Shell Cove vs Minnamurra

Shell Cove is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 50 in Minnamurra. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Shell Cove, most households are couple families. In Minnamurra, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Minnamurra: a median of $1.62 million, against $1.46 million in Shell Cove, though rent is higher in Shell Cove. On these figures, Shell Cove tends to suit families with children and couples, while Minnamurra suits 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

Shell Cove

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 5)
  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Shell Cove

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 38%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,462,500 vs $1,625,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Shell Cove leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 32%)
  • Minnamurra has cheaper rent ($500/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Shell Cove sits closer to the CBD (114.2 km vs 117.4 km)
  • Minnamurra is more walkable (52/100 vs 33/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Minnamurra

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (30% vs 16%)
  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 33/100)

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

Investors

Shell Cove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (35.0% vs 5.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Shell Cove Minnamurra
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.

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Walkability 33 / 52
Shell Cove — Walkability: 33/100 Minnamurra — Walkability: 52/100
Safety 58 / 53
Shell Cove — Safety: 58/100 Minnamurra — Safety: 53/100
Low fire risk 58 / 100
Shell Cove — Low fire risk: 58/100 Minnamurra — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Shell Cove has more residents (7,591 vs 804); Shell Cove has higher household incomes ($127,504 vs $82,004).

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Population 7,591
+89% vs other
 804
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +35.0% +5.8%
Median age 40 50
Median household income $127,504/yr
+36% vs other
 $82,004/yr
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+17% vs other
 $500/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Shell Cove Minnamurra
0-4 5.6% / 3.6%
Shell Cove — 0-4: 5.6% Minnamurra — 0-4: 3.6%
5-14 15.0% / 12.1%
Shell Cove — 5-14: 15.0% Minnamurra — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 7.9% / 5.3%
Shell Cove — 15-19: 7.9% Minnamurra — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 5.5% / 4.0%
Shell Cove — 20-24: 5.5% Minnamurra — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 8.5% / 5.0%
Shell Cove — 25-34: 8.5% Minnamurra — 25-34: 5.0%
35-44 14.5% / 13.1%
Shell Cove — 35-44: 14.5% Minnamurra — 35-44: 13.1%
45-54 15.3% / 10.7%
Shell Cove — 45-54: 15.3% Minnamurra — 45-54: 10.7%
55-64 11.7% / 15.8%
Shell Cove — 55-64: 11.7% Minnamurra — 55-64: 15.8%
65-74 9.2% / 16.7%
Shell Cove — 65-74: 9.2% Minnamurra — 65-74: 16.7%
75-84 5.0% / 10.0%
Shell Cove — 75-84: 5.0% Minnamurra — 75-84: 10.0%
85+ 1.8% / 3.0%
Shell Cove — 85+: 1.8% Minnamurra — 85+: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Shell Cove 69.3% couple families
Shell Cove — Couple Families: 69.3% Shell Cove — Lone Person: 16.2% Shell Cove — One Parent Families: 11.9% Shell Cove — Group Household: 1.7% Shell Cove — Other Families: 0.8%
Minnamurra 50.5% couple families
Minnamurra — Couple Families: 50.5% Minnamurra — Lone Person: 38.4% Minnamurra — One Parent Families: 7.9% Minnamurra — Group Household: 3.2% Minnamurra — 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.

Shell Cove 20.0% renting
Shell Cove — Owned Outright: 36.6% Shell Cove — Mortgage: 43.4% Shell Cove — Renting: 20.0%
Minnamurra 11.0% renting
Minnamurra — Owned Outright: 58.3% Minnamurra — Mortgage: 30.7% Minnamurra — Renting: 11.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 14.3%
Shell Cove — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% Minnamurra — Certificate III & IV: 14.3%
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 15.7%
Shell Cove — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Minnamurra — Bachelor Degree: 15.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 9.0%
Shell Cove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Minnamurra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 3.9% / 5.7%
Shell Cove — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9% Minnamurra — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 4.4%
Shell Cove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Minnamurra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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.

