New South Wales · Suburb Profile

Shortland NSW — Suburb Profile

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

The population of Shortland NSW is 4,537 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Shortland is $681 per week ($35,412 per year). Median rent in Shortland is $377 per week ($1,634 per month). Shortland has a median age of 33 years, younger than the national median of 38. Shortland has a population density of 691.8 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Shortland is China. The most common religion is No Religion (46% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Shortland is $1,679.

There were 50 recorded offences in Shortland in 2025-26, a rate of 11 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (12 offences).

Shortland Map

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Shortland Population

residents (Census 2021)

Shortland Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$681/wk

$35,412 per year

#5820 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$377/wk

$1,634 per month

#2627 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

33years

5 years younger than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$1,679/mo

Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.8 per bedroom

Shortland Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.7% (2,302) Female 49.3% (2,239)

Population Density

691.8

people per km²

4,537 people · 6.6 km²

Households

2.3

Avg household size

0.8

Persons per bedroom

$1,629

Family income/wk

Shortland 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)

Shortland Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

44.4% 461 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

55.6% 577 dwellings

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

Shortland Country of Birth

Australia

92.5%

China

2.1%

India

1.9%

England

1.8%

Indonesia

0.7%

Brazil

0.3%

Bangladesh

0.2%

Germany

0.2%

Hong Kong

0.2%

Iran

0.2%

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

Shortland Religion

No Religion

45.8%

Catholic

19.2%

Anglican

15.0%

Not stated

7.1%

Uniting Church

4.2%

Christian (other)

3.6%

Islam

2.7%

Baptist

2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Shortland Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

52.2%

Year 10 or equivalent

31.5%

Year 9 or equivalent

9.7%

Year 11 or equivalent

6.6%

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

Shortland Languages Spoken at Home

Other

30.2%

Mandarin

21.9%

Urdu

15.1%

SAL Tot

9.4%

Cantonese

8.3%

IAL Punjabi

5.2%

Vietnamese

5.2%

Arabic

4.7%

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

Shortland Employment

💼

Employed full-time

32.5% 1,128 people

⏰

Employed part-time

23.8% 826 people

🔍

Unemployed

4.1% 141 people

🏠

Not in labour force

39.7% 1,379 people

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

Shortland Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

46.2%

Bachelor Degree

25.8%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

15.1%

Postgraduate Degree

7.6%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

2.7%

Certificate I/II

2.5%

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

Shortland Occupation

Professionals

26.0%

Community & Personal Service

17.6%

Technicians & Trade Workers

17.4%

Clerical & Administrative

14.2%

Labourers

7.5%

Sales Workers

5.9%

Managers

5.7%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

5.7%

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

Shortland Field of Study

Engineering

20.2%

Management & Commerce

18.2%

Society & Culture

15.9%

Health

12.0%

Education

8.2%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

7.2%

Architecture & Building

7.0%

Creative Arts

4.8%

Information Technology

2.5%

Natural & Physical Sciences

2.4%

Agriculture & Environment

1.6%

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

Shortland Dwelling Types

Separate house

71.1%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

15.8%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

13.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Shortland Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

2.1%

$1-$149/wk

0.5%

$150-$299/wk

1.8%

$300-$399/wk

2.2%

$400-$499/wk

7.8%

$500-$649/wk

5.4%

$650-$799/wk

8.0%

$800-$999/wk

9.7%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

8.9%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

9.6%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

5.9%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

7.4%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

12.3%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

7.8%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

4.8%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

2.1%

$4,000+/wk

3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Shortland Marital Status

💍

Married

35.8% 1,376

↔️

Separated

3.1% 120

📋

Divorced

8.1% 313

🕊️

Widowed

6.5% 248

👤

Never married

46.4% 1,784

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Shortland Ancestry

Australian

30.9%

English

30.8%

Scottish

8.8%

Irish

8.0%

Other

7.2%

Aboriginal Australianralian

4.8%

German

2.7%

Chinese

2.3%

Indian

1.3%

Italian

1.3%

Filipino

1.0%

Dutch

0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Shortland School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

26.9%

Secondary — Government

22.7%

Vocational Education

19.6%

Pre-school

13.7%

Primary — Catholic

9.5%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

3.0%

Secondary — Catholic

2.9%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

1.7%

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

Shortland Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

7.6% 648

✅

No need for assistance

92.4% 7,920

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

Shortland Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

11.8% 425

—

Not a volunteer

88.2% 3,186

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Shortland Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

3.8%

$300-$449/mo

2.3%

$450-$599/mo

1.1%

$600-$799/mo

4.2%

$800-$999/mo

6.1%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

14.4%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

31.6%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

28.6%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

5.7%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Shortland How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

70.6%

Did not go to work

20.5%

Car (passenger)

3.9%

Bus

1.3%

Truck

1.1%

Motorbike/Scooter

1.1%

Walked only

0.7%

Other

0.3%

Train

0.2%

Bicycle

0.2%

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

Shortland Car Ownership

0 vehicles

6.9%

1 vehicle

40.9%

2 vehicles

37.2%

3 vehicles

10.0%

4+ vehicles

5.0%

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

Shortland Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

4.4%

2 bedrooms

27.3%

3 bedrooms

52.5%

4 bedrooms

12.0%

5 bedrooms

2.6%

6+ bedrooms

1.3%

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

Shortland Population Mobility

20.0%

moved in the last year

51.7%

moved in the last 5 years

6.4%

unemployment rate (Census)

58.5%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Shortland Indigenous Population

