Suburb report · NSW 2291
Merewether
Prepared by the property strategists at Chase Wealth Australia
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Population
12,166
Merewether suburb profile
Who lives in Merewether
At 115km from central Sydney, Merewether runs as its own regional market. Merewether is one of the most populous suburbs in New South Wales, with 12,166 residents, more than 87% of the state's suburbs. By population it is number 42 of 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD. Merewether has a median age of 39, near the state's median suburb at 40. Among New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, 476 of 763 have an older median age. In the other suburb of the Merewether-The Junction statistical area the median age is 41, so Merewether runs 2 years younger than its statistical-area neighbours.
Income and home ownership
Median household income is $126,800, higher than 70% of New South Wales suburbs. The other suburb of the Merewether-The Junction statistical area has $167,600, putting Merewether 24.3% below its statistical-area neighbours. Among the 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, 110 report a higher median household income. Ownership runs at 66%, with 34% renting, at the 33rd percentile of New South Wales suburbs. Among New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, 176 have a lower share of owner-occupiers than Merewether. That is 24.8 points below the 90.8% ownership share in the other suburb of the Merewether-The Junction statistical area.
Household mix
At the 2021 Census, 4,588 households lived in Merewether, more than in 90% of New South Wales suburbs. The household mix leans to families: families with children 37.8%, couples without children 27.8%, people living alone 27.2% and group households 7.1%. Among New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, 268 of 761 have a smaller share of families with children than Merewether. The share of group households, 7.1%, is higher than in 92% of New South Wales suburbs. Couples without children, at 27.8%, sit near the New South Wales middle, at the 59th percentile. In the other 1 suburb of the Merewether-The Junction statistical area, families with children make up 55.6% of households, against 37.8% here.
Housing supply
67 new dwellings were approved across the Merewether-The Junction statistical area in the year to June 2025, 40% above its 2020 to 2024 average of 48 a year. The Merewether-The Junction statistical area had 14,975 residents in 2025 and takes in Merewether and neighbouring suburbs. That is 4.5 approvals per 1,000 residents of that area, heavier than 71% of New South Wales statistical areas. Over the 6 years to June 2025, annual approvals ranged from 38 in 2023 to 68 in 2021.
Population trend
From 2020 to 2025, the Merewether-The Junction statistical area expanded its population by 3.3%, against 5.9% for New South Wales as a whole. The median New South Wales statistical area grew 2.5% over the same 5 years, 0.8 points slower than this one. It ranks at the 57th percentile of New South Wales statistical areas for population growth over the period. Growth was strongest in the year to 2022 (1%) and weakest in the year to 2021 (0.1%).
Against its neighbours
The sharpest contrast among the nearby suburbs is Wallsend, where the median household income is $80,700 compared with $126,800 here. On the share of people living alone, Charlestown comes closest to Merewether: 26.1% against 27.2%. New Lambton sits 4km away, with a median household income of $105,100 against $126,800 here.
Location
Demographics
ABS Data by Region to 2025, on ABS Census 2021 suburb baselineHousehold Mix Census 2021
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Reading this report
Every figure in the Merewether data table is dated at its source. Supply and population change cover the Merewether-The Junction statistical area, whose boundary differs from Merewether's, and our guide to reading a suburb report explains how our buyers agents weigh them.
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This report is market intelligence prepared by Chase Wealth Australia for general information only. Figures are statistical estimates for the suburb, not valuations of any individual property, and do not constitute financial or credit advice. Consider your circumstances and seek professional advice before acting. Demographic figures are sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2021 (licensed CC BY 4.0) where available.