Cudmirrah vs Swanhaven

Cudmirrah is the younger of the two, with a median age of 56 against 65 in Swanhaven. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most households are people living alone. In Cudmirrah, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Swanhaven, about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Cudmirrah: a median of $850,000, against $630,000 in Swanhaven. On these figures, Swanhaven tends to suit 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

Cudmirrah

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 71/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (84% vs 53%)

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

  • Cudmirrah leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 44%)
  • Swanhaven has cheaper houses ($630,000 vs $850,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cudmirrah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 35%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Cudmirrah is more walkable (27/100 vs 18/100)
  • Swanhaven sits closer to the CBD (207.5 km vs 209.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Cudmirrah carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 71/100)
  • Swanhaven has more units and townhouses to downsize into (47% vs 16%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
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.

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Walkability 27 / 18
Cudmirrah — Walkability: 27/100 Swanhaven — Walkability: 18/100
Safety 79 / 29
Cudmirrah — Safety: 79/100 Swanhaven — Safety: 29/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Cudmirrah — Low fire risk: 100/100 Swanhaven — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Cudmirrah has more residents (284 vs 196); Cudmirrah has higher household incomes ($56,836 vs $42,068).

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Population 284
+31% vs other
 196
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.3% +1.6%
Median age 56 65
Median household income $56,836/yr
+26% vs other
 $42,068/yr
Median weekly rent $280/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
0-4 4.6% / —
Cudmirrah — 0-4: 4.6% Swanhaven — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 4.9% / 4.6%
Cudmirrah — 5-14: 4.9% Swanhaven — 5-14: 4.6%
15-19 3.5% / 2.0%
Cudmirrah — 15-19: 3.5% Swanhaven — 15-19: 2.0%
20-24 3.9% / —
Cudmirrah — 20-24: 3.9% Swanhaven — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 8.5% / 3.6%
Cudmirrah — 25-34: 8.5% Swanhaven — 25-34: 3.6%
35-44 6.3% / 7.7%
Cudmirrah — 35-44: 6.3% Swanhaven — 35-44: 7.7%
45-54 13.4% / 10.2%
Cudmirrah — 45-54: 13.4% Swanhaven — 45-54: 10.2%
55-64 18.7% / 23.0%
Cudmirrah — 55-64: 18.7% Swanhaven — 55-64: 23.0%
65-74 18.3% / 31.1%
Cudmirrah — 65-74: 18.3% Swanhaven — 65-74: 31.1%
75-84 11.3% / 15.8%
Cudmirrah — 75-84: 11.3% Swanhaven — 75-84: 15.8%
85+ 1.8% / 1.5%
Cudmirrah — 85+: 1.8% Swanhaven — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cudmirrah 60.9% lone person
Cudmirrah — Lone Person: 60.9% Cudmirrah — Couple Families: 23.0% Cudmirrah — One Parent Families: 12.6% Cudmirrah — Group Household: 3.4%
Swanhaven 66.7% lone person
Swanhaven — Lone Person: 66.7% Swanhaven — Couple Families: 27.8% Swanhaven — One Parent Families: 5.6% Swanhaven — Group Household: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cudmirrah 12.8% renting
Cudmirrah — Owned Outright: 56.4% Cudmirrah — Mortgage: 30.8% Cudmirrah — Renting: 12.8%
Swanhaven 5.4% renting
Swanhaven — Owned Outright: 79.6% Swanhaven — Mortgage: 15.1% Swanhaven — Renting: 5.4%
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.

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
England 2.8% / 9.2%
Cudmirrah — England: 2.8% Swanhaven — England: 9.2%
Germany 2.1% / 1.5%
Cudmirrah — Germany: 2.1% Swanhaven — Germany: 1.5%
Scotland 1.8% / —
Cudmirrah — Scotland: 1.8% Swanhaven — Scotland: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 1.5%
Cudmirrah — Netherlands: not among its largest Swanhaven — Netherlands: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.2%).

Qualifications

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

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Certificate III & IV 26.8% / 27.6%
Cudmirrah — Certificate III & IV: 26.8% Swanhaven — Certificate III & IV: 27.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.7% / 8.2%
Cudmirrah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7% Swanhaven — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Bachelor Degree 8.8% / 2.6%
Cudmirrah — Bachelor Degree: 8.8% Swanhaven — Bachelor Degree: 2.6%
Postgraduate Degree 1.4% / 1.5%
Cudmirrah — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4% Swanhaven — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / —
Cudmirrah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Swanhaven — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cudmirrah 84.4% houses
Cudmirrah — Houses: 84.4% Cudmirrah — Flats / Apartments: 13.1% Cudmirrah — Townhouses: 2.5%
Swanhaven 52.7% houses
Swanhaven — Houses: 52.7% Swanhaven — Flats / Apartments: 47.3% Swanhaven — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Median house price $850,000 $630,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Zoning mix

Swanhaven has more land zoned for conservation (33% vs 3%).

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Parks and recreation 46% 55%
Residential 43% 6%
Environmental 3% 33%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 6%
Planning zones cover 94% of Cudmirrah and 100% of Swanhaven. 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

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

Ranking within NSW

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
House price Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
Income Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 34% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 65% of NSW
same for both

Liveability

Cudmirrah is more walkable (27 vs 18).

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Swanhaven carries more crime risk (71 vs 21).

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
21/100
 High
71/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
25/100
 Low
37/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Cudmirrah sits further from the CBD (209.6 km vs 207.5 km).

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Walkability score 27/100 18/100
Distance to Sydney 209.6 km
+1% vs other
 207.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 173 min 170 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2540
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2540
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.

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Car (driver) 66.0% / 75.6%
Cudmirrah — Car (driver): 66.0% Swanhaven — Car (driver): 75.6%
Worked from Home 23.0% / 14.6%
Cudmirrah — Worked from Home: 23.0% Swanhaven — Worked from Home: 14.6%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 9.8%
Cudmirrah — Car (passenger): 6.0% Swanhaven — Car (passenger): 9.8%
Walked Only 5.0% / —
Cudmirrah — Walked Only: 5.0% Swanhaven — Walked Only: not among its largest

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

Setting

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Elevation 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 484 m
465 m to a named beach
 600 m
2.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Connectivity score 45/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
248 premises
 0%
162 premises

Climate

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Annual rainfall 1,302 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.6°C
same for both

Council rates

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Average residential rate $1,501/yr
same for both
Council Shoalhaven
same for both

Federal electorate

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Division Gilmore
same for both
Member Fiona Phillips
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cudmirrah Swanhaven
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cudmirrah

Beach Beachfront Coastal Retirees River

Swanhaven

Affordable Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Swanhaven

Swanhaven vs Sussex Inlet
Full data on Cudmirrah Full data on Swanhaven
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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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