Oak Flats vs Shellharbour City Centre

Oak Flats is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 71 in Shellharbour City Centre. In Oak Flats, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Shellharbour City Centre, about half of households rent, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and the large majority of households are people living alone. On these figures, Shellharbour City Centre tends to suit renters, people living alone, and older residents.

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 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 1)
  • is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 14%)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Oak Flats

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (30% vs 44%)
  • has cheaper units ($700,000 vs $790,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Shellharbour City Centre

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (49% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $440/wk)
  • But Oak Flats leaves renters under less rental stress (30% vs 42%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

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

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Oak Flats has more GPs (4 vs 2)
  • Shellharbour City Centre has more units and townhouses to downsize into (73% vs 18%)

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

Investors

Shellharbour City Centre

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (87.3% vs 6.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
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.

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Walkability 88 / 91
Oak Flats — Walkability: 88/100 Shellharbour City Centre — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 26 / 1
Oak Flats — Safety: 26/100 Shellharbour City Centre — Safety: 1/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Oak Flats — Low fire risk: 100/100 Shellharbour City Centre — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Oak Flats has more residents (6,840 vs 457); Shellharbour City Centre skews older (71 vs 42).

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Population 6,840
+93% vs other
 457
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.6% +87.3%
Median age 42 71
Median household income $77,376/yr
+36% vs other
 $49,348/yr
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+9% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
0-4 5.1% / 2.2%
Oak Flats — 0-4: 5.1% Shellharbour City Centre — 0-4: 2.2%
5-14 12.2% / 2.0%
Oak Flats — 5-14: 12.2% Shellharbour City Centre — 5-14: 2.0%
15-19 5.4% / 1.1%
Oak Flats — 15-19: 5.4% Shellharbour City Centre — 15-19: 1.1%
20-24 6.3% / 5.3%
Oak Flats — 20-24: 6.3% Shellharbour City Centre — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 12.5% / 10.9%
Oak Flats — 25-34: 12.5% Shellharbour City Centre — 25-34: 10.9%
35-44 11.1% / 4.4%
Oak Flats — 35-44: 11.1% Shellharbour City Centre — 35-44: 4.4%
45-54 11.7% / 4.2%
Oak Flats — 45-54: 11.7% Shellharbour City Centre — 45-54: 4.2%
55-64 14.6% / 9.0%
Oak Flats — 55-64: 14.6% Shellharbour City Centre — 55-64: 9.0%
65-74 12.1% / 19.7%
Oak Flats — 65-74: 12.1% Shellharbour City Centre — 65-74: 19.7%
75-84 6.6% / 22.5%
Oak Flats — 75-84: 6.6% Shellharbour City Centre — 75-84: 22.5%
85+ 2.3% / 19.7%
Oak Flats — 85+: 2.3% Shellharbour City Centre — 85+: 19.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Oak Flats 32.0% lone person
Oak Flats — Lone Person: 32.0% Oak Flats — Couple Families: 39.7% Oak Flats — One Parent Families: 21.8% Oak Flats — Group Household: 3.8% Oak Flats — Other Families: 2.7%
Shellharbour City Centre 80.4% lone person
Shellharbour City Centre — Lone Person: 80.4% Shellharbour City Centre — Couple Families: 10.1% Shellharbour City Centre — One Parent Families: 4.3% Shellharbour City Centre — Group Household: 5.1% Shellharbour City Centre — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Oak Flats 24.7% renting
Oak Flats — Owned Outright: 42.5% Oak Flats — Mortgage: 32.8% Oak Flats — Renting: 24.7%
Shellharbour City Centre 48.6% renting
Shellharbour City Centre — Owned Outright: 30.1% Shellharbour City Centre — Mortgage: 21.2% Shellharbour City Centre — Renting: 48.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Certificate III & IV 21.4% / 16.2%
Oak Flats — Certificate III & IV: 21.4% Shellharbour City Centre — Certificate III & IV: 16.2%
Bachelor Degree 7.0% / 9.8%
Oak Flats — Bachelor Degree: 7.0% Shellharbour City Centre — Bachelor Degree: 9.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 6.8%
Oak Flats — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Shellharbour City Centre — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 2.4%
Oak Flats — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Shellharbour City Centre — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.3%
Oak Flats — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Shellharbour City Centre — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

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

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.

