Berry vs Shoalhaven Heads

In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Berry, about half of households are people living alone. In Shoalhaven Heads, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Berry: a median of $1.61 million, against $1.1 million in Shoalhaven Heads, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Shoalhaven Heads tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Berry is already more of a family suburb (52% vs 39%)
  • Shoalhaven Heads has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Berry leaves households under less mortgage stress (33% vs 42%)
  • Shoalhaven Heads has cheaper houses ($1,100,000 vs $1,607,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Shoalhaven Heads

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($365/wk vs $520/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Shoalhaven Heads

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 19/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Shoalhaven Heads

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 19/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (33% vs 15%)
  • carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 51/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Berry is growing faster (16.2% vs 6.2%)
  • Shoalhaven Heads returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.4% vs 2.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Berry and Shoalhaven Heads drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Walkability 19 / 64
Berry — Walkability: 19/100 Shoalhaven Heads — Walkability: 64/100
Safety 49 / 63
Berry — Safety: 49/100 Shoalhaven Heads — Safety: 63/100
Low fire risk 47 / 22
Berry — Low fire risk: 47/100 Shoalhaven Heads — Low fire risk: 22/100

Demographics

Berry rents higher ($520/wk vs $365/wk); Berry has higher household incomes ($77,740 vs $55,432).

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Population 3,098 3,248
+5% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.2% +6.2%
Median age 57 56
Median household income $77,740/yr
+29% vs other
 $55,432/yr
Median weekly rent $520/wk
+30% vs other
 $365/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
0-4 3.7% / 4.8%
Berry — 0-4: 3.7% Shoalhaven Heads — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 10.7% / 9.7%
Berry — 5-14: 10.7% Shoalhaven Heads — 5-14: 9.7%
15-19 4.0% / 3.7%
Berry — 15-19: 4.0% Shoalhaven Heads — 15-19: 3.7%
20-24 2.5% / 2.6%
Berry — 20-24: 2.5% Shoalhaven Heads — 20-24: 2.6%
25-34 6.7% / 7.9%
Berry — 25-34: 6.7% Shoalhaven Heads — 25-34: 7.9%
35-44 9.3% / 9.7%
Berry — 35-44: 9.3% Shoalhaven Heads — 35-44: 9.7%
45-54 10.2% / 10.3%
Berry — 45-54: 10.2% Shoalhaven Heads — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 14.3% / 14.6%
Berry — 55-64: 14.3% Shoalhaven Heads — 55-64: 14.6%
65-74 17.8% / 19.7%
Berry — 65-74: 17.8% Shoalhaven Heads — 65-74: 19.7%
75-84 13.4% / 13.0%
Berry — 75-84: 13.4% Shoalhaven Heads — 75-84: 13.0%
85+ 7.7% / 4.0%
Berry — 85+: 7.7% Shoalhaven Heads — 85+: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Berry 45.3% lone person
Berry — Lone Person: 45.3% Berry — Couple Families: 41.2% Berry — One Parent Families: 11.0% Berry — Group Household: 2.1% Berry — Other Families: 0.4%
Shoalhaven Heads 55.2% lone person
Shoalhaven Heads — Lone Person: 55.2% Shoalhaven Heads — Couple Families: 26.5% Shoalhaven Heads — One Parent Families: 12.5% Shoalhaven Heads — Group Household: 4.3% Shoalhaven Heads — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Berry 14.0% renting
Berry — Owned Outright: 58.6% Berry — Mortgage: 27.4% Berry — Renting: 14.0%
Shoalhaven Heads 18.9% renting
Shoalhaven Heads — Owned Outright: 56.6% Shoalhaven Heads — Mortgage: 24.5% Shoalhaven Heads — Renting: 18.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Certificate III & IV 12.2% / 18.9%
Berry — Certificate III & IV: 12.2% Shoalhaven Heads — Certificate III & IV: 18.9%
Bachelor Degree 15.8% / 10.0%
Berry — Bachelor Degree: 15.8% Shoalhaven Heads — Bachelor Degree: 10.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.7% / 8.1%
Berry — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.7% Shoalhaven Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 5.8% / 2.5%
Berry — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8% Shoalhaven Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 1.5%
Berry — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Shoalhaven Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
England 6.9% / 5.5%
Berry — England: 6.9% Shoalhaven Heads — England: 5.5%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.3%
Berry — New Zealand: 1.5% Shoalhaven Heads — New Zealand: 1.3%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.5%
Berry — Scotland: 0.7% Shoalhaven Heads — Scotland: 0.5%
Germany 0.6% / 0.6%
Berry — Germany: 0.6% Shoalhaven Heads — Germany: 0.6%
Netherlands 0.5% / 0.6%
Berry — Netherlands: 0.5% Shoalhaven Heads — Netherlands: 0.6%
Ireland 0.5% / —
Berry — Ireland: 0.5% Shoalhaven Heads — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Berry 84.8% houses
Berry — Houses: 84.8% Berry — Townhouses: 14.0% Berry — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
Shoalhaven Heads 67.2% houses
Shoalhaven Heads — Houses: 67.2% Shoalhaven Heads — Townhouses: 14.1% Shoalhaven Heads — Flats / Apartments: 18.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Median house price $1,607,500 $1,100,000
Median unit price $1,000,000 —
Median land price $887,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 64 days
from 53 sales
 47 days
from 67 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
3 bed $1.36M / $957K
Berry — 3 bed: $1.36M (25 sales) Shoalhaven Heads — 3 bed: $957K (49 sales)

