Merewether
A $1.665m 2025 quarterly house median puts Merewether in Newcastle's premium coastal tier, with household income in the 87.7th percentile and 51.5% of residents university educated, 21.4 percentage points above national. Compared with neighbouring The Junction and Hamilton South, Merewether's clearest point of difference is its beach-side detached-house profile, not just convenience. The suburb has 11,788 residents, a median age of 39 and slow forecast growth of 0.44% a year, so demand is more about scarcity and lifestyle depth than rapid population expansion.
Population
11,788
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,287/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
169
Median House
$1.6M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers face a high entry price, with the listed median house price at $1,550,000 and the latest 2025 quarterly median at $1,665,000. The appeal is space: 61.0% of dwellings are separate houses, well above the 19.7% apartment share and 19.2% semi-detached share. The bedroom mix supports families and downsizers, with 34.8% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 32.0% having 4 or more. Mortgage pressure is lower than the price tag suggests because mortgage costs sit at 24.8% of income, supported by $2,287 weekly household income.
For Buyers
Homebuyers face a high entry price, with the listed median house price at $1,550,000 and the latest 2025 quarterly median at $1,665,000. The appeal is space: 61.0% of dwellings are separate houses, well above the 19.7% apartment share and 19.2% semi-detached share. The bedroom mix supports families and downsizers, with 34.8% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 32.0% having 4 or more. Mortgage pressure is lower than the price tag suggests because mortgage costs sit at 24.8% of income, supported by $2,287 weekly household income.
For Investors
Merewether has a meaningful rental base, with 34.0% of homes rented, higher than the 30.1% with a mortgage and close to the 35.9% owned outright. Median rent is $420 a week and rent-to-income sits at 18.4%, so tenants are not broadly flagged as stressed. The vacancy rate of 8.2% points to leasing risk compared with tighter markets, but 40.0% rent growth in the shift indicators shows demand has still repriced. Development is active, with 156 applications in 12 months, which can refresh stock but also add competing supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
962
Last 12 Months
169
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-5.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Merewether iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Primary School
K-6 · 387 students
Hamilton South Public School
K-6 · 362 students
The Junction Public School
K-6 · 450 students
Merewether Public School
K-6 · 139 students
Demographics
Merewether is educated, locally rooted and less migrant-driven than many Australian suburbs. Median age is 39, 1.0 year below national, while university attainment of 51.5% is 21.4 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 12.6%, 9.0 percentage points below national, reinforcing the Anglo-leaning ancestry pattern led by English 5,212, Irish 1,757 and Scottish 1,542 counts. Average household size is 2.4, slightly below national by 0.1, which fits the mix of couples without children, families and downsizers.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
61.0%
Houses
19.2%
Townhouse
19.7%
Apartment
Tenure
The short price series shows strong momentum: the quarterly median moved from $1,400,000 in 2024 to $1,665,000 in 2025, an 18.9% rise and 18.9% 1-year CAGR. The 2025 figure is both the peak and latest price, so peak-to-latest is 0.0%, with the trough at $1,400,000. Tenure is unusually balanced for a premium suburb: 35.9% owned outright, 30.1% mortgaged and 34.0% rented. Larger homes are common, with 32.0% having 4 or more bedrooms, but 26.0% are 2-bedroom dwellings, giving buyers more options than a detached-house-only market.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,457
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$1,102
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.2%
Unoccupied
409
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.7%
Couples, no children
8,755
Total families
Economy & Employment
Merewether's economy ranks in the upper deciles, with IEO decile 9, IRSD decile 9 and IRSAD decile 9, while IER decile 8 sits lower than the other measures because economic resources are strong but not as uniformly high as education and occupation. Healthcare leads employment at 25.9% and 1,280 workers, followed by Education at 12.8%, Professional/Tech at 11.5%, Construction at 7.6% and Public Admin at 6.7%. Professionals dominate with 2,433 people, ahead of 1,023 Managers. Unemployment is low at 3.4% and participation is 64.4%.
Unemployment
1.9%
Labour Force
9,143
Unemployed
170
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.8%
Part-time
34.8%
Participation
64.4%
Employed
6,138
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.5%
Postgraduate
13.4%
Born Overseas
12.6%
Dwellings
4,580
Transport to Work
Livability is led by schools, coastal access and high socio-economic advantage rather than public transport. There are 4 local schools with an ICSEA range from 950 to 1141. St Joseph's Primary School is the top ICSEA option at 1141 in the Catholic sector, while Hamilton South Public School at 1139 and The Junction Public School at 1115 anchor the government offering. IRSAD decile 9 supports the premium setting. Commuting is car-led, with 86.9% driving, much higher than 1.1% using public transport, while 7.6% walk or cycle because local trips are practical.
Drive
86.9%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
7.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.44%/yr
(+66 people/yr)
EstablishedMerewether's growth outlook is slow rather than expansionary. The forecast trend is 0.44% a year, or 66 people annually, compared with the medium path rising from 14,959 in 2026 to 15,290 in 2031. Migration is the main driver: overseas migration adds an average 146 people a year, while internal migration is negative at -54, showing local churn outpaces domestic inflow. The shift trajectory is Mixed, with 40.0% rent growth and 18.4% real income growth, but the formal gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+146
Net Internal / yr
-54
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Merewether compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Merewether a good suburb to live in?
Yes, especially for buyers wanting a premium coastal suburb with strong education and income markers. Household income sits in the 87.7th percentile, 51.5% of residents are university educated, and there are 4 local schools.
What is the median house price in Merewether?
The listed median house price is $1,550,000. The latest quarterly series is higher at $1,665,000 in 2025, up from $1,400,000 in 2024, which represents 18.9% growth over the 1-year series.
What schools are in Merewether?
Merewether has 4 listed local schools: St Joseph's Primary School, Hamilton South Public School, The Junction Public School and Merewether Public School. ICSEA values range from 950 to 1141 across Catholic and government sectors.
Is Merewether safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available, so buyers should check recent local crime maps and inspect at different times. The broader setting is high advantage, with IRSAD decile 9 and only 3.9% of residents needing assistance.
Is Merewether good for property investment?
It suits investors focused on scarcity and long-term demand more than high yield. Renting is 34.0%, median rent is $420 a week, vacancy is 8.2%, and 156 development applications in 12 months may add some competing stock.
How is Merewether's population changing?
Population growth is modest. The forecast trend is 0.44% a year, or about 66 people annually, with the medium path moving from 14,959 in 2026 to 15,290 in 2031. Overseas migration is the main driver at 146 net per year.
What development is happening in Merewether?
Development activity is high, with 156 applications recorded over 12 months. Recent examples include alterations and additions, a 1-dwelling addition, and a 3-dwelling multi-dwelling or dual-occupancy style proposal.
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.
Explore Merewether on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map