Merrylands West

Population growth drivers in Merrylands West are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, as of November 2025, the Merrylands West statistical area's population is estimated at around 7961. This reflects an increase of 907 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7054. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 7596 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 18 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4575 persons per square kilometer, placing Merrylands West in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 12.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both the state (7.6%) and metropolitan area averages. Overseas migration contributed approximately 62.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in Merrylands West.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for the Merrylands West (SA2), with an expected increase of 1177 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 9.9% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Merrylands West when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Merrylands West has seen around 40 new homes approved each year over the past five financial years ending June 2025. This totals an estimated 202 homes. As of July 2026, 17 approvals have been recorded in this financial year. Over these five years, an average of 2.4 people moved to the area per new home constructed, indicating solid demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $398,000. In FY-26, $933,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting minimal commercial development activity relative to residential. Compared to Greater Sydney, Merrylands West records about three-quarters the building activity per person and places among the 70th percentile of areas assessed nationally. New building activity shows a skew towards compact living, with 32.0% detached houses and 68.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant departure from existing housing patterns which are currently at 50.0% houses. This shift suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs.

With around 187 people per dwelling approval, Merrylands West shows characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Merrylands West is expected to grow by 792 residents through to 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Merrylands West has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones include Merrylands RSL Club Redevelopment Stage 2, Merrylands West Public School Upgrade, 246 Woodville Road Mixed-Use Development, and Centenary Park Sports Field 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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Merrylands West faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Merrylands West has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 11.4% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.7% over the past year.

There are 3,169 residents in work, while the unemployment rate is 7.2% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation lags at 44.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area shows strong specialization in manufacturing, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Professional & technical services are under-represented, at 5.7% compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%. Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 0.7%, while labour force grew by 3.5%, raising the unemployment rate by 2.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.1% and unemployment rise by 0.2%. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03%, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Merrylands West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for the financial year ending June 30, 2023 shows that Merrylands West has a lower median income of $40,906 compared to the national average of $51,101. In Greater Sydney, the median income is $60,817 with an average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth from June 2023 to September 2025 (an increase of 8.86%), estimated incomes for Merrylands West would be approximately $44,530 (median) and $55,629 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household income ranks at the 28th percentile ($1,394 weekly), while personal income is at the 10th percentile. The earnings profile indicates that 29.2% of locals (2,324 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to the regional pattern where 30.9% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Merrylands West, with only 77.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 20th percentile.

Merrylands West displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Merrylands West, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 50.2% houses and 49.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metropolitan area had 62.1% houses and 37.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Merrylands West was at 27.3%, similar to the Sydney metro level, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.2% and rented ones at 43.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Merrylands West was $2,000, lower than the Sydney metro average of $2,167. The median weekly rent figure for Merrylands West was $400, matching the Sydney metro figure but exceeding the national average of $375. Nationally, Merrylands West's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 compared to the Australian average of $1,863.

Merrylands West has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 68.7% of all households, including 35.4% couples with children, 17.0% couples without children, and 14.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.3%, with lone person households at 27.9% and group households comprising 3.6%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 3.1.

Merrylands West shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 23.5%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 39.1%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 17.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 30.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (18.4%). Educational participation is high, with 34.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.7% in primary education, 9.7% in secondary education, and 6.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Merrylands West has 56 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 39 different routes that collectively facilitate 1,987 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 108 meters from the nearest transport stop.

On average, there are 283 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 35 weekly trips per individual stop.

Merrylands West's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Merrylands West residents had relatively positive health outcomes based on available data. The prevalence of common health conditions was low among the general population but higher than the national average for older, at-risk groups.

Approximately 47% (~3,758 people) had private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions were arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.3 and 6.3% of residents respectively. However, 72.7% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 77.0% in Greater Sydney. Residents aged 65 and over constituted 16.0% (1,273 people) of the population, higher than Greater Sydney's 13.9%. Health outcomes among seniors required more attention than those of the broader population due to presenting challenges.

Merrylands West is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Merrylands West has a high level of cultural diversity, with 47.6% of its population born overseas and 59.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Merrylands West, accounting for 52.7% of people. Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 27.7% versus 29.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (31.9%), Lebanese (14.8%), and Australian (12.5%). Some ethnic groups have notable differences in representation: Croatian at 1.1% (regional average is 0.9%), Maltese at 1.3% (regional average is 1.4%), and Samoan at 0.8% (regional average is 0.7%).

Merrylands West's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Merrylands West has a median age of 36 years, nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37 years, which is slightly below Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Merrylands West has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (14.7%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (14.0%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the percentage of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 13.2% to 14.7%, while the percentage of those aged 25-34 has decreased from 15.2% to 14.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Merrylands West's age profile will change significantly. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 56%, adding 228 residents to reach a total of 635. Residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 57% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 25-34 and 0-4 age groups are projected to experience population declines.