Shelly Beach vs Toowoon Bay

Shelly Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 47 against 58 in Toowoon Bay. In both, most households own their home. In Shelly Beach, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. In Toowoon Bay, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Toowoon Bay: a median of $1.97 million, against $1.61 million in Shelly Beach, though rent is higher in Shelly Beach. On these figures, Shelly Beach tends to suit couples and buyers on a tighter budget, while Toowoon Bay 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

Shelly Beach

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (83% vs 41%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (57% vs 38%)

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

First-home buyers

Shelly Beach

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (31% vs 41%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,610,000 vs $1,967,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Toowoon Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (34% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $423/wk)
  • But Shelly Beach leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Shelly Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (50/100 vs 41/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Shelly Beach carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 65/100)
  • Toowoon Bay has more units and townhouses to downsize into (59% vs 17%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
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.

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Walkability 50 / 41
Shelly Beach — Walkability: 50/100 Toowoon Bay — Walkability: 41/100
Safety 47 / 35
Shelly Beach — Safety: 47/100 Toowoon Bay — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Shelly Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Toowoon Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Shelly Beach has more residents (1,313 vs 543); Shelly Beach has higher household incomes ($85,592 vs $60,736).

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Population 1,313
+59% vs other
 543
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.4% +2.5%
Median age 47 58
Median household income $85,592/yr
+29% vs other
 $60,736/yr
Median weekly rent $423/wk
+10% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
0-4 4.4% / 2.6%
Shelly Beach — 0-4: 4.4% Toowoon Bay — 0-4: 2.6%
5-14 10.7% / 7.9%
Shelly Beach — 5-14: 10.7% Toowoon Bay — 5-14: 7.9%
15-19 5.9% / 4.4%
Shelly Beach — 15-19: 5.9% Toowoon Bay — 15-19: 4.4%
20-24 4.7% / 3.9%
Shelly Beach — 20-24: 4.7% Toowoon Bay — 20-24: 3.9%
25-34 9.1% / 6.4%
Shelly Beach — 25-34: 9.1% Toowoon Bay — 25-34: 6.4%
35-44 12.0% / 8.1%
Shelly Beach — 35-44: 12.0% Toowoon Bay — 35-44: 8.1%
45-54 12.6% / 13.8%
Shelly Beach — 45-54: 12.6% Toowoon Bay — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 15.1% / 16.8%
Shelly Beach — 55-64: 15.1% Toowoon Bay — 55-64: 16.8%
65-74 13.8% / 19.2%
Shelly Beach — 65-74: 13.8% Toowoon Bay — 65-74: 19.2%
75-84 7.7% / 13.6%
Shelly Beach — 75-84: 7.7% Toowoon Bay — 75-84: 13.6%
85+ 4.8% / 3.7%
Shelly Beach — 85+: 4.8% Toowoon Bay — 85+: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Shelly Beach 38.4% lone person
Shelly Beach — Lone Person: 38.4% Shelly Beach — Couple Families: 46.4% Shelly Beach — One Parent Families: 10.7% Shelly Beach — Group Household: 3.3% Shelly Beach — Other Families: 1.2%
Toowoon Bay 57.6% lone person
Toowoon Bay — Lone Person: 57.6% Toowoon Bay — Couple Families: 21.2% Toowoon Bay — One Parent Families: 17.0% Toowoon Bay — Group Household: 4.2% Toowoon Bay — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Shelly Beach 16.1% renting
Shelly Beach — Owned Outright: 49.8% Shelly Beach — Mortgage: 34.1% Shelly Beach — Renting: 16.1%
Toowoon Bay 33.7% renting
Toowoon Bay — Owned Outright: 45.9% Toowoon Bay — Mortgage: 20.3% Toowoon Bay — Renting: 33.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Certificate III & IV 19.3% / 17.9%
Shelly Beach — Certificate III & IV: 19.3% Toowoon Bay — Certificate III & IV: 17.9%
Bachelor Degree 10.5% / 10.5%
Shelly Beach — Bachelor Degree: 10.5% Toowoon Bay — Bachelor Degree: 10.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.1% / 10.3%
Shelly Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1% Toowoon Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 2.0%
Shelly Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Toowoon Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.7%
Shelly Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Toowoon Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

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.

