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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Shoalhaven Heads is $1.15m, with units at $760k. House values have moved 2.8% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Shoalhaven Heads has an estimated 2,914 residents, down from 3,248 at the 2021 Census — a change of 334 people, or 10.3%. The population has thinned by an average 1.9% a year over five years, slower than 100% of areas nationally. That puts 742 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Based on demographic evaluations from the ABS for the broader region and address data verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads has an estimated population of 2,914 as of May 2026. This represents a decline of 334 residents (10.3%) from the 2021 Census, when the population was recorded at 3,248. The estimate stems from a resident base of 2,907 calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS release from June 2025 alongside subsequent address validations. With these figures, the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads has a density of 741 persons per square kilometer, which aligns with typical benchmarks.
Recent population gains were almost entirely fueled by international migration. Projections utilize ABS and Geoscience Australia data from 2024 with a 2022 baseline, supplemented by NSW Government projections from 2022 with a 2021 baseline where necessary. For the years 2032 to 2041, age-specific growth trajectories are applied. Looking ahead, the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads is projected to experience population growth slightly below the median for non-metropolitan areas, with forecasts indicating a rise of 331 residents to 2041, representing a total expansion of 11.1% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
76 new dwellings have been approved in Shoalhaven Heads over the past five years, an average of 15 a year. That is 4.9 approvals per 1,000 residents. Few approvals have been recorded in the most recent months, well below the longer-run average; the latest ABS periods are still being reported. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of building approval statistics indicates that the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads averaged approximately 15 new home approvals annually, totaling 76 approved dwellings over the 5 fiscal years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, with none recorded so far in FY-26. Amid recent population declines, the residential supply has kept pace with demand, sustaining a balanced market with diverse opportunities for buyers. Additionally, commercial development approvals reached $13.9 million this financial year, showing ongoing business investment. Compared to the Rest of NSW, building activity per capita in the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads is at roughly 75% of the level, placing it in the 69th percentile nationwide.
Recent approvals consist of 78.0% standalone houses and 22.0% medium-to-high density options like townhouses or units, preserving the traditional low-density landscape focused on spacious family living. The ratio of 196 individuals per approved dwelling confirms its low-density status. Long-term projections indicate that the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads will gain 324 residents by 2041, according to the latest quarterly calculations. Current building trends suggest that housing additions will easily satisfy future demand, keeping conditions favorable for buyers and potentially facilitating expansion beyond the baseline forecast.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Shoalhaven Heads
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Shoalhaven Heads. A further 44 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $9.08 billion. 9 are already under construction and 11 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects and planning changes play a significant role in area development. Currently, none have been identified by AreaSearch as having a direct impact on the area. Key regional projects include the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Transport Plan 2041, Sydney-Canberra Rail Connectivity And Capacity, the South Pacific Offshore Wind Project, and the Mariyung Fleet (New Intercity Fleet).
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Shoalhaven Heads Master Plan
A town wide landscape and public domain master plan for Shoalhaven Heads, setting a long term framework for pathway networks, streetscapes, signage, town entrances and supporting infrastructure upgrades. Implementation is intended to be staged over time through Shoalhaven City Council capital works and grant funded projects.
West Culburra Development
Masterplanned mixed-use community on approximately 46 hectares along Culburra Road, delivering around 400 new homes (244 low-density residential lots plus approximately 160 medium-density apartments), a town centre expansion with mixed-use commercial and retail space, 13 industrial lots, sports fields, parks and environmental reserves. The State Significant Development concept plan was approved by the NSW Land and Environment Court in December 2021. EPBC approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act was granted in May 2025.Stage 1 DA (DA2025/2276) covering 244 residential lots, 13 industrial lots, roads and civil infrastructure was lodged with Shoalhaven City Council in November 2025 and placed on public exhibition until December 2025. Early works DAs for site preparation were approved by council in May 2025. A minimum 10% affordable housing component (approximately 40 dwellings) will be gifted to a tier-1 Community Housing Provider.
Planning and Heritage Investigations for Berry
Shoalhaven City Council is investigating and preparing a new Development Control Plan for the area of Berry east of the Princes Highway, and a new Princess Street Heritage Conservation Area. This aims to provide detailed planning and design guidelines for future development to protect the area's historical and cultural character.
