Sussex Inlet vs Swanhaven

Sussex Inlet is the younger of the two, with a median age of 61 against 65 in Swanhaven. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most households are people living alone. In Sussex Inlet, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Swanhaven, about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Sussex Inlet: a median of $760,000, against $630,000 in Swanhaven, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Swanhaven tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Sussex Inlet

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (86% vs 53%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Sussex Inlet leaves households under less mortgage stress (39% vs 44%)
  • Swanhaven has cheaper houses ($630,000 vs $760,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Sussex Inlet has a bigger rental market to choose from (20% vs 5%)
  • Swanhaven has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $310/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Sussex Inlet

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (165 min vs 170 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (201.7 km vs 207.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Swanhaven

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (47% vs 13%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (48% vs 43%)
  • But Sussex Inlet has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

Sussex Inlet

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.8% vs 1.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
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.

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Walkability 23 / 18
Sussex Inlet — Walkability: 23/100 Swanhaven — Walkability: 18/100
Safety 29 / 29
Sussex Inlet — Safety: 29/100 Swanhaven — Safety: 29/100
Low fire risk 10 / 100
Sussex Inlet — Low fire risk: 10/100 Swanhaven — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Sussex Inlet has more residents (3,888 vs 196); Sussex Inlet rents higher ($310/wk vs $280/wk).

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Population 3,888
+95% vs other
 196
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.8% +1.6%
Median age 61 65
Median household income $46,124/yr
+9% vs other
 $42,068/yr
Median weekly rent $310/wk
+10% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
0-4 3.4% / —
Sussex Inlet — 0-4: 3.4% Swanhaven — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 6.8% / 4.6%
Sussex Inlet — 5-14: 6.8% Swanhaven — 5-14: 4.6%
15-19 3.8% / 2.0%
Sussex Inlet — 15-19: 3.8% Swanhaven — 15-19: 2.0%
20-24 2.9% / —
Sussex Inlet — 20-24: 2.9% Swanhaven — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 6.7% / 3.6%
Sussex Inlet — 25-34: 6.7% Swanhaven — 25-34: 3.6%
35-44 6.6% / 7.7%
Sussex Inlet — 35-44: 6.6% Swanhaven — 35-44: 7.7%
45-54 9.2% / 10.2%
Sussex Inlet — 45-54: 9.2% Swanhaven — 45-54: 10.2%
55-64 17.7% / 23.0%
Sussex Inlet — 55-64: 17.7% Swanhaven — 55-64: 23.0%
65-74 22.5% / 31.1%
Sussex Inlet — 65-74: 22.5% Swanhaven — 65-74: 31.1%
75-84 14.3% / 15.8%
Sussex Inlet — 75-84: 14.3% Swanhaven — 75-84: 15.8%
85+ 6.0% / 1.5%
Sussex Inlet — 85+: 6.0% Swanhaven — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sussex Inlet 58.0% lone person
Sussex Inlet — Lone Person: 58.0% Sussex Inlet — Couple Families: 23.8% Sussex Inlet — One Parent Families: 13.7% Sussex Inlet — Group Household: 3.5% Sussex Inlet — Other Families: 1.0%
Swanhaven 66.7% lone person
Swanhaven — Lone Person: 66.7% Swanhaven — Couple Families: 27.8% Swanhaven — One Parent Families: 5.6% Swanhaven — Group Household: 0.0% Swanhaven — 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.

Sussex Inlet 19.8% renting
Sussex Inlet — Owned Outright: 60.1% Sussex Inlet — Mortgage: 20.1% Sussex Inlet — Renting: 19.8%
Swanhaven 5.4% renting
Swanhaven — Owned Outright: 79.6% Swanhaven — Mortgage: 15.1% Swanhaven — Renting: 5.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
England 5.0% / 9.2%
Sussex Inlet — England: 5.0% Swanhaven — England: 9.2%
Germany 0.6% / 1.5%
Sussex Inlet — Germany: 0.6% Swanhaven — Germany: 1.5%
Netherlands 0.5% / 1.5%
Sussex Inlet — Netherlands: 0.5% Swanhaven — Netherlands: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.2% / —
Sussex Inlet — New Zealand: 1.2% Swanhaven — New Zealand: not among its largest
Scotland 0.8% / —
Sussex Inlet — Scotland: 0.8% Swanhaven — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.2%).

