Nelson Bay vs Shoal Bay, NSW suburb comparison
Which suburb suits you better?
Side-by-side comparison of 16 categories from official government and open data.
| Category | Nelson Bay | Shoal Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 43.9/100 | 39.5/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 25.5/100 | 25.5/100 |
| Crime rate | 70.8 / 1k | 71.1 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | 1 |
| Parks & reserves | 2 | 3 |
| Public transport stops | 122 | 36 |
| Walkability | 32.0/100 | 61.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 51 | 61 |
| Planning activity | 608 | 180 |
| Population | 6,141 | 1,815 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 4/10 | 3/10 |
Quick verdicts
- Best for beach lifestyleShoal Bay
- Best for investmentNelson Bay
- Best for best schoolsNelson Bay
Comparison summary
Nelson Bay (NSW) and Shoal Bay (NSW) offer different strengths across official suburb data. Nelson Bay (NSW) leads on more comparison categories overall. Overall score favours Nelson Bay (NSW); Crime rate favours Nelson Bay (NSW); Parks & reserves favours Shoal Bay (NSW). Quick verdicts: Beach lifestyle → Shoal Bay (NSW), Investment → Nelson Bay (NSW), Best schools → Nelson Bay (NSW).