25 vs 49 sales

4 bed $1.75M / $1.24M
Berry — 4 bed: $1.75M (40 sales) Shoalhaven Heads — 4 bed: $1.24M (23 sales)

40 vs 23 sales

5 bed $2.4M / $1.1M
Berry — 5 bed: $2.4M (8 sales) Shoalhaven Heads — 5 bed: $1.1M (9 sales)

8 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Berry has more rural and farming land (60% vs 7%).

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Rural and farming 60% 7%
Residential 5% 40%
Environmental 30% 23%
Parks and recreation 1% 24%
Infrastructure and transport 3%
same for both
Planning zones cover 99% of Berry and 99% of Shoalhaven Heads. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
New dwellings approved 854
across Shoalhaven
same for both
Approvals change year on year -10%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Houses 2.4%
$855/wk on $1.82M
 3.4%
$715/wk on $1.1M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
House price Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
Income Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 15% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 87% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 6% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW

Liveability

Shoalhaven Heads is more walkable (64 vs 19); Berry scores higher overall (46 vs 38).

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Grade C
same for both
Score 46/100 38/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Shoalhaven Heads carries more bushfire risk (78 vs 53); Berry carries more crime risk (51 vs 37).

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Bushfire Moderate
53/100
 High
78/100
Crime Moderate
51/100
 Low
37/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Berry

  • Berry Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Shoalhaven Heads

  • Shoalhaven Heads Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 19 1
Parks & reserves 8
same for both
Childcare 4 2
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 21 0

Mobility

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Walkability score 19/100 64/100
Distance to Sydney 147.3 km 149.2 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 123 min 127 min
Public transport score 55/100
Rail · Bus
 39/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 22.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 13.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 2535
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2535
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Car (driver) 57.6% / 75.6%
Berry — Car (driver): 57.6% Shoalhaven Heads — Car (driver): 75.6%
Worked from Home 33.8% / 16.9%
Berry — Worked from Home: 33.8% Shoalhaven Heads — Worked from Home: 16.9%
Walked Only 5.0% / 3.5%
Berry — Walked Only: 5.0% Shoalhaven Heads — Walked Only: 3.5%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 3.4%
Berry — Car (passenger): 3.2% Shoalhaven Heads — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Bicycle 0.4% / 0.6%
Berry — Bicycle: 0.4% Shoalhaven Heads — Bicycle: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.6%).

Setting

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Elevation 50 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.2 km 829 m
4.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Connectivity score 73/100 61/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
1,794 premises
 27%
2,376 premises

Council rates

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Average residential rate $1,501/yr
same for both
Council Shoalhaven
same for both

Federal electorate

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Division Gilmore
same for both
Member Fiona Phillips
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Berry Shoalhaven Heads
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Berry

Retirees Rural

Shoalhaven Heads

Coastal Parks Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Berry

Berry vs Gerroa Berry vs Jaspers Brush Berry vs Coolangatta Berry vs Far Meadow Berry vs Broughton Vale Berry vs Toolijooa

Other comparisons with Shoalhaven Heads

Shoalhaven Heads vs Coolangatta
Full data on Berry Full data on Shoalhaven Heads
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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