Merriwa
At $395,000, the median house price in Merriwa sits well below the NSW state average, yet a 16.2% vacancy rate tells a more complicated story. The town of 1,825 people covers 1,900 km2 of Upper Hunter country, giving it a density of just 1.0 person per km2. Agriculture employs 25.4% of the workforce, nearly 3 times the national share, anchoring an economy tied to cropping and grazing cycles rather than service sectors. The median age of 45 runs 5 years above the national figure, and household income lands at the 25th percentile nationally, two signals that point to a slowly aging, agricultural community rather than a growth-phase town.
Population
1,825
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,208/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$395K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $395,000 makes Merriwa far more accessible than most NSW markets. Prices rose from $380,000 in 2024 to $412,500 in 2025, a gain of 8.6%, suggesting demand has not stalled despite the remote location. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 95.8%, with semi-detached at 3.0% and apartments at just 0.6%, so buyers get land and space rather than strata titles. The 4-plus bedroom category accounts for 38.5% of dwellings and 3-bedroom homes for 42.5%, meaning family-sized stock dominates. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,235, which is low in absolute terms, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 23.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. With 46.4% of households owning outright, most residents have already paid off their homes.
For Buyers
The median house price of $395,000 makes Merriwa far more accessible than most NSW markets. Prices rose from $380,000 in 2024 to $412,500 in 2025, a gain of 8.6%, suggesting demand has not stalled despite the remote location. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 95.8%, with semi-detached at 3.0% and apartments at just 0.6%, so buyers get land and space rather than strata titles. The 4-plus bedroom category accounts for 38.5% of dwellings and 3-bedroom homes for 42.5%, meaning family-sized stock dominates. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,235, which is low in absolute terms, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 23.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. With 46.4% of households owning outright, most residents have already paid off their homes.
For Investors
The rental market in Merriwa is thin but not hostile. Weekly rent averages $245, and 25.8% of dwellings are rented, lower than the national average. The 16.2% vacancy rate is high compared to most regional NSW towns, pointing to more supply than active tenant demand. Against the $395,000 median, a $245 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 3.2%, modest but above what most coastal NSW suburbs offer. Development activity is low at 18 applications in 12 months, meaning supply pressure is minimal. The risk here is demand: the 78.4% resident retention rate shows stability, but an aging population base and income at the 25th percentile nationally cap the tenant pool's growth potential.
Development Activity
Total DAs
144
Last 12 Months
20
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 Merriwa iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Primary School
K-6 · 49 students
Merriwa Central School
K-12 · 221 students
Demographics
The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure and climbing, consistent with a rural town where younger residents leave for education and work. Overseas-born residents represent just 7.5% of the population, which is 14.1 percentage points below the national average, making Merriwa one of the more Anglo-Celtic communities in NSW. Ancestry is dominated by English (720), Irish (202) and Scottish (186), and Christianity accounts for 1,252 of 1,825 residents. University qualifications reach only 17.3%, which is 12.8 points below the national figure, reflecting a workforce oriented toward trades and agriculture rather than professional degrees. Average household size is 2.4, just below the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.8%
Houses
3.0%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Merriwa's housing profile is defined by freestanding houses and outright ownership. Separate houses make up 95.8% of dwellings, higher than almost any metropolitan suburb, and 46.4% of households own outright, meaning nearly half of residents carry no mortgage. The price moved from $380,000 in 2024 to $412,500 in 2025, an 8.6% increase over one year. At that price, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6% remains below the 30% stress threshold even though household income sits at the 25th percentile nationally. Rent-to-income is 20.3%, also comfortable. The dominant bedroom categories are 3-bedroom (42.5%) and 4-plus bedroom (38.5%), so the town largely consists of family-sized homes on proper lots rather than compact units.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,235
Rent / wk
$245
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$593
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.2%
Unoccupied
128
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.4%
Couples, no children
1,306
Total families
Economy & Employment
Agriculture is the defining industry at 25.4% of employed residents, followed by Education at 11.8% and Healthcare at 11.3%. Construction adds 8.4% and Public Administration 7.9%, the latter reflecting council and government services that often anchor small regional centres. By occupation, Managers lead at 146 workers, followed by Labourers (119) and Machinery/Drivers (110), a blend consistent with farm management and trade work rather than office roles. Unemployment sits at 5.0%, modestly above national norms, and the labour force participation rate of 48.9% is low, partly because the 45-year median age pushes a larger share into retirement or reduced work hours. Full-time workers account for 65.6% of employed residents.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.6%
Part-time
29.4%
Participation
48.9%
Employed
680
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.3%
Postgraduate
1.8%
Born Overseas
7.5%
Dwellings
661
Transport to Work
Merriwa is a car-dependent town: 82.0% of residents drive to work, which is above the national average, and only 0.8% use public transport, compared to higher rates in regional centres with rail or bus connections. Walking and cycling account for 11.0% of commutes, relatively high for a rural town, reflecting a compact town centre. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions accessible via local roads. The volunteering rate of 25.0% is strong and indicates active community participation. Rent stress and mortgage stress are both absent at 20.3% and 23.6% of income respectively, meaning housing costs are manageable for most residents despite income sitting at the 25th percentile nationally.
Drive
82.0%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
11.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Merriwa compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Merriwa a good suburb to live in?
Merriwa suits those who value affordability and rural space over urban services. The median house price of $395,000 is well below most NSW towns, mortgage repayments average $1,235 per month, and 46.4% of residents own outright. The trade-offs are an aging population, income at the 25th percentile nationally, and limited public transport, with 82.0% of residents relying on a car.
What is the median house price in Merriwa?
The median house price is $395,000 as of the 2024-2025 period. Prices rose from $380,000 in 2024 to $412,500 in 2025, a gain of 8.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,235, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6% is below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Merriwa?
No schools are recorded inside the Merriwa suburb boundary in this dataset. With 1,825 residents across a 1,900 km2 area, families typically access schools in nearby towns. University qualifications among residents reach 17.3%, which is 12.8 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Merriwa safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Merriwa in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, rent stress and mortgage stress are both absent, with housing costs at 20.3% and 23.6% of income respectively, suggesting financial stability. The volunteering rate of 25.0% reflects active community participation.
Is Merriwa good for property investment?
Merriwa offers an affordable entry point at a $395,000 median and an estimated gross yield near 3.2% at $245 weekly rent, higher than many coastal NSW markets. The 16.2% vacancy rate is elevated compared to regional averages, and income at the 25th percentile nationally limits the tenant pool's depth. Prices grew 8.6% in the year to 2025.
How is Merriwa's population changing?
Merriwa's population stands at 1,825, with 78.4% of residents remaining from year to year, indicating stability rather than rapid change. The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, and university qualifications at 17.3% sit 12.8 points below national, patterns consistent with a slowly aging agricultural community with limited inbound migration.
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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