Shellharbour vs Minnamurra.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,225,000 and $1,800,000. Minnamurra edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Shellharbour (median $1,225,000) is roughly 32% cheaper to buy into than Minnamurra ($1,800,000). Over the past year, Minnamurra (0%) ran 6.5 percentage points ahead of Shellharbour (-6.5%) on house-price growth.
Minnamurra scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 2/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Minnamurra (1007) sits above Shellharbour (968). Minnamurra skews owner-occupied (85%), Shellharbour runs more rental-dense (65% owner).
For buyers
Shellharbour is the lower entry point at $1,225,000 median, 32% 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: Shellharbour delivers the better gross yield (3.44% vs 2.40%), but Minnamurra 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
Minnamurra edges out on average school ICSEA (1007 vs 968).
Common questions
Is Shellharbour or Minnamurra cheaper to buy in?
Shellharbour has the lower median house price at $1,225,000, roughly 32% below Minnamurra ($1,800,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Shellharbour or Minnamurra?
Over the past 12 months, Minnamurra grew 0% vs -6.5% in Shellharbour, a gap of 6.5 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 Shellharbour or Minnamurra have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Minnamurra scores 1007 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 is more walkable, Shellharbour or Minnamurra?
Minnamurra scores 2/100 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 Minnamurra?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.44% in Shellharbour vs 2.40% in Minnamurra. 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 Shellharbour against another suburb