Council (LGA) · Area profile
Cottesloe
4 km²
The typical resident of Cottesloe has aged by four years since 2011, contributing to a community that is now noticeably older than the national average. It is an exceptionally affluent area where over half of adults hold a university degree. This high level of education is reflected in the local economy, with typical weekly family incomes far exceeding the state and national figures. This combination of wealth and age creates a professional, established seaside community in Greater Perth.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
Rapid population growth here is outstripping school provision.
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Cottesloe is an older community, with a typical resident aged 44 and 22% of people aged 65 or over, which is well above the national figure. Children under 15 make up only 15.6% of the population, a figure that has fallen since 2011.
People born overseas make up 24.6% of the population, which is much higher than most similar areas, though well below the Western Australian average. English is the most common ancestry at 48.7%.
English is spoken by 89.2% of residents, and very few people—only 0.3%—speak little or no English, which is well below the national average.
A large proportion of the community identifies as having no religion (47.6%), a figure that has risen by 20 percentage points since 2011 and is well above the national figure.
The area is highly qualified, with 54.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 82.8% having completed Year 12, both of which are far above the state and national averages.
Cottesloe is one of the wealthiest areas in the region; 49% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, and the typical weekly family income of $4,597 is far above the national figure.
Residents generally report good health, with only 2.5% needing help with daily activities and a long-term health condition rate that is well below the national average.
Community spirit is high, as 27.3% of people volunteer—far above the national figure—and 14.1% provide unpaid care.
The First Nations community is small, comprising 29 people, though they are far older and earn far more than First Nations people typically do across the state.
Families with children are common, making up 60.7% of households, while only 8.7% of families are one-parent households, which is well below the national average.
Housing is expensive and stable, with 44.5% of homes owned outright and a typical weekly rent of $535, which is well above the national figure.
The area is well-connected; 15.1% of people work from home, and 7.5% commute via public transport, which is well above the national average.
Cottesloe is a dynamic place where 42.2% of people have moved in the last five years, and 14.2% are recent arrivals from overseas.
Professionals and managers make up a large part of the workforce, and the unemployment rate is 3.5%, which is lower than most areas.
The area ranks among the highest for overall advantage and access to resources, with a population that has grown by 11.6% since 2021.
The local climate is milder than the state average, with a typical maximum temperature of 24.4 degrees and annual rainfall of 670mm.
The area is very walkable, with 100% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park and public transport, and 98.5% within reach of health services.