Corlette vs Salamander Bay

Corlette is the younger of the two, with a median age of 52 against 57 in Salamander Bay. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Corlette, about half of households are couple families. In Salamander Bay, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Corlette: a median of $1.18 million, against $1.05 million in Salamander Bay, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Corlette tends to suit couples, while Salamander Bay suits people living alone.

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

Corlette

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (30/100 vs 68/100)
  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 7)
  • is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 44%)
  • But Salamander Bay has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Salamander Bay

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($440,000 vs $1,175,000)
  • has cheaper units ($650,000 vs $772,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,050,000 vs $1,180,000)
  • But Corlette leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 36%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Corlette leaves renters under less rental stress (28% vs 34%)
  • Salamander Bay has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $445/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Corlette is more walkable (46/100 vs 34/100)
  • Salamander Bay sits closer to the CBD (203.6 km vs 207.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Salamander Bay

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (41% vs 26%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (38% vs 33%)
  • But Corlette carries lower crime risk (30/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

Salamander Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Corlette and Salamander Bay drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Corlette Salamander Bay
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.

Corlette Salamander Bay
Walkability 46 / 34
Corlette — Walkability: 46/100 Salamander Bay — Walkability: 34/100
Safety 70 / 32
Corlette — Safety: 70/100 Salamander Bay — Safety: 32/100
Low fire risk 42 / 45
Corlette — Low fire risk: 42/100 Salamander Bay — Low fire risk: 45/100

Demographics

Corlette has higher household incomes ($81,432 vs $57,564); Corlette rents higher ($445/wk vs $380/wk).

Corlette Salamander Bay
Population 5,699
+12% vs other
 4,991
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.4% +3.7%
Median age 52 57
Median household income $81,432/yr
+29% vs other
 $57,564/yr
Median weekly rent $445/wk
+15% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Corlette Salamander Bay
0-4 3.5% / 3.1%
Corlette — 0-4: 3.5% Salamander Bay — 0-4: 3.1%
5-14 11.0% / 9.7%
Corlette — 5-14: 11.0% Salamander Bay — 5-14: 9.7%
15-19 5.7% / 4.9%
Corlette — 15-19: 5.7% Salamander Bay — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 3.7% / 3.6%
Corlette — 20-24: 3.7% Salamander Bay — 20-24: 3.6%
25-34 6.3% / 7.2%
Corlette — 25-34: 6.3% Salamander Bay — 25-34: 7.2%
35-44 9.4% / 8.0%
Corlette — 35-44: 9.4% Salamander Bay — 35-44: 8.0%
45-54 12.4% / 10.8%
Corlette — 45-54: 12.4% Salamander Bay — 45-54: 10.8%
55-64 15.0% / 14.5%
Corlette — 55-64: 15.0% Salamander Bay — 55-64: 14.5%
65-74 17.3% / 17.0%
Corlette — 65-74: 17.3% Salamander Bay — 65-74: 17.0%
75-84 11.8% / 15.4%
Corlette — 75-84: 11.8% Salamander Bay — 75-84: 15.4%
85+ 3.7% / 5.9%
Corlette — 85+: 3.7% Salamander Bay — 85+: 5.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Corlette 34.0% lone person
Corlette — Lone Person: 34.0% Corlette — Couple Families: 45.0% Corlette — One Parent Families: 16.9% Corlette — Group Household: 3.3% Corlette — Other Families: 0.8%
Salamander Bay 51.6% lone person
Salamander Bay — Lone Person: 51.6% Salamander Bay — Couple Families: 28.9% Salamander Bay — One Parent Families: 15.6% Salamander Bay — Group Household: 2.3% Salamander Bay — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Corlette 21.0% renting
Corlette — Owned Outright: 51.0% Corlette — Mortgage: 28.0% Corlette — Renting: 21.0%
Salamander Bay 23.3% renting
Salamander Bay — Owned Outright: 53.2% Salamander Bay — Mortgage: 23.6% Salamander Bay — Renting: 23.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Corlette Salamander Bay
Certificate III & IV 17.1% / 19.5%
Corlette — Certificate III & IV: 17.1% Salamander Bay — Certificate III & IV: 19.5%
Bachelor Degree 10.5% / 8.7%
Corlette — Bachelor Degree: 10.5% Salamander Bay — Bachelor Degree: 8.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.4% / 8.7%
Corlette — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.4% Salamander Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 3.4% / 2.0%
Corlette — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4% Salamander Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.3%
Corlette — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Salamander Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.5%).

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.

