Merewether Heights, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Merewether Heights NSW is 1,495 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Merewether Heights is $1,159 per week ($60,268 per year). Median rent in Merewether Heights is $580 per week ($2,513 per month). Merewether Heights has a median age of 41 years, older than the national median of 38. Merewether Heights has a population density of 2,843 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Merewether Heights is England. The most common religion is No religion (47.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Greek. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Merewether Heights is $2,600.

There were 6 recorded offences in Merewether Heights in 2025-26, a rate of 4 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (5 offences).

Population
1,495
Census 2021
Median income
$1,159/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$580/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
41years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Merewether Heights vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Merewether Heights is $1,159 a week, 52% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 166th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $580 a week, $195 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 19.2% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 41, 2 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureMerewether HeightsTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$1,159/wk$765/wk +52%$766/wk
Household income$3,022/wk$1,704/wk +77%$1,637/wk
Rent$580/wk$385/wk +51%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,600/mo$1,965/mo +32%$1,733/mo
Median age4143 −2 yrs42
Rent share of household income19.2%22.6% −3.4 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Merewether Heights, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Merewether Heights Population

1,495 residents at the 2021 Census.

Merewether Heights Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$1,159/wk
$60,268 per year
Ranked 527 of 14,663
Median Rent
$580/wk
$2,513 per month
Ranked 278 of 14,663
Median Age
41years
3 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$2,600/mo
Avg household size: 2.9 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Merewether Heights Rent Prices & Affordability

19% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $3,022/wk
Median rent $580/wk
Rent to income 19.2%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Merewether Heights against your income

About $13,095 a month
Median rent $580/wk
Left after rent $2,442/wk
Rent share 19.2%

Merewether Heights Schools

26
schools nearby
18
government
1079
avg ICSEA score
13,725
total students
Merewether High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,080 students
1206
ICSEA
St Joseph's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 387 students
1141
ICSEA
Hamilton South Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 362 students
1139
ICSEA
Holy Family Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 198 students
1132
ICSEA
Merewether Heights Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 269 students
1129
ICSEA
The Junction Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 450 students
1115
ICSEA
New Lambton Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 538 students
1108
ICSEA
St Columba's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 168 students
1107
ICSEA
Hamilton Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 306 students
1106
ICSEA
Belair Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 409 students
1103
ICSEA
St Therese's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 543 students
1100
ICSEA
St Francis Xavier's College Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 959 students
1096
ICSEA
New Lambton South Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 462 students
1095
ICSEA
Trinity Catholic College Catholic
Secondary · 7-11 · 849 students
1090
ICSEA
Hunter School of Performing Arts Government
Combined · K-12 · 1,094 students
1085
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 26 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Merewether Heights, with a map

Merewether Heights Map

Merewether Heights, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Merewether Heights, New South Wales: 32.9468°S, 151.7338°E

Merewether Heights Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (26)

People in Merewether Heights

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.6% (739) Female 50.4% (752)

Population Density

2,843
people per km²
1,495 people · 0.5 km²

Households

2.9
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$3,250
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
2.4%
New Zealand
0.7%
India
0.5%
South Africa
0.5%
China
0.4%
Canada
0.3%
Germany
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Greek
1.2%
Japanese
0.6%
Italian
0.5%
Mandarin
0.3%
German
0.3%
Thai
0.3%
Gujarati
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
47.4%
Australian
39.7%
Irish
14.8%
Scottish
14.0%
German
4.9%
Italian
4.1%
Greek
2.7%
Dutch
2.0%
Chinese
1.6%
Welsh
1.3%
Polish
1.3%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
47.6%
Catholic
19.9%
Anglican
13.0%
Not stated
6.4%
Uniting Church
2.9%
Eastern Orthodox
2.9%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.5%
Christian (other)
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.8%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
57.4% 653
Separated
2.5% 28
Divorced
5.3% 60
Widowed
8.0% 91
Never married
26.8% 305

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
56.7%
Couple: no children
20.3%
Couple: no children under 15
16.1%
One parent: children under 15
3.9%
One parent: no children under 15
3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
16.5%
2 persons
29.3%
3 persons
14.6%
4 persons
27.4%
5 persons
10.5%
6+ persons
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Merewether Heights

Housing Tenure

Of the 477 occupied private dwellings in Merewether Heights at the 2021 Census, 9.2% were rented, 44.0% owned outright and 47.2% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.0% 5 dwellings
Owned outright
44.0% 210 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
47.2% 225 dwellings
Rented
9.2% 44 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
96.7%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
2.7%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

2 bedrooms
3.4%
3 bedrooms
44.0%
4 bedrooms
41.5%
5 bedrooms
9.1%
6+ bedrooms
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
7.3%
$300-$449/mo
2.2%
$600-$799/mo
2.2%
$800-$999/mo
2.8%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
9.6%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
6.2%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
23.0%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
15.2%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
31.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
2.7%
1 vehicle
25.3%
2 vehicles
50.8%
3 vehicles
13.4%
4+ vehicles
7.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Merewether Heights

