Shellharbour vs Blackbutt
Blackbutt (median $1,060,000) is roughly 13% cheaper to buy into than Shellharbour ($1,225,000). Over the past year, Blackbutt (+8.6%) ran 15.1 percentage points ahead of Shellharbour (-6.5%) on house-price growth.
Buying in Shellharbour or Blackbutt?
Selling in Shellharbour? The free selling guide
Shellharbour and Blackbutt side by side
| Measure | Shellharbour | Blackbutt |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $1,225,000 | $1,060,000 |
| Median unit | $343,440 | $343,440 |
| House price change, 12 months | -6.5% | +8.6% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $810/wk | $810/wk |
| Unit rent | $660/wk | $660/wk |
| Owner occupied | 65.0% | 69.0% |
| Renter occupied | 33.0% | 29.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 968 | 964 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 0 | 34 |
| Transit score | 0 | 0 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | 3,520 | 3,291 |
| Median age | 46 | 43 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 1060 mm | 1020 mm |
| Mean max, January | 25.9°C | 26.1°C |
Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.
Which suits whom
Blackbutt scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 34/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Shellharbour (968) sits above Blackbutt (964).
- For buyers
- Blackbutt is the lower entry point at $1,060,000 median, 13% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Blackbutt carries both higher gross yield (3.97% vs 3.44%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
- For families
- Shellharbour edges out on average school ICSEA (968 vs 964).
Shellharbour vs Blackbutt: common questions
Is Shellharbour or Blackbutt cheaper to buy in?
Blackbutt has the lower median house price at $1,060,000, roughly 13% 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, Shellharbour or Blackbutt?
Over the past 12 months, Blackbutt grew +8.6% vs -6.5% in Shellharbour, a gap of 15.1 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 Shellharbour or Blackbutt have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Shellharbour scores 968 vs 964 in Blackbutt. 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 is more walkable, Shellharbour or Blackbutt?
Blackbutt scores 34/100 on walkability vs 0/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Shellharbour or Blackbutt?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.97% in Blackbutt vs 3.44% 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.
Keep comparing
The two suburbs
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