Coolangatta vs Shoalhaven Heads

Coolangatta is the younger of the two, with a median age of 51 against 56 in Shoalhaven Heads. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Coolangatta, most households are couple families. In Shoalhaven Heads, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Coolangatta: a median of $2.2 million, against $1.1 million in Shoalhaven Heads, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Coolangatta tends to suit couples, while Shoalhaven Heads suits people living alone, older residents, 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

Shoalhaven Heads

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 0)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 49/100)
  • But Coolangatta is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 39%)

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

  • Coolangatta leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 42%)
  • Shoalhaven Heads has cheaper houses ($1,100,000 vs $2,200,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Shoalhaven Heads

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (19% vs 6%)
  • has cheaper rent ($365/wk vs $400/wk)
  • But Coolangatta leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 34%)

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 10/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Shoalhaven Heads

ahead on 4 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 10/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (37% vs 22%)

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

Investors

Shoalhaven Heads

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.2% vs -1.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Coolangatta 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.

Coolangatta 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.

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
Walkability 10 / 64
Coolangatta — Walkability: 10/100 Shoalhaven Heads — Walkability: 64/100
Safety 51 / 63
Coolangatta — Safety: 51/100 Shoalhaven Heads — Safety: 63/100
Low fire risk 35 / 22
Coolangatta — Low fire risk: 35/100 Shoalhaven Heads — Low fire risk: 22/100

Demographics

Shoalhaven Heads has more residents (3,248 vs 324); Coolangatta has higher household incomes ($107,016 vs $55,432).

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
Population 324 3,248
+902% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.5% +6.2%
Median age 51 56
Median household income $107,016/yr
+48% vs other
 $55,432/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+9% vs other
 $365/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
0-4 2.8% / 4.8%
Coolangatta — 0-4: 2.8% Shoalhaven Heads — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 9.3% / 9.7%
Coolangatta — 5-14: 9.3% Shoalhaven Heads — 5-14: 9.7%
15-19 8.6% / 3.7%
Coolangatta — 15-19: 8.6% Shoalhaven Heads — 15-19: 3.7%
20-24 5.6% / 2.6%
Coolangatta — 20-24: 5.6% Shoalhaven Heads — 20-24: 2.6%
25-34 5.2% / 7.9%
Coolangatta — 25-34: 5.2% Shoalhaven Heads — 25-34: 7.9%
35-44 10.5% / 9.7%
Coolangatta — 35-44: 10.5% Shoalhaven Heads — 35-44: 9.7%
45-54 13.6% / 10.3%
Coolangatta — 45-54: 13.6% Shoalhaven Heads — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 20.7% / 14.6%
Coolangatta — 55-64: 20.7% Shoalhaven Heads — 55-64: 14.6%
65-74 19.1% / 19.7%
Coolangatta — 65-74: 19.1% Shoalhaven Heads — 65-74: 19.7%
75-84 3.1% / 13.0%
Coolangatta — 75-84: 3.1% Shoalhaven Heads — 75-84: 13.0%
85+ — / 4.0%
Coolangatta — 85+: not among its largest Shoalhaven Heads — 85+: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Coolangatta 58.7% couple families
Coolangatta — Couple Families: 58.7% Coolangatta — Lone Person: 12.7% Coolangatta — One Parent Families: 17.5% Coolangatta — Group Household: 4.8% Coolangatta — Other Families: 6.3%
Shoalhaven Heads 26.5% couple families
Shoalhaven Heads — Couple Families: 26.5% Shoalhaven Heads — Lone Person: 55.2% Shoalhaven Heads — One Parent Families: 12.5% Shoalhaven Heads — Group Household: 4.3% Shoalhaven Heads — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Coolangatta 6.2% renting
Coolangatta — Owned Outright: 52.7% Coolangatta — Mortgage: 41.1% Coolangatta — Renting: 6.2%
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.

