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Shellharbour vs Wollongong

Name: Shellharbour vs Wollongong — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

State Electorate comparison ≈ 12 km apart · Shellharbour profile · Wollongong profile

Shellharbour Wollongong

Shellharbour and Wollongong are two large, nearby areas with very different housing and education profiles. Shellharbour is a place of large family homes, with 84.3% of dwellings having three or more bedrooms and 80.9% being separate houses. In contrast, Wollongong has far more apartments and a higher share of renters at 40.1%. Wollongong is also more diverse and highly qualified, with 23.1% of people using a language other than English at home and 23.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, compared to 10.4% and 13.7% in Shellharbour.

Since 2011, the two areas have tracked in opposite directions regarding their populations' backgrounds and schooling. The gap in language diversity and Year 12 completion has flipped, with Wollongong now seeing far higher figures in both. However, they remain very similar in other ways. Typical weekly personal incomes are almost identical, at $704 in Wollongong and $711 in Shellharbour, and both have a similar share of people aged 65 and over at around 19%.

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Where they differ most

3+ bedrooms: 24.6 pts higher in Shellharbour Separate houses: 24.5 pts higher in Shellharbour Recent arrivals: 9.4 pts higher in Wollongong Renting: 13.5 pts higher in Wollongong Living alone: 8.7 pts higher in Wollongong

Demographics & Identity

Population in Shellharbour in Wollongong +3,204 larger in Shellharbour gap widening

88,503 87th pct 85,299 86th pct

Median age in Shellharbour in Wollongong +2 yrs older in Shellharbour gap widening

40 yrs 57th pct 38 yrs 43rd pct

Age structure

24.4% Young adults (25–44) +3.2 pts ▸ 27.6%

25.1% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.2 pts 24.0%

19.2% Seniors (65+) +0.1 pts ▸ 19.3%

18.9% Children (0–14) ◂ +3.8 pts 15.1%

12.4% Youth (15–24) +1.8 pts ▸ 14.1%

Marital status

46.9% Married ◂ +7.4 pts 39.5%

34.1% Never married +7.3 pts ▸ 41.4%

9.5% Divorced +0.1 pts ▸ 9.6%

6.0% Widowed +0.2 pts ▸ 6.2%

3.6% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 3.3%

Age & sex structure

Shellharbour Wollongong

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

78.6% Australia ◂ +9.8 pts 68.8%

4.6% England ◂ +1.5 pts 3.0%

0.6% Italy +0.8 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.5% India +0.9 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.3% China +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%

1.0% New Zealand +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.7% Philippines +0.2 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% Vietnam +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.0% Nepal +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.3% South Africa even 0.3%

Ancestry

39.1% English ◂ +8.5 pts 30.6%

38.0% Australian ◂ +8.0 pts 29.9%

9.1% Scottish ◂ +0.9 pts 8.2%

8.8% Irish +0.2 pts ▸ 8.9%

4.6% Italian +1.9 pts ▸ 6.5%

4.0% German ◂ +0.5 pts 3.5%

0.9% Chinese +1.6 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.3% Greek +0.6 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.7% Dutch ◂ +0.2 pts 1.5%

0.8% Indian +0.8 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.1% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.3% Vietnamese +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

Language

Language used at home

85.1% English only ◂ +13.6 pts 71.5%

0.4% Arabic +2.0 pts ▸ 2.4%

0.6% Italian +1.1 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.3% Mandarin +1.1 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.5% Greek +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.3% Vietnamese +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Hindi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Cantonese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.0% Punjabi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

54.3% Christianity ◂ +4.3 pts 50.0%

37.1% No religion ◂ +1.6 pts 35.5%

5.9% Not stated +0.9 pts ▸ 6.8%

1.2% Islam +3.3 pts ▸ 4.5%

0.7% Buddhism +0.7 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.4% Hinduism +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.4% Other religions +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools/1k kids in Shellharbour in Wollongong +1.27 more in Wollongong

1.61 33rd pct 2.88 75th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Shellharbour in Wollongong +10 more in Wollongong

