New South Wales · Suburb Profile

Shoalhaven Heads NSW — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Shoalhaven Heads, New South Wales. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Shoalhaven Heads NSW is 3,248 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Shoalhaven Heads is $612 per week ($31,824 per year). Median rent in Shoalhaven Heads is $365 per week ($1,582 per month). Shoalhaven Heads has a median age of 56 years, older than the national median of 38. Shoalhaven Heads has a population density of 827.3 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Shoalhaven Heads is England. The most common religion is No Religion (43% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Cantonese. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Shoalhaven Heads is $1,950.

There were 27 recorded offences in Shoalhaven Heads in 2025-26, a rate of 8 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (6 offences).

Shoalhaven Heads Map

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Shoalhaven Heads Population

residents (Census 2021)

Shoalhaven Heads Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$612/wk

$31,824 per year

#6898 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$365/wk

$1,582 per month

#2840 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

56years

18 years older than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$1,950/mo

Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.7 per bedroom

Shoalhaven Heads Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.4% (1,605) Female 50.6% (1,642)

Population Density

827.3

people per km²

3,248 people · 3.9 km²

Households

2.1

Avg household size

0.7

Persons per bedroom

$1,524

Family income/wk

Shoalhaven Heads Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Shoalhaven Heads Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

69.7% 793 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

30.3% 344 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Shoalhaven Heads Country of Birth

Australia

91.4%

England

6.0%

India

0.6%

Germany

0.6%

France

0.4%

Chile

0.3%

China

0.3%

Canada

0.2%

Greece

0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Religion

No Religion

42.6%

Anglican

23.9%

Catholic

18.4%

Not stated

7.8%

Uniting Church

2.6%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

2.5%

Christian (other)

1.5%

Baptist

0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

43.1%

Year 10 or equivalent

38.6%

Year 9 or equivalent

11.1%

Year 11 or equivalent

7.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Languages Spoken at Home

Cantonese

32.1%

Other

21.4%

Spanish

17.9%

Mandarin

14.3%

Japan

14.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Employment

💼

Employed full-time

24.9% 627 people

⏰

Employed part-time

18.1% 456 people

🔍

Unemployed

1.7% 42 people

🏠

Not in labour force

55.3% 1,392 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

45.0%

Bachelor Degree

23.8%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

19.1%

Postgraduate Degree

6.0%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

3.9%

Certificate I/II

2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Occupation

Professionals

28.1%

Technicians & Trade Workers

20.1%

Community & Personal Service

14.1%

Managers

13.6%

Clerical & Administrative

10.2%

Labourers

5.7%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

4.7%

Sales Workers

3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Shoalhaven Heads Field of Study

Management & Commerce

15.9%

Engineering

15.6%

Health

14.4%

Architecture & Building

14.1%

Society & Culture

13.9%

Education

10.8%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

6.1%

Agriculture & Environment

3.7%

Creative Arts

2.8%

Natural & Physical Sciences

2.0%

Information Technology

0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Dwelling Types

Separate house

83.0%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

13.8%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.4%

$1-$149/wk

0.9%

$150-$299/wk

1.2%

$300-$399/wk

3.5%

$400-$499/wk

11.4%

$500-$649/wk

10.2%

$650-$799/wk

11.5%

$800-$999/wk

7.7%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

7.8%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.5%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

5.2%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.4%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

8.0%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

5.5%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

4.2%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

2.6%

$4,000+/wk

6.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Marital Status

💍

Married

48.4% 1,344

↔️

Separated

4.2% 116

📋

Divorced

14.8% 411

🕊️

Widowed

8.8% 245

👤

Never married

23.7% 658

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Ancestry

English

36.5%

Australian

30.5%

Irish

10.2%

Scottish

9.1%

Other

3.5%

German

2.9%

Aboriginal Australianralian

2.6%

Italian

1.5%

Dutch

1.2%

New Zealander

0.7%

Maltese

0.6%

French

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

39.7%

Secondary — Government

18.8%

Pre-school

12.2%

Vocational Education

11.1%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

7.5%

Secondary — Catholic

5.3%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

3.3%

Primary — Catholic

2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

7.1% 435

✅

No need for assistance

92.9% 5,658

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

19.2% 498

—

Not a volunteer

80.8% 2,100

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

5.7%

$300-$449/mo

3.5%

$600-$799/mo

2.2%

$800-$999/mo

3.8%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

11.1%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

18.0%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

28.8%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

16.5%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

10.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

76.4%

Did not go to work

14.6%

Walked only

3.6%

Car (passenger)

3.5%

Other

0.8%

Bicycle

0.6%

Truck

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Car Ownership

0 vehicles

5.1%

1 vehicle

46.9%

2 vehicles

35.0%

3 vehicles

8.6%

4+ vehicles

4.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

7.1%

2 bedrooms

29.1%

3 bedrooms

39.9%

4 bedrooms

20.1%

5 bedrooms

2.9%

6+ bedrooms

1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Population Mobility

12.3%

moved in the last year

36.3%

moved in the last 5 years

3.7%

unemployment rate (Census)

