Merriwa (NSW)

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Merriwa (NSW) is around 1,858, reflecting an increase of 33 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a growth rate of 1.8%. The latest resident population estimate by AreaSearch, based on the ERP data release from June 2025 and additional validated new addresses, is 1,857. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 1 person per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Merriwa has shown consistent growth with an average annual growth rate of 0.6%, outperforming its SA3 area. Natural growth contributed significantly to this increase, accounting for about 51% 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 for areas not covered by this data, which were released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections indicate that the suburb is expected to grow by approximately 197 persons by 2041, reflecting an increase of about 10.6% over the 16-year period. This growth rate aligns with the median population increase expected for non-metropolitan areas in Australia.

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

Merriwa approved 3 new dwellings annually from 2016 to 2020 inclusive. This totals 16 dwellings over five years. Rural areas typically have low development levels due to modest housing needs and limited construction activity by local demand and infrastructure capacity.

The small sample size means individual projects can significantly influence annual growth statistics. Merriwa's construction activity is significantly less than Rest of NSW, and well below national averages. Recent building activity consists solely of detached houses, favoring family homes suited for rural lifestyle seekers. There are estimated to be 526 people per dwelling approval in the area, reflecting its quiet development environment.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Merriwa is projected to grow by 196 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Merriwa has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified four projects likely impacting the area: Merriwa Town Centre Masterplan, Merriwa Energy Hub, Goulburn River Solar Farm And Battery, and McCullys Gap BESS. The following details those deemed most 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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Merriwa recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Merriwa has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, diverse sector representation, and an unemployment rate of 5.2% as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025810 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.2% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Merriwa is lower at 56.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%.

According to Census responses, 16.9% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Merriwa has a strong focus on agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share five times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance has limited presence at 8.4%, compared to the regional average of 16.9%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population numbers. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels in Merriwa decreased by 0.7% while employment declined by 0.6%, keeping unemployment relatively stable at 5.2%. In contrast, Regional NSW saw an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising to 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that over five years, total employment is projected to grow by 6.6%, and over ten years, it could increase by 13.7%. However, growth rates vary significantly across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Merriwa's current employment mix indicates potential local employment growth of 4.7% over five years and 10.8% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for local population changes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that in Merriwa, median income is $41,343 and average income is $58,515. This is below the national averages of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) for Regional NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $45,610 (median) and $64,554 (average). Census 2021 data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Merriwa fall between the 10th and 13th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 27.7% of locals (514 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, similar to the surrounding region where 29.9% are in this bracket. Housing costs allow for 88.0% of income retention, but total disposable income ranks at just the 18th percentile nationally.

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

Merriwa's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census report, consisted of 95.8% houses and 4.2% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Regional NSW which had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Merriwa stood at 45.7%, with mortgaged properties at 28.0% and rented ones at 26.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,235, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Merriwa was recorded as $245, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Merriwa's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Merriwa features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 67.3% of all households, including 24.8% couples with children, 31.1% couples without children, and 10.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.7%, with lone person households at 30.4% and group households comprising 2.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.

Merriwa faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 13.6%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This indicates a need for targeted educational initiatives to improve this figure. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.3%) and graduate diplomas (0.9%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 40.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.2%) and certificates (32.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.3% in primary education, 9.6% 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

Merriwa has 63 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 8 different routes that collectively provide 80 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as good, with residents typically located 376 meters from the nearest stop. In this primarily residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Cars are the dominant mode of transport for 86% of residents, while 11% walk. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 16.9% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 11 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Merriwa is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Merriwa faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across all age groups but more so among older cohorts.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~931 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (9.9%) and asthma (9.8%). 62.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 26.8% of residents aged 65 and over (497 people), higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

The latest Census data sees Merriwa placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Merriwa's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.0% of its population being citizens, 92.5% born in Australia, and 97.9% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Merriwa is Christianity, comprising 76.5% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (36.8%), English (31.1%), and Irish (8.7%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 5.1% in Merriwa than regionally at 4.6%. Scottish and Welsh representations remain similar to regional averages at 8.0% each for Scottish and 0.5% each for Welsh.

Merriwa hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Merriwa's median age is 45 years, slightly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Merriwa has a notably higher percentage of people aged 65-74 (14.5% locally vs. regional average), while those aged 25-34 are under-represented (9.8%). This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of people aged 75 to 84 has increased from 7.2% to 8.3%, while the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 13.7% to 12.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Merriwa's age profile will evolve significantly. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to expand by 70 people (46%) from 154 to 225. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above are expected to account for 62% of total population growth, reflecting Merriwa's aging demographic profile. In contrast, population declines are projected for the age groups of 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 years old.