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Hout Bay

Safety 88/100 Safer than 42% of Cape Town suburbs (relative) Property 3-3.5M Top 13% Schools 12 89% matric pass rate Healthcare 1 facilities within 5 km Council Above avg complaints 2d median resolution Transport Minibus taxi coverage well-connected area

Data current as of

This area has far more visitors than residents, which affects how crime rates are calculated. Learn more ›
#13 Best for Families

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 below the city average for reported safety. There is a strong presence of places of worship serving the community. The dominant commuter mode is private vehicle. Policing falls under the Hout Bay SAPS precinct.

How is the area changing?

In Hout Bay, crime is declining 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?

Lower reported crime

20th percentile among 744 suburbs · volume-based score (tourist precinct adjustment) · relative index, not an absolute safety measure

Very low Absolute crime volume
4 912 reported crimes per year · city median: 10 468
↑ 0.6% vs Q3 2024
Hout Bay is a tourist precinct. The headline score reflects absolute crime volume only - 88/100 - because the per-capita rate is distorted by a small residential population serving a much larger visitor population. Actual crime volume is very low - just 4 912 per year, well below the city median of 10 468. For residents, this is one of the quieter parts of Cape Town. Contact crime (assault, robbery) dominates the reported crime profile.

Detailed data

Headline score (volume-based) Why volume-based? 88 / 100
Composite score (rate x volume) How is this calculated? 40 / 100
Contact crime rate 246,134 per 100k residents
Station population 24 545
Harm rate (per resident) 18/100
Harm volume (absolute) 88/100
Data period Q3 2025/2026 (Oct–Dec 2025)
Source SAPS via DataFirst · CC-BY 4.0
Tourist-precinct adjustment. The headline score uses the volume sub-index (88/100) instead of the composite (40/100). Hout Bay's per-capita crime rate is calculated against a small resident population, but the SAPS precinct serves far more visitors than residents. The composite punishes Hout Bay for a high per-capita rate that is an artefact of the small population denominator. The volume sub-index measures absolute crime only and is not affected by this distortion. Both scores are shown in the data table for transparency. Full methodology.

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 · Q3 2025/2026

Read more: Is Camps Bay safe? What the crime data shows

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)

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

Source: City of Cape Town GV2022

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 Ranks this suburb's taxi route access against all 744 Cape Town suburbs. Based on routes matched by name and within 500m of suburb centre. Large suburbs may have higher actual connectivity than shown. Full methodology ›

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
3%
Minibus taxi
6%
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 92.7 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.

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

Access to basic services

93 City median: 85
Piped water
92.7%
Flush toilet
89.4%
Weekly refuse
92.3%
Grid electricity
96.5%

Housing & tenure – Mixed tenure community

78 City median: 68
Formal dwellings
78.2%
Owner-occupied
44.7%
Rented
21.2%

Environmental risk – Moderate risk exposure

23 risk 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

Spending priorities – top priority: Food

Food
73.0%
of households prioritise
Electricity
42.3%
of households prioritise
Petrol/transport
41.8%
of households prioritise
Rent/bond
19.0%
of households prioritise
School fees
8.5%
of households prioritise

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%

How Hout Bay compares

Food insecurity 79% below the city average for adult food insecurity
Material hardship 73% below the city average for material hardship
Income 2.0× the city average for median household income
Food spend share 13% above the city average for food expenditure share

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.
2
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
10
Islamic
1

Registered places of worship per suburb from City of Cape Town open data. Coverage: 299 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: No Power (3 823), SEW: Blocked/Overflow (2 203), PPM KRN Fault (1 371)

Source: City of Cape Town C3 service requests

FOR FAMILIES

What services are near Hout Bay?

Well served

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

Fire station

0.4
km to nearest
fire station
Hout Bay
community station
within-5km
response
category

Cape Town has 32 fire stations serving 744 suburbs. Source: CCT open data.

Public swimming pools

11.8
km to nearest
public pool
0
pools
within 5 km
0
pools
within 10 km
Nearest pool Retreat Swimming Pool

Cape Town operates 35 public swimming pools. Source: CCT open data.

Distances straight-line from suburb centroid.

Source: City of Cape Town facility registry

Read more: Cape Town swimming pools: which suburbs have access

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Explore surrounding areas

Bordering suburbs

4 adjacent

Suburbs that border or sit adjacent to Hout Bay. Each has its own safety profile, property market, and service data.

Cape Farms District H Constantia Llandudno Oudekraal
Further reading

Related articles

Public swimming pools in Cape Town: where they are and who they serve
2026-03-12
Is Camps Bay Safe? What the Data Shows (2026)
2026-03-15
Is Hout Bay safe? Data behind the diversity
2026-03-15
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Hout Bay · -34.0286°S, 18.3544°E

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