Dunmore vs Shell Cove

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Shell Cove: a median of $1.46 million, against $1.06 million in Dunmore, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Dunmore tends to suit 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

Shell Cove

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 93/100)
  • 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

Dunmore

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($692,500 vs $1,595,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,060,000 vs $1,462,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Dunmore

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($420/wk vs $600/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Shell Cove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (33/100 vs 6/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Shell Cove

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (33/100 vs 6/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

Dunmore

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (52.9% vs 35.0%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Dunmore Shell Cove
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.

Dunmore Shell Cove
Walkability 6 / 33
Dunmore — Walkability: 6/100 Shell Cove — Walkability: 33/100
Safety 7 / 58
Dunmore — Safety: 7/100 Shell Cove — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 100 / 58
Dunmore — Low fire risk: 100/100 Shell Cove — Low fire risk: 58/100

Demographics

Shell Cove has more residents (7,591 vs 318); Shell Cove rents higher ($600/wk vs $420/wk).

Dunmore Shell Cove
Population 318 7,591
+2287% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +52.9% +35.0%
Median age 41 40
Median household income $115,128/yr $127,504/yr
+11% vs other
Median weekly rent $420/wk $600/wk
+43% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dunmore Shell Cove
0-4 5.3% / 5.6%
Dunmore — 0-4: 5.3% Shell Cove — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 16.0% / 15.0%
Dunmore — 5-14: 16.0% Shell Cove — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 5.0% / 7.9%
Dunmore — 15-19: 5.0% Shell Cove — 15-19: 7.9%
20-24 3.5% / 5.5%
Dunmore — 20-24: 3.5% Shell Cove — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 12.9% / 8.5%
Dunmore — 25-34: 12.9% Shell Cove — 25-34: 8.5%
35-44 13.2% / 14.5%
Dunmore — 35-44: 13.2% Shell Cove — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 10.1% / 15.3%
Dunmore — 45-54: 10.1% Shell Cove — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 16.7% / 11.7%
Dunmore — 55-64: 16.7% Shell Cove — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 12.6% / 9.2%
Dunmore — 65-74: 12.6% Shell Cove — 65-74: 9.2%
75-84 4.4% / 5.0%
Dunmore — 75-84: 4.4% Shell Cove — 75-84: 5.0%
85+ 2.8% / 1.8%
Dunmore — 85+: 2.8% Shell Cove — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dunmore 61.5% couple families
Dunmore — Couple Families: 61.5% Dunmore — Lone Person: 20.0% Dunmore — One Parent Families: 9.2% Dunmore — Group Household: 9.2% Dunmore — Other Families: 0.0%
Shell Cove 69.3% couple families
Shell Cove — Couple Families: 69.3% Shell Cove — Lone Person: 16.2% Shell Cove — One Parent Families: 11.9% Shell Cove — Group Household: 1.7% Shell Cove — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Dunmore 10.8% renting
Dunmore — Owned Outright: 48.0% Dunmore — Mortgage: 41.2% Dunmore — Renting: 10.8%
Shell Cove 20.0% renting
Shell Cove — Owned Outright: 36.6% Shell Cove — Mortgage: 43.4% Shell Cove — Renting: 20.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Dunmore Shell Cove
Certificate III & IV 16.0% / 16.6%
Dunmore — Certificate III & IV: 16.0% Shell Cove — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 12.9% / 12.0%
Dunmore — Bachelor Degree: 12.9% Shell Cove — Bachelor Degree: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 9.5%
Dunmore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Shell Cove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 3.9%
Dunmore — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Shell Cove — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 2.1%
Dunmore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Shell Cove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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.

Dunmore Shell Cove
England 3.5% / 4.1%
Dunmore — England: 3.5% Shell Cove — England: 4.1%
Netherlands 1.3% / —
Dunmore — Netherlands: 1.3% Shell Cove — Netherlands: not among its largest
Pakistan 0.9% / —
Dunmore — Pakistan: 0.9% Shell Cove — Pakistan: not among its largest
Indonesia 0.9% / —
Dunmore — Indonesia: 0.9% Shell Cove — Indonesia: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.9%
Dunmore — South Africa: not among its largest Shell Cove — South Africa: 0.9%
New Zealand — / 0.8%
Dunmore — New Zealand: not among its largest Shell Cove — New Zealand: 0.8%
Italy — / 0.6%
Dunmore — Italy: not among its largest Shell Cove — Italy: 0.6%
Egypt — / 0.6%
Dunmore — Egypt: not among its largest Shell Cove — Egypt: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dunmore 94.6% houses
Dunmore — Houses: 94.6% Dunmore — Townhouses: 4.5% Dunmore — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Shell Cove 87.4% houses
Shell Cove — Houses: 87.4% Shell Cove — Townhouses: 8.2% Shell Cove — Flats / Apartments: 4.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Dunmore Shell Cove
Median house price $1,060,000 $1,462,500
Median unit price — $1,050,000
Median land price $692,500 $1,595,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 50 days
from 14 sales
 42 days
from 102 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.

