Question 1

Is Barrack Heights a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Barrack Heights is a primarily residential suburb in Shellharbour set inland from the harbour and beaches. Its level, tree-lined streets are mostly single-storey detached homes with pockets of newer infill and unit development, and that mix makes it popular with families, downsizers and people commuting across the Illawarra. The suburb is home to 6,003 people, with a median age of 41 and a typical household income of $1,340 a week. Everyday needs are met locally by small shopping strips, parks and sports fields, while larger retail and dining options are a short trip away in Shellharbour village and the city centre.

Transport links are straightforward, with easy access to the South Coast rail line and the main coastal road network. Several local public projects are under way or planned, including a new public preschool at Barrack Heights Public School, a master plan for Jock Brown Oval to guide playspace and sportsfield renewals, active-transport works such as the shared path on Barrack Avenue, and preparation of two unit blocks for social housing with upgrades planned. Whether Barrack Heights suits you comes down to what you want from a suburb.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Barrack Heights?

Accepted Answer

A median house in Barrack Heights is $942,500, which works out to about 13.5 times a typical local household's annual income at the last Census (weekly household income $1,340). On the figures, buying sits well above local incomes recorded at the last Census.

Renting also takes a large share of local income: a house rent of $680 a week is about 50.7% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, and a unit rent of $540 a week is about 40.3%. If you're renting rather than buying, the rent share is the number that matters when weighing costs.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Barrack Heights a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Over the past year Barrack Heights shows a mixed picture for investors. Median house values rose 8.6%, a solid increase, while median unit values edged up 1.3%. On the income side, house rents rose 0.7% and unit rents increased 4.9%.

Put another way, house prices outpaced the rent they earned over the year, whereas unit rents grew faster than unit values. If capital growth is your aim the house figures are the more relevant movement; if rental income matters more, the unit rent change is the figure to watch. Whether that balance suits your goals depends on your own circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$943K	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	8.6%	1.3%
Sold Past 3 months	10	5
Median days on market Past 12 months	23	21
Average rent Past 12 months	$680	$540
Change in rent Past 12 months	0.7%	4.9%

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