Bobs Farm vs Salt Ash

Salt Ash is the younger of the two, with a median age of 46 against 57 in Bobs Farm. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Salt Ash, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Salt Ash: a median of $1.09 million, against $865,000 in Bobs Farm, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Bobs Farm tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Salt Ash suits couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Bobs Farm

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 80/100)
  • But Salt Ash is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 53%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Bobs Farm has cheaper houses ($865,000 vs $1,089,000)
  • Salt Ash leaves households under less mortgage stress (31% vs 38%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bobs Farm

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($196/wk vs $310/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 21%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Salt Ash

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (183.1 km vs 192.3 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (138 min vs 144 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Bobs Farm

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (38% vs 21%)
  • carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 80/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Bobs Farm

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (46.8% vs -2.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Bobs Farm and Salt Ash drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Walkability 14 / 18
Bobs Farm — Walkability: 14/100 Salt Ash — Walkability: 18/100
Safety 33 / 20
Bobs Farm — Safety: 33/100 Salt Ash — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 42 / 32
Bobs Farm — Low fire risk: 42/100 Salt Ash — Low fire risk: 32/100

Demographics

Salt Ash has more residents (1,103 vs 662); Salt Ash rents higher ($310/wk vs $196/wk).

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Population 662 1,103
+67% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +46.8% -2.2%
Median age 57 46
Median household income $62,972/yr $75,972/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $196/wk $310/wk
+58% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
0-4 4.7% / 4.3%
Bobs Farm — 0-4: 4.7% Salt Ash — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 6.6% / 13.4%
Bobs Farm — 5-14: 6.6% Salt Ash — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 4.7% / 6.7%
Bobs Farm — 15-19: 4.7% Salt Ash — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 4.8% / 5.6%
Bobs Farm — 20-24: 4.8% Salt Ash — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 6.5% / 7.6%
Bobs Farm — 25-34: 6.5% Salt Ash — 25-34: 7.6%
35-44 8.0% / 11.2%
Bobs Farm — 35-44: 8.0% Salt Ash — 35-44: 11.2%
45-54 11.9% / 14.5%
Bobs Farm — 45-54: 11.9% Salt Ash — 45-54: 14.5%
55-64 15.7% / 16.2%
Bobs Farm — 55-64: 15.7% Salt Ash — 55-64: 16.2%
65-74 23.4% / 12.4%
Bobs Farm — 65-74: 23.4% Salt Ash — 65-74: 12.4%
75-84 12.1% / 7.0%
Bobs Farm — 75-84: 12.1% Salt Ash — 75-84: 7.0%
85+ 2.3% / 1.5%
Bobs Farm — 85+: 2.3% Salt Ash — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bobs Farm 35.6% couple families
Bobs Farm — Couple Families: 35.6% Bobs Farm — Lone Person: 42.3% Bobs Farm — One Parent Families: 17.4% Bobs Farm — Group Household: 4.7% Bobs Farm — Other Families: 0.0%
Salt Ash 47.9% couple families
Salt Ash — Couple Families: 47.9% Salt Ash — Lone Person: 27.4% Salt Ash — One Parent Families: 20.2% Salt Ash — Group Household: 3.4% Salt Ash — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bobs Farm 10.0% renting
Bobs Farm — Owned Outright: 60.7% Bobs Farm — Mortgage: 29.3% Bobs Farm — Renting: 10.0%
Salt Ash 12.5% renting
Salt Ash — Owned Outright: 42.4% Salt Ash — Mortgage: 45.2% Salt Ash — Renting: 12.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Certificate III & IV 24.3% / 24.5%
Bobs Farm — Certificate III & IV: 24.3% Salt Ash — Certificate III & IV: 24.5%
Bachelor Degree 7.6% / 5.8%
Bobs Farm — Bachelor Degree: 7.6% Salt Ash — Bachelor Degree: 5.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 6.3%
Bobs Farm — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% Salt Ash — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 0.7%
Bobs Farm — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Salt Ash — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 0.6%
Bobs Farm — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Salt Ash — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.5%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
England 6.0% / 3.4%
Bobs Farm — England: 6.0% Salt Ash — England: 3.4%
New Zealand 1.4% / 0.5%
Bobs Farm — New Zealand: 1.4% Salt Ash — New Zealand: 0.5%
Thailand 0.9% / 0.5%
Bobs Farm — Thailand: 0.9% Salt Ash — Thailand: 0.5%
Germany 0.8% / 0.5%
Bobs Farm — Germany: 0.8% Salt Ash — Germany: 0.5%
Fiji 0.8% / —
Bobs Farm — Fiji: 0.8% Salt Ash — Fiji: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.7%
Bobs Farm — Philippines: not among its largest Salt Ash — Philippines: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bobs Farm 91.4% houses
Bobs Farm — Houses: 91.4% Bobs Farm — Flats / Apartments: 8.6% Bobs Farm — Townhouses: 0.0%
Salt Ash 97.6% houses
Salt Ash — Houses: 97.6% Salt Ash — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Salt Ash — Townhouses: 2.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Median house price $865,000 $1,089,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $1,035,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 3 sales
 42 days
from 11 sales

