Nelson Bay vs Salamander Bay

Nelson Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 51 against 57 in Salamander Bay. In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Salamander Bay tends to suit older residents.

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

Salamander Bay

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (68/100 vs 79/100)

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

First-home buyers

Salamander Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($440,000 vs $750,000)

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

Renters

Nelson Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (29% vs 34%)

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

Commuting to the city

Salamander Bay

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (34/100 vs 26/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (157 min vs 164 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (203.6 km vs 207.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Salamander Bay

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (34/100 vs 26/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (38% vs 29%)
  • carries lower crime risk (68/100 vs 79/100)

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 3.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Nelson Bay 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.

Nelson Bay 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.

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Walkability 26 / 34
Nelson Bay — Walkability: 26/100 Salamander Bay — Walkability: 34/100
Safety 21 / 32
Nelson Bay — Safety: 21/100 Salamander Bay — Safety: 32/100
Low fire risk 25 / 45
Nelson Bay — Low fire risk: 25/100 Salamander Bay — Low fire risk: 45/100

Demographics

Nelson Bay has higher household incomes ($67,860 vs $57,564); Salamander Bay skews older (57 vs 51).

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Population 6,141
+19% vs other
 4,991
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.5% +3.7%
Median age 51 57
Median household income $67,860/yr
+15% vs other
 $57,564/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
0-4 3.7% / 3.1%
Nelson Bay — 0-4: 3.7% Salamander Bay — 0-4: 3.1%
5-14 9.6% / 9.7%
Nelson Bay — 5-14: 9.6% Salamander Bay — 5-14: 9.7%
15-19 5.3% / 4.9%
Nelson Bay — 15-19: 5.3% Salamander Bay — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 4.3% / 3.6%
Nelson Bay — 20-24: 4.3% Salamander Bay — 20-24: 3.6%
25-34 8.8% / 7.2%
Nelson Bay — 25-34: 8.8% Salamander Bay — 25-34: 7.2%
35-44 9.5% / 8.0%
Nelson Bay — 35-44: 9.5% Salamander Bay — 35-44: 8.0%
45-54 12.6% / 10.8%
Nelson Bay — 45-54: 12.6% Salamander Bay — 45-54: 10.8%
55-64 16.7% / 14.5%
Nelson Bay — 55-64: 16.7% Salamander Bay — 55-64: 14.5%
65-74 17.8% / 17.0%
Nelson Bay — 65-74: 17.8% Salamander Bay — 65-74: 17.0%
75-84 9.1% / 15.4%
Nelson Bay — 75-84: 9.1% Salamander Bay — 75-84: 15.4%
85+ 2.4% / 5.9%
Nelson Bay — 85+: 2.4% Salamander Bay — 85+: 5.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Nelson Bay 48.1% lone person
Nelson Bay — Lone Person: 48.1% Nelson Bay — Couple Families: 28.9% Nelson Bay — One Parent Families: 16.9% Nelson Bay — Group Household: 5.1% Nelson Bay — Other Families: 1.0%
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.

Nelson Bay 31.5% renting
Nelson Bay — Owned Outright: 43.7% Nelson Bay — Mortgage: 24.8% Nelson Bay — Renting: 31.5%
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.

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Certificate III & IV 17.8% / 19.5%
Nelson Bay — Certificate III & IV: 17.8% Salamander Bay — Certificate III & IV: 19.5%
Bachelor Degree 10.7% / 8.7%
Nelson Bay — Bachelor Degree: 10.7% Salamander Bay — Bachelor Degree: 8.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.1% / 8.7%
Nelson Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1% Salamander Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 3.3% / 2.0%
Nelson Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3% Salamander Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.3%
Nelson Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% 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.

