Shellharbour vs Wollongong, NSW suburb comparison
Which suburb suits you better?
Side-by-side comparison of 16 categories from official government and open data.
| Category | Shellharbour | Wollongong |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 61.6/100 | 69.7/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 62.5/100 | 42.4/100 |
| Crime rate | 81.2 / 1k | 169.8 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 3 | 9 |
| Parks & reserves | 10 | 13 |
| Public transport stops | 58 | 192 |
| Walkability | 75.0/100 | 100.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 182 | 657 |
| Planning activity | 10 | 53 |
| Population | 3,520 | 20,446 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 6/10 | 8/10 |
Quick verdicts
- Best for familiesWollongong
- Best for beach lifestyleWollongong
- Best for best valueShellharbour
- Best for best schoolsWollongong
Comparison summary
Shellharbour and Wollongong offer different strengths across official suburb data. Wollongong leads on more comparison categories overall. Overall score favours Wollongong; Housing (desirability) favours Shellharbour; Crime rate favours Shellharbour. Quick verdicts: Families → Wollongong, Beach lifestyle → Wollongong, Best value → Shellharbour, Best schools → Wollongong.