Merimbula
A median age of 54 places Merimbula 14 years above the national figure, making it one of the most structurally aged communities on the NSW South Coast. With 26.3% of dwellings vacant at census time and household income at only the 21.5th national percentile, the suburb's economy runs on tourism and retirement rather than working-age employment. Population has grown 17.7% over the past decade, reaching 3,821 residents, driven by balanced internal and overseas migration of roughly 127 people per year combined. Healthcare leads local employment at 21.8%, reflecting both the ageing resident base and the town's role as a regional medical hub for the Sapphire Coast.
Population
3,821
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,146/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
47
Median House
$660K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price sits at $660,000, with prices rising from $642,000 in 2024 to $665,000 in 2025, a 3.6% gain over one year. Separate houses make up 59.4% of dwellings, with apartments at 22.7% and semi-detached at 17.1%, giving buyers a reasonably typical coastal stock mix. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, which maps to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.6%, above the 30% stress threshold given household income sits at the 21.5th national percentile. The most common dwelling size is 3 bedrooms at 38.0%, followed by 2 bedrooms at 31.0% and 4-plus at 21.4%. Outright owners at 43.1% dominate tenure, compared to 23.5% on mortgages, a pattern consistent with retirees who bought earlier at lower prices.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at $660,000, with prices rising from $642,000 in 2024 to $665,000 in 2025, a 3.6% gain over one year. Separate houses make up 59.4% of dwellings, with apartments at 22.7% and semi-detached at 17.1%, giving buyers a reasonably typical coastal stock mix. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, which maps to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.6%, above the 30% stress threshold given household income sits at the 21.5th national percentile. The most common dwelling size is 3 bedrooms at 38.0%, followed by 2 bedrooms at 31.0% and 4-plus at 21.4%. Outright owners at 43.1% dominate tenure, compared to 23.5% on mortgages, a pattern consistent with retirees who bought earlier at lower prices.
For Investors
Renters make up 33.4% of households, a solid tenant pool for a town of 3,821, with weekly rent at $310. Against the $660,000 median that implies a gross yield near 2.4%, low by regional NSW standards. The standout risk is a 26.3% vacancy rate, higher than the national average, reflecting the large holiday-let component in the stock. Development activity is active at 44 applications in the past 12 months, including new dwelling houses and alterations. Net internal migration averages 82 people per year and overseas migration adds 45, supporting steady demand without oversupply pressure from new estates. Rent grew 47.8% over the decade, outpacing real income growth of 14.8%, which has pushed rent-to-income to 27.1%, just below the 30% stress threshold.
Development Activity
Total DAs
250
Last 12 Months
47
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+20.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Merimbula iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Merimbula Public School
K-6 · 428 students
Demographics
The median age of 54 is 14.0 years above the national figure, and the trajectory deepens that gap: the senior share rose 5.8 points while the working-age share fell 2.7 points and the youth share fell 1.9 points over the decade. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,760), Irish (519) and Scottish (441), with overseas-born residents at 17.6%, which is 4.0 points below the national rate. University qualifications reach 27.3%, sitting 2.8 points below the national figure. Average household size is 2.0, which is 0.5 below national, consistent with the dominant household type: couples without children, who account for 46.1% of families. Volunteering stands at 22.0%, above typical community rates, and 7.2% of residents need daily assistance, elevated by the older age structure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
59.4%
Houses
17.1%
Townhouse
22.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners outnumber mortgage holders by nearly 2:1, at 43.1% versus 23.5%, with renters at 33.4%. The high outright ownership reflects the retiree profile: many long-term owners hold debt-free properties rather than recent buyers carrying mortgages. House prices moved from $642,000 in 2024 to $665,000 in 2025, a 3.6% CAGR over one year. Mortgage-to-income at 30.6% triggers the stress threshold, yet the 21.5th-percentile household income understates the spending capacity of retirees with superannuation and asset drawdowns. The 26.3% vacancy rate is the dominant housing characteristic, more than double a typical residential suburb, driven by holiday houses and investment properties that sit empty outside peak season.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$310
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$708
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
26.3%
Unoccupied
613
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.6% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.1%
Couples, no children
2,408
