Dunmore vs Shellharbour.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,075,000 and $1,225,000. Dunmore edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Dunmore (median $1,075,000) is roughly 12% cheaper to buy into than Shellharbour ($1,225,000). Over the past year, Dunmore (+15%) ran 21.5 percentage points ahead of Shellharbour (-6.5%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Dunmore (1002) sits above Shellharbour (968). Dunmore skews owner-occupied (82%), Shellharbour runs more rental-dense (65% owner).
For buyers
Dunmore is the lower entry point at $1,075,000 median, 12% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Dunmore carries both higher gross yield (2.27% vs 2.00%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Dunmore edges out on average school ICSEA (1002 vs 968). Dunmore also has a higher family-household share (86% vs 73%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Dunmore or Shellharbour cheaper to buy in?
Dunmore has the lower median house price at $1,075,000, roughly 12% below Shellharbour ($1,225,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Dunmore or Shellharbour?
Over the past 12 months, Dunmore grew +15% vs -6.5% in Shellharbour, a gap of 21.5 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Dunmore or Shellharbour have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Dunmore scores 1002 vs 968 in Shellharbour. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Dunmore or Shellharbour?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.27% in Dunmore vs 2.00% in Shellharbour. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
Compare Dunmore against another suburb