Overall score
City Beach
66.9/100
Cottesloe
65.3/100
City Beach for families and investment; Cottesloe for beach lifestyle.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
City Beach
66.9/100
Cottesloe
65.3/100
Crime rate
City Beach
1675.5 / 1k
Cottesloe
1493.6 / 1k
Nearby amenities
City Beach
195
Cottesloe
795
Population
City Beach
6,805
Cottesloe
7,750
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | City Beach | Cottesloe |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 66.9/100 | 65.3/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 78.5/100 | 52.4/100 |
| Crime rate | 1675.5 / 1k | 1493.6 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 3 | 7 |
| Parks & reserves | 9 | 4 |
| Public transport stops | 52 | 40 |
| Walkability | 59.0/100 | 100.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 195 | 795 |
| Population | 6,805 | 7,750 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 10/10 | 10/10 |
City Beach is a coastal mid-sized suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm, while Cottesloe is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone.
City Beach tends to lead on housing affordability and schools and education options, while Cottesloe stands out for a quieter safety profile and walkability.
On balance, families and investors are more likely to prefer City Beach, while Cottesloe remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.