Dunmore Shell Cove
3 bed $1M / $1.1M
Dunmore — 3 bed: $1M (24 sales) Shell Cove — 3 bed: $1.1M (26 sales)

24 vs 26 sales

4 bed $1.18M / $1.45M
Dunmore — 4 bed: $1.18M (11 sales) Shell Cove — 4 bed: $1.45M (108 sales)

11 vs 108 sales

Zoning mix

Dunmore has more rural and farming land (56% vs 1%).

Dunmore Shell Cove
Rural and farming 56% 1%
Environmental 37% 31%
Other and special use 0% 29%
Residential 2% 25%
Parks and recreation 0% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 0%
Industrial 0% 1%
Planning zones cover 100% of Dunmore and 99% of Shell Cove. 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

Dunmore Shell Cove
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.

Dunmore Shell Cove
Houses 3.6%
$860/wk on $1.25M
 3.0%
$900/wk on $1.55M
Units — 3.0%
$900/wk on $1.57M

Ranking within NSW

Dunmore Shell Cove
House price Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Income Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 52% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 78% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 4% of NSW

Liveability

Shell Cove is more walkable (33 vs 6).

Dunmore Shell Cove
Grade — B
Score — 56/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Shell Cove carries more bushfire risk (42 vs 0); Dunmore carries more crime risk (93 vs 42).

Dunmore Shell Cove
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
42/100
Crime High
93/100
 Moderate
42/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
79/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Dunmore Shell Cove
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Dunmore

  • Shellharbour Anglican College Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in Shell Cove

  • Shell Cove Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Illawarra Environmental Education Centre Government · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Dunmore Shell Cove
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 6
Parks & reserves 1 22
Childcare 3 4
Pharmacies 0 1
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 0 4
Waterways 0 4

Mobility

Dunmore Shell Cove
Walkability score 6/100 33/100
Distance to Sydney 115.3 km 114.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 100 min 102 min
Public transport score 41/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 6.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 55.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 5.5 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2529
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 2529
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.

Dunmore Shell Cove
Car (driver) 61.6% / 60.5%
Dunmore — Car (driver): 61.6% Shell Cove — Car (driver): 60.5%
Worked from Home 32.8% / 34.2%
Dunmore — Worked from Home: 32.8% Shell Cove — Worked from Home: 34.2%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 3.5%
Dunmore — Car (passenger): 3.2% Shell Cove — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Train 2.4% / 0.5%
Dunmore — Train: 2.4% Shell Cove — Train: 0.5%
Walked Only — / 0.9%
Dunmore — Walked Only: not among its largest Shell Cove — Walked Only: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.6%).

Setting

Dunmore Shell Cove
Elevation 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.9 km
3.2 km to a named beach
 530 m
559 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Dunmore Shell Cove
Connectivity score 86/100 98/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 80%
333 premises
 97%
3,391 premises

Climate

Dunmore Shell Cove
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Dunmore Shell Cove
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

Dunmore Shell Cove
Average residential rate $1,788/yr
same for both
Council Shellharbour
same for both

Federal electorate

Dunmore Shell Cove
Division Whitlam
same for both
Member Carol Berry
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Dunmore Shell Cove
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Dunmore

Coastal Rural Trains

Shell Cove

Beach Coastal Large Blocks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dunmore

Dunmore vs Flinders Dunmore vs Kiama Downs Dunmore vs Jamberoo Dunmore vs Minnamurra Dunmore vs Croom

Other comparisons with Shell Cove

Shell Cove vs Flinders Shell Cove vs Shellharbour Shell Cove vs Minnamurra
Full data on Dunmore Full data on Shell Cove
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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