Suburb snapshot
Shoalhaven Heads is a smaller suburban community in the Shoalhaven area, home to around 3,248 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 101 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-1%), roughly 31.1 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $720, 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a reasonable spread of amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 3,248
- Median age
- 56
- Median household income / week
- $1,066
- Dwelling vacancy
- 15.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 269 of 1,723
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 42.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 116 / 205 / 16
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 · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 33
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 tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 101
- Against the person
- 30
- Against property
- 53
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 31.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 108 residents
- State safety percentile
- 8.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -0.7%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault18
- Fraud21
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment22
- Malicious Damage To Property31
- Steal From Motor Vehicle19
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 · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,021
- Shoalhaven Heads Public SchoolPrimary
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 · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
104 public transport stops in this suburb
- Explorer Bvd At Wells Pl
- Oval Dr At Nimrod St
- Oval Dr Opp Amundsen Av
- Scott St Before Discovery Pl
- Towers Rd At Boyd St
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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
207 planning-related records
2026· 19 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool2 HEARD AVENUE SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure46 SCOTT STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Under Assessment
May 2026
- Subdivision13 MATHEWS STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 DAVID BERRY STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Additional Information Requested
- Demolition6 DAVID BERRY STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation30 GOLDEN HILL AVENUE SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool13 DISCOVERY PLACE SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Demolition30 GOLDEN HILL AVENUE SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Demolition21 RENOWN AVENUE SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development13 STAPLES STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation21 RENOWN AVENUE SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 BOLT STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure56 JERRY BAILEY ROAD SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Under Assessment
- SubdivisionWELLS PLACE SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure28 HAY AVENUE SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 HAY AVENUE SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Subdivision14 GERROA ROAD SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Caravan park40 SHOALHAVEN HEADS ROAD SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces21 NOAKES STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
2025· 21 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool96 SCOTT STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport4 DAVENPORT ROAD SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development82 JERRY BAILEY ROAD SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Withdrawn
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure48 JERRY BAILEY ROAD SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 HEARD AVENUE SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure84 RIVER ROAD SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation17 BOYD STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space21 BASS ROAD SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 WHARF ROAD SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Subdivision39A DAVENPORT ROAD SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 MOUNTAIN VIEW PLACE SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Deferred Commencement
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool19 MATHEWS STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation11A DISCOVERY PLACE SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support19 MATHEWS STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure46 SCOTT STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure119 JERRY BAILEY ROAD SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation39A DAVENPORT ROAD SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation14 GERROA ROAD SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation38 WAGIN STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Jetty; Supporting Development8 HAY AVENUE SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Determined
March 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Supporting Development2 MCINTOSH STREET SHOALHAVEN HEADS 2535Withdrawn
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 · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
39 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (4)
- Bus stop
- Jerry Bailey Rd at Davenport RdBus stop
- Jerry Bailey Rd opp Hay AveBus stop
- Noakes St at Amundsen AvBus stop
- Pepper Reserve, Oval DrBus stop
- River Rd before Mathews StBus stop
- Scott St opp Explorer BvdBus stop
- Shoalhaven Heads Post Office, Shoalhaven Heads RdBus stop
- Shoalhaven Heads Rd opp Bolt StBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
6 parks and public open space in this suburb
- C H Gumley ReservePark
- Curtis ReservePark
- Jerry Bailey ReservePark
- Pepper ReservePark
- Shoalhaven Heads Memorial ParkPark
- Vic Zealand Memorial ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 11
- Parks (OSM)
- 8
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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 48.9/100
- National rank
- 1834th in Australia
- State rank
- 582nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #28 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #61 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime18
- Fraudcrime21
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime22
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime31
- Steal From Motor Vehiclecrime19
- Explorer Bvd At Wells Pltransport
- Oval Dr At Nimrod Sttransport
- Oval Dr Opp Amundsen Avtransport
- Scott St Before Discovery Pltransport
- Towers Rd At Boyd Sttransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Similar suburbs
Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.