Shell Cove Minnamurra
England 4.1% / 3.7%
Shell Cove — England: 4.1% Minnamurra — England: 3.7%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.2%
Shell Cove — New Zealand: 0.8% Minnamurra — New Zealand: 1.2%
South Africa 0.9% / 0.5%
Shell Cove — South Africa: 0.9% Minnamurra — South Africa: 0.5%
Netherlands — / 1.0%
Shell Cove — Netherlands: not among its largest Minnamurra — Netherlands: 1.0%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.5%
Shell Cove — Scotland: 0.5% Minnamurra — Scotland: 0.5%
Italy 0.6% / —
Shell Cove — Italy: 0.6% Minnamurra — Italy: not among its largest
Egypt 0.6% / —
Shell Cove — Egypt: 0.6% Minnamurra — Egypt: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Shell Cove 87.4% houses
Shell Cove — Houses: 87.4% Shell Cove — Townhouses: 8.2% Shell Cove — Flats / Apartments: 4.4%
Minnamurra 84.5% houses
Minnamurra — Houses: 84.5% Minnamurra — Townhouses: 12.1% Minnamurra — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Median house price $1,462,500 $1,625,000
Median unit price $1,050,000 —
Median land price $1,595,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 102 sales
 27 days
from 3 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.

Shell Cove Minnamurra
3 bed $1.1M / $1.58M
Shell Cove — 3 bed: $1.1M (26 sales) Minnamurra — 3 bed: $1.58M (11 sales)

26 vs 11 sales

4 bed $1.45M / $1.6M
Shell Cove — 4 bed: $1.45M (108 sales) Minnamurra — 4 bed: $1.6M (6 sales)

108 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Minnamurra has more land zoned for conservation (42% vs 31%).

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Environmental 31% 42%
Other and special use 29% 0%
Residential 25% 19%
Parks and recreation 11% 22%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 17%
Industrial 1% 0%
Rural and farming 1% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Shell Cove and 100% of Minnamurra. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Shell Cove Minnamurra
New dwellings approved 883
across Shellharbour
 159
across Kiama
Approvals change year on year +25% -35%

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.

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Houses 3.0%
$900/wk on $1.55M
 —
Units 3.0%
$900/wk on $1.57M
 —

Ranking within NSW

Shell Cove Minnamurra
House price Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Income Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 15% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 22% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 4% of NSW —

Liveability

Minnamurra is more walkable (52 vs 33); Minnamurra scores higher overall (66 vs 56).

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 66/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Shell Cove carries more bushfire risk (42 vs 0).

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Bushfire Moderate
42/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
42/100
 Moderate
47/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
79/100
 Low
24/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Shell Cove

  • Shell Cove Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Illawarra Environmental Education Centre Government · Combined

Schools in Minnamurra

  • Minnamurra Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 6 1
Parks & reserves 22 5
Childcare 4 1
Pharmacies 1 0
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 4 0
Waterways 4 1

Mobility

Minnamurra sits further from the CBD (117.4 km vs 114.2 km).

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Walkability score 33/100 52/100
Distance to Sydney 114.2 km 117.4 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 102 min 103 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 77/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 55.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 27.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2529
 1.4%
postcode 2533
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 2529
 47
postcode 2533

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.

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Car (driver) 60.5% / 54.2%
Shell Cove — Car (driver): 60.5% Minnamurra — Car (driver): 54.2%
Worked from Home 34.2% / 37.8%
Shell Cove — Worked from Home: 34.2% Minnamurra — Worked from Home: 37.8%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 4.7%
Shell Cove — Car (passenger): 3.5% Minnamurra — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Walked Only 0.9% / 2.2%
Shell Cove — Walked Only: 0.9% Minnamurra — Walked Only: 2.2%
Train 0.5% / 1.1%
Shell Cove — Train: 0.5% Minnamurra — Train: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.5%).

Setting

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 530 m
559 m to a named beach
 271 m
620 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Connectivity score 98/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 97%
3,391 premises
 100%
381 premises

Climate

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Shell Cove Minnamurra
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

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Average residential rate $1,788/yr $1,898/yr
Council Shellharbour Kiama

Federal electorate

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Division Whitlam Gilmore
Member Carol Berry Fiona Phillips
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Shell Cove Minnamurra
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Shell Cove

Beach Coastal Large Blocks River

Minnamurra

Beach Coastal Parks Quiet Retirees River Trains

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Shell Cove

Shell Cove vs Flinders Shell Cove vs Shellharbour Shell Cove vs Dunmore

Other comparisons with Minnamurra

Minnamurra vs Kiama Downs Minnamurra vs Dunmore
Full data on Shell Cove Full data on Minnamurra
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