27 71st pct 37 86th pct

Students in Shellharbour in Wollongong +924 more in Shellharbour

12,774 77th pct 11,850 71st pct

Avg size in Shellharbour in Wollongong +162 larger in Shellharbour

491 52nd pct 329 24th pct

ICSEA in Shellharbour in Wollongong +51 higher in Wollongong

986 30th pct 1,038 60th pct

Highest year of school

41.7% Year 12 +11.4 pts ▸ 53.1%

32.7% Year 10 ◂ +10.1 pts 22.6%

13.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +0.5 pts 12.5%

7.0% Year 11 ◂ +1.7 pts 5.3%

Highest qualification level

40.8% Certificate III / IV ◂ +12.4 pts 28.5%

16.4% Bachelor degree +8.7 pts ▸ 25.1%

16.0% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.1 pts 13.9%

4.6% Postgraduate degree +5.9 pts ▸ 10.5%

2.6% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.5 pts ▸ 3.1%

2.6% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.5 pts 2.1%

Field of qualification

18.3% Engineering & related ◂ +2.0 pts 16.3%

17.9% Management & commerce ◂ +0.1 pts 17.8%

12.5% Society & culture ◂ +0.1 pts 12.4%

10.1% Health +0.2 pts ▸ 10.2%

7.7% Education +0.4 pts ▸ 8.1%

7.2% Architecture & building ◂ +1.8 pts 5.4%

6.1% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.2 pts 4.9%

2.3% Creative arts +1.5 pts ▸ 3.8%

1.7% Natural & physical sciences +1.4 pts ▸ 3.1%

2.0% Information technology +1.1 pts ▸ 3.1%

1.4% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.2 pts 1.3%

Income

Personal income in Shellharbour in Wollongong +$7 higher in Shellharbour gap narrowing

$711 26th pct $704 24th pct

Household income in Shellharbour in Wollongong +$130 higher in Shellharbour gap narrowing

$1,580 38th pct $1,450 27th pct

Family income in Shellharbour in Wollongong +$16 higher in Shellharbour gap narrowing

$1,937 38th pct $1,921 37th pct

Household income distribution

29.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.9 pts 28.0%

28.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.5 pts 27.9%

16.8% Under $650 +3.7 pts ▸ 20.5%

10.5% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.6 pts 8.9%

8.4% $4,000 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 8.7%

Personal income distribution

44.0% Under $650 even 44.0%

31.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.5 pts 30.3%

16.1% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.2 pts 15.9%

2.5% $3,000 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 3.2%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

11.4% Arthritis ◂ +1.2 pts 10.3%

10.8% Mental health +0.3 pts ▸ 11.1%

9.4% Asthma ◂ +1.0 pts 8.4%

8.8% Other condition +0.2 pts ▸ 9.1%

6.0% Diabetes ◂ +0.4 pts 5.6%

4.4% Heart disease ◂ +0.2 pts 4.2%

3.3% Cancer ◂ +0.3 pts 3.1%

2.4% Lung condition ◂ +0.2 pts 2.2%

1.1% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.8% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

Number of long-term health conditions

59.1% None +1.6 pts ▸ 60.7%

21.6% One condition ◂ +1.0 pts 20.5%

7.6% Two conditions ◂ +0.5 pts 7.1%

4.1% Three or more ◂ +0.2 pts 3.9%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Shellharbour in Wollongong +0.3 larger in Shellharbour gap narrowing

2.6 57th pct 2.3 14th pct

Family composition

55.9% Couples with children ◂ +4.0 pts 51.8%

25.9% Couples without children +4.1 pts ▸ 30.0%

17.3% One-parent families ◂ +0.6 pts 16.7%

0.9% Other families +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

Household size

34.5% 2 people even 34.5%

22.6% 1 person +8.7 pts ▸ 31.3%

16.4% 4 people ◂ +4.3 pts 12.1%

16.4% 3 people ◂ +1.6 pts 14.8%

6.9% 5 people ◂ +2.1 pts 4.8%

3.2% 6 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 2.6%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Shellharbour in Wollongong +$25 higher in Shellharbour gap narrowing

$405 73rd pct $380 57th pct

Mortgage in Shellharbour in Wollongong +$37 higher in Shellharbour gap narrowing

$2,037 73rd pct $2,000 68th pct

People / bedroom in Shellharbour in Wollongong even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

26.6% Rented +13.5 pts ▸ 40.1%

35.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +11.0 pts 24.8%

35.0% Owned outright ◂ +3.1 pts 31.9%

1.4% Other tenure +0.5 pts ▸ 1.9%

1.3% Not stated +0.1 pts ▸ 1.4%

Types of homes

80.9% Separate house ◂ +24.5 pts 56.4%

4.6% Flat or apartment +28.2 pts ▸ 32.8%

13.5% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +4.0 pts 9.5%

1.0% Other dwelling +0.2 pts ▸ 1.2%

Bedrooms per home

45.0% 3 bedrooms ◂ +6.5 pts 38.5%

32.0% 4 bedrooms ◂ +15.5 pts 16.4%

11.7% 2 bedrooms +19.3 pts ▸ 31.0%

2.6% 1 bedroom +4.9 pts ▸ 7.4%

7.3% 5 or more ◂ +2.6 pts 4.7%

0.2% Studio / none +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

47.5% $350–$549 ◂ +3.0 pts 44.6%

18.7% $200–$349 +3.7 pts ▸ 22.4%

15.4% Under $200 +1.3 pts ▸ 16.7%

13.7% $550–$749 ◂ +2.1 pts 11.6%

1.0% $750 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 1.6%

Monthly mortgage distribution

40.2% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +2.9 pts 37.3%

25.3% $1,000–$1,799 +1.3 pts ▸ 26.6%

16.3% $3,000 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 16.7%

13.0% Under $1,000 +1.1 pts ▸ 14.0%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Shellharbour in Wollongong +106 more in Wollongong

