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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Merriwa (NSW) is $425k, with units at $365k. House values have moved 8.1% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Merriwa (NSW) has an estimated 1,858 residents, up from 1,825 at the 2021 Census — a change of 33 people, or 1.8%. Growth has averaged 0.6% a year over five years, slower than 81% of areas nationally. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to the analysis of demographics from official statistical updates for the wider region, combined with address records verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Merriwa (NSW) has an estimated occupancy of 1,858 residents as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 33 individuals (1.8%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded 1,825 residents. This adjustment is derived from a resident count of 1,857, calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS population update from June 2025 alongside an extra 32 validated new addresses registered since the Census date. This population level translates to a density of 1.0 persons per square kilometer, indicating a spacious environment for the community.
Throughout the previous ten years, the suburb of Merriwa (NSW) has shown steady demographic patterns with a 0.6% compound annual growth rate, exceeding the broader SA3 territory. The expansion was chiefly driven by natural increase, which accounted for approximately 51.0% of the total population gains in recent times. AreaSearch implements projections from official government releases in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline for every SA2 region. In instances where these statistics are unavailable, SA2 projections issued by the NSW State Government in 2022 using 2021 as the baseline are utilized instead. The age-specific growth trajectories from these sources are likewise applied to all locations for the period spanning 2032 to 2041. Based on ongoing demographic shifts, the suburb of Merriwa (NSW) is projected to experience a population rise slightly below the median of non-metropolitan regions in Australia. Aggregated SA2-level modeling indicates that the suburb of Merriwa (NSW) will add 197 residents by 2041, representing a total expansion of 10.6% over the course of 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential construction in the local area is quiet, averaging 2 new dwellings approved annually, totaling 12 approvals over a five-year timeframe. This low level of property development is typical for countryside communities where the demand for new housing is modest and building activity is restricted by regional requirements and infrastructure capabilities. Given these minimal numbers, annual growth percentages and comparisons can fluctuate significantly depending on individual building projects. Property development activity in the area is naturally much lower than what is typically observed across the Rest of NSW. This building pattern also sits far below the national average.
Recent construction projects have consisted entirely of standalone family houses, reflecting a market geared toward those looking for a countryside lifestyle and open space. The ratio of 1854 residents for every single residential building approval highlights this quiet, low-scale construction environment. Looking forward, the local population is projected to expand by 196 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. If current building rates persist, the supply of new housing may fall short of population demand, which could heighten buyer competition and support higher property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Merriwa (NSW)
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside Merriwa (NSW), worth an estimated $1.6 billion. A further 49 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $15.7 billion. 17 are already under construction and 17 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, energy and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects, major planning decisions, and development initiatives are primary drivers of regional economic performance. A total of 4 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a potential impact on the local area. Key developments include the Merriwa Town Centre Masterplan, the Merriwa Energy Hub, the Goulburn River Solar Farm And Battery, and the McCullys Gap BESS, with the following details highlighting those of greatest relevance.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Merriwa Town Centre Masterplan
A strategic framework adopted by Upper Hunter Shire Council to revitalise the town centre over 15+ years, aiming to create a safe, attractive, and thriving commercial and community hub.
Merriwa Energy Hub
Merriwa Energy Hub is a large-scale renewable energy project proposed near Merriwa in the Upper Hunter. The project comprises a 550 MW solar PV farm and a 400 MW / 1600 MWh battery energy storage system, with associated grid connection infrastructure. It is listed by Valent Energy as an in-pipeline project and remains in the NSW state significant development planning process.
Goulburn River Solar Farm And Battery
The Goulburn River Solar Farm, proposed by Lightsource BP, aims to construct a 520MW solar farm and a 49MW/392MWh battery 28 km south of Merriwa, including a substation for connectivity.
Denman to Sandy Hollow Pipeline and Denman Water Treatment Plant upgrade
Construction of the Denman to Sandy Hollow Pipeline and upgrade of the Denman Water Treatment Plant. Funded by an $18.9 million grant. Aims to provide consistent and high-quality water supply to residents and enable future development.
Denman Park Estate
Residential land subdivision offering vacant land and house & land packages, with 194 new homes planned. Civil works commencing Q2 2025.
