Brunswick Heads vs Ocean Shores

Ocean Shores is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 47 in Brunswick Heads. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Brunswick Heads, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Brunswick Heads: a median of $1.8 million, against $1.27 million in Ocean Shores, though rent is higher in Ocean Shores. On these figures, Brunswick Heads tends to suit people living alone, while Ocean Shores suits 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

Ocean Shores

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 89/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (83% vs 60%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (54% vs 40%)
  • But Brunswick Heads has more parks and reserves (5 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Ocean Shores

ahead on 4 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($740,000 vs $2,200,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,270,000 vs $1,805,000)
  • has cheaper units ($930,000 vs $1,160,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Brunswick Heads

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 27%)
  • has cheaper rent ($440/wk vs $508/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Brunswick Heads

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (28/100 vs 16/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (484 min vs 491 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (761.3 km vs 767.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Brunswick Heads has more units and townhouses to downsize into (40% vs 17%)
  • Ocean Shores has more GPs (3 vs 1)

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

Investors

Ocean Shores

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.1% vs 2.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
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.

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Walkability 28 / 16
Brunswick Heads — Walkability: 28/100 Ocean Shores — Walkability: 16/100
Safety 11 / 56
Brunswick Heads — Safety: 11/100 Ocean Shores — Safety: 56/100
Low fire risk 42 / 82
Brunswick Heads — Low fire risk: 42/100 Ocean Shores — Low fire risk: 82/100

Demographics

Ocean Shores has more residents (5,777 vs 1,905); Ocean Shores rents higher ($508/wk vs $440/wk).

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Population 1,905 5,777
+203% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.7% +12.5%
Median age 47 43
Median household income $66,560/yr $76,492/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $440/wk $508/wk
+15% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
0-4 4.7% / 5.1%
Brunswick Heads — 0-4: 4.7% Ocean Shores — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 8.6% / 11.9%
Brunswick Heads — 5-14: 8.6% Ocean Shores — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 4.6% / 5.3%
Brunswick Heads — 15-19: 4.6% Ocean Shores — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 4.8% / 4.0%
Brunswick Heads — 20-24: 4.8% Ocean Shores — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 11.5% / 11.2%
Brunswick Heads — 25-34: 11.5% Ocean Shores — 25-34: 11.2%
35-44 12.5% / 14.2%
Brunswick Heads — 35-44: 12.5% Ocean Shores — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 14.1% / 15.1%
Brunswick Heads — 45-54: 14.1% Ocean Shores — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 16.0% / 14.5%
Brunswick Heads — 55-64: 16.0% Ocean Shores — 55-64: 14.5%
65-74 14.0% / 12.4%
Brunswick Heads — 65-74: 14.0% Ocean Shores — 65-74: 12.4%
75-84 7.1% / 4.9%
Brunswick Heads — 75-84: 7.1% Ocean Shores — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 2.4% / 1.6%
Brunswick Heads — 85+: 2.4% Ocean Shores — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Brunswick Heads 48.3% lone person
Brunswick Heads — Lone Person: 48.3% Brunswick Heads — Couple Families: 23.2% Brunswick Heads — One Parent Families: 16.7% Brunswick Heads — Group Household: 10.2% Brunswick Heads — Other Families: 1.6%
Ocean Shores 34.4% lone person
Ocean Shores — Lone Person: 34.4% Ocean Shores — Couple Families: 32.9% Ocean Shores — One Parent Families: 20.8% Ocean Shores — Group Household: 10.8% Ocean Shores — Other Families: 1.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Brunswick Heads 40.7% renting
Brunswick Heads — Owned Outright: 40.5% Brunswick Heads — Mortgage: 18.8% Brunswick Heads — Renting: 40.7%
Ocean Shores 27.1% renting
Ocean Shores — Owned Outright: 38.1% Ocean Shores — Mortgage: 34.8% Ocean Shores — Renting: 27.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Bachelor Degree 15.8% / 15.5%
Brunswick Heads — Bachelor Degree: 15.8% Ocean Shores — Bachelor Degree: 15.5%
Certificate III & IV 14.5% / 14.3%
Brunswick Heads — Certificate III & IV: 14.5% Ocean Shores — Certificate III & IV: 14.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 10.0%
Brunswick Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Ocean Shores — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.3% / 4.4%
Brunswick Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3% Ocean Shores — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.8%
Brunswick Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Ocean Shores — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

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.

