Swanbourne vs City Beach

Swanbourne is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 47 in City Beach. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in City Beach: a median of $3.33 million, against $2.5 million in Swanbourne, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Swanbourne tends to suit families with children 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

City Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Swanbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,500,000 vs $3,325,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Swanbourne

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (26% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($470/wk vs $750/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 20%)

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

Commuting to the city

City Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 47/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

City Beach

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 17%)
  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 47/100)

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

Investors

Swanbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.1% vs 3.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Swanbourne and City 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.

Swanbourne City 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.

Swanbourne City Beach
Walkability 47 / 55
Swanbourne — Walkability: 47/100 City Beach — Walkability: 55/100
Safety 69 / 71
Swanbourne — Safety: 69/100 City Beach — Safety: 71/100
Low fire risk 100 / 63
Swanbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 City Beach — Low fire risk: 63/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Swanbourne — Low flood risk: 100/100 City Beach — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

City Beach rents higher ($750/wk vs $470/wk); City Beach has more residents (6,805 vs 4,592).

Swanbourne City Beach
Population 4,592 6,805
+48% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.1% +3.0%
Median age 38 47
Median household income $177,736/yr $192,400/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $470/wk $750/wk
+60% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Swanbourne City Beach
0-4 5.5% / 2.8%
Swanbourne — 0-4: 5.5% City Beach — 0-4: 2.8%
5-14 16.4% / 14.8%
Swanbourne — 5-14: 16.4% City Beach — 5-14: 14.8%
15-19 8.8% / 8.8%
Swanbourne — 15-19: 8.8% City Beach — 15-19: 8.8%
20-24 5.1% / 5.5%
Swanbourne — 20-24: 5.1% City Beach — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 9.9% / 5.6%
Swanbourne — 25-34: 9.9% City Beach — 25-34: 5.6%
35-44 11.1% / 8.6%
Swanbourne — 35-44: 11.1% City Beach — 35-44: 8.6%
45-54 14.5% / 16.5%
Swanbourne — 45-54: 14.5% City Beach — 45-54: 16.5%
55-64 11.7% / 14.7%
Swanbourne — 55-64: 11.7% City Beach — 55-64: 14.7%
65-74 9.5% / 9.5%
Swanbourne — 65-74: 9.5% City Beach — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 5.1% / 8.4%
Swanbourne — 75-84: 5.1% City Beach — 75-84: 8.4%
85+ 2.4% / 4.7%
Swanbourne — 85+: 2.4% City Beach — 85+: 4.7%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Swanbourne 59.6% couple families
Swanbourne — Couple Families: 59.6% Swanbourne — Lone Person: 24.5% Swanbourne — One Parent Families: 11.7% Swanbourne — Group Household: 3.3% Swanbourne — Other Families: 0.9%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Swanbourne 26.0% renting
Swanbourne — Owned Outright: 42.2% Swanbourne — Mortgage: 31.8% Swanbourne — Renting: 26.0%
City Beach 11.4% renting
City Beach — Owned Outright: 53.7% City Beach — Mortgage: 34.9% City Beach — Renting: 11.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Swanbourne City Beach
Bachelor Degree 26.7% / 26.8%
Swanbourne — Bachelor Degree: 26.7% City Beach — Bachelor Degree: 26.8%
Postgraduate Degree 11.3% / 11.2%
Swanbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 11.3% City Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 7.1%
Swanbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% City Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Certificate III & IV 4.4% / 4.3%
Swanbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.4% City Beach — Certificate III & IV: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 3.7%
Swanbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% City Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

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.

