Merewether

Merewether has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of Nov 2025, the Merewether statistical area (Lv2) has an estimated population of around 11,827 people. This reflects a growth of 39 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,788 people. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 11,791 residents following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release (June 2024) and an additional 44 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,877 persons per square kilometer, higher than the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 86.0% to recent population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, the Merewether (SA2) is expected to experience population growth just below the median of locations outside capital cities. By 2041, the area is projected to expand by 1,284 persons, reflecting a total gain of 12.6% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Merewether recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Merewether averaged around 33 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 165 homes. As of FY26, six approvals have been recorded. Between FY21 and FY25, an average of 1.9 people moved to the area per dwelling built. This indicates a balanced supply-demand market supporting stable conditions.

Developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments, evidenced by an average construction cost value of $725,000. In FY26, there have been $6.2 million in commercial approvals, suggesting Merewether's residential character. Compared to Rest of NSW, Merewether records roughly half the building activity per person and ranks among the 46th percentile nationally, indicating limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. This level is below the national average, suggesting an established area with potential planning limitations.

New development consists of 56% detached dwellings and 44% attached dwellings, offering choices across price ranges. With around 364 people per approval, Merewether indicates a mature market. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Merewether to grow by 1,491 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Merewether has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 35 projects likely impacting the region. Notable projects include Lingard Private Hospital Expansion, Lake Macquarie Private Hospital Expansion, The Merewether Residences, and 44 Cadaga Road Dual Occupancy Development. Below is a list of those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Merewether rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Merewether has an educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate is 1.5%, lower than the Rest of NSW's 3.8%.

Employment growth over the past year is estimated at 3.2%. As of September 2025, 7,486 residents are employed, with a participation rate of 68.9% compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Dominant sectors include health care & social assistance (1.4 times the regional average), education & training, and professional & technical services. Agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.3%.

Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census data. In the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.2% while labour force rose by 3.6%, raising unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. Conversely, Rest of NSW saw employment decline by 0.5%. State-level data for NSW as of 25-Nov shows employment contracted by 0.03%, with an unemployment rate of 3.9% compared to the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia projects national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Merewether's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.4% over five years and 15.2% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2023 indicates that income in Merewether is exceptionally high nationally. The median assessed income is $64,074 while the average income stands at $105,112. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's figures where the median income is $52,390 and the average income is $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates would be approximately $69,751 (median) and $114,425 (average) as of September 2025. From the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Merewether, between the 82nd and 85th percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows that 27.8% of the population (3,287 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, aligning with the metropolitan region where this cohort likewise represents 29.9%. The substantial proportion of high earners (37.7% above $3,000 per week) indicates strong economic capacity throughout the area. Housing accounts for 13.7% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 84th percentile for disposable income and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Merewether displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Merewether, as per the latest Census, consisted of 61.0% houses and 38.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 70.5% houses and 29.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Merewether was at 35.9%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (30.3%) or rented (33.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Merewether was $2,457, surpassing Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,962. The median weekly rent figure in Merewether was $420, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Merewether's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Merewether features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 65.6% of all households, including 29.3% couples with children, 27.8% couples without children, and 7.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.4%, with lone person households at 27.2% and group households comprising 7.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average in the Rest of NSW.

Merewether shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

In Merewether, 44.1% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, which is significantly higher than the broader benchmarks of 21.3% in Rest of NSW and 26.1% in the SA4 region. This educational advantage positions the area well for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 29.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.5%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 28.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 10.6% and certificates at 17.8%.

Educational participation is notably high in Merewether, with 30.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 8.7% in tertiary education, and 7.9% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport analysis conducted in Merewether shows 105 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totaling 22 individual routes. Together, these routes facilitate 1,669 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of public transport is rated as excellent, with residents on average located 119 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 238 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Merewether is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Merewether demonstrates above-average health outcomes, with both young and old age cohorts showing low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 68% of the total population (8,082 people), compared to 56.7% across Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 8.4 and 7.5% of residents respectively.

A total of 70.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.9% across Rest of NSW. The area has 16.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,892 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Merewether is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Merewether had low cultural diversity, with 87.4% of its population born in Australia, 93.3% being citizens, and 93.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 49.5% of Merewether's population. Judaism was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% across Rest of NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (30.9%), Australian (27.5%), and Irish (10.4%). Notable divergences included Welsh (0.9% vs regional 0.8%), French (0.7% vs 0.4%), and Macedonian (0.6% vs 0.8%).

Merewether's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Merewether's median age is 38, lower than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 but equivalent to Australia's national norm of 38. The age group of 25-34 years shows strong representation in Merewether at 16.1%, compared to Rest of NSW. Conversely, the 75-84 age cohort is less prevalent at 4.7%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 13.9% to 16.1% of Merewether's population. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 age group has declined from 13.3% to 11.7%, and the 5 to 14 age group has decreased from 12.1% to 11.0%. Demographic modeling indicates that Merewether's age profile will significantly change by 2041. Leading this shift, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 33%, reaching 2,523 people from its current figure of 1,904. Conversely, population declines are forecasted for the 65 to 74 and 55 to 64 age cohorts.