Swanbourne vs Cottesloe

Swanbourne is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 44 in Cottesloe. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Swanbourne, most households are couple families. In Cottesloe, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Cottesloe: a median of $3.05 million, against $2.5 million in Swanbourne, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Swanbourne tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Cottesloe suits people living alone.

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

Swanbourne

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 48/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (71% vs 56%)

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 $3,050,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Swanbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($470/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Cottesloe

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 47/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Cottesloe

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 47/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (31% vs 19%)
  • But Swanbourne carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 48/100)

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 5.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Swanbourne and Cottesloe 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 Cottesloe
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 Cottesloe
Walkability 47 / 92
Swanbourne — Walkability: 47/100 Cottesloe — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 69 / 52
Swanbourne — Safety: 69/100 Cottesloe — Safety: 52/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Swanbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 Cottesloe — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Swanbourne — Low flood risk: 100/100 Cottesloe — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Cottesloe has more residents (7,750 vs 4,592); Cottesloe rents higher ($550/wk vs $470/wk).

Swanbourne Cottesloe
Population 4,592 7,750
+69% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.1% +5.1%
Median age 38 44
Median household income $177,736/yr
+2% vs other
 $174,252/yr
Median weekly rent $470/wk $550/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Swanbourne Cottesloe
0-4 5.5% / 4.5%
Swanbourne — 0-4: 5.5% Cottesloe — 0-4: 4.5%
5-14 16.4% / 11.2%
Swanbourne — 5-14: 16.4% Cottesloe — 5-14: 11.2%
15-19 8.8% / 7.0%
Swanbourne — 15-19: 8.8% Cottesloe — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 5.1% / 5.7%
Swanbourne — 20-24: 5.1% Cottesloe — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 9.9% / 11.5%
Swanbourne — 25-34: 9.9% Cottesloe — 25-34: 11.5%
35-44 11.1% / 10.6%
Swanbourne — 35-44: 11.1% Cottesloe — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 14.5% / 13.7%
Swanbourne — 45-54: 14.5% Cottesloe — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 11.7% / 14.0%
Swanbourne — 55-64: 11.7% Cottesloe — 55-64: 14.0%
65-74 9.5% / 11.9%
Swanbourne — 65-74: 9.5% Cottesloe — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 5.1% / 7.1%
Swanbourne — 75-84: 5.1% Cottesloe — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 2.4% / 2.7%
Swanbourne — 85+: 2.4% Cottesloe — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

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%
Cottesloe 45.6% couple families
Cottesloe — Couple Families: 45.6% Cottesloe — Lone Person: 36.3% Cottesloe — One Parent Families: 10.4% Cottesloe — Group Household: 6.5% Cottesloe — Other Families: 1.2%
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%
Cottesloe 27.2% renting
Cottesloe — Owned Outright: 46.0% Cottesloe — Mortgage: 26.8% Cottesloe — Renting: 27.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Swanbourne Cottesloe
Bachelor Degree 26.7% / 31.1%
Swanbourne — Bachelor Degree: 26.7% Cottesloe — Bachelor Degree: 31.1%
Postgraduate Degree 11.3% / 11.7%
Swanbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 11.3% Cottesloe — Postgraduate Degree: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 6.9%
Swanbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Cottesloe — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Certificate III & IV 4.4% / 3.9%
Swanbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.4% Cottesloe — Certificate III & IV: 3.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 3.2%
Swanbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% Cottesloe — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.1%).

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 Cottesloe
England 7.8% / 8.2%
Swanbourne — England: 7.8% Cottesloe — England: 8.2%
South Africa 2.9% / 1.7%
Swanbourne — South Africa: 2.9% Cottesloe — South Africa: 1.7%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.6%
Swanbourne — New Zealand: 1.4% Cottesloe — New Zealand: 1.6%
Ireland 0.9% / 1.1%
Swanbourne — Ireland: 0.9% Cottesloe — Ireland: 1.1%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.9%
Swanbourne — Scotland: 0.8% Cottesloe — Scotland: 0.9%
China 0.9% / —
Swanbourne — China: 0.9% Cottesloe — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.2%).