Qualifications

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

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Certificate III & IV 21.7% / 27.6%
Sussex Inlet — Certificate III & IV: 21.7% Swanhaven — Certificate III & IV: 27.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.4% / 8.2%
Sussex Inlet — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4% Swanhaven — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Bachelor Degree 5.6% / 2.6%
Sussex Inlet — Bachelor Degree: 5.6% Swanhaven — Bachelor Degree: 2.6%
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / 1.5%
Sussex Inlet — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% Swanhaven — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / —
Sussex Inlet — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Swanhaven — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sussex Inlet 86.5% houses
Sussex Inlet — Houses: 86.5% Sussex Inlet — Flats / Apartments: 5.8% Sussex Inlet — Townhouses: 7.6%
Swanhaven 52.7% houses
Swanhaven — Houses: 52.7% Swanhaven — Flats / Apartments: 47.3% Swanhaven — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Median house price $760,000 $630,000
Median unit price $580,000 —
Median land price $422,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 52 days
from 74 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Sussex Inlet has more rural and farming land (25% vs 0%); Sussex Inlet has more land zoned for conservation (45% vs 33%).

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Parks and recreation 3% 55%
Environmental 45% 33%
Rural and farming 25% 0%
Residential 23% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 6%
Industrial 2% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Sussex Inlet and 100% of Swanhaven. 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

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
New dwellings approved 854
across Shoalhaven
same for both
Approvals change year on year -10%
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.

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Houses 3.1%
$530/wk on $895K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
House price Higher than 28% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
Income Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 25% of NSW —

Liveability

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Grade D —
Score 14/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
same for both

Risk profile

Sussex Inlet carries more bushfire risk (90 vs 0).

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Bushfire High
90/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
71/100
same for both
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
33/100
 Low
37/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Sussex Inlet

  • Sussex Inlet Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Swanhaven

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

Amenities in the suburb

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 7 0
Parks & reserves 7 0
Childcare 2 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 6 0

Mobility

Swanhaven sits further from the CBD (207.5 km vs 201.7 km).

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Walkability score 23/100 18/100
Distance to Sydney 201.7 km 207.5 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 165 min 170 min
Public transport score 59/100
Bus
 23/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 20.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2540
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2540
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.

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Car (driver) 78.1% / 75.6%
Sussex Inlet — Car (driver): 78.1% Swanhaven — Car (driver): 75.6%
Worked from Home 12.6% / 14.6%
Sussex Inlet — Worked from Home: 12.6% Swanhaven — Worked from Home: 14.6%
Car (passenger) 5.6% / 9.8%
Sussex Inlet — Car (passenger): 5.6% Swanhaven — Car (passenger): 9.8%
Walked Only 3.2% / —
Sussex Inlet — Walked Only: 3.2% Swanhaven — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bicycle 0.4% / —
Sussex Inlet — Bicycle: 0.4% Swanhaven — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.1%).

Setting

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Elevation 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.2 km 600 m
2.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Connectivity score 66/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 41%
2,930 premises
 0%
162 premises

Climate

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Annual rainfall 1,302 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.6°C
same for both

Council rates

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Average residential rate $1,501/yr
same for both
Council Shoalhaven
same for both

Federal electorate

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Division Gilmore
same for both
Member Fiona Phillips
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Sussex Inlet Swanhaven
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Sussex Inlet

Acreage Retirees

Swanhaven

Affordable Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sussex Inlet

Sussex Inlet vs St Georges Basin

Other comparisons with Swanhaven

Swanhaven vs Cudmirrah
Full data on Sussex Inlet Full data on Swanhaven
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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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