Shell Cove
NSWShell Cove is a growing suburb in NSW with 7,591 residents.
- SAL code
- 13547
- SA2
- 107031141
- Population
- 7,591
- LGA
- Shellharbour
Shell Cove, NSW had 7,591 residents at the 2021 Census, with the broader statistical area showing a 9.7% growth over the last five years. The predominant age group is 45-54 years, and the median age sits at 40. Households are most often couples with children, and those with a mortgage repay a median of $2,386 a month. Around 80.0% of homes are owner-occupied, with the largest single tenure being owned with a mortgage at 43.4%. Most dwellings are separate houses, making up 88.3% of the suburb's housing stock. The suburb has 22 parks and reserves mapped within its boundary. Source: ABS Census 2021 and Estimated Resident Population, with amenity counts from state Open Data and OpenStreetMap.
Population
?7,591
Suburb · Census 2021
5-Year Growth
+9.7%
3yr: +5.7% · 10yr: +26.0%
SA2 · 5yr
Household Income
$2,452/wk
Suburb · Census 2021 median
Median Age
40
Suburb · Census 2021
Socio-Economic Index
?7/10
SA2 · middle-range
Unemployment
?3.7%
SA4 · Q4 2025
Schools
1
1 primary
Hospitals
No data for this suburb
Childcare services
?4
3 long day, 1 OSHC
Parks & green space
?22
Parks, reserves
Transport stops
?15
GTFS stops
Dwelling approvals
?69
Shellharbour · Feb 2026
Median Weekly Rent
Based on NSW rental bond lodgements, aggregated at postcode level. All SALs sharing this postcode show the same median.
Median House Sale Price
Source: state Valuer-General (suburb-level quarterly medians).
→ Calculate stamp duty on this suburb's median price→ Estimate mortgage repayments→ Calculate rental yield (price + median rent)
Safety & Crime
2025 Q4Reported incidents from NSW police. Offence rates may not reflect all crime.
Population over time — Shellharbour - Flinders (SA2)
ABS publishes annual estimates only at SA2; Shell Cove suburb alone is ~7,591 (Census 2021).
Growth at a Glance
Population grew from 8,143 to 20,964 over 24 years, averaging 4.0% per year.
Schools
1 in suburbGovernment school catchment
Intake zonePrimary
Shell Cove PS80.2%
- Minnamurra PS 12.7%
- Shellharbour PS 6.2%
- Flinders PS 0.1%
Secondary
Warilla HS86.5%
- Kiama HS 12.6%
Source: NSW Department of Education — School Intake Zones. Boundaries can be amended without notice; confirm with the school before relying on enrolment.
Profile
Census snapshot
Housing
Almost entirely detached houses (88.3%), owner-occupied (80%), built for families (60% are 4 bed).
Dwelling mix
Tenure
Number of bedrooms
Bushfire & flood risk
Hazard data is not yet available for NSW.
Source when available: NSW Rural Fire Service (BFPL) and NSW DPHI EPI Flood.
Planning zones
13 zones in suburb| Code | Zone | % covered | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| DM | ZoneDeferred | 28.8% | 2.91 km² |
| C3 | ZoneEnvironmental | 27.3% | 2.76 km² |
| R2 | ZoneResidential | 19.2% | 1.94 km² |
| RE1 | ZoneRecreation | 5.9% | 0.60 km² |
| R3 | ZoneResidential | 5.3% | 0.53 km² |
| RE2 | ZoneRecreation | 5.2% | 0.53 km² |
| C2 | ZoneEnvironmental | 3.0% | 0.30 km² |
| W2 | ZoneWaterway | 1.2% | 0.12 km² |
| E3 | ZoneEnvironmental | 1.2% | 0.12 km² |
| RU1 | ZoneRural | 1.0% | 0.10 km² |
| E1 | ZoneEnvironmental | 0.9% | 0.09 km² |
| SP2 | ZoneSpecial use | 0.2% | 0.02 km² |
| RU2 | ZoneRural | 0.2% | 0.02 km² |
Source: NSW DPHI EPI Land Zoning (ZONE_NSW/2026-04-29/1eccf1a530fa1be5) · As of Apr 2026. Zone boundaries are amended periodically; verify the exact property with the relevant council before relying on permitted use.