Shell Cove vs Shellharbour

Shell Cove is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 46 in Shellharbour. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Shell Cove, most households are couple families. On these figures, Shell Cove tends to suit families with children and couples, while Shellharbour suits 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

Shell Cove

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 12)
  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 71/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Shell Cove leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 31%)
  • Shellharbour has cheaper units ($775,000 vs $1,050,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Shellharbour

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (34% vs 20%)
  • has cheaper rent ($420/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Shellharbour

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (65/100 vs 33/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (103.8 km vs 114.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Shellharbour

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (32% vs 13%)
  • is more walkable (65/100 vs 33/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 16%)
  • But Shell Cove carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 71/100)

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 -1.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Shell Cove and Shellharbour 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 Shellharbour
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 Shellharbour
Walkability 33 / 65
Shell Cove — Walkability: 33/100 Shellharbour — Walkability: 65/100
Safety 58 / 29
Shell Cove — Safety: 58/100 Shellharbour — Safety: 29/100
Low fire risk 58 / 100
Shell Cove — Low fire risk: 58/100 Shellharbour — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Shell Cove has more residents (7,591 vs 3,520); Shell Cove has higher household incomes ($127,504 vs $82,992).

Shell Cove Shellharbour
Population 7,591
+54% vs other
 3,520
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +35.0% -1.2%
Median age 40 46
Median household income $127,504/yr
+35% vs other
 $82,992/yr
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+30% vs other
 $420/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Shell Cove Shellharbour
0-4 5.6% / 4.4%
Shell Cove — 0-4: 5.6% Shellharbour — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 15.0% / 10.7%
Shell Cove — 5-14: 15.0% Shellharbour — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 7.9% / 6.7%
Shell Cove — 15-19: 7.9% Shellharbour — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 5.5% / 5.3%
Shell Cove — 20-24: 5.5% Shellharbour — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 8.5% / 11.0%
Shell Cove — 25-34: 8.5% Shellharbour — 25-34: 11.0%
35-44 14.5% / 9.9%
Shell Cove — 35-44: 14.5% Shellharbour — 35-44: 9.9%
45-54 15.3% / 12.8%
Shell Cove — 45-54: 15.3% Shellharbour — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 11.7% / 17.6%
Shell Cove — 55-64: 11.7% Shellharbour — 55-64: 17.6%
65-74 9.2% / 12.8%
Shell Cove — 65-74: 9.2% Shellharbour — 65-74: 12.8%
75-84 5.0% / 6.4%
Shell Cove — 75-84: 5.0% Shellharbour — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 1.8% / 2.6%
Shell Cove — 85+: 1.8% Shellharbour — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

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%
Shellharbour 43.2% couple families
Shellharbour — Couple Families: 43.2% Shellharbour — Lone Person: 35.4% Shellharbour — One Parent Families: 17.0% Shellharbour — Group Household: 3.6% Shellharbour — Other Families: 0.7%
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%
Shellharbour 33.6% renting
Shellharbour — Owned Outright: 38.4% Shellharbour — Mortgage: 28.0% Shellharbour — Renting: 33.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Shell Cove Shellharbour
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 19.4%
Shell Cove — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% Shellharbour — Certificate III & IV: 19.4%
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 10.1%
Shell Cove — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Shellharbour — Bachelor Degree: 10.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 8.2%
Shell Cove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Shellharbour — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.9% / 2.6%
Shell Cove — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9% Shellharbour — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 1.4%
Shell Cove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Shellharbour — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.4%).

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.