Zoning mix

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Environmental 64% 61%
Rural and farming 33% 30%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 8%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
New dwellings approved 495
across Port Stephens
same for both
Approvals change year on year -72%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
House price Higher than 15% of NSW Higher than 43% of NSW
Income Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW

Liveability

Bobs Farm scores higher overall (24 vs 19).

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Grade D
same for both
Score 24/100 19/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Salt Ash carries more crime risk (80 vs 67); Salt Ash carries more bushfire risk (68 vs 58).

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Bushfire Moderate
58/100
 Moderate
68/100
Crime Moderate
67/100
 High
80/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
48/100
 Moderate
60/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
100/100
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Bobs Farm

  • Bobs Farm Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Salt Ash

  • Salt Ash Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Cafes & restaurants 2
same for both
Parks & reserves 1 2
Childcare 0 2
Fuel stations 0 6
Waterways 2 6

Mobility

Bobs Farm sits further from the CBD (192.3 km vs 183.1 km).

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Walkability score 14/100 18/100
Distance to Sydney 192.3 km
+5% vs other
 183.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 144 min 138 min
Public transport score 76/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 50.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 91.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2316
 0.6%
postcode 2318
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2316
 79
postcode 2318

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Car (driver) 71.0% / 71.7%
Bobs Farm — Car (driver): 71.0% Salt Ash — Car (driver): 71.7%
Worked from Home 23.0% / 20.9%
Bobs Farm — Worked from Home: 23.0% Salt Ash — Worked from Home: 20.9%
Walked Only 4.4% / 3.0%
Bobs Farm — Walked Only: 4.4% Salt Ash — Walked Only: 3.0%
Car (passenger) 1.6% / 3.0%
Bobs Farm — Car (passenger): 1.6% Salt Ash — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Bus — / 1.4%
Bobs Farm — Bus: not among its largest Salt Ash — Bus: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.7%).

Setting

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km 3.0 km
4.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Connectivity score 75/100 40/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 66%
474 premises
 6%
468 premises

Climate

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Annual rainfall 1,181 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
PM2.5 7.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 30.4 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.73 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Average residential rate $1,359/yr
same for both
Council Port Stephens
same for both

Federal electorate

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bobs Farm Salt Ash
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bobs Farm

Coastal Retirees Rural

Salt Ash

Acreage

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bobs Farm

Bobs Farm vs Anna Bay

Other comparisons with Salt Ash

Salt Ash vs Medowie Salt Ash vs Tanilba Bay Salt Ash vs Williamtown Salt Ash vs Fullerton Cove Salt Ash vs Oyster Cove
Full data on Bobs Farm Full data on Salt Ash
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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