485 88th pct 591 92nd pct

Stops/1k in Shellharbour in Wollongong +1.45 more in Wollongong

5.48 68th pct 6.93 89th pct

Departures/1k in Shellharbour in Wollongong +869.4 more in Wollongong

806.2 42nd pct 1,675.6 75th pct

PT routes in Shellharbour in Wollongong +13 more in Wollongong

26 49th pct 39 75th pct

How people get to work

56.9% Car (driver) ◂ +8.4 pts 48.5%

18.8% Worked at home +5.6 pts ▸ 24.4%

3.4% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.1 pts 3.3%

0.9% Walked +2.4 pts ▸ 3.3%

0.5% Bus +0.6 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.4% Train +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% Bicycle +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Motor vehicles per home

33.2% 1 vehicle +8.1 pts ▸ 41.4%

38.9% 2 vehicles ◂ +7.6 pts 31.4%

13.7% 3 vehicles ◂ +3.6 pts 10.1%

5.6% No vehicle +6.2 pts ▸ 11.8%

8.5% 4 or more ◂ +3.1 pts 5.4%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.1% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.5 pts 17.6%

11.2% Construction ◂ +2.8 pts 8.5%

10.3% Retail trade ◂ +0.9 pts 9.4%

8.3% Education & training +2.0 pts ▸ 10.2%

6.6% Accommodation & food +1.4 pts ▸ 8.0%

7.0% Manufacturing ◂ +1.2 pts 5.9%

6.8% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.3 pts 6.5%

4.2% Professional & technical +2.4 pts ▸ 6.6%

4.9% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.4 pts 4.5%

3.9% Other services ◂ +0.1 pts 3.8%

3.4% Administrative & support +0.1 pts ▸ 3.5%

3.1% Finance & insurance +0.3 pts ▸ 3.4%

Occupations people work in

16.6% Professionals +8.0 pts ▸ 24.6%

16.7% Technicians & trades ◂ +3.3 pts 13.4%

14.0% Community & personal service ◂ +0.9 pts 13.1%

13.4% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.0 pts 12.4%

9.8% Managers +0.7 pts ▸ 10.5%

10.2% Labourers ◂ +0.6 pts 9.6%

9.2% Sales workers ◂ +0.9 pts 8.3%

8.3% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.9 pts 6.4%

Walkability

Walk score in Shellharbour in Wollongong +0.9 higher in Wollongong

5.7 52nd pct 6.6 66th pct

Types ≤15 min in Shellharbour in Wollongong +0.7 more in Wollongong

5.5 52nd pct 6.3 65th pct

15-min city in Shellharbour in Wollongong +13.5 pts higher in Wollongong

65.6% 48th pct 79.0% 62nd pct

Walk to shops in Shellharbour in Wollongong +0.5 pts higher in Wollongong

62.8% 46th pct 63.3% 47th pct

Walk to transit in Shellharbour in Wollongong +2.8 pts higher in Wollongong

94.4% 60th pct 97.2% 69th pct

Walk to school in Shellharbour in Wollongong +18.8 pts higher in Wollongong

70.7% 43rd pct 89.5% 72nd pct

Walk to a park in Shellharbour in Wollongong +1.8 pts higher in Wollongong

93.8% 42nd pct 95.6% 47th pct

Walk to health in Shellharbour in Wollongong +4.7 pts higher in Wollongong

44.0% 45th pct 48.7% 50th pct

Amenities/1k in Shellharbour in Wollongong +1.6 more in Wollongong

11.4 24th pct 13.1 40th pct

Intersections/km² in Shellharbour in Wollongong +65 higher in Wollongong

28 35th pct 93 52nd pct

Mean slope in Shellharbour in Wollongong +1.4 pts higher in Wollongong

5.6% 55th pct 7.0% 76th pct

Compare Shellharbour with nearby areas

Wollongong Keira Campbelltown Kiama Heathcote Wollondilly Macquarie Fields Camden

Compare Wollongong with nearby areas

Shellharbour Keira Campbelltown Heathcote Macquarie Fields Holsworthy Miranda Cronulla

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Shellharbour vs Wollongong [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sed/SED10075/shellharbour/vs/SED10092/wollongong