Hout Bay has a safety index of 23 out of 100 (Higher reported crime). This is a relative measure comparing reported crime across Cape Town suburbs, not an absolute safety guarantee. The Hout Bay precinct recorded approximately 1,840 crimes in the most recent annual period. Absolute crime volume is below the city average.

Is Hout Bay affordable?

Hout Bay is among the higher-value suburbs in Cape Town. The median property value of R3.9M places it in the 87th percentile, above most of the city. Note that these figures are based on the City of Cape Town General Valuation 2022 and reflect municipal valuations, not necessarily current market prices.

What are utility costs in Hout Bay?

The median monthly water cost per account in Hout Bay is R1,546, 135% above the city median of R658. The median monthly electricity cost per account in Hout Bay is R2,713, 43% above the median of CoCT-billed suburbs of R1,900.

What is the municipal debt in Hout Bay?

As of May 2026, the average outstanding municipal debt per account in Hout Bay is R21,000, 138% above the city median of R8,815. Figures include all account types, so may overstate household debt in areas with commercial activity.

Hout Bay

A suburb with higher reported crime, among the highest property values in Cape Town, and strong school performance relative to Cape Town.

Safety23/100Safer than 6% of Cape Town suburbs (relative)Property3-3.5MTop 13%Schools1289% matric pass rate Healthcare1 facilitieswithin 5 km CouncilAbove avg complaints2d median resolution TransportMinibus taxi coveragewell-connected area

Data current as of June 2026

The neighbourhood

What's it like to live here?

Hout Bay is a neighbourhood in Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Town, where property values sit in the upper quartile for Cape Town. The area's safety profile is among the more challenging areas for reported safety in Cape Town. There is a strong presence of places of worship serving the community. The dominant commuter mode is private vehicle.

How is the area changing?

In Hout Bay, crime levels are stable based on the most recent quarterly comparison. Property values have remained relatively flat between valuation rolls.

What should buyers know?

Hout Bay is well-served by schools, and matric results sit slightly below the city average. In this area, service complaints are generally resolved within a few days. The suburb has a healthcare facility within reach.

Neighbourhood summary generated from StreetSignal data and reviewed by our team.

These statistics describe the suburb as a whole. Conditions vary between streets and neighbourhoods within any suburb.

For home buyers & families

Is Hout Bay safe?

Higher reported crime

Higher crimeModerateLower crime

20th percentile among 744 suburbs · Data: Q4 2025/2026 (Jan–Mar 2026) · relative index, not an absolute safety measure

Very lowAbsolute crime volume

1 840 reported crimes per year · city median: 4 280

↓ 1.1% vs Q3 2024

Rate and volume tell different stories.

The per-capita rate appears high, but actual crime volume (1 840) is below the city median.

Crime is higher than most of Cape Town. Contact crime (assault, robbery) dominates the reported crime profile. Check the breakdown below for specifics.

Detailed data

Safety index (resident-adjusted) How is this calculated?: 23 / 100
Contact crime rate: 207,773 per 100k residents
Station population: 24 545
Harm rate (per resident): 18/100
Harm volume (absolute): 29/100
Data period: Q4 2025/2026 (Jan–Mar 2026)
Source: SAPS via DataFirst · CC-BY 4.0

This data reflects crimes reported to SAPS Hout Bay precinct, which covers Hout Bay and surrounding suburbs. Reported crime may differ from actual crime levels.Full methodology

Disagree with this score? Challenge the methodology ›

Source: SAPS via DataFirst · Q4 2025/2026

FOR BUYERS & INVESTORS

What do properties cost in Hout Bay?

87th percentile

Planned development

13 hectares of land in Hout Bay are earmarked for new development across 2 parcels, primarily High Density Residential (8ha) and Medium Density Residential (6ha).

Source: CCT District Spatial Development Framework (January 2023). Development areas indicate planning designation, not construction timelines.

The median property value in Hout Bay is R3.9M. Property values have declined by 0.9% per year since 2018.

The -0.9% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) is consolidation, not distress. Pricing has held across multiple market cycles – buyers are entering a position that has proven sticky at high absolute levels.

Value band distribution – Hout Bay properties (GV2022)

1.5-2M

2-2.5M

2.5-3M

3-3.5M ◀

3.5-4M

4-4.5M

4.5-5M

Property values are based on the City of Cape Town's 2022 General Valuation roll. GV is an assessed value for municipal rating purposes; transaction prices frequently exceed GV. Recent sales transaction data and rental market data are not available as open data in South Africa.

Median GV2022: R3,850,000
Value growth (CAGR 2018–2022): -0.9% per year→ Consolidating
City-wide value percentile: 87th percentile
Dominant value band: 3-3.5M
Source: CCT GV 2022 · Open Data Policy 27781
Vintage: General Valuation 2022 (municipal valuation, not current market price)

Source: City of Cape Town GV2022

FOR RESIDENTS

What do utilities cost in Hout Bay?

