Ocean Shores vs South Golden Beach

South Golden Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in Ocean Shores. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses.

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 the one thing that separates them

  • has more childcare (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Ocean Shores

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($740,000 vs $860,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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

They split

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

  • Ocean Shores sits closer to the CBD (767.6 km vs 773.6 km)
  • South Golden Beach is more walkable (35/100 vs 16/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Ocean Shores

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 10%)
  • But South Golden Beach is more walkable (35/100 vs 16/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
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.

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Walkability 16 / 35
Ocean Shores — Walkability: 16/100 South Golden Beach — Walkability: 35/100
Safety 56 / 54
Ocean Shores — Safety: 56/100 South Golden Beach — Safety: 54/100
Low fire risk 82 / 100
Ocean Shores — Low fire risk: 82/100 South Golden Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ocean Shores has more residents (5,777 vs 887); South Golden Beach has higher household incomes ($84,240 vs $76,492).

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Population 5,777
+85% vs other
 887
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.5% +9.6%
Median age 43 40
Median household income $76,492/yr $84,240/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $508/wk $509/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
0-4 5.1% / 5.5%
Ocean Shores — 0-4: 5.1% South Golden Beach — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 11.9% / 15.1%
Ocean Shores — 5-14: 11.9% South Golden Beach — 5-14: 15.1%
15-19 5.3% / 5.3%
Ocean Shores — 15-19: 5.3% South Golden Beach — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 4.0% / 3.6%
Ocean Shores — 20-24: 4.0% South Golden Beach — 20-24: 3.6%
25-34 11.2% / 10.8%
Ocean Shores — 25-34: 11.2% South Golden Beach — 25-34: 10.8%
35-44 14.2% / 17.6%
Ocean Shores — 35-44: 14.2% South Golden Beach — 35-44: 17.6%
45-54 15.1% / 18.8%
Ocean Shores — 45-54: 15.1% South Golden Beach — 45-54: 18.8%
55-64 14.5% / 12.9%
Ocean Shores — 55-64: 14.5% South Golden Beach — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 12.4% / 7.9%
Ocean Shores — 65-74: 12.4% South Golden Beach — 65-74: 7.9%
75-84 4.9% / 1.9%
Ocean Shores — 75-84: 4.9% South Golden Beach — 75-84: 1.9%
85+ 1.6% / 0.3%
Ocean Shores — 85+: 1.6% South Golden Beach — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
South Golden Beach 38.6% couple families
South Golden Beach — Couple Families: 38.6% South Golden Beach — Lone Person: 29.3% South Golden Beach — One Parent Families: 20.3% South Golden Beach — Group Household: 11.8% South Golden Beach — 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.

Ocean Shores 27.1% renting
Ocean Shores — Owned Outright: 38.1% Ocean Shores — Mortgage: 34.8% Ocean Shores — Renting: 27.1%
South Golden Beach 33.6% renting
South Golden Beach — Owned Outright: 31.1% South Golden Beach — Mortgage: 35.2% South Golden Beach — Renting: 33.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Bachelor Degree 15.5% / 16.1%
Ocean Shores — Bachelor Degree: 15.5% South Golden Beach — Bachelor Degree: 16.1%
Certificate III & IV 14.3% / 13.2%
Ocean Shores — Certificate III & IV: 14.3% South Golden Beach — Certificate III & IV: 13.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.0% / 10.0%
Ocean Shores — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0% South Golden Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.4% / 4.2%
Ocean Shores — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4% South Golden Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.1%
Ocean Shores — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% South Golden Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

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.