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
England 4.5% / 4.4%
Brunswick Heads — England: 4.5% Ocean Shores — England: 4.4%
New Zealand 2.3% / 2.1%
Brunswick Heads — New Zealand: 2.3% Ocean Shores — New Zealand: 2.1%
Canada 1.2% / 0.7%
Brunswick Heads — Canada: 1.2% Ocean Shores — Canada: 0.7%
Brazil 0.6% / 0.6%
Brunswick Heads — Brazil: 0.6% Ocean Shores — Brazil: 0.6%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.7%
Brunswick Heads — South Africa: 0.5% Ocean Shores — South Africa: 0.7%
Germany — / 1.1%
Brunswick Heads — Germany: not among its largest Ocean Shores — Germany: 1.1%
Italy 0.6% / —
Brunswick Heads — Italy: 0.6% Ocean Shores — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Brunswick Heads 59.7% houses
Brunswick Heads — Houses: 59.7% Brunswick Heads — Flats / Apartments: 34.2% Brunswick Heads — Townhouses: 6.1%
Ocean Shores 83.4% houses
Ocean Shores — Houses: 83.4% Ocean Shores — Flats / Apartments: 7.2% Ocean Shores — Townhouses: 9.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Median house price $1,805,000 $1,270,000
Median unit price $1,160,000 $930,000
Median land price $2,200,000 $740,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 56 days
from 17 sales
 41 days
from 71 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.

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
3 bed $1.76M / $1.19M
Brunswick Heads — 3 bed: $1.76M (21 sales) Ocean Shores — 3 bed: $1.19M (77 sales)

21 vs 77 sales

4 bed $2.11M / $1.44M
Brunswick Heads — 4 bed: $2.11M (13 sales) Ocean Shores — 4 bed: $1.44M (38 sales)

13 vs 38 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
2 bed $1.25M / $749K
Brunswick Heads — 2 bed: $1.25M (11 sales) Ocean Shores — 2 bed: $749K (10 sales)

11 vs 10 sales

3 bed $1.11M / $965K
Brunswick Heads — 3 bed: $1.11M (5 sales) Ocean Shores — 3 bed: $965K (25 sales)

5 vs 25 sales

Zoning mix

Brunswick Heads has more rural and farming land (30% vs 12%).

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Environmental 48% 47%
Rural and farming 30% 12%
Residential 7% 23%
Parks and recreation 3% 10%
Other and special use 6% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 1%
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

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
New dwellings approved 129
across Byron
same for both
Approvals change year on year -65%
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.

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Houses 2.5%
$915/wk on $1.88M
 4.1%
$1,050/wk on $1.33M
Units — 3.9%
$590/wk on $785K

Ranking within NSW

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
House price Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Income Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 6% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 85% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 20% of NSW

Liveability

Ocean Shores scores higher overall (44 vs 23); Brunswick Heads is more walkable (28 vs 16).

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Grade D C
Score 23/100 44/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Brunswick Heads carries more bushfire risk (58 vs 18); Brunswick Heads carries more crime risk (89 vs 44).

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Bushfire Moderate
58/100
 Low
18/100
Crime High
89/100
 Moderate
44/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
17/100
 Low
13/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Brunswick Heads

  • Brunswick Heads Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Ocean Shores

  • Ocean Shores Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 13 2
Parks & reserves 5 2
Childcare 2 4
GPs 1 3
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 2
same for both

Mobility

Ocean Shores sits further from the CBD (767.6 km vs 761.3 km).

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Walkability score 28/100 16/100
Distance to Sydney 761.3 km 767.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 484 min 491 min
Public transport score 51/100
Bus
 53/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 17.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 17.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 2483
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 72
postcode 2483
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.

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Car (driver) 62.0% / 67.0%
Brunswick Heads — Car (driver): 62.0% Ocean Shores — Car (driver): 67.0%
Worked from Home 26.4% / 26.0%
Brunswick Heads — Worked from Home: 26.4% Ocean Shores — Worked from Home: 26.0%
Walked Only 5.6% / 2.0%
Brunswick Heads — Walked Only: 5.6% Ocean Shores — Walked Only: 2.0%
Car (passenger) 2.5% / 4.2%
Brunswick Heads — Car (passenger): 2.5% Ocean Shores — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Bicycle 3.4% / 0.6%
Brunswick Heads — Bicycle: 3.4% Ocean Shores — Bicycle: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.0%).

Setting

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 -1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km
2.2 km to a named beach
 1.8 km
3.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Connectivity score 70/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
1,256 premises
 53%
2,662 premises

Climate

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Annual rainfall 1,569 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Byron
same for both

Federal electorate

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Brunswick Heads

Coastal Premium

Ocean Shores

Coastal Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Brunswick Heads

Brunswick Heads vs Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads vs Myocum Brunswick Heads vs New Brighton Brunswick Heads vs Tyagarah

Other comparisons with Ocean Shores

Ocean Shores vs Mullumbimby Ocean Shores vs South Golden Beach Ocean Shores vs New Brighton Ocean Shores vs Billinudgel Ocean Shores vs Wooyung Ocean Shores vs Yelgun
Full data on Brunswick Heads Full data on Ocean Shores
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or