Computed from City of Cape Town billing data

Water

R1 546 / month

135% above city median

Electricity

R2 713 / month

43% above median of CoCT-billed suburbs

Water trend:Dec 2025: R1 679Jan 2026: R1 546Feb 2026: R1 303

Electricity trend:Dec 2025: R3 227Jan 2026: R2 314Feb 2026: R2 713

Monthly cost per account from City of Cape Town billing data. Water coverage: 647 suburbs. Electricity coverage: 384 suburbs.

INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

Development activity in Hout Bay

↑ Increasing

Hout Bay had 612 building plans approved in the last three financial years (FY22/23 to FY24/25), averaging 204 per year. Most were renovations and extensions.

3-year approvals: 612
Annual average: 204/yr
Avg project value: R1.5M

Building plans approved by the City of Cape Town (2014-2025). Approvals indicate planned investment, not completed construction. This data reflects formal building activity only and does not capture informal construction, backyard dwellings, or building work undertaken without a formal plan submission. In areas with high informality, actual construction activity may be substantially higher than these figures suggest. Source: CoCT Building Development Management (DAMS).

FOR PARENTS

How are schools in Hout Bay?

12 schools nearby

Hout Bay has 12 schools within reach. The area matric pass rate is 89.3%, below the city median of 90.0%. Schools include Disa Primary School (Hout Bay).

Adjusted pass rate: 89.3%; City median: 90.0%
Schools contributing: 2; 216 candidates
Median quintile: Q3; Q3

Q3
Disa Primary School (Hout Bay)
Public · Grades R–7 · 685 learners · 15.6:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee schoolFavourable class size
Q3
Silikamva High School
Public · Grades 8–12 · 932 learners · 30.1:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
IND
The Academy Hout Bay T/A The Bay Academ
Independent · Grades R–12 · 78 learners · 6.5:1 learner-educator ratio
PrivateNo-fee schoolFavourable class size
Q3
Hout Bay Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 629 learners · 37:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q3
Nowers High School Academy
Public · Grades 8–12 · 281 learners · 25.5:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee schoolFavourable class size
IND
International School Of Hout Bay
Independent · Grades R–12 · 445 learners · 9.5:1 learner-educator ratio
PrivateQuintile 5School fees applyFavourable class size
–
Seven Steps Academy For The Deaf
Public · Special needs · 107 learners · 5.6:1 learner-educator ratio
Specialist provision
IND
Ambleside School Of Hout Bay
Independent · Grades R–12 · 146 learners · 7.7:1 learner-educator ratio
PrivateQuintile 5School fees applyFavourable class size
Q5
Kronendal Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 346 learners · 21.6:1 learner-educator ratio
Quintile 5School fees applyFavourable class size
Q3
Sentinel Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 985 learners · 34:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q3
Houtbaai Sekondêr
Public · Grades 8–12 · 439 learners · 27.4:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee schoolFavourable class size
Q3
Oranjekloof Mor Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,017 learners · 36.3:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school

Quintile 5 is the highest government-funding category - fees apply, but these are the best-resourced public schools in South Africa. Rankings set by the WCED against community socioeconomic index. Learner-educator ratio (LER) is from EMIS Q2 2025; under 30:1 is favourable by WCED standards, over 40:1 indicates strained capacity. What quintile means ›

Source: DBE EMIS · Q2 2025

FOR COMMUTERS

How connected is Hout Bay?

Vehicle-led mix

Hout Bay has 12 minibus taxi routes, including routes to the CBD. The most common way people get to work is by private vehicle (56%).

Taxi connectivity

Moderate connectivity

12 routes

51st percentile · 12 destinations · CBD-connected

Cape town, Hout bay, Hout bay (via high level rd), Hout bay (via kloof rd), Hout bay (via main rd), Hout bay (via victoria hospital) +6 more

Based on CCT minibus taxi route data. Routes matched by name and spatial proximity (500m). Methodology ›

Commute mode share

Walking is the dominant transport mode at 30%. In the Cape Town context, this indicates structural necessity – limited vehicle ownership and insufficient public transport options.

Private vehicle

56%

Walking

30%

MyCiTi bus

Minibus taxi

Cape Town transport context: In South African cities, transport mode is a socioeconomic proxy – high private vehicle = affluent, high minibus taxi = working class, high walking = structural necessity not preference. StreetSignal reports modal share rather than a walkability index, which would misrepresent SA urban mobility. Methodology ›

Dominant mode: Private vehicle (56%)
Source: CCT Household Survey 2024

Source: City of Cape Town Open Data · 2024

FOR RESIDENTS

What are living conditions in Hout Bay?

Partial service delivery

Hout Bay has a service delivery index of 93 out of 100, above the city median of 84.5. 78% of dwellings are formal structures.

Computed from the City of Cape Town 2024 Household Survey, Hout Bay survey group (38 households). direct.

› High digital connectivity: 81% of households have home internet access.

