Lake Clifton vs Preston Beach

Lake Clifton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 62 in Preston Beach. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Lake Clifton, most households are couple families. In Preston Beach, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Lake Clifton: a median of $1.2 million, against $648,000 in Preston Beach. On these figures, Lake Clifton tends to suit couples, while Preston Beach suits people living alone, older residents, and 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Lake Clifton is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 26%)
  • Preston Beach carries lower crime risk (49/100 vs 66/100)

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

First-home buyers

Preston Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($335,000 vs $780,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($647,500 vs $1,200,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Lake Clifton leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 29%)
  • Preston Beach has a bigger rental market to choose from (20% vs 7%)

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

Commuting to the city

Lake Clifton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (75 min vs 91 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (107.3 km vs 123.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Preston Beach

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (46% vs 16%)
  • carries lower crime risk (49/100 vs 66/100)

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

Investors

Preston Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (18.1% vs 11.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
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.

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Walkability 0 / 0
Lake Clifton — Walkability: 0/100 Preston Beach — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 34 / 51
Lake Clifton — Safety: 34/100 Preston Beach — Safety: 51/100
Low fire risk 17 / 18
Lake Clifton — Low fire risk: 17/100 Preston Beach — Low fire risk: 18/100
Low flood risk 65 / 100
Lake Clifton — Low flood risk: 65/100 Preston Beach — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Lake Clifton has more residents (759 vs 268); Lake Clifton has higher household incomes ($89,648 vs $44,200).

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Population 759
+65% vs other
 268
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.1% +18.1%
Median age 42 62
Median household income $89,648/yr
+51% vs other
 $44,200/yr
Median weekly rent $250/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
0-4 3.7% / 1.9%
Lake Clifton — 0-4: 3.7% Preston Beach — 0-4: 1.9%
5-14 13.7% / 4.5%
Lake Clifton — 5-14: 13.7% Preston Beach — 5-14: 4.5%
15-19 7.5% / 4.1%
Lake Clifton — 15-19: 7.5% Preston Beach — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 4.6% / 1.5%
Lake Clifton — 20-24: 4.6% Preston Beach — 20-24: 1.5%
25-34 7.2% / 4.1%
Lake Clifton — 25-34: 7.2% Preston Beach — 25-34: 4.1%
35-44 15.3% / 7.8%
Lake Clifton — 35-44: 15.3% Preston Beach — 35-44: 7.8%
45-54 15.7% / 12.3%
Lake Clifton — 45-54: 15.7% Preston Beach — 45-54: 12.3%
55-64 15.7% / 19.8%
Lake Clifton — 55-64: 15.7% Preston Beach — 55-64: 19.8%
65-74 11.2% / 30.2%
Lake Clifton — 65-74: 11.2% Preston Beach — 65-74: 30.2%
75-84 4.0% / 12.7%
Lake Clifton — 75-84: 4.0% Preston Beach — 75-84: 12.7%
85+ 0.5% / 3.0%
Lake Clifton — 85+: 0.5% Preston Beach — 85+: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lake Clifton 27.3% lone person
Lake Clifton — Lone Person: 27.3% Lake Clifton — Couple Families: 55.8% Lake Clifton — One Parent Families: 12.7% Lake Clifton — Group Household: 4.2%
Preston Beach 67.7% lone person
Preston Beach — Lone Person: 67.7% Preston Beach — Couple Families: 18.5% Preston Beach — One Parent Families: 7.7% Preston Beach — Group Household: 6.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lake Clifton 7.4% renting
Lake Clifton — Owned Outright: 35.2% Lake Clifton — Mortgage: 57.4% Lake Clifton — Renting: 7.4%
Preston Beach 19.6% renting
Preston Beach — Owned Outright: 54.2% Preston Beach — Mortgage: 26.2% Preston Beach — Renting: 19.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Certificate III & IV 21.7% / 17.2%
Lake Clifton — Certificate III & IV: 21.7% Preston Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 10.1%
Lake Clifton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Preston Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1%
Bachelor Degree 6.3% / 4.9%
Lake Clifton — Bachelor Degree: 6.3% Preston Beach — Bachelor Degree: 4.9%
Postgraduate Degree 0.9% / 1.9%
Lake Clifton — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9% Preston Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.7% / —
Lake Clifton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7% Preston Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.7%).

