Medowie vs Salt Ash

Medowie is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 46 in Salt Ash. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Medowie, most households are couple families. In Salt Ash, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Salt Ash: a median of $1.09 million, against $995,000 in Medowie, though rent is higher in Medowie. On these figures, Medowie tends to suit families with children and 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

Medowie

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (10 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Medowie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 31%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Salt Ash

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($310/wk vs $430/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

  • Medowie is more walkable (48/100 vs 18/100)
  • Salt Ash sits closer to the CBD (183.1 km vs 190.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Medowie

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (48/100 vs 18/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 80/100)
  • But Salt Ash has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 15%)

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

Investors

Medowie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.8% vs -2.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Medowie 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.

Medowie 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.

Medowie Salt Ash
Walkability 48 / 18
Medowie — Walkability: 48/100 Salt Ash — Walkability: 18/100
Safety 58 / 20
Medowie — Safety: 58/100 Salt Ash — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 17 / 32
Medowie — Low fire risk: 17/100 Salt Ash — Low fire risk: 32/100

Demographics

Medowie has more residents (10,879 vs 1,103); Medowie has higher household incomes ($106,288 vs $75,972).

Medowie Salt Ash
Population 10,879
+90% vs other
 1,103
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.8% -2.2%
Median age 37 46
Median household income $106,288/yr
+29% vs other
 $75,972/yr
Median weekly rent $430/wk
+28% vs other
 $310/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Medowie Salt Ash
0-4 6.8% / 4.3%
Medowie — 0-4: 6.8% Salt Ash — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 16.4% / 13.4%
Medowie — 5-14: 16.4% Salt Ash — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 6.6% / 6.7%
Medowie — 15-19: 6.6% Salt Ash — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 5.4% / 5.6%
Medowie — 20-24: 5.4% Salt Ash — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 11.3% / 7.6%
Medowie — 25-34: 11.3% Salt Ash — 25-34: 7.6%
35-44 13.4% / 11.2%
Medowie — 35-44: 13.4% Salt Ash — 35-44: 11.2%
45-54 13.7% / 14.5%
Medowie — 45-54: 13.7% Salt Ash — 45-54: 14.5%
55-64 12.1% / 16.2%
Medowie — 55-64: 12.1% Salt Ash — 55-64: 16.2%
65-74 9.4% / 12.4%
Medowie — 65-74: 9.4% Salt Ash — 65-74: 12.4%
75-84 4.4% / 7.0%
Medowie — 75-84: 4.4% Salt Ash — 75-84: 7.0%
85+ 0.8% / 1.5%
Medowie — 85+: 0.8% Salt Ash — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Medowie 59.3% couple families
Medowie — Couple Families: 59.3% Medowie — Lone Person: 20.3% Medowie — One Parent Families: 18.0% Medowie — Group Household: 1.9% Medowie — Other Families: 0.5%
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.

Medowie 22.3% renting
Medowie — Owned Outright: 30.5% Medowie — Mortgage: 47.2% Medowie — Renting: 22.3%
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.

Medowie Salt Ash
Certificate III & IV 21.9% / 24.5%
Medowie — Certificate III & IV: 21.9% Salt Ash — Certificate III & IV: 24.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 6.3%
Medowie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Salt Ash — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3%
Bachelor Degree 7.9% / 5.8%
Medowie — Bachelor Degree: 7.9% Salt Ash — Bachelor Degree: 5.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.9% / 0.7%
Medowie — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9% Salt Ash — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 0.6%
Medowie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% 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.

