Council (LGA) · Area profile
Shoalhaven
4,567 km²
Daily life in Shoalhaven is shaped by a landscape of detached houses and a population that is far older than the national average. This community has grown by 17% since 2011, adding about 15,719 people to its 108,531 residents. It is a place where home ownership is very common and the typical resident is 48, making it much older than most other areas. The region's character is marked by a strong First Nations presence and a high number of retirees.
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The typical resident is 48, which is far older than the national figure of 38. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 28.0% of the population, a figure far above the Australian average of 17.2%.
People born overseas make up 13.5% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, at 43.1% and 40.2% respectively.
English is the primary language here, with only 4.9% of people using another language at home, far below the national figure of 22.3%. This is consistent with the low proportion of overseas-born residents.
A little above the national figure, 41.6% of people report having no religion. This figure rose by 22 points since 2011, while Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 48.0%.
About 15.8% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is higher than most similar areas but far below the national figure of 26.3%. Year 12 completion rose to 40.6% since 2011, though this remains far below the national average.
Incomes are well below the national average, with typical weekly household earnings of $1,250. Those earning $3,000 or more a week make up 12.1% of households, which is lower than most areas.
Long-term health conditions are well above the national average, affecting 36.7% of people. This includes a high rate of arthritis at 14.7% and mental health conditions at 11.3%.
A high 13.5% of people provide unpaid care, which is a little above the national figure. The area also has a very high proportion of former Defence Force members at 6.3%.
First Nations people make up 6.5% of the population, well above the national figure of 3.2%. The typical personal income for First Nations residents is $545, which is about the same as the national figure.
One-parent families make up 15.6% of households, which is a little above the national average. Around 28.5% of people live alone, similar to other areas at this level.
Housing is dominated by separate houses (87.2%) and a high rate of outright ownership at 44.7%, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Most homes are large, with 78.9% having three or more bedrooms.
Cars are essential here, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. This reliance on vehicles is reflected in the fact that only 4.4% of homes have no motor vehicle.
The community is quite mobile, with 37.7% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 6.9% of the population, well below the national figure of 14.5%.
Only 48.8% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure of 61.1%. Health care and social assistance is the largest industry, employing 16.0% of the workforce.
The area has a moderate level of overall advantage, ranking in the middle of all areas. It is home to 8,294 businesses and has seen population growth of 3.0% since 2021.
The region is much wetter than the rest of the state, with average annual rainfall of 1,130mm. Maximum temperatures average 22.3°C, which is a little lower than the state average.
Recorded offences per 100,000 people are around the middle for similar areas. The area has a higher than average rate of sexual offences and property damage, but a much lower robbery rate.
The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.2, well below the state average of 6.2. Only 40.6% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.