Berry Lane
Berry Lane is an exclusive 11 hectare masterplanned residential estate located at the intersection of Hitchcocks Lane and Huntingdale Park Road in Berry. Developed by New Horizon Properties, the project delivers 117 residential lots ranging from 360sqm to 1000sqm across five stages. The development represents a major residential release in Berry featuring wide landscaped streets, 250m of additional footpaths, green outlooks, and a mix of land-only and turnkey home and land packages within walking distance of Berry village.
New Primary School and Public Preschool in Worrigee
A new primary school for approximately 550 students and a public preschool for up to 60 children per day to serve the growing communities of Worrigee and South Nowra, which have seen a 150 percent increase in new dwellings over the past decade. The three-storey primary school will feature 24 modern classrooms with multipurpose spaces, three support learning classrooms, a multipurpose hall with canteen and covered outdoor learning area (COLA), library, staff and administration facilities, sports field and multipurpose sports court, and onsite parking.The co-located preschool will feature three specially designed rooms and a quality outdoor play area, along with an administration area, amenities, staff kitchen and storage. Part of the NSW Government's commitment to deliver 100 new public preschools, with artist's impressions released to the community in April 2026. The preschool is expected to open in 2027 and the primary school in 2028.
Foxground and Berry Bypass
A 12.5-kilometre, four-lane divided highway with median separation on the Princes Highway between Toolijooa Road and south of Schofield Lane. The project includes bypasses of the Foxground Bends and Berry township, improving safety and travel times for motorists.
South Nowra Surcharge Main Major Upgrades
Major wastewater infrastructure upgrade by Shoalhaven Water to increase sewer network capacity for future growth in South Nowra and Worrigee. The project includes a deep sewer pump station, gravity mains, rising mains, additional storage and multiple construction packages. Construction is progressing across several packages with overall completion scheduled for July 2026, providing capacity for around 1,000 future residential lots while reducing overflow risk during heavy rainfall.
Manildra Group Bomaderry Facility Warehouse
The Shoalhaven Starches facility in Bomaderry includes a state-of-the-art packaging plant and distribution warehouse within its 55-hectare site, showcasing a zero-waste approach to advanced manufacturing and enhancing operational capabilities for Australia's leading agribusiness.
1,050 residents of Shoalhaven Heads are employed, from a labour force of 1,075. Unemployment sits at 2.3%, with participation at 43.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,449, about 84% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The suburb of Shoalhaven Heads possesses a qualified workforce with a strong presence in essential services and an unemployment rate of 2.3%. As of March 2026, there are 1,050 working residents. This unemployment rate is 1.8% lower than the 4.1% seen in Regional NSW, though the participation rate of 43.3% is notably lower than the regional average of 60.6%. Census records indicate that a moderate 16.5% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure was likely influenced by pandemic restrictions. The primary sectors employing residents are healthcare & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food services.
Construction represents a major local specialization, employing residents at 1.7 times the regional rate. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 1.0% of local jobs compared to 5.3% regionally. The imbalance between the resident labor force and local jobs suggests that the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads is mostly residential, offering limited employment within its own borders. Labor market data indicates that over the 12-month period, the local workforce shrank by 2.5% while employment dropped by 3.7%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.1 percentage points. In comparison, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% decrease in employment, a 0.4% contraction in the labor force, and a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest future trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sectors will perform differently. Applying these sector trends to the local industry distribution suggests employment for residents could expand by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Shoalhaven Heads is $1,066 a week (about $55,000 a year), with median personal income at $612 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $39,820 a year against an average of $61,678. The average runs 55% above the median, a wider spread than most areas and a sign of a concentrated group of high earners. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Tax statistics from the 2023 financial year show that incomes in the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads are below the national median of $39,820, with the average income recorded at $61,678. This is lower than the Regional NSW median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Adjusting for a 10.32% rise in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, March 2026 estimates suggest a median of $43,929 and an average of $68,043. Based on the 2021 Census, all income metrics for the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads rank between the 5th and 13th percentiles nationally.
