Rockingham vs Shoalwater

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Rockingham, most households are people living alone. In Shoalwater, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Shoalwater: a median of $875,000, against $800,000 in Rockingham, though rent is higher in Rockingham.

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

Rockingham

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (13 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (10 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 7)
  • But Shoalwater carries lower crime risk (69/100 vs 88/100)

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

First-home buyers

Shoalwater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($500,000 vs $565,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Shoalwater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($260/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Rockingham

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 72/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (47 min vs 52 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (47.6 km vs 51.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Rockingham

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (9 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (34% vs 23%)
  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 72/100)
  • But Shoalwater carries lower crime risk (69/100 vs 88/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Rockingham Shoalwater
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.

Rockingham Shoalwater
Walkability 85 / 72
Rockingham — Walkability: 85/100 Shoalwater — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 12 / 31
Rockingham — Safety: 12/100 Shoalwater — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 75 / 72
Rockingham — Low fire risk: 75/100 Shoalwater — Low fire risk: 72/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Rockingham — Low flood risk: 100/100 Shoalwater — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Rockingham has more residents (15,312 vs 4,368); Rockingham rents higher ($300/wk vs $260/wk).

Rockingham Shoalwater
Population 15,312
+71% vs other
 4,368
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.1% +6.5%
Median age 49
same for both
Median household income $60,788/yr $63,700/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+13% vs other
 $260/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rockingham Shoalwater
0-4 4.1% / 4.1%
Rockingham — 0-4: 4.1% Shoalwater — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 8.7% / 10.4%
Rockingham — 5-14: 8.7% Shoalwater — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 4.4% / 4.0%
Rockingham — 15-19: 4.4% Shoalwater — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 5.9% / 5.4%
Rockingham — 20-24: 5.9% Shoalwater — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 11.1% / 9.7%
Rockingham — 25-34: 11.1% Shoalwater — 25-34: 9.7%
35-44 10.7% / 11.5%
Rockingham — 35-44: 10.7% Shoalwater — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 12.7% / 12.2%
Rockingham — 45-54: 12.7% Shoalwater — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 15.2% / 15.4%
Rockingham — 55-64: 15.2% Shoalwater — 55-64: 15.4%
65-74 13.8% / 12.5%
Rockingham — 65-74: 13.8% Shoalwater — 65-74: 12.5%
75-84 9.3% / 9.7%
Rockingham — 75-84: 9.3% Shoalwater — 75-84: 9.7%
85+ 4.0% / 5.1%
Rockingham — 85+: 4.0% Shoalwater — 85+: 5.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Rockingham 55.1% lone person
Rockingham — Lone Person: 55.1% Rockingham — Couple Families: 24.4% Rockingham — One Parent Families: 15.0% Rockingham — Group Household: 4.1% Rockingham — Other Families: 1.3%
Shoalwater 53.7% lone person
Shoalwater — Lone Person: 53.7% Shoalwater — Couple Families: 28.3% Shoalwater — One Parent Families: 13.7% Shoalwater — Group Household: 3.0% Shoalwater — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Rockingham 38.2% renting
Rockingham — Owned Outright: 34.8% Rockingham — Mortgage: 27.1% Rockingham — Renting: 38.2%
Shoalwater 34.0% renting
Shoalwater — Owned Outright: 36.2% Shoalwater — Mortgage: 29.8% Shoalwater — Renting: 34.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Rockingham Shoalwater
Certificate III & IV 19.3% / 18.5%
Rockingham — Certificate III & IV: 19.3% Shoalwater — Certificate III & IV: 18.5%
Bachelor Degree 6.8% / 10.1%
Rockingham — Bachelor Degree: 6.8% Shoalwater — Bachelor Degree: 10.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 8.8%
Rockingham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Shoalwater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 2.5%
Rockingham — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Shoalwater — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 1.2%
Rockingham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Shoalwater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.3%).

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.

Rockingham Shoalwater
England 14.9% / 12.0%
Rockingham — England: 14.9% Shoalwater — England: 12.0%
New Zealand 4.1% / 3.2%
Rockingham — New Zealand: 4.1% Shoalwater — New Zealand: 3.2%
Scotland 2.3% / 1.6%
Rockingham — Scotland: 2.3% Shoalwater — Scotland: 1.6%
South Africa 0.9% / 1.4%
Rockingham — South Africa: 0.9% Shoalwater — South Africa: 1.4%
Philippines 1.3% / 0.7%
Rockingham — Philippines: 1.3% Shoalwater — Philippines: 0.7%
Ireland 0.5% / 0.7%
Rockingham — Ireland: 0.5% Shoalwater — Ireland: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rockingham 65.5% houses
Rockingham — Houses: 65.5% Rockingham — Flats / Apartments: 14.3% Rockingham — Townhouses: 20.1%
Shoalwater 76.6% houses
Shoalwater — Houses: 76.6% Shoalwater — Flats / Apartments: 16.8% Shoalwater — Townhouses: 6.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Rockingham Shoalwater
Median house price $800,000 $875,000
Median unit price $565,000 $500,000
Median land price $543,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 182 sales
 22 days
from 46 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.

Rockingham Shoalwater
2 bed $550K / $505K
Rockingham — 2 bed: $550K (147 sales) Shoalwater — 2 bed: $505K (21 sales)

147 vs 21 sales

3 bed $730K / $525K
Rockingham — 3 bed: $730K (41 sales) Shoalwater — 3 bed: $525K (6 sales)

41 vs 6 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.

Rockingham Shoalwater
2 bed $550K / $578K
Rockingham — 2 bed: $550K (37 sales) Shoalwater — 2 bed: $578K (8 sales)

37 vs 8 sales

3 bed $750K / $875K
Rockingham — 3 bed: $750K (190 sales) Shoalwater — 3 bed: $875K (43 sales)

190 vs 43 sales

4 bed $862K / $880K
Rockingham — 4 bed: $862K (144 sales) Shoalwater — 4 bed: $880K (32 sales)

144 vs 32 sales

5 bed $975K / $980K
Rockingham — 5 bed: $975K (16 sales) Shoalwater — 5 bed: $980K (7 sales)

16 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Rockingham Shoalwater
New dwellings approved 1,869
across Rockingham
same for both
Approvals change year on year -11%
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.

Rockingham Shoalwater
Houses 4.3%
$665/wk on $800K
 4.0%
$700/wk on $899K
Units 4.6%
$535/wk on $599K
 4.3%
$450/wk on $542K

Ranking within WA

Rockingham Shoalwater
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 18% of WA Higher than 22% of WA
Schools Higher than 38% of WA —
Walkability Higher than 97% of WA Higher than 90% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 56% of WA Higher than 60% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 76% of WA Higher than 78% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 47% of WA Higher than 27% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 18% of WA Higher than 12% of WA

Liveability

Rockingham is more walkable (85 vs 72); Shoalwater scores higher overall (50 vs 44).

Rockingham Shoalwater
Grade C B
Score 44/100 50/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Rockingham carries more crime risk (88 vs 69).

Rockingham Shoalwater
Bushfire Low
25/100
 Low
28/100
Crime High
88/100
 Moderate
69/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
34/100
 High
84/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Rockingham Shoalwater
Inside the suburb 13 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 2 0

Schools in Rockingham

  • Rockingham Montessori School Independent · Primary above peers
  • SMYL Community College Independent · Secondary · Special school above peers
  • Kolbe Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Rockingham Beach Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Rockingham Senior High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Bungaree Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Shoalwater

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

Amenities in the suburb

Rockingham Shoalwater
Supermarkets 4 1
Cafes & restaurants 18 1
Parks & reserves 21 7
Childcare 10 2
GPs 9 1
Pharmacies 7 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 8 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 4 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Shoalwater sits further from the CBD (51.9 km vs 47.6 km).

Rockingham Shoalwater
Walkability score 85/100 72/100
Distance to Perth 47.6 km 51.9 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 47 min 52 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 581.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 43.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 6168
 0.5%
postcode 6169
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 6168
 65
postcode 6169

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.

Rockingham Shoalwater
Car (driver) 77.4% / 75.2%
Rockingham — Car (driver): 77.4% Shoalwater — Car (driver): 75.2%
Worked from Home 6.1% / 9.6%
Rockingham — Worked from Home: 6.1% Shoalwater — Worked from Home: 9.6%
Train 5.3% / 5.7%
Rockingham — Train: 5.3% Shoalwater — Train: 5.7%
Car (passenger) 5.9% / 4.4%
Rockingham — Car (passenger): 5.9% Shoalwater — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Bus 2.3% / 2.8%
Rockingham — Bus: 2.3% Shoalwater — Bus: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.4%).

Setting

Rockingham Shoalwater
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.2 km 614 m

NBN connectivity

Rockingham Shoalwater
Connectivity score 63/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
10,210 premises
 36%
2,519 premises

Climate

Rockingham Shoalwater
Annual rainfall 745 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.6°C
same for both

Council rates

Rockingham Shoalwater
Average residential rate $2,007/yr
same for both
Council Rockingham
same for both

Federal electorate

Rockingham Shoalwater
Division Brand
same for both
Member Madeleine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Rockingham Shoalwater
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Rockingham

Coastal Outer Parks Retirees Townhouses

Shoalwater

Coastal Outer Parks Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Rockingham

Rockingham vs Safety Bay Rockingham vs Cooloongup Rockingham vs Hillman Rockingham vs East Rockingham

Other comparisons with Shoalwater

Shoalwater vs Safety Bay
Full data on Rockingham Full data on Shoalwater
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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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