Overall score
Rockingham
49.3/100
Shoalwater
40.2/100
Rockingham vs Shoalwater, WA Suburb Comparison
Rockingham for retirees and families; Shoalwater for investment.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
RockinghamShoalwater
Crime rate
Rockingham
63.3 / 1k
Shoalwater
63.3 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Rockingham
392
Shoalwater
118
Population
Rockingham
15,312
Shoalwater
4,368
Metric leadRockingham 9Shoalwater 12 tiedacross 12 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesRockingham
- Best for familiesRockingham
- Best for beach lifestyleRockingham
- Best for investmentShoalwater
- Best for best valueRockingham
- Best for best schoolsRockingham
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 | Rockingham | Shoalwater |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 49.3/100 | 40.2/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 63.2/100 | 57.8/100 |
| Crime rate | 63.3 / 1k | 63.3 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 9 | 3 |
| Weather (desirability) | 23.4/100 | 23.4/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 18 | 4 |
| Public transport stops | 138 | 28 |
| Walkability | 100.0/100 | 57.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 392 | 118 |
| Green cover | 8.0% | 3.4% |
| Population | 15,312 | 4,368 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 2/10 | 3/10 |
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Rockingham is a beachside established suburb where the coast sets the tone, and Shoalwater is a coastal mid-sized suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm.
Rockingham tends to lead on housing affordability, schools and education options, and parks and reserves, while Shoalwater stands out for stronger socioeconomic advantage.
Families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools may find Rockingham the better fit, while retirees are more likely to prefer Shoalwater.
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.