Overall score
North Beach
56.0/100
Scarborough
53.5/100
North Beach for families and investment; Scarborough for retirees.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
North Beach
56.0/100
Scarborough
53.5/100
Crime rate
North Beach
50.2 / 1k
Scarborough
50.2 / 1k
Nearby amenities
North Beach
101
Scarborough
287
Population
North Beach
3,689
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 | North Beach | Scarborough |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 56.0/100 | 53.5/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 57.9/100 | 64.7/100 |
| Crime rate | 50.2 / 1k | 50.2 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 7 | 7 |
| Weather (desirability) | 23.4/100 | 23.4/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 2 | 6 |
| Public transport stops | 27 | 68 |
| Walkability | 34.0/100 | 85.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 101 | 287 |
| Planning activity | — | 1 |
| Green cover | 29.2% | 5.3% |
| Population | 3,689 | 17,605 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 10/10 | 10/10 |
Put side by side, North Beach is a coastal mid-sized suburb shaped by beach life and outdoor living, and Scarborough is a coastal established suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm.
On the data, North Beach is stronger for housing affordability; Scarborough answers with parks and reserves, public transport access, and walkability.
Families, investors, and households prioritising schools may find North Beach the better fit, while people chasing a beach lifestyle are more likely to prefer Scarborough.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.