Moving to Salamander Bay NSW 2317
What the official numbers say about living in Salamander Bay — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $380 a week, against a median household income of $1,107 a week.
About 73% of homes are owner-occupied and 22% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Salamander Bay grew 3% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (4,844 → 4,991 people).
Around 65% of households are families, averaging 2.1 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Scotland; most spoken languages besides English: Italian, German, Spanish.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Salamander Bay sits around the national average (decile 4 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (72% of workers), while 24% work from home.
Nearest ferry wharf: Port Stephens Ferry Terminal, 5.8 km east.
Nearest airport: RAAF Base Williamtown, 24.2 km west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 151 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 5 schools · 3 cafes & restaurants · 3 supermarkets · 13 parks · 1 beach — see them all on the Salamander Bay profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Tomaree Public School 2.5 km · St Phillips Christian College Port Stephens 2.5 km · Tomaree High School 2.6 km · Soldiers Point Public School 2.8 km · St Michael's Primary School 4.8 km
Groceries: Woolworths 2.1 km · Coles 2.2 km · ALDI 2.2 km
Parks and reserves: Boronia Gardens 50 m · Bob Cairns Reserve 700 m · Ray Wood Reserve 1.7 km · George Reserve 1.9 km · Stoney Ridge Reserve 2 km · Kingfisher Reserve 2.2 km · Corlette Point Park 2.2 km · John Eckersley Park 2.3 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Salamander Bay, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Australian White Ibis · Laughing Kookaburra · Australian Magpie · Australian Pelican · Noisy Miner.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Salamander Bay, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salamander Bay here | 4,991 | — | 4/10 | 44% |
| Corlette | 5,699 | — | 7/10 | 24% |
| Soldiers Point | 1,564 | — | 6/10 | 24% |
| Anna Bay | 4,221 | — | 4/10 | 41% |
| One Mile | 501 | — | 6/10 | 40% |
| Lemon Tree Passage | 2,686 | — | 2/10 | 54% |
| Pindimar | 345 | — | 3/10 | 82% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Port Stephens — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Paterson — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2317 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Salamander Bay profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $380 a week, and about 22% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 3% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 4,844 people to 4,991. It sits about 151 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line. Local government is Port Stephens council, and the federal seat is Paterson.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Salamander Bay vs Corlette · Salamander Bay vs Soldiers Point.
Nearby guides: Corlette · Soldiers Point · Anna Bay · One Mile · Lemon Tree Passage · Pindimar.
Keep an eye on Salamander Bay
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