Overall score
Lake Illawarra
38.8/100
Shellharbour City Centre
50.1/100
Lake Illawarra vs Shellharbour City Centre, NSW Suburb Comparison
Lake Illawarra for beach lifestyle and value; Shellharbour City Centre for retirees and 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
83
Shellharbour City Centre
81
Population
Lake Illawarra
3,288
Shellharbour City Centre
457
Metric leadLake Illawarra 6Shellharbour City Centre 61 tiedacross 13 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesShellharbour City Centre
- Best for familiesShellharbour City Centre
- Best for beach lifestyleLake Illawarra
- Best for investmentShellharbour City Centre
- 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 | 38.8/100 | 50.1/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 77.8/100 | 71.3/100 |
| Crime rate | 80.0 / 1k | 74.2 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 7 | 10 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | 1 |
| Public transport stops | 64 | 22 |
| Walkability | 32.0/100 | 82.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 83 | 81 |
| Planning activity | 18 | 2 |
| Green cover | 10.2% | 6.7% |
| 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, parks and reserves, and public transport access, whereas Shellharbour City Centre is the better pick for a quieter safety profile, schools and education options, and walkability.
Choose Lake Illawarra if you are weighing people chasing a beach lifestyle, investors, and value-focused buyers; lean toward Shellharbour City Centre for families.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.