Croom vs Oak Flats

Croom is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 42 in Oak Flats. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Croom, most households are couple families. On these figures, Croom tends to suit families with children and couples.

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

Oak Flats

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (6 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • But Croom has more separate houses rather than flats (109% vs 82%)

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

First-home buyers

Oak Flats

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (30% vs 36%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Croom

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 30%)
  • has cheaper rent ($365/wk vs $440/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Oak Flats

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 4/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (97 min vs 102 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Oak Flats

ahead on 4 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 4/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 15%)

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

Investors

Oak Flats

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.6% vs -0.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Croom Oak Flats
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.

Croom Oak Flats
Walkability 4 / 88
Croom — Walkability: 4/100 Oak Flats — Walkability: 88/100
Safety 13 / 26
Croom — Safety: 13/100 Oak Flats — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 84 / 100
Croom — Low fire risk: 84/100 Oak Flats — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Oak Flats has more residents (6,840 vs 112); Oak Flats rents higher ($440/wk vs $365/wk).

Croom Oak Flats
Population 112 6,840
+6007% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.9% +6.6%
Median age 38 42
Median household income $89,336/yr
+13% vs other
 $77,376/yr
Median weekly rent $365/wk $440/wk
+21% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Croom Oak Flats
0-4 6.2% / 5.1%
Croom — 0-4: 6.2% Oak Flats — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 18.8% / 12.2%
Croom — 5-14: 18.8% Oak Flats — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 2.7% / 5.4%
Croom — 15-19: 2.7% Oak Flats — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 — / 6.3%
Croom — 20-24: not among its largest Oak Flats — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 11.6% / 12.5%
Croom — 25-34: 11.6% Oak Flats — 25-34: 12.5%
35-44 14.3% / 11.1%
Croom — 35-44: 14.3% Oak Flats — 35-44: 11.1%
45-54 5.4% / 11.7%
Croom — 45-54: 5.4% Oak Flats — 45-54: 11.7%
55-64 13.4% / 14.6%
Croom — 55-64: 13.4% Oak Flats — 55-64: 14.6%
65-74 12.5% / 12.1%
Croom — 65-74: 12.5% Oak Flats — 65-74: 12.1%
75-84 2.7% / 6.6%
Croom — 75-84: 2.7% Oak Flats — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ — / 2.3%
Croom — 85+: not among its largest Oak Flats — 85+: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Croom 60.7% couple families
Croom — Couple Families: 60.7% Croom — Lone Person: 39.3% Croom — One Parent Families: 0.0% Croom — Group Household: 0.0% Croom — Other Families: 0.0%
Oak Flats 39.7% couple families
Oak Flats — Couple Families: 39.7% Oak Flats — Lone Person: 32.0% Oak Flats — One Parent Families: 21.8% Oak Flats — Group Household: 3.8% Oak Flats — Other Families: 2.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Croom 16.7% renting
Croom — Owned Outright: 53.3% Croom — Mortgage: 30.0% Croom — Renting: 16.7%
Oak Flats 24.7% renting
Oak Flats — Owned Outright: 42.5% Oak Flats — Mortgage: 32.8% Oak Flats — Renting: 24.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Croom Oak Flats
New Zealand 4.5% / 1.1%
Croom — New Zealand: 4.5% Oak Flats — New Zealand: 1.1%
Italy 4.5% / 0.6%
Croom — Italy: 4.5% Oak Flats — Italy: 0.6%
England — / 4.9%
Croom — England: not among its largest Oak Flats — England: 4.9%
Germany — / 1.3%
Croom — Germany: not among its largest Oak Flats — Germany: 1.3%
Scotland — / 0.6%
Croom — Scotland: not among its largest Oak Flats — Scotland: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

