Merewether Heights
Household income at the 97.3rd percentile nationally is what defines Merewether Heights, a compact 0.53 km2 suburb of 1,495 residents that functions as one of Newcastle's premium residential enclaves. The median house price sits at $1,750,000, well above Newcastle's typical market, and 50.2% of residents hold a university qualification, some 20 points higher than the national average. Detached houses account for 97.3% of dwellings, an almost exclusively freestanding stock, and more than half the homes have four or more bedrooms. With only 9.2% of residents renting, the suburb is dominated by long-term owning households rather than a transient tenant base.
Population
1,495
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,022/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$1.8M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,750,000 median house price reflects a premium market that appreciated from $1,725,000 in 2024 to $1,755,000 in 2025, a 1.7% gain over the period. Stock composition strongly favours detached houses at 97.3%, with semi-detached dwellings covering the remaining 2.7% and no significant apartment supply. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 52.6%, followed by three-bedroom at 44.0%, meaning buyers are almost always competing for large family homes. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.9%, below the 30% stress threshold and reflecting the suburb's high household income base. Outright owners at 43.8% and mortgage holders at 47.0% together account for over 90% of tenure, confirming the suburb is primarily owner-occupied. Only 9.2% rent, so stock rarely changes hands through the rental market.
For Buyers
The $1,750,000 median house price reflects a premium market that appreciated from $1,725,000 in 2024 to $1,755,000 in 2025, a 1.7% gain over the period. Stock composition strongly favours detached houses at 97.3%, with semi-detached dwellings covering the remaining 2.7% and no significant apartment supply. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 52.6%, followed by three-bedroom at 44.0%, meaning buyers are almost always competing for large family homes. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.9%, below the 30% stress threshold and reflecting the suburb's high household income base. Outright owners at 43.8% and mortgage holders at 47.0% together account for over 90% of tenure, confirming the suburb is primarily owner-occupied. Only 9.2% rent, so stock rarely changes hands through the rental market.
For Investors
Merewether Heights is not a high-yield rental market. Weekly rent of $580 against a $1,750,000 median implies a gross yield under 1.7%, very low by NSW standards. The renter share of just 9.2% means landlord competition is high within a thin pool of tenants, and the vacancy rate of 3.2% signals modest availability rather than strong rental demand. Development activity over the past 12 months totalled 12 applications, largely alterations and complying development certificates rather than new dwellings, consistent with an established suburb making no significant supply additions. Price growth of 1.7% annually is moderate. The investment case relies on capital preservation in a premium, low-turnover suburb, with household income at the 97.3rd percentile nationally providing a stable economic floor, rather than on yield or rental volume.
Development Activity
Total DAs
92
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-20.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Merewether Heights iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Merewether Heights Public School
K-6 · 269 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 is 1.0 year above the national figure, placing Merewether Heights marginally older than average. University qualifications reach 50.2%, which is 20.1 percentage points above the national rate, the strongest single differentiator in the demographic profile. Only 9.7% of residents were born overseas, some 11.9 points below the national figure, reflecting an Anglo-Celtic heritage base: English ancestry leads at 709 residents, followed by Irish (221) and Scottish (210). Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, consistent with the large-bedroom family home stock. Couples with children make up the dominant household type (711 families), compared to 253 couples without children. The volunteering rate of 20.0% signals active community participation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.3%
Houses
2.7%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Merewether Heights is built almost entirely on detached housing, with 97.3% separate houses and only 2.7% semi-detached, making it one of the more homogenous housing markets compared to broader NSW. Bedroom composition skews large: 52.6% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 44.0% have three, with two-bedroom homes accounting for just 3.4%. Tenure is dominated by owners, split 43.8% outright and 47.0% with a mortgage, leaving renters at 9.2%, well below the national renter share. Median house price rose from $1,725,000 in 2024 to $1,755,000 in 2025, a 1.7% CAGR. Rent-to-income at 19.2% and mortgage-to-income at 19.9% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, indicating that housing costs are manageable relative to the high household incomes here, where weekly household income of $3,022 ranks in the top 3% nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wk
$580
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,159
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.2%
Unoccupied
16
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.1%
Couples, no children
1,256
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local industry mix at 20.3% (113 workers), ahead of Education at 14.7% (82) and Professional/Technical Services at 14.0% (78), with Public Administration at 8.8% and Construction at 6.1%. By occupation, Professionals account for the single largest group at 269, followed by Managers (134) and Clerical/Admin (78), together suggesting a knowledge-worker and service-sector economy. Full-time employment runs at 62.9% with an unemployment rate of 4.4%, modestly above the typical low-unemployment bracket. Participation at 62.3% reflects some working-age residents not in the labour force (360 people), partly explained by the older median age of 41. Weekly personal income of $1,159 and weekly household income of $3,250 (family) rank the suburb well above state and national medians.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.9%
Part-time
32.7%
Participation
62.3%
Employed
677
Occupations
Top Industries
University
50.2%
Postgraduate
12.7%
Born Overseas
9.7%
Dwellings
478
Transport to Work
Car reliance is very high at 91.0% of residents driving to work, with only 2.9% walking or cycling, reflecting the suburb's hillside residential character with limited walking-distance destinations compared to flat urban centres. Schools within the suburb boundary are not recorded in this dataset, so families rely on nearby schools in the broader Newcastle area. Detailed crime statistics are not available for Merewether Heights, though the suburb's demographic profile, with household income at the 97.3rd percentile nationally and mortgage and rent stress both below 20%, is consistent with low financial stress across the population. Assistance needs are low at 6.2% of residents (91 people). The housing stress indicators, rent-to-income at 19.2% and mortgage-to-income at 19.9%, are both well below national stress thresholds, contributing to a financially stable residential environment for the 1,495 residents.
Drive
91.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Merewether Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Merewether Heights a good suburb to live in?
Merewether Heights ranks at the 97.3rd percentile nationally for household income, with a median weekly household income of $3,022. University qualifications reach 50.2%, some 20 points above the national figure. The suburb is almost entirely detached housing, owner-occupied, and financially low-stress, with mortgage-to-income at 19.9%.
What is the median house price in Merewether Heights?
The median house price is $1,750,000, rising from $1,725,000 in 2024 to $1,755,000 in 2025, a 1.7% gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600 and weekly rent is $580. The suburb sits well above the broader Newcastle market due to its premium income and family-home stock.
What schools are in Merewether Heights?
No schools are recorded inside the Merewether Heights boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Newcastle suburbs. The suburb has a highly educated population, with 50.2% holding university qualifications, which is 20.1 percentage points above the national average.
Is Merewether Heights safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Merewether Heights in this dataset. As an indirect measure, household income sits at the 97.3rd percentile nationally and housing stress indicators are well below thresholds, with rent-to-income at 19.2% and mortgage-to-income at 19.9%, consistent with low financial stress across the 1,495 residents.
Is Merewether Heights good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $580 against a $1,750,000 median implies a gross yield under 1.7%, below what most investors target. The vacancy rate is 3.2% and only 9.2% of residents rent, limiting the tenant pool. The suburb's strength lies in capital stability rather than yield, supported by household income at the 97.3rd percentile nationally.
How is Merewether Heights's population changing?
The suburb has a population of 1,495 across a compact 0.53 km2 area, giving a density of 2,843 per km2. Community stability is high, with 83.2% of residents having stayed put in the past year and a low turnover rate of 16.8%. Modest development activity of 12 applications in 12 months signals limited new supply.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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