Salt Ash vs Williamtown

Salt Ash is the younger of the two, with a median age of 46 against 56 in Williamtown. 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. In Williamtown, most households are people living alone. On these figures, Salt Ash tends to suit couples, while Williamtown suits people living alone and 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

Salt Ash

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 36%)

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

First-home buyers

Salt Ash

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (31% vs 51%)
  • has cheaper land ($1,035,000 vs $1,250,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Salt Ash

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 36%)

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

Commuting to the city

Williamtown

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (176 km vs 183.1 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (133 min vs 138 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Williamtown

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (37% vs 21%)

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

Investors

Salt Ash

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (-2.2% vs -13.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Salt Ash Williamtown
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.

Salt Ash Williamtown
Walkability 18 / 24
Salt Ash — Walkability: 18/100 Williamtown — Walkability: 24/100
Safety 20 / 13
Salt Ash — Safety: 20/100 Williamtown — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 32 / 31
Salt Ash — Low fire risk: 32/100 Williamtown — Low fire risk: 31/100

Demographics

Salt Ash has higher household incomes ($75,972 vs $46,228); Salt Ash has more residents (1,103 vs 762).

Salt Ash Williamtown
Population 1,103
+31% vs other
 762
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.2% -13.9%
Median age 46 56
Median household income $75,972/yr
+39% vs other
 $46,228/yr
Median weekly rent $310/wk $320/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Salt Ash Williamtown
0-4 4.3% / 3.5%
Salt Ash — 0-4: 4.3% Williamtown — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 13.4% / 6.3%
Salt Ash — 5-14: 13.4% Williamtown — 5-14: 6.3%
15-19 6.7% / 4.7%
Salt Ash — 15-19: 6.7% Williamtown — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 5.6% / 7.7%
Salt Ash — 20-24: 5.6% Williamtown — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 7.6% / 7.5%
Salt Ash — 25-34: 7.6% Williamtown — 25-34: 7.5%
35-44 11.2% / 7.0%
Salt Ash — 35-44: 11.2% Williamtown — 35-44: 7.0%
45-54 14.5% / 11.8%
Salt Ash — 45-54: 14.5% Williamtown — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 16.2% / 13.8%
Salt Ash — 55-64: 16.2% Williamtown — 55-64: 13.8%
65-74 12.4% / 19.6%
Salt Ash — 65-74: 12.4% Williamtown — 65-74: 19.6%
75-84 7.0% / 13.5%
Salt Ash — 75-84: 7.0% Williamtown — 75-84: 13.5%
85+ 1.5% / 3.9%
Salt Ash — 85+: 1.5% Williamtown — 85+: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Salt Ash 27.4% lone person
Salt Ash — Lone Person: 27.4% Salt Ash — Couple Families: 47.9% Salt Ash — One Parent Families: 20.2% Salt Ash — Group Household: 3.4% Salt Ash — Other Families: 1.1%
Williamtown 60.6% lone person
Williamtown — Lone Person: 60.6% Williamtown — Couple Families: 24.5% Williamtown — One Parent Families: 11.1% Williamtown — Group Household: 1.9% Williamtown — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Salt Ash 12.5% renting
Salt Ash — Owned Outright: 42.4% Salt Ash — Mortgage: 45.2% Salt Ash — Renting: 12.5%
Williamtown 14.0% renting
Williamtown — Owned Outright: 66.7% Williamtown — Mortgage: 19.3% Williamtown — Renting: 14.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Salt Ash Williamtown
Certificate III & IV 24.5% / 21.4%
Salt Ash — Certificate III & IV: 24.5% Williamtown — Certificate III & IV: 21.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 5.4%
Salt Ash — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Williamtown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4%
Bachelor Degree 5.8% / 5.6%
Salt Ash — Bachelor Degree: 5.8% Williamtown — Bachelor Degree: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.6% / 1.2%
Salt Ash — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6% Williamtown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%
Postgraduate Degree 0.7% / 0.9%
Salt Ash — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7% Williamtown — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9%

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.