Access to basic services

93City median: 85

Piped water: 92.7%
Flush toilet: 89.4%
Weekly refuse: 92.3%
Grid electricity: 96.5%

Housing & tenure – Mixed tenure community

78City median: 68

Formal dwellings: 78.2%
Owner-occupied: 44.7%
Rented: 21.2%

Environmental risk – Moderate risk exposure

23risk index · higher = greater risk · City median: 26

Flooding risk: 0.0%
Fire risk: 3.5%
Violent crime: 7.8%
Non-violent crime: 7.9%

Economic structure – Moderate material pressure

Food spending share: 39.8%; Share of income spent on food
City median: 35.3%
Comfortable, moderate discretionary income · 45th percentile
Hardship dimensions: 0; Areas of material need (out of 8)
Grant income share: 26.0%; of households receiving grants
Monthly savings: R461; Weighted mean per household

Digital inclusion – Fibre-connected suburb

Home fibre: 81.4%; City median: 46.5%
Mobile only: 15.1%
No access: 3.5%

Food security

Adult food insecurity: 3.8%; City median: 18.3%
Child food insecurity: 0.0%; City median: 13.0%
Food insecurity prevalence: 3.8%; City median: 22.3%

Demographics & community

Avg household size: 2.5 people
Avg children per household: 0.5

Asset ownership

Computer access: 68.1%
Fridge ownership: 95.4%
Property ownership: 3.9%
Geyser ownership: 74.1%
Borehole access: 16.7%

Home-based economy

Home-based business: 13.7%; of households operate a home-based business
WFH full-time: 7.5%
WFH part-time: 5.3%

Source: City of Cape Town 2024 Household Survey. Survey group: Hout Bay. direct.

Energy access

48%

Free basic electricity

5.6%

City median

48% of electricity connections in Hout Bay receive free basic electricity under the City's indigent support programme. Free basic electricity is a constitutional entitlement providing a monthly allocation to qualifying households. The proportion reflects the reach of the City's indigent support in this suburb, not a measure of poverty.

Source: CCT prepaid electricity data (2025/11/30 to 2026/01/31). Covers prepaid connections only. Credit-metered households are not included. 24,033 connections.

Source: City of Cape Town household survey · 2024

FOR RESIDENTS

How responsive are municipal services in Hout Bay?

Responsive

The City of Cape Town resolves service requests in Hout Bay in a median of 2 days, compared to the city-wide median of 1 day. This is based on 27,468 service requests to the City of Cape Town.

Computed from City of Cape Town service request data

Below-average municipal responsiveness. A 2-day median resolution is slower than the city median – infrastructure complaints take meaningfully longer to resolve.

Median days to resolve
City median: 1

29th

Percentile
across Cape Town

27%

Resolved
same day

Power outage (14%)Sewerage overflow (8%)PPM KRN Fault (5%)No supply (5%)Water leak (4%)

Service requests logged: 27 468
Requests resolved: 72% (19 685 of 27 468)
75% resolved within: 7 days
90% resolved within: 20 days
Source: CCT service request database

Community & faith

Places of worship

11 registered

Christian

Islamic

Places of worship per suburb from City of Cape Town open data, supplemented with OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Coverage: 373 of 744 suburbs.

Municipal complaints

Complaints & top issues

Above city average

Complaint rate How is this calculated?: 3436.3 per 1,000 households
Total complaints: 27 275
Unresolved: 28.0%

Top issues: Power outage (3 823), Sewerage overflow (2 203), PPM KRN Fault (1 371)

Source: City of Cape Town C3 service requests

MUNICIPAL FINANCE

Municipal debt in Hout Bay

138% above city median

Computed from City of Cape Town financial data

Municipal debt in Hout Bay averages R21 000 per account, compared to the city median of R8 815.

R21 000

per account

138% above city median

Trend:Mar 2026: R21 000Apr 2026: R22 463May 2026: R20 675

Breakdown as of May 2026

Property rates: R33 806 244
Electricity: R19 743 227
Water: R13 973 953
Refuse: R3 218 500
Sewerage: R4 844 748
City-wide cleaning: R1 986 674
Improvement district: R0

Outstanding municipal arrears from City of Cape Town financial records. Coverage: 741 suburbs. Per-account figures available for 582 suburbs.

FOR FAMILIES

What services are near Hout Bay?

Some services nearby

Healthcare access

1 within 5km

Nearest public: Hout Bay Clinic · Community Day Centre · 0.3 km
Nearest private: Mediclinic Constantiaberg · Private Hospital · 9.9 km
Public facilities: 1
Private facilities: 0

This suburb has public healthcare access but no private facilities within 5 km.

The nearest fire station to Hout Bay is Hout Bay, 0.4 km away. The nearest public pool is Retreat Swimming Pool, 11.8 km away. The nearest clinic is Hout Bay Clinic, 0.3 km away.

Nearest clinic: Hout Bay Clinic · 0.3 km
Nearest library: Hout Bay · 1.7 km
Nearest park / open space: Disa Greenbelt · 0.01 km