Qualifications

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

Croom Oak Flats
Certificate III & IV 18.8% / 21.4%
Croom — Certificate III & IV: 18.8% Oak Flats — Certificate III & IV: 21.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 8.0%
Croom — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Oak Flats — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Bachelor Degree 9.8% / 7.0%
Croom — Bachelor Degree: 9.8% Oak Flats — Bachelor Degree: 7.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.5% / 1.0%
Croom — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.5% Oak Flats — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%
Postgraduate Degree — / 2.0%
Croom — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Oak Flats — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Croom 109.4% houses
Croom — Houses: 109.4% Croom — Townhouses: 0.0% Croom — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Oak Flats 82.2% houses
Oak Flats — Houses: 82.2% Oak Flats — Townhouses: 15.4% Oak Flats — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Croom Oak Flats
Median house price — $988,500
Median unit price — $700,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 24 days
from 78 sales

Zoning mix

Croom has more rural and farming land (69% vs 0%); Croom has more land zoned for conservation (20% vs 1%).

Croom Oak Flats
Rural and farming 69% 0%
Residential 0% 64%
Environmental 20% 1%
Parks and recreation 6% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 8%
Industrial 0% 7%
Commercial 0% 4%
Other and special use 1% 0%
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

Croom Oak Flats
New dwellings approved 883
across Shellharbour
same for both
Approvals change year on year +25%
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.

Croom Oak Flats
Houses — 4.0%
$725/wk on $940K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Croom Oak Flats
House price — Higher than 44% of NSW
Income Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 7% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Affordability — Higher than 52% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 74% of NSW

Liveability

Oak Flats is more walkable (88 vs 4).

Croom Oak Flats
Grade — C
Score — 45/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Croom carries more bushfire risk (16 vs 0); Croom carries more crime risk (87 vs 74).

Croom Oak Flats
Bushfire Low
16/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
87/100
 High
74/100
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 7
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Croom Oak Flats
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Croom

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

Schools in Oak Flats

  • Balarang Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Corpus Christi Catholic High School Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Oak Flats Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Oak Flats High School Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Croom Oak Flats
Parks & reserves 1 14
Childcare 0 6
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 2 1

Mobility

Croom Oak Flats
Walkability score 4/100 88/100
Distance to Sydney 111.6 km
+2% vs other
 109.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 102 min 97 min
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2527
 0.9%
postcode 2529
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 60
postcode 2527
 45
postcode 2529

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.

Croom Oak Flats
Car (driver) 50.0% / 71.8%
Croom — Car (driver): 50.0% Oak Flats — Car (driver): 71.8%
Worked from Home 50.0% / 20.3%
Croom — Worked from Home: 50.0% Oak Flats — Worked from Home: 20.3%
Car (passenger) — / 3.8%
Croom — Car (passenger): not among its largest Oak Flats — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Walked Only — / 1.7%
Croom — Walked Only: not among its largest Oak Flats — Walked Only: 1.7%
Train — / 1.0%
Croom — Train: not among its largest Oak Flats — Train: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.8%).

Setting

Croom Oak Flats
Elevation 118 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.9 km 4.3 km
4.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Croom Oak Flats
Connectivity score 42/100 74/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
54 premises
 53%
3,270 premises

Climate

Croom Oak Flats
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Croom Oak Flats
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.37 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Croom Oak Flats
Average residential rate $1,788/yr
same for both
Council Shellharbour
same for both

Federal electorate

Croom Oak Flats
Division Whitlam
same for both
Member Carol Berry
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Croom Oak Flats
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Croom

Family Rural

Oak Flats

Parks River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Croom

Croom vs Albion Park Croom vs Flinders Croom vs Albion Park Rail Croom vs Blackbutt Croom vs Jamberoo Croom vs Dunmore

Other comparisons with Oak Flats

Oak Flats vs Albion Park Rail Oak Flats vs Barrack Heights Oak Flats vs Mount Warrigal Oak Flats vs Blackbutt Oak Flats vs Shellharbour City Centre
Full data on Croom Full data on Oak Flats
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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