Nelson Bay vs Shoal Bay
The verdict
Nelson Bay is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.15M versus $1.27M in Shoal Bay. Nelson Bay rates higher for liveability (65 vs 47). Shoal Bay is closer to the coast (670 m vs 1.8 km). On the separate residential safety score, Nelson Bay rates higher (43 vs 35/100 in Shoal Bay).
Scores
| Nelson Bay | Shoal Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 47 | 40 |
| Transport | 28 | 30 |
| Education | 47 | 42 |
| Liveability | 65 | 47 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Nelson Bay | Shoal Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,141 | 1,815 |
| Median age | 51 | 59 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,305 | $1,007 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 28.9% | 22.7% |
| Born in Australia | 76.2% | 76.1% |
| Avg household size | 2.2 | 2 |
Growth: Nelson Bay Moderate Growth · Shoal Bay Moderate Growth
Property
| Nelson Bay | Shoal Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.15M | $1.27M |
| Median unit price | $690K | $779K |
| House price YoY | 10.2% | Data not available |
| Median rent — house (wk) | $730 | $730 |
| Rental yield (house) | 3.0% | 2.9% |
| Days on market (house) | 50 | 48 |
Median price history
Safety
| Nelson Bay | Shoal Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 43 | 35 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 309 | 331 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 261 | 55 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 619 | 1,377 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 8,679 | 10,248 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Nelson Bay | Shoal Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 2 | 1 |
| Government | 0 | 1 |
| Independent | 1 | 0 |
| Average ICSEA | 1,040 | 962 |
See the full school list on each profile: Nelson Bay · Shoal Bay
Transport
| Nelson Bay | Shoal Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 28 | 30 |
| Train stations | 0 | 0 |
| Bus stops | 64 | 19 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 0 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Nearest train station (km) | 26.9 km | 29.2 km |
Liveability
| Nelson Bay | Shoal Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 27.5°C | 27.5°C |
| Winter max temp | 18.0°C | 18.0°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 1,100 | 1,100 |
| Supermarkets | 1 | 1 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 19 | 2 |
| Parks | 20 | 7 |
| Playgrounds | 4 | 1 |
| Swimming pools | 10 | 1 |
| Medical GPs | 0 | 0 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 1.8 km | 670 m |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 153.3 km | 156.1 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | 1.8 km | 740 m |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 2.5 km | 1.6 km |
Population & growth
| Nelson Bay | Shoal Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 6,141 | 1,815 |
| Estimated 2025 | 6,207 | 1,834 |
| Projected 2041 | 7,071 | 2,090 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.27% | 0.26% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Nelson Bay or Shoal Bay?
Nelson Bay has the higher residential safety score (Nelson Bay 43/100 vs Shoal Bay 35/100).
Which is more affordable, Nelson Bay or Shoal Bay?
Nelson Bay is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.15M versus $1.27M.
Which has better schools, Nelson Bay or Shoal Bay?
Nelson Bay has a higher average school ICSEA (Nelson Bay 1040 vs Shoal Bay 962; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, Nelson Bay or Shoal Bay?
Shoal Bay has the higher transport score (Nelson Bay 28/100 vs Shoal Bay 30/100).
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