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
England 4.4% / 3.0%
Ocean Shores — England: 4.4% South Golden Beach — England: 3.0%
New Zealand 2.1% / 3.6%
Ocean Shores — New Zealand: 2.1% South Golden Beach — New Zealand: 3.6%
Germany 1.1% / 1.9%
Ocean Shores — Germany: 1.1% South Golden Beach — Germany: 1.9%
Japan — / 1.1%
Ocean Shores — Japan: not among its largest South Golden Beach — Japan: 1.1%
Brazil 0.6% / 0.5%
Ocean Shores — Brazil: 0.6% South Golden Beach — Brazil: 0.5%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.3%
Ocean Shores — South Africa: 0.7% South Golden Beach — South Africa: 0.3%
Canada 0.7% / —
Ocean Shores — Canada: 0.7% South Golden Beach — Canada: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ocean Shores 83.4% houses
Ocean Shores — Houses: 83.4% Ocean Shores — Flats / Apartments: 7.2% Ocean Shores — Townhouses: 9.4%
South Golden Beach 89.4% houses
South Golden Beach — Houses: 89.4% South Golden Beach — Flats / Apartments: 6.6% South Golden Beach — Townhouses: 4.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Median house price $1,270,000 $1,370,000
Median unit price $930,000 $940,000
Median land price $740,000 $860,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 41 days
from 71 sales
 36 days
from 8 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.

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
3 bed $1.19M / $1.35M
Ocean Shores — 3 bed: $1.19M (77 sales) South Golden Beach — 3 bed: $1.35M (17 sales)

77 vs 17 sales

4 bed $1.44M / $1.44M
Ocean Shores — 4 bed: $1.44M (38 sales) South Golden Beach — 4 bed: $1.44M (11 sales)

38 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Ocean Shores has more land zoned for conservation (47% vs 29%).

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Environmental 47% 29%
Residential 23% 38%
Other and special use 5% 29%
Rural and farming 12% 4%
Parks and recreation 10% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 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

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
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.

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Houses 4.1%
$1,050/wk on $1.33M
 4.2%
$950/wk on $1.18M
Units 3.9%
$590/wk on $785K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
House price Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Income Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 85% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 20% of NSW —

Liveability

South Golden Beach is more walkable (35 vs 16); South Golden Beach scores higher overall (53 vs 44).

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Grade C B
Score 44/100 53/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Ocean Shores carries more bushfire risk (18 vs 0).

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Bushfire Low
18/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
44/100
 Moderate
46/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
13/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
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 Ocean Shores

  • Ocean Shores Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in South Golden Beach

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

Amenities in the suburb

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 1
Parks & reserves 2 1
Childcare 4 0
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

South Golden Beach sits further from the CBD (773.6 km vs 767.6 km).

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Walkability score 16/100 35/100
Distance to Sydney 767.6 km 773.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 491 min 494 min
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.

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Car (driver) 67.0% / 62.3%
Ocean Shores — Car (driver): 67.0% South Golden Beach — Car (driver): 62.3%
Worked from Home 26.0% / 28.6%
Ocean Shores — Worked from Home: 26.0% South Golden Beach — Worked from Home: 28.6%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 3.5%
Ocean Shores — Car (passenger): 4.2% South Golden Beach — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Walked Only 2.0% / 3.5%
Ocean Shores — Walked Only: 2.0% South Golden Beach — Walked Only: 3.5%
Bus 0.2% / 1.3%
Ocean Shores — Bus: 0.2% South Golden Beach — Bus: 1.3%
Bicycle 0.6% / 0.8%
Ocean Shores — Bicycle: 0.6% South Golden Beach — Bicycle: 0.8%

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

Setting

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Elevation -1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.8 km
3.4 km to a named beach
 474 m
4.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Connectivity score 79/100 93/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
2,662 premises
 72%
420 premises

Climate

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
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

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Byron
same for both

Federal electorate

Ocean Shores South Golden Beach
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Ocean Shores

Coastal Quiet

South Golden Beach

Coastal Large Blocks Quiet

More comparisons

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Ocean Shores vs Mullumbimby Ocean Shores vs Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores vs New Brighton Ocean Shores vs Billinudgel Ocean Shores vs Wooyung Ocean Shores vs Yelgun

Other comparisons with South Golden Beach

South Golden Beach vs New Brighton
Full data on Ocean Shores Full data on South Golden Beach
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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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