West Denman Urban Release Area
Approximately 133 hectares of land zoned RU5 - Village Zone, identified as an extension to the Denman urban area to provide additional serviced land for housing, with a capacity for up to 750 residential lots. To be developed in stages.
Muswellbrook Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (Bells Mountain)
400MW/3,200MWh pumped hydro energy storage facility using existing mine void as lower reservoir and new upper reservoir at Bells Mountain. Joint venture between AGL Energy and Idemitsu Australia to provide long-duration storage for NSW grid stability. The project aims to offer 250MW of capacity and is planned near Muswellbrook, NSW, 11km north of the Liddell Power Station.
Aberdeen Valley Fair Commercial Development
Demolition of existing structures and construction of a mixed-use commercial development comprising of a two-story commercial building incorporating ground floor retail shops and supermarket and first floor commercial tenancies, a 24-hour highway service centre, quick service food outlet, bulky goods retail outlets, and car parking. The total site area is 9,854sqm and is zoned B2 Local Centre. The building area is 780sqm.
815 residents of Merriwa (NSW) are employed, from a labour force of 853. Unemployment sits at 4.5%, with participation at 56.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 4.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local workforce exhibits a balanced mix of professional and manual positions across diverse industries, with an unemployment rate of 4.5% and estimated job growth of 2.4% over the prior year, based on aggregated statistical area statistics. As of March 2026, there are 815 working residents, with the unemployment rate sitting 0.4% above the 4.1% recorded in Regional NSW, and labor participation is slightly low at 56.1% compared to the regional benchmark of 60.6%. Census data indicates that a moderate 16.9% of the employed workforce worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related lockdown measures.
The primary sectors employing local residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and health care & social assistance. The community exhibits a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with its employment share measuring 5.0 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance is under-represented, accounting for 8.4% of local workers compared to 16.9% across Regional NSW. A comparison of Census working population statistics against local resident numbers suggests that regional job opportunities within the immediate area are limited. According to analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated over the 12 months leading to March 2026, the count of employed residents rose by 2.4% while the overall labor force grew by 1.1%, leading to a decrease in the unemployment rate by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% contraction in the labor force, and a rise of 0.5 percentage points in unemployment. National workforce forecasts from May-25 compiled by Jobs and Skills Australia provide additional context on future local demand. These five and ten-year projections have been mapped against the local industry profile to estimate employment trends. Nationally, total employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary significantly by sector. Applying these industry-specific projections to the local employment structure suggests that local positions will grow by 4.7% over five years and 10.8% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation that does not account for localized population changes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Merriwa (NSW) is $1,208 a week (about $63,000 a year), with median personal income at $593 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $41,343 a year against an average of $58,515. The average runs 42% above the median, a wider spread than most areas and a sign of a concentrated group of high earners. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
The latest postcode-level ATO statistics for the 2023 financial year show that household incomes in the local area are below the national benchmark, with a median of $41,343 and an average of $58,515. This is lower than the Regional NSW median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Adjusting these figures for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year yields updated estimates of approximately $45,610 for the median and $64,554 for the average as of March 2026. Census findings place household, family, and individual incomes in the area between the 10th and 13th percentiles nationwide.
The income distribution reveals that the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly earnings bracket contains 27.7% of local residents (514 individuals), closely matching the wider region where 29.9% of people fall into the same bracket. Although residential costs are modest, leaving residents with 88.0% of their income, total disposable income ranks at the 18th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Merriwa (NSW) had 664 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 1% apartments. 28% are owned with a mortgage, 26% rented and 46% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $245 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,235 a month. Rent absorbs 20.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
An analysis of the local residential mix at the latest Census showed that standalone houses comprised 95.8% of properties, while 4.2% consisted of semi-detached, apartment, or other dwelling types, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% alternative dwellings in Regional NSW. Home ownership rates were significantly higher than the regional average at 45.7%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (28.0%) or rented (26.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,235 was far below the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent was $245 compared to the regional figure of $330.
