Moving to Scarborough QLD 4020
What the official numbers say about living in Scarborough — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $350 a week, against a median household income of $1,336 a week.
Who you'll be living with
Scarborough grew 15% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (7,986 → 9,178 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, South Africa; most spoken languages besides English: German, Afrikaans, Spanish.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Scarborough scores a little above the national average (decile 6 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (73% of workers), while 22% work from home.
Nearest train station: Kippa-Ring, 3.8 km south-west.
Nearest airport: Brisbane Airport, 19.6 km south.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 31 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 11 schools · 34 cafes & restaurants · 3 supermarkets · 18 parks · 5 beaches — see them all on the Scarborough profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Australian Trade College North Brisbane 150 m · Southern Cross Catholic College (Scarborough Primary Campus) 400 m · Southern Cross Catholic College (Scarborough Secondary Campus) 450 m · Scarborough State School 1.3 km · Redcliffe State High School 2.1 km · Redcliffe Special School 2.2 km · Kippa-Ring State School 3.8 km · Hercules Road State School 3.9 km
Groceries: Coles 2.1 km · IGA 2.7 km · Woolworths 2.9 km
Parks and reserves: Flinders Parade Lookout 500 m · Scarborough Beach Park 600 m · Thurecht Park 1.1 km · Scarborough Pier & BBQ Shelter 1.2 km · Endeavour Park 1.3 km · Tom Wallace Park 1.4 km · Jamieson Park 1.4 km · Tingira Park 1.5 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Scarborough, most often seen first: Australian White Ibis · Torresian Crow · Welcome Swallow · Noisy Miner · Masked Lapwing · Rainbow Lorikeet.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Scarborough, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarborough here | 9,178 | — | 6/10 | 8% |
| Redcliffe | 10,460 | — | 2/10 | 9% |
| Newport | 5,964 | — | 10/10 | 5% |
| Kippa-ring | 9,745 | — | 2/10 | 12% |
| Margate | 7,575 | — | 3/10 | 8% |
| Clontarf | 8,446 | — | 3/10 | 20% |
| Woody Point | 4,548 | — | 3/10 | 9% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Moreton Bay — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Petrie — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4020 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Scarborough profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $350 a week.
The population grew 15% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 7,986 people to 9,178. It sits about 31 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line, and Kippa-Ring station is roughly 3.8 km away. Local government is Moreton Bay council, and the federal seat is Petrie.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Scarborough vs Redcliffe · Scarborough vs Newport.
Nearby guides: Redcliffe · Newport · Kippa-ring · Margate · Clontarf · Woody Point.
Keep an eye on Scarborough
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