Swanbourne City Beach
England 7.8% / 7.8%
Swanbourne — England: 7.8% City Beach — England: 7.8%
South Africa 2.9% / 2.7%
Swanbourne — South Africa: 2.9% City Beach — South Africa: 2.7%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.5%
Swanbourne — New Zealand: 1.4% City Beach — New Zealand: 1.5%
Malaysia — / 1.4%
Swanbourne — Malaysia: not among its largest City Beach — Malaysia: 1.4%
India — / 1.3%
Swanbourne — India: not among its largest City Beach — India: 1.3%
China 0.9% / —
Swanbourne — China: 0.9% City Beach — China: not among its largest
Ireland 0.9% / —
Swanbourne — Ireland: 0.9% City Beach — Ireland: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Swanbourne 81.3% houses
Swanbourne — Houses: 81.3% Swanbourne — Flats / Apartments: 11.2% Swanbourne — Townhouses: 7.5%
City Beach 87.6% houses
City Beach — Houses: 87.6% City Beach — Flats / Apartments: 7.1% City Beach — Townhouses: 5.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Swanbourne City Beach
Median house price $2,500,000 $3,325,000
Median unit price $970,000 —
Median land price $2,712,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 58 days
from 32 sales
 50 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.

Swanbourne City Beach
3 bed $2.48M / $2.7M
Swanbourne — 3 bed: $2.48M (15 sales) City Beach — 3 bed: $2.7M (15 sales)

15 vs 15 sales

4 bed $2.8M / $3.2M
Swanbourne — 4 bed: $2.8M (24 sales) City Beach — 4 bed: $3.2M (51 sales)

24 vs 51 sales

Development activity

Swanbourne City Beach
New dwellings approved 115
across Nedlands
 133
across Cambridge
Approvals change year on year -44% +42%

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.

Swanbourne City Beach
Houses — 2.9%
$1,650/wk on $3M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within WA

Swanbourne City Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 98% of WA Higher than 99% of WA
Schools — Higher than 49% of WA
Walkability Higher than 82% of WA Higher than 84% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 99% of WA Higher than 100% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of WA Higher than 93% of WA
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 5% of WA

Liveability

City Beach is more walkable (55 vs 47); Swanbourne scores higher overall (87 vs 76).

Swanbourne City Beach
Grade A+ A
Score 87/100 76/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

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

Swanbourne City Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
37/100
Crime Low
31/100
 Low
29/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
20/100
 Moderate
55/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Swanbourne City Beach
Inside the suburb 2 4
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 3
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Western Australia, 6.2 km
 3
The University of Western Australia, 7.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.7% 5.0%

Schools in Swanbourne

  • Swanbourne Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Scotch College Independent · Combined at peers

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

Amenities in the suburb

Swanbourne City Beach
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 6
Parks & reserves 8 10
Childcare 4 3
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Swanbourne City Beach
Walkability score 47/100 55/100
Distance to Perth 11.2 km
same for both
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 18 min
Public transport score 88/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 94.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 128.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 6010
 3.5%
postcode 6015
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 6010
 54
postcode 6015

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.

Swanbourne City Beach
Car (driver) 65.6% / 69.9%
Swanbourne — Car (driver): 65.6% City Beach — Car (driver): 69.9%
Worked from Home 15.0% / 17.9%
Swanbourne — Worked from Home: 15.0% City Beach — Worked from Home: 17.9%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 3.9%
Swanbourne — Car (passenger): 4.4% City Beach — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Bus 3.1% / 3.3%
Swanbourne — Bus: 3.1% City Beach — Bus: 3.3%
Train 4.6% / 1.6%
Swanbourne — Train: 4.6% City Beach — Train: 1.6%
Walked Only 4.4% / 1.4%
Swanbourne — Walked Only: 4.4% City Beach — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bicycle 3.0% / 1.9%
Swanbourne — Bicycle: 3.0% City Beach — Bicycle: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.9%).

Setting

Swanbourne City Beach
Elevation 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 56 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 889 m
954 m to a named beach
 1.0 km
1.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Swanbourne City Beach
Connectivity score 77/100 83/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
1,868 premises
 52%
2,734 premises

Climate

Swanbourne City Beach
Annual rainfall 716 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.4°C
same for both

Council rates

Swanbourne City Beach
Average residential rate $2,425/yr $2,113/yr
Council Nedlands Cambridge

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Swanbourne

Beach Coastal Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Transport Hub

City Beach

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Swanbourne

Swanbourne vs Claremont Swanbourne vs Cottesloe Swanbourne vs Mount Claremont

Other comparisons with City Beach

City Beach vs Scarborough City Beach vs Floreat City Beach vs Wembley Downs City Beach vs Mount Claremont
Full data on Swanbourne Full data on City 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.

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