New South Wales · Postcode 2318
Salt Ash postcode and suburb data
New South Wales · Phone area code 02 · 137 km from Sydney
Suburb snapshot
Salt Ash at a glance vs NSW
Fast facts and benchmark bars show the suburb's key postcode, Census, SEIFA, school and LGA signals in context.
Quick facts
Benchmarks against NSW
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
Detailed comparison table
Salt Ash vs the NSW average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Salt Ash | NSW avg | AU avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $1,461 -NSW | $1,931 | $1,836 |
| Rent/wk | $310 -NSW | $445 | $390 |
| Mortgage/month | $1,950 -NSW | $2,247 | $1,958 |
| Median age | 46 | 45.0 | 45.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 3/10 -NSW | 6.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 6.8% +NSW | 5.0% | 5.0% |
Green pill = at least 10% above the NSW average; red = at least 10% below; grey = within 10%. For unemployment, colour polarity is inverted: lower is better.
Salt Ash is a locality 137 km from Sydney in New South Wales, classified as inner regional by the ABS. The postcode is 2318. It falls within the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region. The local government area is Port Stephens.
According to the 2021 Census, Salt Ash has a population of 1,103 with a median age of 46. The median weekly household income is $1,461, below the NSW average. The unemployment rate is 6.8%, higher than the NSW average. The Indigenous population is 76 (6.9% of residents).
Housing in Salt Ash includes a median weekly rent of $310, median monthly mortgage repayment of $1,950, with 376 total dwellings. Housing costs in the area sit below the NSW average. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 87.5% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Salt Ash scores in decile 3 out of 10, which is below the national average.
Salt Ash is served by Salt Ash Public School.
Salt Ash is part of the Newcastle statistical area in New South Wales.
Salt Ash details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 2318 |
| State | New South Wales (NSW) |
| Phone Area Code | 02 |
| Population (2021) | 1,103 |
| Median Age | 46 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $1,461/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $610/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $310 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $1,950 |
| Average Household Size | 2.7 persons |
| Area | 51.3 km² |
| Population Density | 21/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 376 |
| Australian Citizens | 91.1% |
| Indigenous Population | 76 (6.9%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 3/10 (below average) |
| Latitude | -32.794444 |
| Longitude | 151.922222 |
| Distance from Sydney | 137 km |
| Region (SA4) | Newcastle and Lake Macquarie |
| Area (SA3) | Newcastle |
| Local Government | Port Stephens |
| Federal Electorate | Paterson |
| State Electorate | Port Stephens |
| Time Zone | AEST (UTC+10), Australia/Sydney (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 195 (17.7%) |
| 15–24 years | 136 (12.3%) |
| 25–44 years | 207 (18.8%) |
| 45–64 years | 339 (30.7%) |
| 65+ years | 231 (20.9%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Arthritis | 153 (13.9%) |
| Asthma | 111 (10.1%) |
| Diabetes | 54 (4.9%) |
| Heart Disease | 43 (3.9%) |
| Cancer | 41 (3.7%) |
| Lung Condition | 18 (1.6%) |
| Dementia | 4 (0.4%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 5 (1.4%) |
| 1 vehicle | 79 (21.6%) |
| 2 vehicles | 124 (33.9%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 158 (43.2%) |
Schools in Salt Ash
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Salt Ash. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
Suburbs Near Salt Ash
Same Postcode (2318)
More Salt Ash Data
Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 IRSAD, ACARA school profiles 2025. How this data is sourced.