Corlette Salamander Bay
England 6.9% / 5.5%
Corlette — England: 6.9% Salamander Bay — England: 5.5%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.3%
Corlette — New Zealand: 2.0% Salamander Bay — New Zealand: 1.3%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.7%
Corlette — South Africa: 0.7% Salamander Bay — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.7%
Corlette — Scotland: 0.6% Salamander Bay — Scotland: 0.7%
Germany 0.5% / 0.6%
Corlette — Germany: 0.5% Salamander Bay — Germany: 0.6%
Thailand 0.5% / —
Corlette — Thailand: 0.5% Salamander Bay — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Corlette 74.2% houses
Corlette — Houses: 74.2% Corlette — Townhouses: 23.4% Corlette — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Salamander Bay 59.3% houses
Salamander Bay — Houses: 59.3% Salamander Bay — Townhouses: 31.4% Salamander Bay — Flats / Apartments: 9.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Corlette Salamander Bay
Median house price $1,180,000 $1,050,000
Median unit price $772,500 $650,000
Median land price $1,175,000 $440,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 38 days
from 95 sales
 30 days
from 80 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Corlette Salamander Bay
2 bed $738K / $600K
Corlette — 2 bed: $738K (6 sales) Salamander Bay — 2 bed: $600K (13 sales)

6 vs 13 sales

3 bed $770K / $1.05M
Corlette — 3 bed: $770K (7 sales) Salamander Bay — 3 bed: $1.05M (8 sales)

7 vs 8 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Corlette Salamander Bay
3 bed $950K / $860K
Corlette — 3 bed: $950K (65 sales) Salamander Bay — 3 bed: $860K (61 sales)

65 vs 61 sales

4 bed $1.28M / $1.31M
Corlette — 4 bed: $1.28M (72 sales) Salamander Bay — 4 bed: $1.31M (74 sales)

72 vs 74 sales

5 bed $1.65M / $1.56M
Corlette — 5 bed: $1.65M (17 sales) Salamander Bay — 5 bed: $1.56M (8 sales)

17 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Salamander Bay has more land zoned for conservation (49% vs 17%).

Corlette Salamander Bay
Residential 72% 25%
Environmental 17% 49%
Parks and recreation 11% 20%
Commercial 1% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 2%
Industrial 0% 2%
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

Corlette Salamander Bay
New dwellings approved 495
across Port Stephens
same for both
Approvals change year on year -72%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Corlette Salamander Bay
Houses 3.5%
$800/wk on $1.2M
 4.4%
$780/wk on $922K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Corlette Salamander Bay
House price Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Income Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 39% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 43% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW

Liveability

Corlette scores higher overall (47 vs 31); Corlette is more walkable (46 vs 34).

Corlette Salamander Bay
Grade C
same for both
Score 47/100 31/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Salamander Bay carries more crime risk (68 vs 30).

Corlette Salamander Bay
Bushfire Moderate
58/100
 Moderate
55/100
Crime Low
30/100
 Moderate
68/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
54/100
 Low
32/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Corlette Salamander Bay
Inside the suburb 0 6
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Corlette

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Salamander Bay

  • St Philip's Christian College - Port Stephens Independent · Combined above peers
  • Tomaree High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Philip's Christian College Gilibaa Independent · Primary below peers
  • Tomaree Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Edmondson Park College Independent · Primary
  • St Philip's Christian College Dynamic Learning - Port Stephens Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Corlette Salamander Bay
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 10 7
Childcare 0 5
GPs 0 6
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 5
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Corlette sits further from the CBD (207.8 km vs 203.6 km).

Corlette Salamander Bay
Walkability score 46/100 34/100
Distance to Sydney 207.8 km
+2% vs other
 203.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 160 min 157 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 64.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 116.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2315
 0.7%
postcode 2317
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 2315
 39
postcode 2317

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.

Corlette Salamander Bay
Car (driver) 63.5% / 68.2%
Corlette — Car (driver): 63.5% Salamander Bay — Car (driver): 68.2%
Worked from Home 28.9% / 24.1%
Corlette — Worked from Home: 28.9% Salamander Bay — Worked from Home: 24.1%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 4.2%
Corlette — Car (passenger): 5.1% Salamander Bay — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 1.6% / 2.3%
Corlette — Walked Only: 1.6% Salamander Bay — Walked Only: 2.3%
Bicycle 0.4% / 0.8%
Corlette — Bicycle: 0.4% Salamander Bay — Bicycle: 0.8%
Bus 0.6% / 0.4%
Corlette — Bus: 0.6% Salamander Bay — Bus: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.2%).

Setting

Corlette Salamander Bay
Elevation 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 757 m
982 m to a named beach
 538 m
3.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Corlette Salamander Bay
Connectivity score 73/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
2,747 premises
 31%
3,282 premises

Climate

Corlette Salamander Bay
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

Council rates

Corlette Salamander Bay
Average residential rate $1,359/yr
same for both
Council Port Stephens
same for both

Federal electorate

Corlette Salamander Bay
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Corlette Salamander Bay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Corlette

Beach Coastal Parks Quiet Retirees Townhouses

Salamander Bay

Coastal Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Corlette

Corlette vs Nelson Bay

Other comparisons with Salamander Bay

Salamander Bay vs Nelson Bay Salamander Bay vs Anna Bay Salamander Bay vs Soldiers Point Salamander Bay vs Taylors Beach
Full data on Corlette Full data on Salamander Bay
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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