Salt Ash
NSW 2318 · Port Stephens
1,103 (2021) → 1,258 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Part of the Port Stephens local government area (est. 79,727 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Salt Ash is a moderate growth suburb in Port Stephens, NSW 2318, about 137km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $893K is around the same as the NSW average. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 22/100, and is right by the coast. Salt Ash has an overall score of 27/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 64/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
Top countries of birth: England (3.35%), Philippines (0.73%), Germany (0.54%), Thailand (0.54%), New Zealand (0.45%)
Top languages: Thai (0.54%), Polish (0.45%), Spanish (0.45%), Mandarin (0.36%), Sinhal (0.36%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q4 2025
Residential Safety
Small population (under 3,000) — crime rates may be volatile due to low sample size.
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated 2025
Schools
Few schools nearby
Very few schools in and around this suburb — families may face significant travel for school.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 994 (below the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Salt Ash Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 933
Nearby (within 10km)
- Catherine McAuley Catholic CollegeSecondary · Catholic · 5.9kmICSEA 1022
- Wirreanda Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 6.5kmICSEA 986
- Medowie Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 8.4kmICSEA 997
- Medowie Christian SchoolCombined · Independent · 8.7kmICSEA 1033
- Bobs Farm Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 9kmICSEA 994
Source: ACARA 2023
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap
Fitness
Few fitness options
Very few fitness facilities in and around this suburb.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Mostly urban
Very little parkland or outdoor recreation in and around this suburb.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
No data
No cultural venues matched to this suburb.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Not much nightlife
No licensed on-premises venues recorded in this suburb.
No licensed pubs, bars or clubs are registered in this suburb per the Liquor & Gaming NSW register.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: OpenStreetMap
Childcare
Outstanding childcare access
Top 20% nationally for childcare service density and quality — an excellent suburb for families with young children.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register
Population & Growth
Moderate GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Port Stephens
Compare Salt Ash with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Salt Ash
Is Salt Ash safe?
Salt Ash has a residential safety score of 64/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 8,522 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Salt Ash?
In Salt Ash, the median house price is $893K. Median weekly house rent is $680.
How far is Salt Ash from Sydney CBD?
Salt Ash is about 137.4 km from Sydney CBD.
What schools are in Salt Ash?
Salt Ash has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 933 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Salt Ash?
Salt Ash has a transport score of 22/100 and 37 bus stops.