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.

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
England 8.2% / 10.1%
Lake Clifton — England: 8.2% Preston Beach — England: 10.1%
New Zealand 4.7% / 2.2%
Lake Clifton — New Zealand: 4.7% Preston Beach — New Zealand: 2.2%
Scotland 1.1% / 2.6%
Lake Clifton — Scotland: 1.1% Preston Beach — Scotland: 2.6%
South Africa 2.1% / 1.1%
Lake Clifton — South Africa: 2.1% Preston Beach — South Africa: 1.1%
Netherlands — / 1.9%
Lake Clifton — Netherlands: not among its largest Preston Beach — Netherlands: 1.9%
Germany 1.3% / —
Lake Clifton — Germany: 1.3% Preston Beach — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lake Clifton 94.8% houses
Lake Clifton — Houses: 94.8% Lake Clifton — Flats / Apartments: 5.2%
Preston Beach 95.5% houses
Preston Beach — Houses: 95.5% Preston Beach — Flats / Apartments: 4.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Median house price $1,200,000 $647,500
Median unit price — $165,000
Median land price $780,000 $335,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 44 days
from 6 sales
 20 days
from 6 sales

Development activity

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
New dwellings approved 31
across Waroona
same for both
Approvals change year on year -25%
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.

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Houses — 4.7%
$625/wk on $695K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within WA

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 54% of WA Higher than 5% of WA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 53% of WA Higher than 48% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 16% of WA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 63% of WA Higher than 62% of WA
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 70% of WA

Liveability

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Grade D —
Score 20/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Lake Clifton carries more flood risk (35 vs 0); Lake Clifton carries more crime risk (66 vs 49).

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Bushfire High
83/100
 High
82/100
Crime Moderate
66/100
 Moderate
49/100
Flood Low
35/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
24/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Parks & reserves 1 0
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 2 5

Mobility

Preston Beach sits further from the CBD (123.9 km vs 107.3 km).

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Perth 107.3 km 123.9 km
+15% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 75 min 91 min
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 6215
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 58
postcode 6215
same for both

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.

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Car (driver) 76.4% / 79.6%
Lake Clifton — Car (driver): 76.4% Preston Beach — Car (driver): 79.6%
Worked from Home 11.8% / 9.3%
Lake Clifton — Worked from Home: 11.8% Preston Beach — Worked from Home: 9.3%
Bus 5.3% / 5.6%
Lake Clifton — Bus: 5.3% Preston Beach — Bus: 5.6%
Car (passenger) 6.5% / —
Lake Clifton — Car (passenger): 6.5% Preston Beach — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only — / 5.6%
Lake Clifton — Walked Only: not among its largest Preston Beach — Walked Only: 5.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.6%).

Setting

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Elevation 35 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 -3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.2 km 2.3 km

NBN connectivity

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Connectivity score 30/100
same for both
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
311 premises
 0%
425 premises

Climate

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Annual rainfall — 774 mm
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Average residential rate $2,750/yr
same for both
Council Waroona
same for both

Federal electorate

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Division Canning
same for both
Member Andrew Hastie
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Lake Clifton Preston Beach
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lake Clifton

Rural

Preston Beach

Affordable Coastal Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lake Clifton

Lake Clifton vs Waroona Lake Clifton vs Herron Lake Clifton vs Myalup Lake Clifton vs West Coolup Lake Clifton vs Wagerup

Other comparisons with Preston Beach

Preston Beach vs Myalup
Full data on Lake Clifton Full data on Preston Beach
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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