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
Certificate III & IV 20.1% / 18.9%
Coolangatta — Certificate III & IV: 20.1% Shoalhaven Heads — Certificate III & IV: 18.9%
Bachelor Degree 13.6% / 10.0%
Coolangatta — Bachelor Degree: 13.6% Shoalhaven Heads — Bachelor Degree: 10.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.7% / 8.1%
Coolangatta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.7% Shoalhaven Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 4.0% / 2.5%
Coolangatta — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0% Shoalhaven Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 1.5%
Coolangatta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Shoalhaven Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

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.

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
England 5.9% / 5.5%
Coolangatta — England: 5.9% Shoalhaven Heads — England: 5.5%
Scotland 1.9% / 0.5%
Coolangatta — Scotland: 1.9% Shoalhaven Heads — Scotland: 0.5%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.3%
Coolangatta — New Zealand: 0.9% Shoalhaven Heads — New Zealand: 1.3%
Canada 1.2% / —
Coolangatta — Canada: 1.2% Shoalhaven Heads — Canada: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.6%
Coolangatta — Germany: not among its largest Shoalhaven Heads — Germany: 0.6%
Netherlands — / 0.6%
Coolangatta — Netherlands: not among its largest Shoalhaven Heads — Netherlands: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Coolangatta 100.0% houses
Coolangatta — Houses: 100.0% Coolangatta — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Coolangatta — Townhouses: 0.0%
Shoalhaven Heads 67.2% houses
Shoalhaven Heads — Houses: 67.2% Shoalhaven Heads — Flats / Apartments: 18.7% Shoalhaven Heads — Townhouses: 14.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
Median house price $2,200,000 $1,100,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 47 days
from 67 sales

Zoning mix

Coolangatta has more rural and farming land (60% vs 7%); Coolangatta has more land zoned for conservation (38% vs 23%).

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
Rural and farming 60% 7%
Residential 0% 40%
Environmental 38% 23%
Parks and recreation 0% 24%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 3%
Planning zones cover 100% of Coolangatta 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

Coolangatta 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.

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
Houses — 3.4%
$715/wk on $1.1M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
House price Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
Income Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 58% 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 59% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 38% of NSW

Liveability

Shoalhaven Heads is more walkable (64 vs 10).

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
Grade — C
Score — 38/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Coolangatta carries more crime risk (49 vs 37); Shoalhaven Heads carries more bushfire risk (78 vs 65).

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
Bushfire Moderate
65/100
 High
78/100
Crime Moderate
49/100
 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

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

Schools in Coolangatta

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Shoalhaven Heads

  • Shoalhaven Heads Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 0 8
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
Walkability score 10/100 64/100
Distance to Sydney 150.7 km 149.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 129 min 127 min
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.

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
Car (driver) 68.6% / 75.6%
Coolangatta — Car (driver): 68.6% Shoalhaven Heads — Car (driver): 75.6%
Worked from Home 25.5% / 16.9%
Coolangatta — Worked from Home: 25.5% Shoalhaven Heads — Worked from Home: 16.9%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 3.4%
Coolangatta — Car (passenger): 3.3% Shoalhaven Heads — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Walked Only 2.6% / 3.5%
Coolangatta — Walked Only: 2.6% Shoalhaven Heads — Walked Only: 3.5%
Bicycle — / 0.6%
Coolangatta — Bicycle: not among its largest Shoalhaven Heads — Bicycle: 0.6%

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

Setting

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
Elevation 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.2 km 829 m
4.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Coolangatta Shoalhaven Heads
Connectivity score 30/100 61/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
129 premises
 27%
2,376 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Coolangatta

Acreage

Shoalhaven Heads

Coastal Parks Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Coolangatta

Coolangatta vs Berry Coolangatta vs Far Meadow Coolangatta vs Numbaa Coolangatta vs Back Forest

Other comparisons with Shoalhaven Heads

Shoalhaven Heads vs Berry
Full data on Coolangatta 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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