Employment

Employed full-time
40.1% 428 people
Employed part-time
23.3% 249 people
Unemployed
2.4% 26 people
Not in labour force
34.1% 364 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
46.1%
Managers
21.9%
Clerical & Administrative
9.6%
Technicians & Trade Workers
9.4%
Community & Personal Service
6.6%
Sales Workers
3.2%
Labourers
2.0%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
0.9%
$150-$299/wk
1.9%
$300-$399/wk
0.6%
$400-$499/wk
3.6%
$500-$649/wk
3.6%
$650-$799/wk
4.5%
$800-$999/wk
3.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
3.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
5.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
3.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.7%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
9.4%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
12.2%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
5.6%
$4,000+/wk
31.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.7%
$1-$149/wk
4.4%
$150-$299/wk
6.4%
$300-$399/wk
2.7%
$400-$499/wk
2.3%
$500-$649/wk
2.3%
$650-$799/wk
7.1%
$800-$999/wk
7.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
9.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.3%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
17.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.1%
$3,500+/wk
8.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
72.8%
Did not go to work
20.0%
Car (passenger)
4.9%
Bicycle
1.3%
Walked only
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
75.5%
Year 10 or equivalent
15.5%
Year 11 or equivalent
5.7%
Year 9 or equivalent
3.3%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
42.7%
Certificate III/IV
17.9%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
16.2%
Postgraduate Degree
14.8%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
6.5%
Certificate I/II
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
25.5%
Health
17.5%
Engineering
14.2%
Society & Culture
13.1%
Education
11.1%
Architecture & Building
6.0%
Creative Arts
3.6%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
2.9%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.9%
Agriculture & Environment
2.0%
Information Technology
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
35.5%
Secondary: Government
24.2%
Pre-school
12.2%
Secondary: Catholic
7.7%
Primary: Catholic
6.6%
Vocational Education
6.4%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
4.3%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
91.3%
Has need for assistance
6.1%
Need for assistance not stated
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
113
Asthma
56
Arthritis
53
Heart disease
50
Cancer
27
Diabetes
26
Kidney disease
21
Lung condition
20
Stroke
15
Dementia
8

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.6% 162
Did not provide
85.4% 946

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
20.0% 222
Not a volunteer
80.0% 888

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.6% 7
Current ADF: Reserves
0.6% 7
Previously served
4.0% 45
Never served
94.7% 1,055

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
24.4%
1 child
11.3%
2 children
41.3%
3 children
19.4%
4 children
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
3
1951: 1960
13
1961: 1970
13
1971: 1980
24
1981: 1990
15
1991: 2000
23
2001: 2010
23
2011: 2015
12
2016
9
2018
3
2020
4

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

11.5%
moved in the last year
31.0%
moved in the last 5 years
3.9%
unemployment rate (Census)
66.1%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,291
Moved from NSW
98
Moved: same area (SA2)
61
Moved from overseas
5

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
22.5%
5: 14 hours
33.0%
15: 29 hours
18.6%
30+ hours
7.0%
Did not do domestic work
18.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
90.7%
Step family: no other children
5.9%
Blended family: no other children
3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Merewether Heights Crime Statistics

6 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
5
Assault
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

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Leonay
Income: $1,051/wk Rent: $530/wk $50/wk less rent

Suburbs near Merewether Heights

The closest suburb to Merewether Heights is Merewether, 0.8 km away.

Merewether
0.8 km away · income $1,102/wk · rent $420/wk
Adamstown
1.1 km away · income $925/wk · rent $395/wk
Hamilton South
2.1 km away · income $770/wk · rent $162/wk
Adamstown Heights
2.3 km away · income $983/wk · rent $475/wk
Kahibah
2.6 km away · income $932/wk · rent $400/wk
Broadmeadow
2.7 km away · income $886/wk · rent $400/wk

Compare Merewether Heights

Frequently Asked Questions About Merewether Heights

What is the population of Merewether Heights NSW?

The population of Merewether Heights NSW is 1,495 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 2,843 people per km². Merewether Heights is ranked #3,401 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Merewether Heights?

The median personal income in Merewether Heights NSW is $1,159 per week, or $60,268 per year. The median household income is $3,022 per week. Family income is $3,250 per week. Merewether Heights is ranked #527 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Merewether Heights?

Median rent in Merewether Heights NSW is $580 per week ($2,513 per month). Rent represents 19.2% of household income, which is considered affordable. Merewether Heights ranks #278 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Merewether Heights?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Merewether Heights NSW is $2,600. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Merewether Heights?

The median age in Merewether Heights NSW is 41 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Merewether Heights a good suburb to live in?

Merewether Heights is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 1,495. The median income is $1,159/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (19.2% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 12585. All dollar figures in AUD.