New Brighton vs Ocean Shores

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in New Brighton: a median of $1.54 million, against $1.27 million in Ocean Shores, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, New Brighton tends to suit share households, while Ocean Shores suits 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

Ocean Shores

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 80/100)
  • But New Brighton has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 83%)

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

First-home buyers

Ocean Shores

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (30% vs 37%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,270,000 vs $1,538,750)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ocean Shores

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($508/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

New Brighton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (36/100 vs 16/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Ocean Shores

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (17% vs 6%)
  • carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 80/100)
  • But New Brighton is more walkable (36/100 vs 16/100)

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

Investors

Ocean Shores

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (12.5% vs 3.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

New Brighton Ocean Shores
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.

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Walkability 36 / 16
New Brighton — Walkability: 36/100 Ocean Shores — Walkability: 16/100
Safety 20 / 56
New Brighton — Safety: 20/100 Ocean Shores — Safety: 56/100
Low fire risk 100 / 82
New Brighton — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ocean Shores — Low fire risk: 82/100

Demographics

Ocean Shores has more residents (5,777 vs 368); New Brighton rents higher ($600/wk vs $508/wk).

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Population 368 5,777
+1470% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.4% +12.5%
Median age 45 43
Median household income $84,968/yr
+10% vs other
 $76,492/yr
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+15% vs other
 $508/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

New Brighton Ocean Shores
0-4 7.9% / 5.1%
New Brighton — 0-4: 7.9% Ocean Shores — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 8.4% / 11.9%
New Brighton — 5-14: 8.4% Ocean Shores — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 2.7% / 5.3%
New Brighton — 15-19: 2.7% Ocean Shores — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 3.3% / 4.0%
New Brighton — 20-24: 3.3% Ocean Shores — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 11.1% / 11.2%
New Brighton — 25-34: 11.1% Ocean Shores — 25-34: 11.2%
35-44 14.9% / 14.2%
New Brighton — 35-44: 14.9% Ocean Shores — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 13.0% / 15.1%
New Brighton — 45-54: 13.0% Ocean Shores — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 15.2% / 14.5%
New Brighton — 55-64: 15.2% Ocean Shores — 55-64: 14.5%
65-74 15.8% / 12.4%
New Brighton — 65-74: 15.8% Ocean Shores — 65-74: 12.4%
75-84 6.2% / 4.9%
New Brighton — 75-84: 6.2% Ocean Shores — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 1.4% / 1.6%
New Brighton — 85+: 1.4% Ocean Shores — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

New Brighton 36.3% couple families
New Brighton — Couple Families: 36.3% New Brighton — Lone Person: 34.1% New Brighton — One Parent Families: 11.0% New Brighton — Group Household: 18.7% New Brighton — Other Families: 0.0%
Ocean Shores 32.9% couple families
Ocean Shores — Couple Families: 32.9% Ocean Shores — Lone Person: 34.4% Ocean Shores — One Parent Families: 20.8% Ocean Shores — Group Household: 10.8% Ocean Shores — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

New Brighton 22.3% renting
New Brighton — Owned Outright: 53.6% New Brighton — Mortgage: 24.1% New Brighton — Renting: 22.3%
Ocean Shores 27.1% renting
Ocean Shores — Owned Outright: 38.1% Ocean Shores — Mortgage: 34.8% Ocean Shores — Renting: 27.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Bachelor Degree 16.3% / 15.5%
New Brighton — Bachelor Degree: 16.3% Ocean Shores — Bachelor Degree: 15.5%
Certificate III & IV 12.0% / 14.3%
New Brighton — Certificate III & IV: 12.0% Ocean Shores — Certificate III & IV: 14.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 10.0%
New Brighton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Ocean Shores — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 9.0% / 4.4%
New Brighton — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0% Ocean Shores — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.8%
New Brighton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Ocean Shores — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

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.