A significant share of the population, 33.1% (964 people), earns between $400 - 799, whereas the wider region is dominated by the $1,500 - 2,999 band at 29.9%. Housing cost burdens are high, leaving residents with only 82.7% of their income, which ranks in the 6th percentile, while the SEIFA income index places the area in the 4th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Shoalhaven Heads had 1,454 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 70% detached houses and 1% apartments. 26% are owned with a mortgage, 19% rented and 56% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $365 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,950 a month. Rent absorbs 34.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 42.2%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the last Census, the housing mix in the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads consisted of 69.6% separate houses and 30.4% alternative dwelling structures like townhouses or flats, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings in Regional NSW. Home ownership is high, with 55.5% of homes owned outright, while 25.5% are mortgaged and 19.0% are rented. The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,950, which is higher than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent was $365, compared to $330 regionally. Nationally, mortgage payments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rent remains below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Shoalhaven Heads counted 1,454 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.1 people each. 17% are couples with children, fewer than in 92% of areas nationally, against 36% couples without children. 36% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 61.3% of households in the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads, consisting of 17.3% couples with children, 35.6% couples without children, and 7.8% single parents. Non-family households comprise the remaining 38.7%, with single-person households representing 35.8% and group living situations at 2.8%. The median household size is 2.1 persons, smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
19.5% of adults in Shoalhaven Heads hold a university qualification, including 14.0% with a bachelor degree and 3.5% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 31.0% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 173 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,013 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational data shows that university graduation rates are relatively low, with 19.5% of residents holding a tertiary degree compared to the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees account for 14.0%, while postgraduate qualifications and graduate diplomas represent 3.5% and 2.0% respectively. Conversely, vocational education is highly prevalent, with 42.2% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates at 31.0%. A total of 22.7% of the population is enrolled in formal studies. This group includes 9.0% attending primary school, 6.2% in secondary education, and 2.6% in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Shoalhaven Heads reaches 66 stops on 7 routes, timetabled for about 120 services a week. The typical home sits about 120 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.1 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport services in the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads include 66 bus stops. These are connected by 7 routes that provide 123 passenger trips weekly. Accessibility is high, with the average distance to a stop being 116 meters. Given the residential nature of the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads, commuting is common, with 94% using cars and 4% walking. Dwellings average 1.1 vehicles, below the regional standard. Census records show 16.5% of residents working from home, which was likely affected by pandemic conditions. Bus routes average 17 daily trips across the network, which translates to roughly 1 weekly trip per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
58.5% of residents in Shoalhaven Heads report no long-term health condition. 6.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators in the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads align closely with national averages. Chronic conditions are observed across different age groups, and the rate of private medical insurance is low, covering approximately 51% of the population (~1,496 people). Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent issues, affecting 14.2% and 7.7% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 58.5% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Chronic conditions are elevated among the working-age cohort. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 39.2% of the population (1,142 people), which is significantly higher than the 23.4% regional average, with senior health outcomes generally matching national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Shoalhaven Heads is largely Australian-born, at 85.7% of residents, with 2.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (35.1%) and Australian (29.4%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The suburb of Shoalhaven Heads has low cultural diversity, with 85.7% of residents born in Australia, 91.2% holding citizenship, and 97.1% speaking only English at home. The main religious affiliation is Christianity, accounting for 54.2% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The primary ancestries reported are English at 35.1%, Australian at 29.4%, and Irish at 9.8%. There are minor concentrations of other backgrounds, with French representing 0.6% of residents (compared to 0.4% regionally), Scottish at 8.7% (compared to 8.0%), and Maltese at 0.6% (compared to 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Shoalhaven Heads is 56, older than 97% of areas nationally. 15.6% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age in the suburb of Shoalhaven Heads is 56 years, which is higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the national average of 38 years. The 65 - 74 age group is highly represented at 19.9% compared to the regional average, while the 25 - 34 bracket is smaller at 7.4%. The concentration of 65 - 74 year olds is higher than the national share of 9.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort grew from 13.0% to 15.0%, and the 15 to 24 group increased from 6.3% to 8.2%, whereas the 55 to 64 group decreased from 14.6% to 11.8%.
By 2041, projections suggest the 85+ cohort will grow by 56%, adding 69 people to reach 195, while the 65 to 74 and 55 to 64 brackets are projected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Shoalhaven Heads
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jun 2026 2 months ago all 1 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jun 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (3,248 at the 2021 Census → 2,914 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL13555). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.