Merredin

Merredin is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Merredin is around 2,861, reflecting an increase of 257 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 9.9% change from the previous population count of 2,604 people. The current resident population estimate of 2,823 is based on AreaSearch's analysis of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 11.5 persons per square kilometer. Merredin's growth rate since the census is within 1.3 percentage points of the Rest of WA, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 81.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch uses the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Demographic trends project an above median population growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with the suburb of Merredin expected to grow by 492 persons to reach a total population of around 3,353 by 2041, reflecting a 15.4% increase over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Merredin according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Merredin experienced an average of one dwelling approval per year between 2015 and 2019, totaling eight dwellings over the five-year period. This low development activity reflects Merredin's rural nature, where housing needs drive development rather than market demand. The small number of approvals means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Compared to Rest of WA and national patterns, Merredin shows notably less construction activity. Recent building activity consists solely of standalone homes, favoring family dwellings suited for rural lifestyles. As of 2021 quarterly estimates, the area has an estimated 794 people per dwelling approval. By 2041, Merredin's population is forecast to grow by 442 residents.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Merredin has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

No infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to impact the area. Key projects include Western Australia Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements, South West Interconnected System Transformation, WA Police Satellite Technology Upgrade, and Goldfields Pipeline Renewal (Stage 1).

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

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The labour market in Merredin demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Merredin has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 2.6% as of September 2025, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. There were 1,475 residents employed at this time, with an unemployment rate 0.6% lower than the Rest of WA's rate of 3.3%.

Workforce participation was on par with the Rest of WA's 67.2%. Census responses indicated that only 4.2% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area had a particular employment specialization in wholesale trade, with an employment share 3.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, mining showed lower representation at 3.5% compared to the regional average of 11.7%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated from broader statistical areas during the year to September 2025, the labour force decreased by 4.1% while employment declined by 3.2%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.9 percentage points. This contrasted with Rest of WA, where employment rose by 1.4%, the labour force grew by 1.2%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offered further insight into potential future demand within Merredin. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, were mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. National employment was forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Merredin's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, though it is noted this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not take into account localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Merredin had a median taxpayer income of $50,711 and an average income of $62,932. Nationally, the figures are $59,973 (median) and $74,392 (average). In Rest of WA, they are $59,973 and $74,392 respectively. By September 2025, estimates project median income to be approximately $55,589 and average income to be around $68,986, based on a 9.62% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Merredin's household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly, between the 28th and 39th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 31.9% of individuals in Merredin earn between $1,500 - 2,999 (912 individuals), similar to the broader area where 31.1% fall into this bracket. Housing costs allow for retention of 88.7%, but disposable income ranks below average at the 34th percentile.

Merredin is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Merredin, as per the latest Census evaluation, was 94.5% houses and 5.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro WA's 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Merredin was at 32.5%, similar to Non-Metro WA. Mortgaged dwellings were at 33.2% and rented ones at 34.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,074, below the Non-Metro WA average of $1,560. Median weekly rent in Merredin was $220, compared to Non-Metro WA's $265. Nationally, Merredin's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Merredin features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 64.1% of all households, including 25.0% couples with children, 28.5% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 35.9%, with lone person households at 32.9% and group households comprising 2.8%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Merredin fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 13.1%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 40.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 7.4% and certificates at 33.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.3% in primary education, 10.6% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Merredin has two active public transport stops operating, both serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are served by two individual routes combined offering twelve weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited in Merredin with residents typically located 959 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars are the dominant mode of transport at 89%, while walking accounts for 7%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.4, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 4.2% of residents work from home, which might reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages one trip per day across all routes, resulting in approximately six weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Merredin is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Merredin faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~1,493 people), compared to 56.4% across Rest of WA. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 9.2 and 8.7% of residents respectively. Sixty-six point one percent of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.3% across Rest of WA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Sixteen point zero percent of residents are aged 65 and over (457 people), lower than the 19.2% in Rest of WA. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Merredin ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Merredin's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 84.9% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (86.4%), and speaking English only at home (94.0%). Christianity is the predominant religion in Merredin, making up 46.8%, compared to 44.6% across the rest of WA. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (33.4%), English (32.1%), and Scottish (7.1%), with Australians being more prevalent than the regional average of 28.4%.

Notably, Australian Aboriginal people are overrepresented in Merredin at 4.1% compared to 6.1% regionally, while New Zealanders make up 0.8% (vs 0.9%) and Italians 4.0% (vs 3.0%).

Merredin's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Merredin's median age is 38 years, slightly below the Rest of WA average of 40 but in line with Australia's median of 38. The 15-24 age group is notably over-represented at 14.5% locally compared to the Rest of WA average. Conversely, the 45-54 year-olds are under-represented at 9.4%. Post the 2021 Census, Merredin's median age decreased by 1.6 years to 38 due to a shift in younger residents. Specifically, the 15-24 cohort grew from 11.5% to 14.5%, while the 25-34 group increased from 12.7% to 15.3%. Meanwhile, the 45-54 cohort declined from 12.0% to 9.4%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 13.9% to 11.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Merredin's age profile. The 25-34 cohort is expected to grow by 62%, adding 272 residents to reach 710. Conversely, the 85+ and 75-84 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.