43.8%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Indigenous Population

3.9%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

241

Indigenous residents

5,894

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

299

Arthritis

218

Heart disease

158

Lung condition

144

Diabetes

128

Asthma

112

Cancer

Kidney disease

Stroke

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

8.0%

$1-$149/wk

4.3%

$150-$299/wk

6.4%

$300-$399/wk

7.6%

$400-$499/wk

7.5%

$500-$649/wk

6.7%

$650-$799/wk

10.1%

$800-$999/wk

10.5%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

10.3%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.1%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.1%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.1%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

6.3%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

1.4%

$3,500+/wk

1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Family Structure

Couple — no children

45.0%

Couple — children under 15

31.8%

Couple — no children under 15

9.6%

One parent — children under 15

8.4%

One parent — no children under 15

5.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Military Service

🎖️

Current ADF — Regular

0.5% 14

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

0.2% 4

🏅

Previously served

5.3% 139

👤

Never served

94.0% 2,442

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

12.5% 323

—

Did not provide

87.5% 2,263

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Children Ever Born

No children

22.6%

1 child

10.7%

2 children

35.0%

3 children

20.6%

4 children

8.5%

5+ children

2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

103

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2018

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

18.1%

5–14 hours

31.6%

15–29 hours

15.2%

30+ hours

10.7%

Did not do domestic work

24.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Household Size

1 person

35.8%

2 persons

40.3%

3 persons

9.7%

4 persons

9.5%

5 persons

3.3%

6+ persons

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Where Residents Moved From

Same address

2,623

Moved from NSW

222

Moved — same area (SA2)

116

Moved from NT

Moved from QLD

Moved from VIC

Moved from overseas

Moved from WA

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

83.5%

Step family — no other children

10.2%

Blended family — no other children

4.7%

Other couple — children only

1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Shoalhaven Heads Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 27 total

Theft

Property Damage

Other Against Person

Other Against Property

Assault

Sexual Offences

Offence trend by year:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR — bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Shoalhaven Heads Schools

schools nearby

government

1021

avg ICSEA score

180

total students

Shoalhaven Heads Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 180 students

1021

ICSEA

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Shoalhaven Heads with map →

Shoalhaven Heads Rent Prices & Affordability

34%

of income

Moderate

Household Income $1,066/wk

Median Rent $365/wk

Rent-to-Income 34.2%

Rent is between 25–35% of household income — moderate housing costs.

If you earn X in Shoalhaven Heads

Your weekly income

≈ $4,619/month

Median rent $365/wk

Left after rent $701/wk

Rent share 34.2%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Wentworth (NSW)

Income: $496/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $165/wk

Dorrigo

Income: $560/wk Rent: $300/wk Save: $65/wk

Maclean

Income: $525/wk Rent: $330/wk Save: $35/wk

Windang

Income: $588/wk Rent: $335/wk Save: $30/wk

Berrigan

Income: $586/wk Rent: $173/wk Save: $192/wk

Tenterfield

Income: $517/wk Rent: $250/wk Save: $115/wk

Gloucester

Income: $553/wk Rent: $275/wk Save: $90/wk

Urunga

Income: $590/wk Rent: $340/wk Save: $25/wk

Shoalhaven Heads vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

Nirimba Fields

Pop: 1,632 Income: $1,159/wk Rent: $410/wk

Crescent Head

Pop: 1,633 Income: $674/wk Rent: $320/wk

Dolls Point

Pop: 1,633 Income: $996/wk Rent: $451/wk

Fingal Bay

Pop: 1,635 Income: $573/wk Rent: $390/wk

Boolaroo

Pop: 1,636 Income: $768/wk Rent: $400/wk

Wickham (NSW)

Pop: 1,637 Income: $1,135/wk Rent: $470/wk

Compare Shoalhaven Heads

Shoalhaven Heads vs Nirimba Fields →Shoalhaven Heads vs Crescent Head →Shoalhaven Heads vs Dolls Point →Shoalhaven Heads vs Fingal Bay →

Frequently Asked Questions About Shoalhaven Heads

What is the population of Shoalhaven Heads NSW?

The population of Shoalhaven Heads NSW is 3,248 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 827.3 people per km².Shoalhaven Heads is ranked #2,262 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Shoalhaven Heads?

The median personal income in Shoalhaven Heads NSW is $612 per week, or $31,824 per year.The median household income is $1,066 per week.Family income is $1,524 per week.Shoalhaven Heads is ranked #6,898 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Shoalhaven Heads?

Median rent in Shoalhaven Heads NSW is $365 per week ($1,582 per month).Rent represents 34.2% of household income, which is considered moderate.Shoalhaven Heads ranks #2,840 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Shoalhaven Heads?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Shoalhaven Heads NSW is $1,950. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Shoalhaven Heads?

The median age in Shoalhaven Heads NSW is 56 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Shoalhaven Heads a good suburb to live in?

Shoalhaven Heads is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 3,248.The median income is $612/wk, which is below the NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as moderate (34.2% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 13555. All dollar figures in AUD.