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 21.8% of workers (250 people), a share higher than most coastal towns nationally, driven by the region's ageing population and Merimbula's role as the main medical centre for Bega Valley. Hospitality follows at 13.2% (152 workers), Construction and Education each at 10.2% (117 each), and Retail at 8.6%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 316, Community and Personal Service at 244 and Managers at 208. The unemployment rate is 4.0% and the full-time employment rate is 56.1%, though participation sits at only 48.0% because 1,428 residents are not in the labour force, largely retirees. IRSD decile 6 puts Merimbula in the middle tier nationally on disadvantage, while the IRSAD decile 4 and IEO decile 4 reflect below-average economic resources and educational attainment relative to NSW.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
5,204
Unemployed
119
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.1%
Part-time
39.9%
Participation
48.0%
Employed
1,552
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.3%
Postgraduate
5.9%
Born Overseas
17.6%
Dwellings
1,690
Transport to Work
Car dependence is pronounced: 84.7% of workers commute by car compared to 0.6% using public transport, reflecting the absence of heavy rail or frequent bus services typical of a regional coastal town. Walking and cycling account for 9.2%, above average for a town of this size, suggesting a compact walkable core. The IRSAD decile of 4 places Merimbula in the lower-advantage tier nationally, below state and national medians. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, with families accessing services in nearby Bega and regional centres. Development activity of 44 applications in 12 months indicates steady building momentum, with dwelling houses and residential alterations as the dominant application types. The 7.2% needing daily assistance, or 260 residents, is elevated compared to the national rate, a direct consequence of the median age of 54 being 14 years above national.
Drive
84.7%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
9.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.99%/yr
(+116 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has grown 17.7% over the past decade and continues rising at 0.99% annually, adding roughly 116 people per year. The medium forecast projects the broader area reaching 12,543 by 2031 from a 2025 base of 11,719. Migration is the primary engine: net internal migration averages 82 people per year and overseas migration adds 45, classifying the driver as balanced rather than reliant on one source. The gentrification score of 15 places Merimbula in the not-gentrifying category, appropriate for a retirement and holiday town where price appreciation is driven by lifestyle demand rather than urban upgrading. Affordability worsened from 47.8% of income in 2011 to 50.1% in 2021, reflecting rent growth of 47.8% against real income growth of only 14.8% over the same period.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+45
Net Internal / yr
+82
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +15% since 2011, Net internal migration +82/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Merimbula compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Merimbula a good suburb to live in?
Merimbula suits retirees and lifestyle seekers well, with a median age of 54 that is 14 years above the national figure and 43.1% of dwellings owned outright. Healthcare and hospitality services support the older population. The IRSAD decile of 4 places it below the national average on socioeconomic advantage, and household income sits at the 21.5th national percentile, so it suits those with retirement assets rather than high wages.
What is the median house price in Merimbula?
The median house price is $660,000 as of 2025, up 3.6% from $642,000 in 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, which produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.6%, above the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $310.
What schools are in Merimbula?
No schools are recorded inside the Merimbula suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access primary and secondary schools in nearby Bega and across Bega Valley. The local university qualification rate is 27.3%, sitting 2.8 points below the national figure, consistent with the older, retirement-oriented population.
Is Merimbula safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Merimbula in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 6 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, placing it in the mid-range nationally. The 22.0% volunteering rate reflects strong social cohesion for a community of 3,821 residents.
Is Merimbula good for property investment?
Rent of $310 per week against a $660,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.4%, below the NSW regional average. The 26.3% vacancy rate is the key risk, driven by holiday-let stock sitting empty outside peak season. In favour: rent grew 47.8% over the decade, net annual migration of 127 people supports demand, and 44 development applications in 12 months show an active local market.
How is Merimbula's population changing?
Population is growing at 0.99% annually, adding roughly 116 people per year, and has risen 17.7% over the past decade to 3,821 residents. The medium forecast projects the broader area reaching 12,543 by 2031. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 5.8 points and working-age share down 2.7 points since 2011, driven by net internal migration of 82 people per year.
How much development is happening in Merimbula?
There were 44 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, covering new dwelling houses, residential alterations and pool installations. This is an active level for a town of 3,821 people, consistent with steady lifestyle-driven demand. The 26.3% vacancy rate means new supply competes with a large pool of existing empty holiday and investment properties.
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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