Overall score
Lake Illawarra
47.0/100
Shellharbour City Centre
46.4/100
Lake Illawarra vs Shellharbour City Centre, NSW suburb comparison
Lake Illawarra for beach lifestyle and investment; Shellharbour City Centre for families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Lake IllawarraShellharbour City Centre
Crime rate
Lake Illawarra
80.0 / 1k
Shellharbour City Centre
74.2 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Lake Illawarra
81
Shellharbour City Centre
81
Population
Lake Illawarra
3,288
Shellharbour City Centre
457
Metric leadLake Illawarra 5Shellharbour City Centre 51 tiedacross 11 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for familiesShellharbour City Centre
- Best for beach lifestyleLake Illawarra
- Best for investmentLake Illawarra
- Best for best valueLake Illawarra
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 | Lake Illawarra | Shellharbour City Centre |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 47.0/100 | 46.4/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 73.8/100 | 49.2/100 |
| Crime rate | 80.0 / 1k | 74.2 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 7 | 10 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | 1 |
| Public transport stops | 64 | 22 |
| Walkability | 32.0/100 | 82.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 81 | 81 |
| Planning activity | 16 | 2 |
| Population | 3,288 | 457 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 1/10 | 3/10 |
Comparison summary
Lake Illawarra is a coastal mid-sized suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm, while Shellharbour City Centre is a well-serviced metro smaller community with plenty happening nearby. Lake Illawarra leans into coastal living, while Shellharbour City Centre feels more inland and suburban in character.
Lake Illawarra pulls ahead on housing affordability and a quieter safety profile, whereas Shellharbour City Centre is the better pick for walkability and a calmer planning outlook.
Choose Lake Illawarra if you are weighing people chasing a beach lifestyle and investors; lean toward Shellharbour City Centre for families.