Side by sideSuburb comparison

Orient Point vs Shoalhaven Heads.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $800,000 and $1,166,000. Orient Point edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

Orient Point (median $800,000) is roughly 31% cheaper to buy into than Shoalhaven Heads ($1,166,000). Over the past year, Shoalhaven Heads (+14.3%) ran 4.3 percentage points ahead of Orient Point (+10%) on house-price growth.

On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Orient Point (966) sits above Shoalhaven Heads (963).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

Orient Point is the lower entry point at $800,000 median, 31% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.

For investors

Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Orient Point delivers the better gross yield (3.96% vs 3.57%), but Shoalhaven Heads has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.

For families

Orient Point edges out on average school ICSEA (966 vs 963).

Common questionsOrient Point vs Shoalhaven Heads

Common questions

Is Orient Point or Shoalhaven Heads cheaper to buy in?

Orient Point has the lower median house price at $800,000, roughly 31% below Shoalhaven Heads ($1,166,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Which has stronger property growth, Orient Point or Shoalhaven Heads?

Over the past 12 months, Shoalhaven Heads grew +14.3% vs +10% in Orient Point, a gap of 4.3 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 Orient Point or Shoalhaven Heads have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Orient Point scores 966 vs 963 in Shoalhaven Heads. 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, Orient Point or Shoalhaven Heads?

Gross rental yield on houses is 3.96% in Orient Point vs 3.57% in Shoalhaven Heads. 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

Orient Point
Metric
Shoalhaven Heads

Price & Market

$800,000
Median house
$1,166,000
$274,320
Median unit
$343,440
+10.0%
Annual growth (house)
+14.3%
Days on market

Rental

$610/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$800/wk
$470/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
75.0%
Owner occupied
78.0%
24.0%
Renter occupied
18.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

Walk score
8
Transit score
0
Bike score
20
629
Population
3,248
52
Median age
56

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

20
Schools nearby
20
966
Avg ICSEA
963

Climate

Annual rainfall
Mean max (Jan)

Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).