Shell Cove Shellharbour
England 4.1% / 4.5%
Shell Cove — England: 4.1% Shellharbour — England: 4.5%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.2%
Shell Cove — New Zealand: 0.8% Shellharbour — New Zealand: 1.2%
South Africa 0.9% / 0.4%
Shell Cove — South Africa: 0.9% Shellharbour — South Africa: 0.4%
Italy 0.6% / 0.7%
Shell Cove — Italy: 0.6% Shellharbour — Italy: 0.7%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.5%
Shell Cove — Scotland: 0.5% Shellharbour — Scotland: 0.5%
Egypt 0.6% / —
Shell Cove — Egypt: 0.6% Shellharbour — Egypt: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

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%
Shellharbour 68.4% houses
Shellharbour — Houses: 68.4% Shellharbour — Townhouses: 14.8% Shellharbour — Flats / Apartments: 16.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Shell Cove Shellharbour
Median house price $1,462,500 $1,350,000
Median unit price $1,050,000 $775,000
Median land price $1,595,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 102 sales
 27 days
from 19 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 Shellharbour
3 bed $1.1M / $1.15M
Shell Cove — 3 bed: $1.1M (26 sales) Shellharbour — 3 bed: $1.15M (17 sales)

26 vs 17 sales

4 bed $1.45M / $1.47M
Shell Cove — 4 bed: $1.45M (108 sales) Shellharbour — 4 bed: $1.47M (10 sales)

108 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Shell Cove has more land zoned for conservation (31% vs 5%).

Shell Cove Shellharbour
Residential 25% 47%
Environmental 31% 5%
Parks and recreation 11% 31%
Other and special use 29% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 12%
Commercial 1% 3%
Industrial 1% 0%
Rural and farming 1% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Shell Cove and 98% of Shellharbour. 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 Shellharbour
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.

Shell Cove Shellharbour
Houses 3.0%
$900/wk on $1.55M
 3.4%
$860/wk on $1.3M
Units 3.0%
$900/wk on $1.57M
 —

Ranking within NSW

Shell Cove Shellharbour
House price Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
Income Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 18% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 78% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 4% of NSW —

Liveability

Shellharbour is more walkable (65 vs 33); Shell Cove scores higher overall (56 vs 46).

Shell Cove Shellharbour
Grade B C
Score 56/100 46/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Shell Cove carries more bushfire risk (42 vs 0); Shellharbour carries more crime risk (71 vs 42).

Shell Cove Shellharbour
Bushfire Moderate
42/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
42/100
 High
71/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
79/100
 Low
31/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Shell Cove Shellharbour
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 2
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 Shellharbour

  • Shellharbour Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Stella Maris Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Amity College Illawarra Campus Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Shell Cove Shellharbour
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 6 11
Parks & reserves 22 12
Childcare 4 3
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 4 0
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Shell Cove sits further from the CBD (114.2 km vs 103.8 km).

Shell Cove Shellharbour
Walkability score 33/100 65/100
Distance to Sydney 114.2 km
+9% vs other
 103.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 102 min 98 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 55.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 100.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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.

Shell Cove Shellharbour
Car (driver) 60.5% / 68.0%
Shell Cove — Car (driver): 60.5% Shellharbour — Car (driver): 68.0%
Worked from Home 34.2% / 25.5%
Shell Cove — Worked from Home: 34.2% Shellharbour — Worked from Home: 25.5%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 3.8%
Shell Cove — Car (passenger): 3.5% Shellharbour — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Walked Only 0.9% / 2.1%
Shell Cove — Walked Only: 0.9% Shellharbour — Walked Only: 2.1%
Bicycle 0.3% / 0.3%
Shell Cove — Bicycle: 0.3% Shellharbour — Bicycle: 0.3%
Train 0.5% / —
Shell Cove — Train: 0.5% Shellharbour — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.0%).

Setting

Shell Cove Shellharbour
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
 609 m
941 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Shell Cove Shellharbour
Connectivity score 98/100 69/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 97%
3,391 premises
 44%
1,767 premises

Climate

Shell Cove Shellharbour
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 Shellharbour
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 Shellharbour
Average residential rate $1,788/yr
same for both
Council Shellharbour
same for both

Federal electorate

Shell Cove Shellharbour
Division Whitlam
same for both
Member Carol Berry
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Shell Cove Shellharbour
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

Shellharbour

Beach Coastal Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Shell Cove

Shell Cove vs Flinders Shell Cove vs Minnamurra Shell Cove vs Dunmore

Other comparisons with Shellharbour

Shellharbour vs Flinders Shellharbour vs Barrack Heights Shellharbour vs Blackbutt Shellharbour vs Barrack Point
Full data on Shell Cove Full data on Shellharbour
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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