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
England 5.0% / 5.5%
Nelson Bay — England: 5.0% Salamander Bay — England: 5.5%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.3%
Nelson Bay — New Zealand: 1.5% Salamander Bay — New Zealand: 1.3%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.7%
Nelson Bay — Scotland: 0.7% Salamander Bay — Scotland: 0.7%
Philippines 0.9% / 0.4%
Nelson Bay — Philippines: 0.9% Salamander Bay — Philippines: 0.4%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.7%
Nelson Bay — South Africa: 0.5% Salamander Bay — South Africa: 0.7%
Nepal 0.8% / —
Nelson Bay — Nepal: 0.8% Salamander Bay — Nepal: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.6%
Nelson Bay — Germany: not among its largest Salamander Bay — Germany: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Nelson Bay 59.1% houses
Nelson Bay — Houses: 59.1% Nelson Bay — Townhouses: 20.8% Nelson Bay — Flats / Apartments: 20.1%
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

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Median house price $1,042,500 $1,050,000
Median unit price $672,500 $650,000
Median land price $750,000 $440,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 98 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.

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
2 bed $648K / $600K
Nelson Bay — 2 bed: $648K (69 sales) Salamander Bay — 2 bed: $600K (13 sales)

69 vs 13 sales

3 bed $855K / $1.05M
Nelson Bay — 3 bed: $855K (27 sales) Salamander Bay — 3 bed: $1.05M (8 sales)

27 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.

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
2 bed $900K / $740K
Nelson Bay — 2 bed: $900K (11 sales) Salamander Bay — 2 bed: $740K (14 sales)

11 vs 14 sales

3 bed $992K / $860K
Nelson Bay — 3 bed: $992K (64 sales) Salamander Bay — 3 bed: $860K (61 sales)

64 vs 61 sales

4 bed $1.18M / $1.31M
Nelson Bay — 4 bed: $1.18M (52 sales) Salamander Bay — 4 bed: $1.31M (74 sales)

52 vs 74 sales

5 bed $1.34M / $1.56M
Nelson Bay — 5 bed: $1.34M (10 sales) Salamander Bay — 5 bed: $1.56M (8 sales)

10 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Nelson Bay has more land zoned for conservation (59% vs 49%).

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Environmental 59% 49%
Residential 19% 25%
Parks and recreation 18% 20%
Commercial 1% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 2%
Rural and farming 2% 0%
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

Nelson Bay 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.

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Houses 3.2%
$735/wk on $1.19M
 4.4%
$780/wk on $922K
Units 4.6%
$550/wk on $620K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
House price Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Income Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 39% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 50% of NSW —

Liveability

Salamander Bay is more walkable (34 vs 26); Salamander Bay scores higher overall (31 vs 24).

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Grade D C
Score 24/100 31/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
same for both

Risk profile

Nelson Bay carries more bushfire risk (75 vs 55); Nelson Bay carries more crime risk (79 vs 68).

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Bushfire High
75/100
 Moderate
55/100
Crime High
79/100
 Moderate
68/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
35/100
 Low
32/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Inside the suburb 2 6
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Nelson Bay

  • St Michael's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Alesco Secondary College - Tomaree Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school

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

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 22 1
Parks & reserves 8 7
Childcare 7 5
GPs 5 6
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 5
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Nelson Bay sits further from the CBD (207.4 km vs 203.6 km).

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Walkability score 26/100 34/100
Distance to Sydney 207.4 km
+2% vs other
 203.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 164 min 157 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 87.2
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.

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Car (driver) 65.9% / 68.2%
Nelson Bay — Car (driver): 65.9% Salamander Bay — Car (driver): 68.2%
Worked from Home 21.7% / 24.1%
Nelson Bay — Worked from Home: 21.7% Salamander Bay — Worked from Home: 24.1%
Car (passenger) 5.2% / 4.2%
Nelson Bay — Car (passenger): 5.2% Salamander Bay — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 5.8% / 2.3%
Nelson Bay — Walked Only: 5.8% Salamander Bay — Walked Only: 2.3%
Bus 1.0% / 0.4%
Nelson Bay — Bus: 1.0% Salamander Bay — Bus: 0.4%
Bicycle 0.4% / 0.8%
Nelson Bay — Bicycle: 0.4% Salamander Bay — Bicycle: 0.8%

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

Setting

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Elevation 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.8 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 538 m
3.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Nelson Bay Salamander Bay
Connectivity score 62/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
4,940 premises
 31%
3,282 premises

Climate

Nelson Bay 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Nelson Bay

Coastal Retirees Townhouses

Salamander Bay

Coastal Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Salamander Bay

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Full data on Nelson Bay Full data on Salamander Bay
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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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