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

Merredin's population is approximately 5,297 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 404 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,893. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,249 in June 2024 and an additional 25 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 0.50 persons per square kilometer. Merredin's growth rate of 8.3% since the census is within 0.6 percentage points of the national average of 8.9%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 81.1% 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. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future demographic trends project above median population growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas. The area is expected to expand by 823 persons to reach a total of approximately 6,115 by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 14.6% over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Merredin has seen approximately five new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 26 homes. As of FY-26, three approvals have been recorded. On average, 5.8 new residents arrive per dwelling constructed each year between FY-21 and FY-25. This indicates demand outpaces supply, potentially driving up prices and increasing competition among buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average cost of $287,000. In FY-26, $16.7 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting balanced commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of WA, Merredin has significantly less development activity, 83.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity may strengthen demand and prices for existing properties. Building activity has accelerated recently but remains lower than national averages, reflecting market maturity and potential development constraints.

Recent activity consists solely of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes. The estimated 804 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. By 2041, Merredin is projected to grow by 775 residents (AreaSearch Q3 estimate). If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Merredin has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects that could affect this region: Moon Village, Great Eastern Highway Upgrades, Walgoolan to Southern Cross, Western Australia Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements, and King Rocks Wind Farm. The following list details those considered 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.

Employment performance in Merredin exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Merredin's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs with varied sector representation. As of September 2025, its unemployment rate was 2.4%.

The town had 2,815 employed residents, below the Rest of WA's unemployment rate by 0.9% (3.3%). Workforce participation was lower at 57.4%, compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. Dominant sectors included agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had a higher share at 2.8 times the regional level.

Conversely, mining was lower at 3.0%, compared to the regional average of 11.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. From September 2024 to September 2025, Merredin's labour force decreased by 4.3% with a 3.5% employment decline, causing unemployment to fall by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of WA saw employment growth of 1.4% and labour force growth of 1.2%, with a 0.2 percentage point drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Merredin's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.2% over five years and 11.4% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

The Merredin SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $53,395 and an average income of $66,262 in the financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is slightly higher than the national average for that year. In contrast, the Rest of WA had a median income of $57,323 and an average income of $71,163 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $60,977 (median) and $75,671 (average). According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranked at the 48th percentile ($796 weekly), while household income was at the 27th percentile. The earnings profile showed that 30.8% of individuals earned between $1,500 and $2,999 annually (1,631 individuals). This aligns with the surrounding region where this cohort also represented 31.1%. Housing costs allowed for 91.6% retention, but disposable income was below average at the 37th percentile.

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

Merredin's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.9% houses and 6.1% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro WA had 95.6% houses and 4.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Merredin was 44.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.7% and rented ones at 28.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $927, significantly lower than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,425. The median weekly rent in Merredin was $200, compared to Non-Metro WA's $231. Nationally, Merredin's mortgage repayments were lower at $927 versus 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 fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 67.2% of all households, including 26.5% couples with children, 31.8% couples without children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.8%, with lone person households at 30.3% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which aligns with the average in the Rest of WA.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 15.5%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 11.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are common, with 38% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (7.8%) and certificates (30.2%) being the most prevalent.

Educational participation is high, with 30.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.5% in primary education, 9.8% in secondary education, and 1.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Merredin has four active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops are served by a mix of bus routes, with two individual routes providing service. Together, these routes offer 12 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility in Merredin is rated as limited, with residents typically located 15572 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages one trip per day across all routes, equating to approximately three 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 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 (~2,775 people), leading that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 9.8 and 8.7% of residents respectively. 65.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.7% across Rest of WA. 20.3% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,074 people), lower than the 21.7% in Rest of WA. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Merredin is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Merredin's population showed low cultural diversity, with 83.3% being citizens, 87.5% born in Australia, and 94.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, accounting for 50.4%, compared to 49.0% across Rest of WA. The top three ancestral groups were English (34.0%), Australian (32.1%), and Scottish (7.5%).

Italian ancestry was overrepresented at 4.0% in Merredin versus 2.2% regionally, while Australian Aboriginal and Maori showed similar proportions to regional averages, at 3.4% and 0.6% respectively.

Merredin's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Merredin was 42 years as of the 2021 Census, which is slightly higher than Rest of WA's average of 40 years and considerably older than Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of WA, Merredin had a higher percentage of residents aged 15-24 (12.9%) but fewer residents aged 45-54 (10.2%). After the 2021 Census, the median age decreased by 1.4 years from 43 to 42, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes showed that the percentage of residents aged 15-24 increased from 9.7% to 12.9%, while those aged 35-44 increased from 11.2% to 12.5%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 45-54 decreased from 12.6% to 10.2%, and those aged 55-64 dropped from 14.6% to 12.6%. Demographic modeling suggests that Merredin's age profile will significantly evolve by the year 2041. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase markedly, with an expansion of 526 people (77%) from 687 to 1,214. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 85+ age cohorts.