Merewether Heights

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates and new addresses validated since the Census, the Merewether Heights statistical area (Lv2) had an estimated population of around 1,522 as of Nov 2025. This reflects a growth of 27 people (1.8%) from the 2021 Census figure of 1,495 residents. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 1,520 following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of two new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,871 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 86.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the former data. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to demographic trends, the Merewether Heights (SA2) is expected to increase by just below the median of Australia's regional areas, with an estimated expansion of 163 persons to reach a total population of around 1,685 by 2041, reflecting a 10.4% increase over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Merewether Heights, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Merewether Heights approved 3 new dwellings annually on average over the past five years, totaling 15. This low development level is typical of rural areas with modest housing needs and limited construction activity due to local demand and infrastructure capacity. Yearly growth figures may vary significantly given the low approval numbers.

Compared to Rest of NSW and national averages, Merewether Heights has substantially lower development levels. New developments consist of 50% detached dwellings and 50% medium-high density housing, marking a shift from the current 97% houses, likely due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. As of approximately 433 people per dwelling approval, Merewether Heights is an established area. By 2041, it is projected to add 158 residents (AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Development pace keeps up with growth projections, but increasing competition among buyers is expected as population expands.

Future projections show Merewether Heights adding 158 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Development is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Merewether Heights has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

No changes can significantly impact an area's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 0 projects that could potentially affect this area. Notable projects include The Merewether Residences, The Merewether Residences, Adamstown Renewal Corridor, and Broadmeadow Place Strategy, with the following list detailing those most likely to be relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Merewether Heights ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Merewether Heights has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate was 1.8% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.9%.

As of September 2025804 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.0%, below Rest of NSW's 3.8%. Workforce participation is high at 66.1% compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services, which has a particularly strong representation with an employment share 2.3 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.0% of Merewether Heights's workforce compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

The area appears to have limited local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.9%, labour force increased by 3.5%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points, compared to Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.5% and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%, favourable to the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates varying significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Merewether Heights's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2022, Merewether Heights had a median income among taxpayers of $67,388 and an average level of $110,549. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high compared to the Rest of NSW's median of $49,459 and average of $62,998. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $75,886 (median) and $124,489 (average), based on a 12.61% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Merewether Heights rank highly nationally, between the 88th and 97th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 31.3% of residents (476 people) earn over $4,000 per week, differing from metropolitan patterns where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 29.9%. The suburb demonstrates considerable affluence with 49.1% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. After housing costs, residents retain 88.8% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Merewether Heights is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Merewether Heights, as per the latest Census, consisted of 97.3% houses and 2.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Non-Metro NSW had 70.5% houses and 29.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Merewether Heights was at 43.3%, with the rest either mortgaged (47.1%) or rented (9.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,600, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,962. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $580, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Merewether Heights' mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Merewether Heights features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 81.1% of all households, including 47.6% couples with children, 25.7% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up 18.9%, consisting of 16.5% lone person households and 2.5% group households. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Merewether Heights demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Merewether Heights has a notably high level of educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above, with 46.7% holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the broader benchmarks of 21.3% in Rest of NSW and 26.1% in the SA4 region. The area's strong educational advantage is reflected in its high proportion of residents with bachelor degrees (31.6%), postgraduate qualifications (10.7%), and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 28.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (16.7%).

Educational participation in the area is notably high, with 34.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.1% in primary education, 10.2% in secondary education, and 5.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Merewether Heights has 15 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 11 different routes that collectively facilitate 197 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 127 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 28 daily trips across all routes, equating to approximately 13 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Merewether Heights is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Merewether Heights shows better-than-average health outcomes with lower prevalence of common conditions among its general population compared to national figures, but higher among older and at-risk groups. Approximately 70% (1,072 people) have private health cover, higher than Rest of NSW's 55.6%. Nationally, it stands at 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (7.7%) and mental health issues (6.8%), with 71.6% reporting no medical ailments, compared to Rest of NSW's 64.9%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.6% (298 people), versus Rest of NSW's 16.7%. Health outcomes among seniors require more focus than the broader population.

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

Merewether Heights had a cultural diversity below average, with 90.3% of its population born in Australia, 96.3% being citizens, and 94.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Merewether Heights, comprising 47.9% of people, compared to 47.7% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.1%), Australian (26.9%), and Irish (10.0%).

Notably, Welsh (0.9%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 0.8%, Scottish (9.5%) also exceeded the regional average of 8.4%, and Macedonian (0.5%) showed a lower representation than the regional average of 0.8%.

Merewether Heights's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Merewether Heights is 40 years, which is slightly below Rest of NSW's average of 43 but above Australia's median of 38. The proportion of individuals aged 5-14 years is notably higher at 18.1% compared to the Rest of NSW average, while those aged 65-74 are under-represented at 6.7%. This concentration of 5-14 year-olds is significantly above the national average of 12.2%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the proportion of individuals aged 25 to 34 has grown from 6.7% to 9.2%, while those aged 55 to 64 have declined from 9.3% to 7.8%. Population forecasts for Merewether Heights indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041, with the 35 to 44 age cohort projected to expand notably, increasing by 39 people (18%) from 219 to 259. Conversely, the 65 to 74 and 55 to 64 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.