Karrinyup vs Scarborough

Scarborough is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 41 in Karrinyup. In both, most households own their home. In Karrinyup, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Scarborough, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Karrinyup: a median of $1.63 million, against $1.34 million in Scarborough, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Karrinyup tends to suit families with children and couples, while Scarborough suits young adults, people living alone, and share households.

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

Karrinyup

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 6)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (87% vs 36%)

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

First-home buyers

Scarborough

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($723,750 vs $1,062,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,340,000 vs $1,633,000)
  • But Karrinyup has cheaper land ($850,000 vs $1,580,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Scarborough

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (40% vs 19%)
  • has cheaper rent ($405/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Karrinyup has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 13%)
  • Scarborough has more units and townhouses to downsize into (64% vs 13%)

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

Investors

Scarborough

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.8% vs 6.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Karrinyup Scarborough
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.

Karrinyup Scarborough
Walkability 85 / 86
Karrinyup — Walkability: 85/100 Scarborough — Walkability: 86/100
Safety 34 / 39
Karrinyup — Safety: 34/100 Scarborough — Safety: 39/100
Low fire risk 63 / 100
Karrinyup — Low fire risk: 63/100 Scarborough — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Karrinyup — Low flood risk: 100/100 Scarborough — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Scarborough has more residents (17,605 vs 9,886); Karrinyup has higher household incomes ($127,712 vs $109,564).

Karrinyup Scarborough
Population 9,886 17,605
+78% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.5% +13.8%
Median age 41 36
Median household income $127,712/yr
+14% vs other
 $109,564/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+10% vs other
 $405/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Karrinyup Scarborough
0-4 6.4% / 5.8%
Karrinyup — 0-4: 6.4% Scarborough — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 14.1% / 8.7%
Karrinyup — 5-14: 14.1% Scarborough — 5-14: 8.7%
15-19 6.5% / 3.9%
Karrinyup — 15-19: 6.5% Scarborough — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 4.8% / 5.1%
Karrinyup — 20-24: 4.8% Scarborough — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 8.9% / 23.9%
Karrinyup — 25-34: 8.9% Scarborough — 25-34: 23.9%
35-44 14.4% / 17.7%
Karrinyup — 35-44: 14.4% Scarborough — 35-44: 17.7%
45-54 14.2% / 12.4%
Karrinyup — 45-54: 14.2% Scarborough — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 10.9% / 9.9%
Karrinyup — 55-64: 10.9% Scarborough — 55-64: 9.9%
65-74 9.6% / 7.1%
Karrinyup — 65-74: 9.6% Scarborough — 65-74: 7.1%
75-84 7.3% / 4.0%
Karrinyup — 75-84: 7.3% Scarborough — 75-84: 4.0%
85+ 3.0% / 1.5%
Karrinyup — 85+: 3.0% Scarborough — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Karrinyup 56.3% couple families
Karrinyup — Couple Families: 56.3% Karrinyup — Lone Person: 27.3% Karrinyup — One Parent Families: 11.5% Karrinyup — Group Household: 3.9% Karrinyup — Other Families: 1.1%
Scarborough 28.9% couple families
Scarborough — Couple Families: 28.9% Scarborough — Lone Person: 47.2% Scarborough — One Parent Families: 12.2% Scarborough — Group Household: 10.1% Scarborough — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Karrinyup 18.9% renting
Karrinyup — Owned Outright: 40.4% Karrinyup — Mortgage: 40.7% Karrinyup — Renting: 18.9%
Scarborough 40.3% renting
Scarborough — Owned Outright: 24.1% Scarborough — Mortgage: 35.6% Scarborough — Renting: 40.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Karrinyup Scarborough
Bachelor Degree 20.8% / 23.4%
Karrinyup — Bachelor Degree: 20.8% Scarborough — Bachelor Degree: 23.4%
Certificate III & IV 9.4% / 12.2%
Karrinyup — Certificate III & IV: 9.4% Scarborough — Certificate III & IV: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 9.1%
Karrinyup — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Scarborough — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Postgraduate Degree 6.2% / 7.1%
Karrinyup — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2% Scarborough — Postgraduate Degree: 7.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 3.1%
Karrinyup — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Scarborough — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.4%).

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.