Medowie Salt Ash
England 3.3% / 3.4%
Medowie — England: 3.3% Salt Ash — England: 3.4%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.5%
Medowie — New Zealand: 0.9% Salt Ash — New Zealand: 0.5%
Philippines 0.3% / 0.7%
Medowie — Philippines: 0.3% Salt Ash — Philippines: 0.7%
Thailand 0.2% / 0.5%
Medowie — Thailand: 0.2% Salt Ash — Thailand: 0.5%
South Africa 0.5% / —
Medowie — South Africa: 0.5% Salt Ash — South Africa: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.5%
Medowie — Germany: not among its largest Salt Ash — Germany: 0.5%
Scotland 0.3% / —
Medowie — Scotland: 0.3% Salt Ash — Scotland: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.3% / —
Medowie — Netherlands: 0.3% Salt Ash — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Medowie 97.5% houses
Medowie — Houses: 97.5% Medowie — Townhouses: 2.1% Medowie — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Salt Ash 97.6% houses
Salt Ash — Houses: 97.6% Salt Ash — Townhouses: 2.4% Salt Ash — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Medowie Salt Ash
Median house price $995,000 $1,089,000
Median unit price $597,500 —
Median land price $1,100,000 $1,035,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 164 sales
 42 days
from 11 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.

Medowie Salt Ash
3 bed $764K / $1.05M
Medowie — 3 bed: $764K (78 sales) Salt Ash — 3 bed: $1.05M (6 sales)

78 vs 6 sales

4 bed $1.09M / $1.09M
Medowie — 4 bed: $1.09M (147 sales) Salt Ash — 4 bed: $1.09M (8 sales)

147 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Salt Ash has more land zoned for conservation (61% vs 17%); Salt Ash has more rural and farming land (30% vs 18%).

Medowie Salt Ash
Environmental 17% 61%
Residential 31% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 30% 8%
Rural and farming 18% 30%
Parks and recreation 3% 0%
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

Medowie Salt Ash
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.

Medowie Salt Ash
Houses 3.6%
$700/wk on $1.02M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Medowie Salt Ash
House price Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 43% of NSW
Income Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Schools Higher than 29% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 59% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 48% of NSW —

Liveability

Medowie is more walkable (48 vs 18); Medowie scores higher overall (31 vs 19).

Medowie Salt Ash
Grade C D
Score 31/100 19/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Salt Ash carries more crime risk (80 vs 42); Medowie carries more bushfire risk (83 vs 68).

Medowie Salt Ash
Bushfire High
83/100
 Moderate
68/100
Crime Moderate
42/100
 High
80/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
60/100
Aircraft noise High
100/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Medowie Salt Ash
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Medowie

  • Catherine McAuley Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Medowie Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Wirreanda Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Medowie Christian School Independent · Combined below peers
  • Medowie Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary

Schools in Salt Ash

  • Salt Ash Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Medowie Salt Ash
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 5 2
Parks & reserves 5 2
Childcare 10 2
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 6
Waterways 2 6

Mobility

Medowie sits further from the CBD (190.2 km vs 183.1 km).

Medowie Salt Ash
Walkability score 48/100 18/100
Distance to Sydney 190.2 km
+4% vs other
 183.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 142 min 138 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 279.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 91.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2318
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 79
postcode 2318
same for both

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.

Medowie Salt Ash
Car (driver) 68.7% / 71.7%
Medowie — Car (driver): 68.7% Salt Ash — Car (driver): 71.7%
Worked from Home 26.1% / 20.9%
Medowie — Worked from Home: 26.1% Salt Ash — Worked from Home: 20.9%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 3.0%
Medowie — Car (passenger): 3.7% Salt Ash — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Walked Only 1.0% / 3.0%
Medowie — Walked Only: 1.0% Salt Ash — Walked Only: 3.0%
Bus 0.3% / 1.4%
Medowie — Bus: 0.3% Salt Ash — Bus: 1.4%

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

Setting

Medowie Salt Ash
Elevation 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.4 km 3.0 km
4.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Medowie Salt Ash
Connectivity score 84/100 40/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 61%
4,445 premises
 6%
468 premises

Climate

Medowie 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)

Medowie 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Medowie

Family Quiet Regional Centre

Salt Ash

Acreage

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Medowie

Medowie vs Swan Bay Medowie vs Ferodale Medowie vs Oyster Cove

Other comparisons with Salt Ash

Salt Ash vs Tanilba Bay Salt Ash vs Williamtown Salt Ash vs Fullerton Cove Salt Ash vs Bobs Farm Salt Ash vs Oyster Cove
Full data on Medowie Full data on Salt Ash
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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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