Overall score
City Beach
66.9/100
Scarborough
65.9/100
City Beach for families and investment; Scarborough for beach lifestyle.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
City Beach
66.9/100
Scarborough
65.9/100
Crime rate
City Beach
1675.5 / 1k
Scarborough
578.7 / 1k
Nearby amenities
City Beach
195
Scarborough
213
Population
City Beach
6,805
Scarborough
17,605
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 | Scarborough |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 66.9/100 | 65.9/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 78.5/100 | 55.3/100 |
| Crime rate | 1675.5 / 1k | 578.7 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 3 | 7 |
| Parks & reserves | 9 | 6 |
| Public transport stops | 52 | 68 |
| Walkability | 59.0/100 | 85.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 195 | 213 |
| Planning activity | — | 1 |
| Population | 6,805 | 17,605 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 10/10 | 10/10 |
City Beach reads as a coastal mid-sized suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm; Scarborough is a coastal established suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm.
City Beach pulls ahead on housing affordability and schools and education options, whereas Scarborough is the better pick for a quieter safety profile and public transport access.
Families and investors may find City Beach the better fit, while people chasing a beach lifestyle are more likely to prefer Scarborough.