Median house price
$1.38M
+15% change
NSW · Byron Council
Ocean Shores, 2483
Est. population · Jun 2025
6,166
Growth (1 yr)
+1.1%
Growth (5 yr)
+8.0%
Median age
43
Median income
$1,471/wk
Employment rate
54.3%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,382,000
Languages at home
10%non-English
Most common: German, Spanish, Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Life in Ocean Shores revolves around the coast at a genuine remove from Sydney. Day-to-day life leans on nearby towns and local hubs rather than the metro area. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre. Open space is thinner than in many coastal suburbs, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
Against similar coastal suburbs, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because community and employment, plus schools and education lag behind, despite relative strength in growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Ocean Shores snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$850/wk
Houses $925 · Units $620
Population (ERP)
6,166
+1.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.3%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#26
among Coastal & beach · Emerging
Safety
39th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
70th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
69th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 37.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4135th in Australia
- State rank
- 1287th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #26 among Coastal & beach · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #128 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $620
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $925
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $850
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 81
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,382,000
- Median price change
- +15.2%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
6,166(June 2025)
+1.1% annual · +8.0% over 5 years · 70th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.1%
- 5-year growth
- +8.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +67
- Change in 5 years
- +455
- Growth rank in NSW
- 70th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~6,600), extrapolated at +1.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 5,777
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $1,471
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 174 of 2,377
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,893
- Employment rate
- 54.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,842 / 208 / 149
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 356
- Against the person
- 100
- Against property
- 163
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 57.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 58 residents
- State safety percentile
- 38.7th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -1.9%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order50
- Domestic Violence Related Assault50
- Fraud47
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment68
- Malicious Damage To Property77
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,051
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 69th
School list
- Ocean Shores Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1051 · 69th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 294 students · Top SEA quarter 23%View on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
32 public transport stops in this suburb
- Goondooloo Dr At Wirruna Av
- Goondooloo Dr Opp Wattar Ct
- Ocean Shores Public School, Shara Bvd
- Ocean Village Shops, Rajah Rd
- Rajah Rd Opp Ocean Village Shops
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
11 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Well connected by public transport — 32 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 32/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.17
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.17
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.17
Food & drink(1)
- Coolamon Co. CafeCafe
Sport & outdoors(1)
- Sports field
Transport(8)
8 bus stops
Other(1)
- Coolamon Co. CafeParking
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Byron Central Hospital (14.3 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 172
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 27.9
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 29° / 20°
- Rainfall
- 628 mm · ~78 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 26° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 552 mm · ~69 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 240 mm · ~30 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 15°
- Rainfall
- 282 mm · ~35 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 41 proposals
August 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure60 BALEMO DRIVE OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
July 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)25 HARDY AVENUE OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool23 KALLAROO CIRCUIT OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 YALLA KOOL DRIVE OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool70 BALEMO DRIVE OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation85 BALEMO DRIVE OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support6 THOMSON COURT OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation61 RAJAH ROAD OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation8 2 LANGI PLACE OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences41 MATONG DRIVE OCEAN SHORES 2483Additional Information Requested
June 2026
- Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)17 MULI MULI AVENUE OCEAN SHORES 2483Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Residential Accommodation1 8 COOMBURRA CRESCENT OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 RAJAH ROAD OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)2 PALDI COURT OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool41 ORANA ROAD OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation46 KALLAROO CIRCUIT OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)30 RAJAH ROAD OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure24 RANGAL ROAD OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation57 ORANA ROAD OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
May 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure158 ORANA ROAD OCEAN SHORES 2483Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home2A WOGGOON TERRACE OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)20 MUNDURRA AVENUE OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 GIBINGBELL CLOSE OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 ROUNDHOUSE PLACE OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
April 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure31 BULGOON CRESCENT OCEAN SHORES 2483Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces10 GIRA PLACE OCEAN SHORES 2483Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)1 6 KOORINGA COURT OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure93 ORANA ROAD OCEAN SHORES 2483Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool23 PALMER AVENUE OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
March 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing18 GILBA AVENUE OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)25 HARDY AVENUE OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool9 KOLORA WAY OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 JARRAH CRESCENT OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool6 BERRIMBILLAH COURT OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structureUNIT 2 7 TATHRA GLEN OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)32 HARDY AVENUE OCEAN SHORES 2483Deferred Commencement
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool28 BALEMO DRIVE OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)2 PALDI COURT OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool4 TERRARA COURT OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation15 GILBA AVENUE OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
2025· 10 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 YALLA KOOL DRIVE OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure57 ORANA ROAD OCEAN SHORES 2483Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Temporary building, structure or use; Residential Accommodation128 ORANA ROAD OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport4 BULGOON CRESCENT OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure24 RANGAL ROAD OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation1 HARAH COURT OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation18 PALMER AVENUE OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)8 KIYUNG COURT OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 TONGARRA DRIVE OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
- Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support11 YALLA KOOL DRIVE OCEAN SHORES 2483Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Richmond
- Member of Parliament
- Justine ELLIOT (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 126,814
- Turnout (2025)
- 89.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.8 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.0%Labor 60.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 10.9 km away).
Coalition 26.5%Labor 73.5%
13.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Ocean ShoresLabor 71.9% · Coalition 28.1% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
- Ocean Shores NorthLabor 76.0% · Coalition 23.9% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
- Brunswick HeadsLabor 74.9% · Coalition 25.1% TPP (2025)3.7 km away
- Mullumbimby SouthLabor 73.6% · Coalition 26.4% TPP (2025)5.8 km away
- MullumbimbyLabor 73.4% · Coalition 26.6% TPP (2025)6.0 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Byron Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.