Nationally, local mortgage costs are considerably lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well below the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Merriwa (NSW) counted 664 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 25% are couples with children, against 31% couples without children. 30% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the majority of local households at 67.3%, consisting of couples with children at 24.8%, couples without children at 31.1%, and single-parent homes at 10.7%. Non-family living arrangements make up the remaining 32.7% of the community, with single-person households representing 30.4% and group households accounting for 2.1%. The median household occupancy of 2.4 individuals matches the average for Regional NSW.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
13.6% of adults in Merriwa (NSW) hold a university qualification, including 11.4% with a bachelor degree and 1.3% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 90% of areas nationally. A further 32.1% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 268 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 933 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The local community experiences notable educational disparities, with university completion rates at 13.6%, which is far below the NSW state average of 32.2%. This gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted learning programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 11.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 1.3% and graduate diplomas at 0.9%. Vocational and technical skills are highly prevalent, with 40.3% of residents aged 15+ holding practical credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 32.1%. Enrollment rates are high, with 30.2% of the local population currently engaged in formal learning programs.
This student cohort includes 13.3% in primary schooling, 9.6% in high schools, and 2.0% enrolled in higher education courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Merriwa (NSW) means driving: households keep an average of 1.6 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Analysis of regional public transport shows 63 active transit stops operating in the area, offering a mix of bus options. These stops are served by 8 separate routes that combine to provide 80 passenger trips per week. Transport access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 376 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential nature of the area, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 86%, followed by walking at 11%. Car ownership averages 1.6 vehicles per household.
Additionally, 16.9% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions. Public transport services average 11 trips daily across all active routes, which represents approximately 1 trip per week for each individual transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
62.6% of residents in Merriwa (NSW) report no long-term health condition. 6.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 50.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
The local population faces notable health challenges, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and the occurrence of chronic illnesses. Common medical conditions are somewhat prevalent throughout the community, with a higher frequency observed among older age groups, while the rate of private health insurance coverage is relatively low at approximately 50% of the population (~931 people) compared to a national average of 55.7%. The primary medical diagnoses in the region are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.9 and 9.8% of residents, respectively, while 62.6% of the population reported no long-term medical conditions compared to 63.3% throughout Regional NSW.
Health trends among working-age residents are generally typical. The population includes 26.8% of residents aged 65 and over (497 people), which is higher than the regional average of 23.4%. Health profiles for senior residents present some issues, though they rank lower nationally than the population as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Merriwa (NSW) is largely Australian-born, at 92.5% of residents, with 2.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (36.8%) and English (31.1%). 5.1% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The local population displays lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with citizens making up 88.0% of the community, 92.5% of residents born in Australia, and 97.9% speaking only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, representing 76.5% of local residents, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. In terms of ancestral background, the three most common heritages are Australian at 36.8% of the population, which is notably higher than the regional average of 30.0%, English at 31.1%, and Irish at 8.7%. There are also distinct differences in other ancestral groups: Australian Aboriginal people are overrepresented at 5.1% of the local population (compared to 4.6% regionally), while Scottish heritage is recorded at 8.0% (compared to 8.0% regionally) and Welsh heritage is at 0.5% (compared to 0.5% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Merriwa (NSW) is 45, older than 80% of areas nationally. 20.4% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age of 45 years in the suburb of Merriwa (NSW) is slightly higher than the Regional NSW median of 43 and significantly older than the national median of 38. Compared to the Regional NSW average, the 65 - 74 age group is over-represented at 14.5% of the local population, while the 25 - 34 bracket is under-represented at 9.8%. The concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 sits well above the national figure of 9.4%. Since 2021, the cohort aged 75 to 84 has risen from 7.2% to 8.3% of the population, while the group aged 55 to 64 has decreased from 13.7% to 12.4%.
Demographic projections indicate that the age profile in the suburb of Merriwa (NSW) will shift significantly by 2041. The group aged 75 to 84 is expected to expand by 70 people (46%) from 154 to 225. Combined cohorts aged 65+ are expected to account for 62% of the total population growth, highlighting the aging trend. In contrast, population declines are projected for the cohorts aged 5 to 14 and 15 to 24.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Merriwa (NSW)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 3 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 32 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (1,825 at the 2021 Census → 1,858 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL12596). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.