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
England 4.9% / 9.0%
Oak Flats — England: 4.9% Shellharbour City Centre — England: 9.0%
Germany 1.3% / 2.0%
Oak Flats — Germany: 1.3% Shellharbour City Centre — Germany: 2.0%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.3%
Oak Flats — New Zealand: 1.1% Shellharbour City Centre — New Zealand: 1.3%
India 0.3% / 1.8%
Oak Flats — India: 0.3% Shellharbour City Centre — India: 1.8%
Italy 0.6% / 0.9%
Oak Flats — Italy: 0.6% Shellharbour City Centre — Italy: 0.9%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.9%
Oak Flats — Scotland: 0.6% Shellharbour City Centre — Scotland: 0.9%
Vietnam — / 1.3%
Oak Flats — Vietnam: not among its largest Shellharbour City Centre — Vietnam: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Oak Flats 82.2% houses
Oak Flats — Houses: 82.2% Oak Flats — Flats / Apartments: 2.4% Oak Flats — Townhouses: 15.4%
Shellharbour City Centre 26.8% houses
Shellharbour City Centre — Houses: 26.8% Shellharbour City Centre — Flats / Apartments: 45.5% Shellharbour City Centre — Townhouses: 27.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Median house price $988,500 $950,000
Median unit price $700,000 $790,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 78 sales
 —

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
2 bed $536K / $762K
Oak Flats — 2 bed: $536K (5 sales) Shellharbour City Centre — 2 bed: $762K (16 sales)

5 vs 16 sales

3 bed $810K / $905K
Oak Flats — 3 bed: $810K (5 sales) Shellharbour City Centre — 3 bed: $905K (9 sales)

5 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Shellharbour City Centre has more commercially zoned land (52% vs 4%).

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Residential 64% 22%
Commercial 4% 52%
Parks and recreation 15% 8%
Other and special use 0% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 4%
Industrial 7% 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

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
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.

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Houses 4.0%
$725/wk on $940K
 —
Units — 4.2%
$640/wk on $798K

Ranking within NSW

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
House price Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
Income Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 10% of NSW
Schools Higher than 7% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 78% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 74% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 30% of NSW

Liveability

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Grade C —
Score 45/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Shellharbour City Centre carries more crime risk (99 vs 74).

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 High
99/100
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 6
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

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

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

Schools in Shellharbour City Centre

  • Nazareth Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Supermarkets 0 4
Parks & reserves 14 1
Childcare 6 3
GPs 4 2
Pharmacies 2 3
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 8
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 0 3
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Walkability score 88/100 91/100
Distance to Sydney 109.9 km 111 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 97 min 99 min
Public transport score 80/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 132.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 30.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 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.

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Car (driver) 71.8% / 52.5%
Oak Flats — Car (driver): 71.8% Shellharbour City Centre — Car (driver): 52.5%
Worked from Home 20.3% / 33.3%
Oak Flats — Worked from Home: 20.3% Shellharbour City Centre — Worked from Home: 33.3%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 9.1%
Oak Flats — Car (passenger): 3.8% Shellharbour City Centre — Car (passenger): 9.1%
Walked Only 1.7% / 5.1%
Oak Flats — Walked Only: 1.7% Shellharbour City Centre — Walked Only: 5.1%
Train 1.0% / —
Oak Flats — Train: 1.0% Shellharbour City Centre — Train: not among its largest

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

Setting

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Elevation 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.3 km
4.3 km to a named beach
 2.8 km
2.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Connectivity score 74/100 71/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
3,270 premises
 27%
891 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
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

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

Federal electorate

Oak Flats Shellharbour City Centre
Division Whitlam
same for both
Member Carol Berry
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Oak Flats

Parks River Transport Hub

Shellharbour City Centre

Apartments Coastal Parks Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

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 Croom

Other comparisons with Shellharbour City Centre

Shellharbour City Centre vs Barrack Heights Shellharbour City Centre vs Blackbutt
Full data on Oak Flats Full data on Shellharbour City Centre
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or