Karrinyup Scarborough
England 6.9% / 7.7%
Karrinyup — England: 6.9% Scarborough — England: 7.7%
New Zealand 2.0% / 3.4%
Karrinyup — New Zealand: 2.0% Scarborough — New Zealand: 3.4%
South Africa 2.4% / 2.3%
Karrinyup — South Africa: 2.4% Scarborough — South Africa: 2.3%
Ireland 1.0% / 1.7%
Karrinyup — Ireland: 1.0% Scarborough — Ireland: 1.7%
Scotland 1.2% / 1.0%
Karrinyup — Scotland: 1.2% Scarborough — Scotland: 1.0%
Brazil — / 2.2%
Karrinyup — Brazil: not among its largest Scarborough — Brazil: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Karrinyup 87.0% houses
Karrinyup — Houses: 87.0% Karrinyup — Townhouses: 11.5% Karrinyup — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Scarborough 36.2% houses
Scarborough — Houses: 36.2% Scarborough — Townhouses: 47.6% Scarborough — Flats / Apartments: 16.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Karrinyup Scarborough
Median house price $1,633,000 $1,340,000
Median unit price $1,062,500 $723,750
Median land price $850,000 $1,580,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 100 sales
 19 days
from 173 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.

Karrinyup Scarborough
2 bed $960K / $836K
Karrinyup — 2 bed: $960K (7 sales) Scarborough — 2 bed: $836K (38 sales)

7 vs 38 sales

3 bed $1.4M / $1.28M
Karrinyup — 3 bed: $1.4M (60 sales) Scarborough — 3 bed: $1.28M (137 sales)

60 vs 137 sales

4 bed $1.79M / $1.6M
Karrinyup — 4 bed: $1.79M (67 sales) Scarborough — 4 bed: $1.6M (63 sales)

67 vs 63 sales

5 bed $2.2M / $1.75M
Karrinyup — 5 bed: $2.2M (21 sales) Scarborough — 5 bed: $1.75M (7 sales)

21 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Karrinyup Scarborough
New dwellings approved 1,557
across Stirling
same for both
Approvals change year on year +23%
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.

Karrinyup Scarborough
Houses 4.2%
$1,200/wk on $1.48M
 4.4%
$850/wk on $1M
Units — 4.9%
$750/wk on $800K

Ranking within WA

Karrinyup Scarborough
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 90% of WA Higher than 75% of WA
Schools Higher than 79% of WA —
Walkability Higher than 97% of WA Higher than 98% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 96% of WA Higher than 93% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of WA Higher than 75% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 40% of WA Higher than 52% of WA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 27% of WA

Liveability

Scarborough scores higher overall (89 vs 79).

Karrinyup Scarborough
Grade A A+
Score 79/100 89/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Karrinyup carries more bushfire risk (37 vs 0).

Karrinyup Scarborough
Bushfire Low
37/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
66/100
 Moderate
61/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
63/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Karrinyup Scarborough
Inside the suburb 5 2
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Karrinyup

  • Newborough Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Mary's Anglican Girls' School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Deanmore Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Karrinyup Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Our Lady of Good Counsel School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Scarborough

  • Scarborough Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St John's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Karrinyup Scarborough
Supermarkets 4
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 35 16
Parks & reserves 16 6
Childcare 9 5
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 2 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 5 1
Fuel stations 0 4
EV chargers 4 2
Beaches 0 1

Mobility

Karrinyup Scarborough
Walkability score 85/100 86/100
Distance to Perth 14.1 km 14.5 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 20 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 189.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 337.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.2%
postcode 6018
 1.9%
postcode 6019
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 43
postcode 6018
 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.

Karrinyup Scarborough
Car (driver) 72.6% / 73.5%
Karrinyup — Car (driver): 72.6% Scarborough — Car (driver): 73.5%
Worked from Home 13.5% / 11.2%
Karrinyup — Worked from Home: 13.5% Scarborough — Worked from Home: 11.2%
Train 6.5% / 6.0%
Karrinyup — Train: 6.5% Scarborough — Train: 6.0%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 4.2%
Karrinyup — Car (passenger): 4.3% Scarborough — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Bus 1.2% / 2.6%
Karrinyup — Bus: 1.2% Scarborough — Bus: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.5%).

Setting

Karrinyup Scarborough
Elevation 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.3 km
2.4 km to a named beach
 995 m
990 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Karrinyup Scarborough
Connectivity score 74/100 61/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
4,770 premises
 29%
10,010 premises

Climate

Karrinyup Scarborough
Annual rainfall 650 mm 716 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 29.8°C
Winter min (Jul) — 10.4°C

Council rates

Karrinyup Scarborough
Average residential rate $1,615/yr
same for both
Council Stirling
same for both

Federal electorate

Karrinyup Scarborough
Division Moore Curtin
Member Tom French Kate Chaney
Party Australian Labor Party Independent

First Home Owner Grant

Karrinyup Scarborough
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Karrinyup

Coastal Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals

Scarborough

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Karrinyup

Karrinyup vs Innaloo Karrinyup vs Doubleview Karrinyup vs Carine Karrinyup vs Gwelup Karrinyup vs North Beach Karrinyup vs Trigg

Other comparisons with Scarborough

Scarborough vs Doubleview Scarborough vs City Beach Scarborough vs Wembley Downs Scarborough vs Trigg
Full data on Karrinyup Full data on Scarborough
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or