Nabiac vs Shallow Bay

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Shallow Bay, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Shallow Bay: a median of $1.52 million, against $630,000 in Nabiac, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Nabiac 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Nabiac has more parks and reserves (6 vs 0)
  • Shallow Bay carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 79/100)

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

First-home buyers

Nabiac

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($630,000 vs $1,525,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Nabiac

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (16/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (198 min vs 230 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (283.9 km vs 300.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Nabiac

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (16/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 15%)
  • But Shallow Bay carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 79/100)

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

Investors

Shallow Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (54.5% vs 3.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Nabiac Shallow Bay
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.

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Walkability 16 / 0
Nabiac — Walkability: 16/100 Shallow Bay — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 21 / 73
Nabiac — Safety: 21/100 Shallow Bay — Safety: 73/100
Low fire risk 28 / 19
Nabiac — Low fire risk: 28/100 Shallow Bay — Low fire risk: 19/100

Demographics

Nabiac has more residents (1,294 vs 68); Shallow Bay skews older (50 vs 48).

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Population 1,294
+95% vs other
 68
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.4% +54.5%
Median age 48 50
Median household income $65,156/yr
+7% vs other
 $60,632/yr
Median weekly rent $330/wk $350/wk
+6% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Nabiac Shallow Bay
0-4 4.6% / —
Nabiac — 0-4: 4.6% Shallow Bay — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 13.0% / 10.3%
Nabiac — 5-14: 13.0% Shallow Bay — 5-14: 10.3%
15-19 6.0% / 5.9%
Nabiac — 15-19: 6.0% Shallow Bay — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 3.8% / 5.9%
Nabiac — 20-24: 3.8% Shallow Bay — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 8.0% / 7.4%
Nabiac — 25-34: 8.0% Shallow Bay — 25-34: 7.4%
35-44 11.0% / 5.9%
Nabiac — 35-44: 11.0% Shallow Bay — 35-44: 5.9%
45-54 12.8% / 17.6%
Nabiac — 45-54: 12.8% Shallow Bay — 45-54: 17.6%
55-64 17.2% / 17.6%
Nabiac — 55-64: 17.2% Shallow Bay — 55-64: 17.6%
65-74 14.8% / 14.7%
Nabiac — 65-74: 14.8% Shallow Bay — 65-74: 14.7%
75-84 7.1% / —
Nabiac — 75-84: 7.1% Shallow Bay — 75-84: not among its largest
85+ 1.5% / —
Nabiac — 85+: 1.5% Shallow Bay — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Nabiac 42.7% couple families
Nabiac — Couple Families: 42.7% Nabiac — Lone Person: 29.0% Nabiac — One Parent Families: 21.3% Nabiac — Group Household: 5.1% Nabiac — Other Families: 1.9%
Shallow Bay 50.0% couple families
Shallow Bay — Couple Families: 50.0% Shallow Bay — Lone Person: 25.0% Shallow Bay — One Parent Families: 25.0% Shallow Bay — Group Household: 0.0% Shallow Bay — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Nabiac 15.0% renting
Nabiac — Owned Outright: 46.5% Nabiac — Mortgage: 38.5% Nabiac — Renting: 15.0%
Shallow Bay 16.0% renting
Shallow Bay — Owned Outright: 52.0% Shallow Bay — Mortgage: 32.0% Shallow Bay — Renting: 16.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Certificate III & IV 22.9% / 20.6%
Nabiac — Certificate III & IV: 22.9% Shallow Bay — Certificate III & IV: 20.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.7% / 4.4%
Nabiac — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7% Shallow Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.4%
Bachelor Degree 5.6% / —
Nabiac — Bachelor Degree: 5.6% Shallow Bay — Bachelor Degree: not among its largest
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / —
Nabiac — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Shallow Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest
Postgraduate Degree 0.9% / —
Nabiac — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9% Shallow Bay — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.9%).

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.

Nabiac Shallow Bay
England 3.5% / 4.4%
Nabiac — England: 3.5% Shallow Bay — England: 4.4%
Netherlands 0.2% / 5.9%
Nabiac — Netherlands: 0.2% Shallow Bay — Netherlands: 5.9%
New Zealand 1.1% / —
Nabiac — New Zealand: 1.1% Shallow Bay — New Zealand: not among its largest
India 0.4% / —
Nabiac — India: 0.4% Shallow Bay — India: not among its largest
Germany 0.3% / —
Nabiac — Germany: 0.3% Shallow Bay — Germany: not among its largest
South Africa 0.2% / —
Nabiac — South Africa: 0.2% Shallow Bay — South Africa: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Nabiac 98.3% houses
Nabiac — Houses: 98.3% Nabiac — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Shallow Bay 100.0% houses
Shallow Bay — Houses: 100.0% Shallow Bay — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Median house price $630,000 $1,525,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $802,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 61 days
from 11 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Rural and farming 84% 79%
Environmental 12% 21%
Residential 2% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 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

Nabiac Shallow Bay
New dwellings approved 743
across Mid-Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year +327%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Nabiac Shallow Bay
House price Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Income Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW

Liveability

Nabiac is more walkable (16 vs 0).

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Grade D —
Score 16/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Nabiac carries more crime risk (79 vs 27).

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Bushfire High
72/100
 High
81/100
Crime High
79/100
 Low
27/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Nabiac

  • Nabiac Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Shallow Bay

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

Amenities in the suburb

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 6 0
Childcare 3 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 21 3

Mobility

Shallow Bay sits further from the CBD (300.1 km vs 283.9 km).

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Walkability score 16/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 283.9 km 300.1 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 198 min 230 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 2312
 0.4%
postcode 2428
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 67
postcode 2312
 41
postcode 2428

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.

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Car (driver) 75.5% / 56.2%
Nabiac — Car (driver): 75.5% Shallow Bay — Car (driver): 56.2%
Worked from Home 15.1% / 43.8%
Nabiac — Worked from Home: 15.1% Shallow Bay — Worked from Home: 43.8%
Car (passenger) 5.2% / —
Nabiac — Car (passenger): 5.2% Shallow Bay — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 3.4% / —
Nabiac — Walked Only: 3.4% Shallow Bay — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus 0.9% / —
Nabiac — Bus: 0.9% Shallow Bay — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.5%).

Setting

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.7 km 8.7 km

NBN connectivity

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Connectivity score 44/100 30/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 13%
617 premises
 0%
38 premises

Climate

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Annual rainfall 1,331 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Average residential rate $1,560/yr
same for both
Council Mid-Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Division Lyne
same for both
Member Alison Penfold
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Nabiac Shallow Bay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Nabiac

Affordable Rural

Shallow Bay

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Nabiac

Nabiac vs Tuncurry Nabiac vs Failford Nabiac vs Darawank Nabiac vs Dyers Crossing Nabiac vs Firefly Nabiac vs Minimbah

Other comparisons with Shallow Bay

Shallow Bay vs Coomba Park Shallow Bay vs Coolongolook Shallow Bay vs Minimbah
Full data on Nabiac Full data on Shallow Bay
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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