Merriwa (WA)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Merriwa reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of Merriwa (WA) is around 6,119, reflecting a 9.5% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 5,587. This change is inferred from an estimated resident population of 6,113 by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 1 validated new address since the Census date. The suburb's population density ratio is 2,672 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Merriwa's growth rate of 9.5% since census is within 0.4 percentage points of the national average (9.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 67.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth in the area. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and uses growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for areas not covered.

Future population trends project an above median growth for statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch, with Merriwa expected to increase by 1,389 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 23.0% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Merriwa had around 4 new homes approved annually. Between FY21-FY25, approximately 20 homes were approved, with 5 more in FY26 so far. This results in an average of 22.8 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

The supply is substantially lagging demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $323,000. There have been $1.0 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Perth, Merriwa has significantly less development activity, which is 94.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings.

However, building activity has accelerated in recent years. Recent development has been entirely comprised of detached dwellings, preserving the area's suburban nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. New construction favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (76.0% at Census), demonstrating ongoing robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. The location has approximately 1214 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. Population forecasts suggest Merriwa will gain 1,405 residents by 2041. Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Merriwa has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 11 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Brighton Estate Master Planned Community, Claytons Mindarie Beachfront, Butler District Planning Scheme Amendment No. 212, and Quinns Rocks - Gumblossom Community Centre - Upgrade. The following list details those 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.

The labour market performance in Merriwa lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Merriwa has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent, with an unemployment rate of 8.4% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.7%.

Compared to Greater Perth's unemployment rate of 4.0%, Merriwa's 4.4% indicates room for improvement. Workforce participation in Merriwa is lower, at 58.7% compared to Greater Perth's 71.6%. Only 5.8% of residents work from home, but Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Major employment sectors are construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

Construction employs 1.5 times the regional average. In contrast, professional & technical services employ only 4.2%, below Greater Perth's 8.2%. From September 2024 to September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.7% while unemployment fell by 1.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Merriwa's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The suburb of Merriwa's income level is below the national average according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Merriwa is $48,955 and the average income stands at $61,471. These figures compare to those of Greater Perth, which are $60,748 (median) and $80,248 (average). Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Merriwa would be approximately $53,664 (median) and $67,385 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Merriwa all fall between the 16th and 17th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates in Merriwa with 29.8% of residents (1,823 people). This is similar to the surrounding region where 32.0% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Merriwa, with only 78.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 12th percentile nationally.

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

In Merriwa, as per the latest Census evaluation, 76.0% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 24.0% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This compares to Perth metro's figures of 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Merriwa stood at 19.1%, with mortgaged dwellings accounting for 51.2% and rented properties making up 29.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,500, lower than Perth metro's average of $1,907. Weekly rent in Merriwa was recorded at $330, compared to Perth metro's $350. 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 has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 68.7% of all households, including 24.8% composed of couples with children, 25.8% consisting of couples without children, and 16.9% being single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 31.3%, with lone person households at 28.6% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 10.8%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives in the region. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 7.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 43.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (32.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (11.5%), secondary education (8.6%), and tertiary education (3.0%).

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

Merriwa has 23 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by three different routes that together facilitate 863 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 182 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. Most residents commute outside Merriwa, with cars being the primary mode of transportation at 80%. Trains and buses are used by 10% and 5% of residents respectively. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling in Merriwa is 1.2, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 5.8% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Each route provides an average of 123 trips per day, resulting in approximately 37 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Merriwa is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Merriwa faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch through mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Several health conditions affect both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 52% of Merriwa's total population (around 3,158 people), compared to 59.0% in Greater Perth. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 10.0% and 9.6% of residents respectively. Conversely, 60.3% of Merriwa residents report no medical ailments, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Working-age adults face notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 25.8%, with 1,578 people, compared to 16.3% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Merriwa was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Merriwa's cultural diversity was notable, with 13.3% speaking a language other than English at home and 36.5% born overseas. Christianity dominated religiously, comprising 45.4%. Judaism's representation was higher in Merriwa at 0.1%, compared to Greater Perth's 0.3%.

Ancestry-wise, English (33.8%) and Australian (23.9%) were the top groups, with Other at 8.6%. Maori (2.0%), South African (1.4%), and New Zealand (1.3%) ethnicities showed notable overrepresentation compared to regional averages of 0.9%, 1.0%, and 0.8% respectively.

Merriwa's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Merriwa has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Perth's figure of 37 and Australia's average of 38 years. The proportion of people aged 85 and over in Merriwa is notably higher at 7.3% compared to the Greater Perth average and significantly above the national average of 2.2%. Conversely, the percentage of people aged 25-34 is lower at 10.8%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of people aged 55-64 has increased from 8.4% to 10.0%, while the percentages for ages 5-14 and 45-54 have decreased to 12.0% and 9.9% respectively. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant growth in the 75-84 age cohort, with an increase of 424 people (72%) from 587 to 1,012. The combined population of all ages 65 and over is expected to account for 73% of total population growth, reflecting Merriwa's aging demographic trend. Meanwhile, the populations aged 0-4 and 5-14 are projected to decline.