Scarborough vs Austinmer.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,630,000 and $1,792,500. Scarborough edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Scarborough (median $1,630,000) is roughly 9% cheaper to buy into than Austinmer ($1,792,500). Over the past year, Scarborough (-3.8%) ran 2.6 percentage points ahead of Austinmer (-6.4%) on house-price growth.
Austinmer scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 2/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Scarborough (1080) sits above Austinmer (1049).
For buyers
Scarborough is the lower entry point at $1,630,000 median, 9% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Scarborough carries both higher gross yield (3.19% vs 2.90%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Scarborough edges out on average school ICSEA (1080 vs 1049).
Common questions
Is Scarborough or Austinmer cheaper to buy in?
Scarborough has the lower median house price at $1,630,000, roughly 9% below Austinmer ($1,792,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Scarborough or Austinmer?
Over the past 12 months, Scarborough grew -3.8% vs -6.4% in Austinmer, a gap of 2.6 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Scarborough or Austinmer have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Scarborough scores 1080 vs 1049 in Austinmer. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Scarborough or Austinmer?
Austinmer scores 2/100 on walkability vs 0/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Scarborough or Austinmer?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.19% in Scarborough vs 2.90% in Austinmer. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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