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%
Cottesloe 69.1% houses
Cottesloe — Houses: 69.1% Cottesloe — Flats / Apartments: 18.4% Cottesloe — Townhouses: 12.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Swanbourne Cottesloe
Median house price $2,500,000 $3,050,000
Median unit price $970,000 $1,022,500
Median land price $2,712,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 58 days
from 32 sales
 46 days
from 90 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 Cottesloe
3 bed $2.48M / $2.73M
Swanbourne — 3 bed: $2.48M (15 sales) Cottesloe — 3 bed: $2.73M (40 sales)

15 vs 40 sales

4 bed $2.8M / $3.2M
Swanbourne — 4 bed: $2.8M (24 sales) Cottesloe — 4 bed: $3.2M (43 sales)

24 vs 43 sales

Development activity

Swanbourne Cottesloe
New dwellings approved 115
across Nedlands
 19
across Cottesloe
Approvals change year on year -44% +0%

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 Cottesloe
Houses — 2.2%
$1,062/wk on $2.55M
Units — 2.1%
$762/wk on $1.87M

Ranking within WA

Swanbourne Cottesloe
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 98% of WA
same for both
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of WA Higher than 99% 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 89% of WA
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 1% of WA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 1% of WA

Liveability

Cottesloe is more walkable (92 vs 47); Cottesloe scores higher overall (95 vs 87).

Swanbourne Cottesloe
Grade A+
same for both
Score 87/100 95/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Cottesloe carries more crime risk (48 vs 31).

Swanbourne Cottesloe
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
31/100
 Moderate
48/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
20/100
 Moderate
53/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Swanbourne Cottesloe
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Western Australia, 6.2 km
 2
The University of Notre Dame Australia - Fremantle, 6.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.7% 4.4%

Schools in Swanbourne

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

Schools in Cottesloe

  • North Cottesloe Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Swanbourne Cottesloe
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 3 15
Parks & reserves 8 6
Childcare 4 2
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 0 2
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Swanbourne Cottesloe
Walkability score 47/100 92/100
Distance to Perth 11.2 km 12.1 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min
same for both
Public transport score 88/100
Rail · Bus
 80/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 94.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 120.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 6010
 3.3%
postcode 6011
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 6010
 34
postcode 6011

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 Cottesloe
Car (driver) 65.6% / 63.9%
Swanbourne — Car (driver): 65.6% Cottesloe — Car (driver): 63.9%
Worked from Home 15.0% / 17.2%
Swanbourne — Worked from Home: 15.0% Cottesloe — Worked from Home: 17.2%
Train 4.6% / 7.7%
Swanbourne — Train: 4.6% Cottesloe — Train: 7.7%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 3.9%
Swanbourne — Car (passenger): 4.4% Cottesloe — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Walked Only 4.4% / 2.5%
Swanbourne — Walked Only: 4.4% Cottesloe — Walked Only: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.6%).

Setting

Swanbourne Cottesloe
Elevation 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 889 m
954 m to a named beach
 645 m
672 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Swanbourne Cottesloe
Connectivity score 77/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
1,868 premises
 4%
4,077 premises

Climate

Swanbourne Cottesloe
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 Cottesloe
Average residential rate $2,425/yr $3,718/yr
Council Nedlands Cottesloe

Federal electorate

Swanbourne Cottesloe
Division Curtin
same for both
Member Kate Chaney
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Swanbourne Cottesloe
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

Cottesloe

Beach Coastal Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Trains Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Swanbourne

Swanbourne vs Claremont Swanbourne vs City Beach Swanbourne vs Mount Claremont

Other comparisons with Cottesloe

Cottesloe vs Claremont Cottesloe vs Mosman Park Cottesloe vs Peppermint Grove
Full data on Swanbourne Full data on Cottesloe
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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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