6.6%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

570

Indigenous residents

8,091

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Shortland Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

662

Asthma

217

Arthritis

203

Diabetes

154

Heart disease

151

Lung condition

128

Cancer

Stroke

Kidney disease

Dementia

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

Shortland Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

8.5%

$1-$149/wk

2.5%

$150-$299/wk

6.7%

$300-$399/wk

6.7%

$400-$499/wk

5.8%

$500-$649/wk

5.8%

$650-$799/wk

11.1%

$800-$999/wk

12.4%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

13.4%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

9.7%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.7%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

4.4%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

5.1%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

0.5%

$3,500+/wk

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Shortland Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

35.9%

Couple — no children

34.5%

One parent — children under 15

11.4%

Couple — no children under 15

9.8%

One parent — no children under 15

8.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Shortland Military Service

🎖️

Current ADF — Regular

0.4% 13

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

0.2% 8

🏅

Previously served

3.2% 116

👤

Never served

96.2% 3,503

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Shortland Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

12.4% 446

—

Did not provide

87.6% 3,164

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Shortland Children Ever Born

No children

39.2%

1 child

14.1%

2 children

26.5%

3 children

12.3%

4 children

5.8%

5+ children

2.1%

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

Shortland When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

100

2011–2015

100

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

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

Shortland Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

21.7%

5–14 hours

28.5%

15–29 hours

12.4%

30+ hours

7.6%

Did not do domestic work

29.8%

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

Shortland Household Size

1 person

29.5%

2 persons

37.7%

3 persons

16.3%

4 persons

9.7%

5 persons

3.9%

6+ persons

2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Shortland Where Residents Moved From

Same address

3,406

Moved from NSW

641

Moved — same area (SA2)

123

Moved from VIC

Moved from overseas

Moved from QLD

Moved from ACT

Moved from SA

Moved from NT

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

Shortland Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

81.0%

Step family — no other children

12.8%

Blended family — no other children

4.9%

Intact family — other children present

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Shortland Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 50 total

Theft

Assault

Other Against Property

Property Damage

Other Against Person

Sexual Offences

Drug Offences

Weapons

Offence trend by year:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

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

Shortland Schools

schools nearby

government

960

avg ICSEA score

3,062

total students

St Patrick's Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 323 students

1076

ICSEA

Our Lady of Victories Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 130 students

1025

ICSEA

Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus Government

Secondary · 11-12 · 659 students

980

ICSEA

Waratah West Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 113 students

963

ICSEA

Heaton Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 162 students

955

ICSEA

Callaghan College Wallsend Campus Government

Secondary · 7-10 · 890 students

952

ICSEA

Shortland Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 271 students

926

ICSEA

Jesmond Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 216 students

923

ICSEA

Plattsburg Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 195 students

910

ICSEA

Margaret Jurd College Independent

Secondary · U · 103 students

889

ICSEA

Aspect Hunter School, Waratah West Satellite Independent

Primary

Awabakal Environmental Education Centre Government

Combined

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

View all schools in Shortland with map →

Shortland Rent Prices & Affordability

28%

of income

Moderate

Household Income $1,344/wk

Median Rent $377/wk

Rent-to-Income 28.1%

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

If you earn X in Shortland

Your weekly income

≈ $5,824/month

Median rent $377/wk

Left after rent $967/wk

Rent share 28.1%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Singleton Heights

Income: $796/wk Rent: $320/wk Save: $57/wk

Oxley Vale

Income: $731/wk Rent: $335/wk Save: $42/wk

Hebersham

Income: $574/wk Rent: $335/wk Save: $42/wk

Paxton

Income: $730/wk Rent: $345/wk Save: $32/wk

West Nowra

Income: $750/wk Rent: $350/wk Save: $27/wk

Greta (NSW)

Income: $803/wk Rent: $360/wk Save: $17/wk

Tolland

Income: $666/wk Rent: $220/wk Save: $157/wk

West Tamworth

Income: $624/wk Rent: $275/wk Save: $102/wk

Shortland vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

Cremorne Point

Pop: 2,270 Income: $1,661/wk Rent: $650/wk

Coolamon

Pop: 2,275 Income: $746/wk Rent: $270/wk

Denistone East

Pop: 2,292 Income: $879/wk Rent: $650/wk

Emerton

Pop: 2,295 Income: $562/wk Rent: $320/wk

North Wollongong

Pop: 2,299 Income: $709/wk Rent: $395/wk

Hay (NSW)

Pop: 2,300 Income: $669/wk Rent: $175/wk

Compare Shortland

Shortland vs Cremorne Point →Shortland vs Coolamon →Shortland vs Denistone East →Shortland vs Emerton →

Frequently Asked Questions About Shortland

What is the population of Shortland NSW?

The population of Shortland NSW is 4,537 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 691.8 people per km².Shortland is ranked #1,710 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Shortland?

The median personal income in Shortland NSW is $681 per week, or $35,412 per year.The median household income is $1,344 per week.Family income is $1,629 per week.Shortland is ranked #5,820 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Shortland?

Median rent in Shortland NSW is $377 per week ($1,634 per month).Rent represents 28.1% of household income, which is considered moderate.Shortland ranks #2,627 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Shortland?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Shortland NSW is $1,679. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Shortland?

The median age in Shortland NSW is 33 years.This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Shortland a good suburb to live in?

Shortland is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 4,537.The median income is $681/wk, which is below the NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as moderate (28.1% 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: 13557. All dollar figures in AUD.