New Brighton Ocean Shores
England 3.3% / 4.4%
New Brighton — England: 3.3% Ocean Shores — England: 4.4%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.1%
New Brighton — New Zealand: 1.6% Ocean Shores — New Zealand: 2.1%
Germany 0.8% / 1.1%
New Brighton — Germany: 0.8% Ocean Shores — Germany: 1.1%
France 1.1% / 0.6%
New Brighton — France: 1.1% Ocean Shores — France: 0.6%
Netherlands 1.1% / 0.5%
New Brighton — Netherlands: 1.1% Ocean Shores — Netherlands: 0.5%
South Africa 0.8% / 0.7%
New Brighton — South Africa: 0.8% Ocean Shores — South Africa: 0.7%
Canada — / 0.7%
New Brighton — Canada: not among its largest Ocean Shores — Canada: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

New Brighton 93.8% houses
New Brighton — Houses: 93.8% New Brighton — Flats / Apartments: 6.2% New Brighton — Townhouses: 0.0%
Ocean Shores 83.4% houses
Ocean Shores — Houses: 83.4% Ocean Shores — Flats / Apartments: 7.2% Ocean Shores — Townhouses: 9.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Median house price $1,538,750 $1,270,000
Median unit price — $930,000
Median land price — $740,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 41 days
from 71 sales

Zoning mix

New Brighton has more land zoned for conservation (61% vs 47%).

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Environmental 61% 47%
Other and special use 27% 5%
Residential 3% 23%
Rural and farming 7% 12%
Parks and recreation 1% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 1%
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

New Brighton Ocean Shores
New dwellings approved 129
across Byron
same for both
Approvals change year on year -65%
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.

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Houses — 4.1%
$1,050/wk on $1.33M
Units — 3.9%
$590/wk on $785K

Ranking within NSW

New Brighton Ocean Shores
House price Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Income Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 85% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 20% of NSW

Liveability

New Brighton is more walkable (36 vs 16).

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Grade — C
Score — 44/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Ocean Shores carries more bushfire risk (18 vs 0); New Brighton carries more crime risk (80 vs 44).

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
18/100
Crime High
80/100
 Moderate
44/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
33/100
 Low
13/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in New Brighton

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

Schools in Ocean Shores

  • Ocean Shores Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 3 2
Childcare 0 4
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Walkability score 36/100 16/100
Distance to Sydney 767.4 km 767.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 492 min 491 min
Public transport score 24/100
Bus
 53/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 17.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 2483
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 72
postcode 2483
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.

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Car (driver) 63.6% / 67.0%
New Brighton — Car (driver): 63.6% Ocean Shores — Car (driver): 67.0%
Worked from Home 36.4% / 26.0%
New Brighton — Worked from Home: 36.4% Ocean Shores — Worked from Home: 26.0%
Car (passenger) — / 4.2%
New Brighton — Car (passenger): not among its largest Ocean Shores — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only — / 2.0%
New Brighton — Walked Only: not among its largest Ocean Shores — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bicycle — / 0.6%
New Brighton — Bicycle: not among its largest Ocean Shores — Bicycle: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.0%).

Setting

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Elevation -1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 210 m
1.9 km to a named beach
 1.8 km
3.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Connectivity score 88/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 59%
235 premises
 53%
2,662 premises

Climate

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Annual rainfall 1,569 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.1°C
same for both

Council rates

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Byron
same for both

Federal electorate

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

New Brighton Ocean Shores
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

New Brighton

Acreage Coastal Quiet

Ocean Shores

Coastal Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with New Brighton

New Brighton vs Brunswick Heads New Brighton vs South Golden Beach

Other comparisons with Ocean Shores

Ocean Shores vs Mullumbimby Ocean Shores vs Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores vs South Golden Beach Ocean Shores vs Billinudgel Ocean Shores vs Wooyung Ocean Shores vs Yelgun
Full data on New Brighton Full data on Ocean Shores
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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