Question 1

Is Shoalhaven Heads a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Shoalhaven Heads is a relaxed coastal village at the mouth of the Shoalhaven River, edged by Seven Mile Beach National Park. Life there is shaped by long sandy beaches, estuary waterways and coastal bushland, and the suburb attracts people who favour surfing, fishing, kayaking and bushwalking. The village has a compact centre with local shops and cafes, and housing ranges from older timber cottages to modern beachfront and riverfront homes, giving it a quiet, small-town pace rather than an urban feel.

About 3,248 people live in Shoalhaven Heads and the median age is 56, with household incomes around $1,066 a week ($55,432 a year). Families are mostly couples without children, and homes are predominantly owner-occupied rather than rented. The area is covered by a local master plan and has seen local upgrades such as a shared-path, coastal protection works and a new viewing platform, alongside river entrance management and floodplain planning being progressed by council.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Shoalhaven Heads?

Accepted Answer

A median house price of $1,100,000 in Shoalhaven Heads works out to about 19.8 times a typical local household's annual income at the last Census. On rentals, an average house rent of $700 a week would take about 65.6% of that typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, and an average unit rent of $500 a week would take about 46.9%.

On these figures, buying sits well above what local households earned at the last Census, and both house and unit rents would take a large share of a typical local household's weekly income. Whether that feels expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

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 Shoalhaven Heads a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

House rents in Shoalhaven Heads jumped 17.1% over the past year, a strong rise in the income houses generate. Over the same period house values rose 4.5%, a modest increase, so for houses the growth in rental income outpaced capital growth this year.

Unit values climbed 8.7% over the year, a solid gain and noticeably stronger than house values. If rental income is your priority, the house side has shown the biggest movement; if capital growth is your focus, unit prices rose more strongly this year. Which outcome matters to you will determine whether Shoalhaven Heads fits your investment goals.

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	$1.10M	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	4.5%	8.7%
Sold Past 3 months	18	2
Median days on market Past 12 months	64	N/A
Average rent Past 12 months	$700	$500
Change in rent Past 12 months	17.1%	N/A

Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Shoalhaven Heads

Shoalhaven Heads suburb profile

Shoalhaven Heads property market performance

5 year median price trend for houses and units

Shoalhaven Heads demographics

Suburbs near Shoalhaven Heads

How does Shoalhaven Heads compare to nearby suburbs?

Choose the right real estate agents in Shoalhaven Heads

Get a head start and compare top local agents in Shoalhaven Heads

Not quite ready to sell?

Suburb and property report

Digital estimate for your property

Navigate the market