Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Shellharbour suburb profile
Shellharbour, NSW · Postcode 2529
This Shellharbour suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Shellharbour, 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 Shellharbour with nearby suburbs.
Shellharbour at a glance
Population
3,520
Median rent
$420/wk
Household income
$1,596/wk
Median age
46
Shellharbour 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
+5.8% over 10 years
Population
3,520
was 3,561 in 2016
-41 · -1.2%
Median rent
$420/wk
was $350/wk in 2016
+$70 · +20%
Household income
$1,596/wk
was $1,395/wk in 2016
+$201 · +14.4%
Median age
46
was 44 in 2016
+2 · +4.5%
Dig deeper: Shellharbour population growth · Shellharbour then and now
Shellharbour vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Shellharbour, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
0% vs area
- Shellharbour$420/wk
- Nearby$430/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-13.4% vs area
- Shellharbour$1,596/wk
- Nearby$1,546/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+15% vs area
- Shellharbour46
- Nearby40.5
- NSW40
Personal income
-8.3% vs area
- Shellharbour$741/wk
- Nearby$702.5/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Shellharbour compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Shellharbour sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 61,015.9
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 6994.1
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 41,006.2
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 5961.5
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Shellharbour on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Shellharbour, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Shellharbour people
- Population
- 3,520
- Median age
- 46
- Born overseas
- 15%
- Average household size
- 2.5
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Shellharbour income
- Median household income
- $1,596/wk
- Median personal income
- $741/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Shellharbour housing
- Median rent
- $420/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,167/mo
- Separate houses
- 63.1%
- Flats & apartments
- 14.6%
- Owned outright
- 34.4%
- Mortgaged
- 25.1%
- Rented
- 30.2%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 7.6%
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
Shellharbour work
- Employment to population
- 55.2%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.8%
- Year 12 or above
- 43.6%
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 Shellharbour with nearby suburbs
Shellharbour in numbers
Shellharbour had 3,520 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 46, 12% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.5 people. 15% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 34.4% own their home outright, 25.1% are paying a mortgage, 30.2% rent. Separate houses make up 63.1% of dwellings, with 14.6% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $420/wk, 5% above the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,596/wk, 12% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 3.8%. 43.6% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 6 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 1.2% (from 3,561 to 3,520). Median rent moved from $350/wk to $420/wk (+20%).
Shellharbour suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Shellharbour, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Shellharbour was $420/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Shellharbour, NSW?
- Shellharbour had 3,520 residents at the 2021 Census, down 1.2% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Shellharbour?
- Median household income in Shellharbour was $1,596/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Shellharbour?
- 30.2% of occupied homes in Shellharbour were rented, 34.4% were owned outright and 25.1% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Shellharbour suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Shellharbour. 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