Safety Bay vs Shoalwater

Safety Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 49 in Shoalwater. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Shoalwater, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Shoalwater tends to suit people living alone.

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

Safety Bay

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (57% vs 42%)
  • carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 69/100)

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 $620,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Shoalwater

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (34% vs 20%)
  • has cheaper rent ($260/wk vs $310/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Shoalwater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 53/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Shoalwater

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (23% vs 6%)
  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 53/100)
  • But Safety Bay carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 69/100)

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

Safety Bay 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.

Safety Bay 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.

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Walkability 53 / 72
Safety Bay — Walkability: 53/100 Shoalwater — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 44 / 31
Safety Bay — Safety: 44/100 Shoalwater — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 83 / 72
Safety Bay — Low fire risk: 83/100 Shoalwater — Low fire risk: 72/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Safety Bay — Low flood risk: 100/100 Shoalwater — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Safety Bay has more residents (7,662 vs 4,368); Safety Bay rents higher ($310/wk vs $260/wk).

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Population 7,662
+43% vs other
 4,368
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.4% +6.5%
Median age 44 49
Median household income $75,140/yr
+15% vs other
 $63,700/yr
Median weekly rent $310/wk
+16% vs other
 $260/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Safety Bay Shoalwater
0-4 5.2% / 4.1%
Safety Bay — 0-4: 5.2% Shoalwater — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 12.4% / 10.4%
Safety Bay — 5-14: 12.4% Shoalwater — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 5.4% / 4.0%
Safety Bay — 15-19: 5.4% Shoalwater — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 4.0% / 5.4%
Safety Bay — 20-24: 4.0% Shoalwater — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 11.0% / 9.7%
Safety Bay — 25-34: 11.0% Shoalwater — 25-34: 9.7%
35-44 12.1% / 11.5%
Safety Bay — 35-44: 12.1% Shoalwater — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 12.5% / 12.2%
Safety Bay — 45-54: 12.5% Shoalwater — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 14.4% / 15.4%
Safety Bay — 55-64: 14.4% Shoalwater — 55-64: 15.4%
65-74 12.5% / 12.5%
Safety Bay — 65-74: 12.5% Shoalwater — 65-74: 12.5%
75-84 7.8% / 9.7%
Safety Bay — 75-84: 7.8% Shoalwater — 75-84: 9.7%
85+ 2.8% / 5.1%
Safety Bay — 85+: 2.8% Shoalwater — 85+: 5.1%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Safety Bay 39.1% lone person
Safety Bay — Lone Person: 39.1% Safety Bay — Couple Families: 41.6% Safety Bay — One Parent Families: 15.7% Safety Bay — Group Household: 2.7% Safety Bay — Other Families: 1.0%
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.

Safety Bay 20.0% renting
Safety Bay — Owned Outright: 41.7% Safety Bay — Mortgage: 38.3% Safety Bay — Renting: 20.0%
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.

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Certificate III & IV 19.6% / 18.5%
Safety Bay — Certificate III & IV: 19.6% Shoalwater — Certificate III & IV: 18.5%
Bachelor Degree 8.2% / 10.1%
Safety Bay — Bachelor Degree: 8.2% Shoalwater — Bachelor Degree: 10.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 8.8%
Safety Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Shoalwater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 2.5%
Safety Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Shoalwater — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.2%
Safety Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Shoalwater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

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.

Safety Bay Shoalwater
England 14.5% / 12.0%
Safety Bay — England: 14.5% Shoalwater — England: 12.0%
New Zealand 3.7% / 3.2%
Safety Bay — New Zealand: 3.7% Shoalwater — New Zealand: 3.2%
Scotland 1.7% / 1.6%
Safety Bay — Scotland: 1.7% Shoalwater — Scotland: 1.6%
South Africa 1.0% / 1.4%
Safety Bay — South Africa: 1.0% Shoalwater — South Africa: 1.4%
Ireland 0.5% / 0.7%
Safety Bay — Ireland: 0.5% Shoalwater — Ireland: 0.7%
Thailand 0.6% / —
Safety Bay — Thailand: 0.6% Shoalwater — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Safety Bay 93.6% houses
Safety Bay — Houses: 93.6% Safety Bay — Flats / Apartments: 6.4% Safety Bay — Townhouses: 0.0%
Shoalwater 76.6% houses
Shoalwater — Houses: 76.6% Shoalwater — Flats / Apartments: 16.8% Shoalwater — Townhouses: 6.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Median house price $841,000 $875,000
Median unit price $620,000 $500,000
Median land price $648,888 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 17 days
from 59 sales
 22 days
from 46 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.

Safety Bay Shoalwater
2 bed $665K / $578K
Safety Bay — 2 bed: $665K (5 sales) Shoalwater — 2 bed: $578K (8 sales)

5 vs 8 sales

3 bed $790K / $875K
Safety Bay — 3 bed: $790K (66 sales) Shoalwater — 3 bed: $875K (43 sales)

66 vs 43 sales

4 bed $902K / $880K
Safety Bay — 4 bed: $902K (55 sales) Shoalwater — 4 bed: $880K (32 sales)

55 vs 32 sales

5 bed $1.22M / $980K
Safety Bay — 5 bed: $1.22M (6 sales) Shoalwater — 5 bed: $980K (7 sales)

6 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Safety Bay 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.

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Houses 4.0%
$685/wk on $895K
 4.0%
$700/wk on $899K
Units — 4.3%
$450/wk on $542K

Ranking within WA

Safety Bay Shoalwater
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 37% of WA Higher than 22% of WA
Schools Higher than 1% of WA —
Walkability Higher than 83% of WA Higher than 90% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 60% of WA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of WA Higher than 78% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 24% of WA Higher than 27% of WA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 12% of WA

Liveability

Shoalwater is more walkable (72 vs 53).

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Grade C B
Score 46/100 50/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Shoalwater carries more bushfire risk (28 vs 17); Shoalwater carries more crime risk (69 vs 56).

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Bushfire Low
17/100
 Low
28/100
Crime Moderate
56/100
 Moderate
69/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
45/100
 High
84/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Safety Bay

  • Safety Bay Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Safety Bay Senior High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Malibu School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Shoalwater

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

Amenities in the suburb

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 5 1
Parks & reserves 8 7
Childcare 3 2
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0

Mobility

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Walkability score 53/100 72/100
Distance to Perth 50.5 km 51.9 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 51 min 52 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 144.5
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 6169
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 65
postcode 6169
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.

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Car (driver) 77.8% / 75.2%
Safety Bay — Car (driver): 77.8% Shoalwater — Car (driver): 75.2%
Worked from Home 8.6% / 9.6%
Safety Bay — Worked from Home: 8.6% Shoalwater — Worked from Home: 9.6%
Train 5.5% / 5.7%
Safety Bay — Train: 5.5% Shoalwater — Train: 5.7%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 4.4%
Safety Bay — Car (passenger): 5.0% Shoalwater — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Bus 1.6% / 2.8%
Safety Bay — Bus: 1.6% Shoalwater — Bus: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.8%).

Setting

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 544 m 614 m

NBN connectivity

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Connectivity score 74/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
3,624 premises
 36%
2,519 premises

Climate

Safety Bay Shoalwater
Annual rainfall — 745 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 31.4°C
Winter min (Jul) — 7.6°C

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Safety Bay

Coastal Large Blocks Outer Parks Quiet

Shoalwater

Coastal Outer Parks Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Safety Bay

Safety Bay vs Rockingham Safety Bay vs Waikiki Safety Bay vs Cooloongup

Other comparisons with Shoalwater

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