Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Shell Cove suburb profile
Shell Cove, NSW · Postcode 2529
This Shell Cove suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Shell Cove, NSW (postcode 2529). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Shell Cove with nearby suburbs.
Shell Cove at a glance
Population
7,591
Median rent
$600/wk
Household income
$2,452/wk
Median age
40
Shell Cove trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+88.4% over 10 years
Population
7,591
was 5,624 in 2016
+1,967 · +35%
Median rent
$600/wk
was $550/wk in 2016
+$50 · +9.1%
Household income
$2,452/wk
was $2,155/wk in 2016
+$297 · +13.8%
Median age
40
was 36 in 2016
+4 · +11.1%
Dig deeper: Shell Cove population growth · Shell Cove then and now
Shell Cove vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Shell Cove, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
+42.9% vs area
- Shell Cove$600/wk
- Nearby$420/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
+33% vs area
- Shell Cove$2,452/wk
- Nearby$1,542/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
0% vs area
- Shell Cove40
- Nearby41.5
- NSW40
Personal income
+15.2% vs area
- Shell Cove$931/wk
- Nearby$702.5/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Shell Cove compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Shell Cove ranks among Australia's most advantaged suburbs. It shows strong access to economic resources.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 91,077.4
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 101,075.7
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 101,115.1
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 81,021
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Shell Cove on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Shell Cove, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Shell Cove people
- Population
- 7,591
- Median age
- 40
- Born overseas
- 17.4%
- Average household size
- 3.0
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Shell Cove income
- Median household income
- $2,452/wk
- Median personal income
- $931/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Shell Cove housing
- Median rent
- $600/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,386/mo
- Separate houses
- 82.9%
- Flats & apartments
- 4%
- Owned outright
- 33.6%
- Mortgaged
- 39.8%
- Rented
- 18.4%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 5.2%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Shell Cove work
- Employment to population
- 62.7%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.6%
- Year 12 or above
- 53.3%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 2529)
Compare Shell Cove with nearby suburbs
Shell Cove in numbers
Shell Cove had 7,591 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 310th most populous suburb or locality in NSW out of 4,347. The median age is 40, close to the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 3 people. 17.4% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 33.6% own their home outright, 39.8% are paying a mortgage, 18.4% rent. Separate houses make up 82.9% of dwellings, with 4% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $600/wk, 50% above the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $2,452/wk, 36% above the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 3.6%. 53.3% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 9 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 35% (from 5,624 to 7,591). Median rent moved from $550/wk to $600/wk (+9.1%).
Shell Cove suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Shell Cove, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Shell Cove was $600/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Shell Cove, NSW?
- Shell Cove had 7,591 residents at the 2021 Census, up 35% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Shell Cove?
- Median household income in Shell Cove was $2,452/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Shell Cove?
- 18.4% of occupied homes in Shell Cove were rented, 33.6% were owned outright and 39.8% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Shell Cove suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Shell Cove. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology