 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Cooloongup Safety Bay
New dwellings approved 1,869
across Rockingham
same for both
Approvals change year on year -11%
same for both

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.

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Houses 4.2%
$600/wk on $749K
 4.0%
$685/wk on $895K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within WA

Cooloongup Safety Bay
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 20% of WA Higher than 37% of WA
Schools — Higher than 1% of WA
Walkability Higher than 74% of WA Higher than 83% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 55% of WA Higher than 60% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of WA Higher than 85% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 37% of WA Higher than 24% of WA

Liveability

Safety Bay is more walkable (53 vs 19); Safety Bay scores higher overall (46 vs 25).

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Grade D C
Score 25/100 46/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Cooloongup carries more bushfire risk (59 vs 17); Cooloongup carries more crime risk (77 vs 56).

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Bushfire Moderate
59/100
 Low
17/100
Crime High
77/100
 Moderate
56/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
45/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Cooloongup

  • Cooloongup Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • East Waikiki Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Safety Bay

  • Safety Bay Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Safety Bay Senior High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Malibu School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 0 5
Parks & reserves 4 8
Childcare 4 3
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Safety Bay sits further from the CBD (50.5 km vs 48.4 km).

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Walkability score 19/100 53/100
Distance to Perth 48.4 km 50.5 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 48 min 51 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 113.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 144.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 6168
 0.5%
postcode 6169
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 6168
 65
postcode 6169

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.

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Car (driver) 76.9% / 77.8%
Cooloongup — Car (driver): 76.9% Safety Bay — Car (driver): 77.8%
Worked from Home 4.6% / 8.6%
Cooloongup — Worked from Home: 4.6% Safety Bay — Worked from Home: 8.6%
Car (passenger) 6.9% / 5.0%
Cooloongup — Car (passenger): 6.9% Safety Bay — Car (passenger): 5.0%
Train 6.3% / 5.5%
Cooloongup — Train: 6.3% Safety Bay — Train: 5.5%
Bus 3.1% / 1.6%
Cooloongup — Bus: 3.1% Safety Bay — Bus: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.8%).

Setting

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Elevation 1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.4 km 544 m

NBN connectivity

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Connectivity score 71/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
2,994 premises
 52%
3,624 premises

Climate

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Annual rainfall 745 mm —
Summer max (Jan) 31.4°C —
Winter min (Jul) 7.6°C —

Council rates

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Average residential rate $2,007/yr
same for both
Council Rockingham
same for both

Federal electorate

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Division Brand
same for both
Member Madeleine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cooloongup Safety Bay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cooloongup

Easy Commute Large Blocks Outer Transport Hub

Safety Bay

Coastal Large Blocks Outer Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cooloongup

Cooloongup vs Baldivis Cooloongup vs Rockingham Cooloongup vs Waikiki Cooloongup vs Leda Cooloongup vs Hillman Cooloongup vs East Rockingham

Other comparisons with Safety Bay

Safety Bay vs Rockingham Safety Bay vs Waikiki Safety Bay vs Shoalwater
Full data on Cooloongup Full data on Safety Bay
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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