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
England 3.5% / 3.7%
Shelly Beach — England: 3.5% Toowoon Bay — England: 3.7%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.3%
Shelly Beach — New Zealand: 1.1% Toowoon Bay — New Zealand: 1.3%
Greece — / 1.3%
Shelly Beach — Greece: not among its largest Toowoon Bay — Greece: 1.3%
China 0.4% / 0.6%
Shelly Beach — China: 0.4% Toowoon Bay — China: 0.6%
Zimbabwe — / 0.9%
Shelly Beach — Zimbabwe: not among its largest Toowoon Bay — Zimbabwe: 0.9%
Germany 0.8% / —
Shelly Beach — Germany: 0.8% Toowoon Bay — Germany: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.7% / —
Shelly Beach — Netherlands: 0.7% Toowoon Bay — Netherlands: not among its largest
Canada — / 0.7%
Shelly Beach — Canada: not among its largest Toowoon Bay — Canada: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Shelly Beach 83.0% houses
Shelly Beach — Houses: 83.0% Shelly Beach — Townhouses: 12.0% Shelly Beach — Flats / Apartments: 5.0%
Toowoon Bay 41.3% houses
Toowoon Bay — Houses: 41.3% Toowoon Bay — Townhouses: 35.3% Toowoon Bay — Flats / Apartments: 23.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Median house price $1,610,000 $1,967,500
Median unit price — $860,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 17 sales
 36 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Parks and recreation 52% 58%
Residential 44% 36%
Environmental 3% 4%
Planning zones cover 100% of Shelly Beach and 98% of Toowoon Bay. 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

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
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.

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Houses 3.8%
$900/wk on $1.23M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
House price Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Income Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 19% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 64% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of NSW —

Liveability

Shelly Beach scores higher overall (64 vs 52); Shelly Beach is more walkable (50 vs 41).

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Grade B
same for both
Score 64/100 52/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Toowoon Bay carries more crime risk (65 vs 53).

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
42/100
 Moderate
55/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Shelly Beach

  • Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College The Entrance Campus Government · Secondary

Schools in Toowoon Bay

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

Amenities in the suburb

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Cafes & restaurants 2 1
Parks & reserves 2
same for both
Childcare 1 0
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Walkability score 50/100 41/100
Distance to Sydney 96.5 km 98.1 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 86 min 88 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 74/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 30.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 25.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2261
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 2261
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.

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Car (driver) 62.3% / 57.8%
Shelly Beach — Car (driver): 62.3% Toowoon Bay — Car (driver): 57.8%
Worked from Home 31.8% / 37.0%
Shelly Beach — Worked from Home: 31.8% Toowoon Bay — Worked from Home: 37.0%
Walked Only 1.0% / 5.2%
Shelly Beach — Walked Only: 1.0% Toowoon Bay — Walked Only: 5.2%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / —
Shelly Beach — Car (passenger): 3.3% Toowoon Bay — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Bus 0.8% / —
Shelly Beach — Bus: 0.8% Toowoon Bay — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.3%).

Setting

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Elevation 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 425 m
620 m to a named beach
 237 m
964 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
577 premises
 100%
377 premises

Climate

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Annual rainfall 1,272 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.36 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Division Dobell
same for both
Member Emma Mcbride
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Shelly Beach Toowoon Bay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Shelly Beach

Beach Coastal Parks Quiet Retirees

Toowoon Bay

Beach Coastal Premium Quiet Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Shelly Beach

Shelly Beach vs Bateau Bay Shelly Beach vs Long Jetty

Other comparisons with Toowoon Bay

Toowoon Bay vs Long Jetty Toowoon Bay vs Blue Bay
Full data on Shelly Beach Full data on Toowoon Bay
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