Overall score
Garden Island
24.5/100
Shoalwater
45.9/100
Garden Island vs Shoalwater, WA suburb comparison
Shoalwater for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Garden IslandShoalwater
Crime rate
Garden Island
17810.3 / 1k
Shoalwater
3331.5 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Garden Island
0
Shoalwater
88
Population
Garden Island
772
Shoalwater
4,368
Metric leadGarden Island 0Shoalwater 6across 6 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesShoalwater
- Best for familiesShoalwater
- Best for beach lifestyleShoalwater
- Best for investmentShoalwater
- Best for best valueShoalwater
- Best for best schoolsShoalwater
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Garden Island | Shoalwater |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 24.5/100 | 45.9/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | — | 41.6/100 |
| Crime rate | 17810.3 / 1k | 3331.5 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | — | 3 |
| Parks & reserves | 1 | 4 |
| Public transport stops | — | 28 |
| Walkability | 0.0/100 | 57.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 0 | 88 |
| Population | 772 | 4,368 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | — | 3/10 |
Comparison summary
Garden Island reads as a beachside smaller community where the coast sets the tone; Shoalwater is a coastal mid-sized suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm. Garden Island sits among greener hillside streets, while Shoalwater keeps a flatter suburban layout.
On the data, Garden Island is stronger for easy access to the coast and improving crime trends; Shoalwater answers with a quieter safety profile and parks and reserves. Garden Island generally means more sought-after housing, while Shoalwater leans toward more approachable housing costs.
On balance, retirees and families are more likely to prefer Shoalwater, while Garden Island remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.