Salt Ash Williamtown
England 3.4% / 5.2%
Salt Ash — England: 3.4% Williamtown — England: 5.2%
New Zealand 0.5% / 1.2%
Salt Ash — New Zealand: 0.5% Williamtown — New Zealand: 1.2%
Malaysia 0.4% / 0.8%
Salt Ash — Malaysia: 0.4% Williamtown — Malaysia: 0.8%
Germany 0.5% / 0.7%
Salt Ash — Germany: 0.5% Williamtown — Germany: 0.7%
Thailand 0.5% / 0.5%
Salt Ash — Thailand: 0.5% Williamtown — Thailand: 0.5%
Scotland — / 0.8%
Salt Ash — Scotland: not among its largest Williamtown — Scotland: 0.8%
Philippines 0.7% / —
Salt Ash — Philippines: 0.7% Williamtown — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Salt Ash 97.6% houses
Salt Ash — Houses: 97.6% Salt Ash — Townhouses: 2.4% Salt Ash — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Williamtown 96.4% houses
Williamtown — Houses: 96.4% Williamtown — Townhouses: 1.9% Williamtown — Flats / Apartments: 1.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Salt Ash Williamtown
Median house price $1,089,000 $1,100,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $1,035,000 $1,250,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 11 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Salt Ash has more land zoned for conservation (61% vs 17%).

Salt Ash Williamtown
Environmental 61% 17%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 43%
Rural and farming 30% 39%
Commercial 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

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

Ranking within NSW

Salt Ash Williamtown
House price Higher than 43% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
Income Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 7% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 59% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW

Liveability

Salt Ash Williamtown
Grade D
same for both
Score 19/100 18/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Salt Ash Williamtown
Bushfire Moderate
68/100
 Moderate
69/100
Crime High
80/100
 High
87/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
60/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise High
100/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in Salt Ash

  • Salt Ash Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Williamtown

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

Amenities in the suburb

Salt Ash Williamtown
Cafes & restaurants 2 3
Parks & reserves 2 0
Childcare 2 0
GPs 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 6 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 6
same for both

Mobility

Salt Ash sits further from the CBD (183.1 km vs 176 km).

Salt Ash Williamtown
Walkability score 18/100 24/100
Distance to Sydney 183.1 km
+4% vs other
 176 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 138 min 133 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 91.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 75.2
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.

Salt Ash Williamtown
Car (driver) 71.7% / 68.9%
Salt Ash — Car (driver): 71.7% Williamtown — Car (driver): 68.9%
Worked from Home 20.9% / 21.5%
Salt Ash — Worked from Home: 20.9% Williamtown — Worked from Home: 21.5%
Walked Only 3.0% / 6.4%
Salt Ash — Walked Only: 3.0% Williamtown — Walked Only: 6.4%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 3.2%
Salt Ash — Car (passenger): 3.0% Williamtown — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Bus 1.4% / —
Salt Ash — Bus: 1.4% Williamtown — Bus: not among its largest

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

Setting

Salt Ash Williamtown
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.0 km
4.4 km to a named beach
 3.8 km

NBN connectivity

Salt Ash Williamtown
Connectivity score 40/100 49/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
468 premises
 9%
548 premises

Climate

Salt Ash Williamtown
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)

Salt Ash Williamtown
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Salt Ash

Acreage

Williamtown

Quiet Retirees River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Salt Ash

Salt Ash vs Medowie Salt Ash vs Tanilba Bay Salt Ash vs Fullerton Cove Salt Ash vs Bobs Farm Salt Ash vs Oyster Cove

Other comparisons with Williamtown

Williamtown vs Raymond Terrace Williamtown vs Fullerton Cove Williamtown vs Tomago
Full data on Salt Ash Full data on Williamtown
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or