Adamstown vs Merewether

Adamstown is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 39 in Merewether. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Merewether: a median of $2.01 million, against $1.2 million in Adamstown, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Adamstown tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Merewether

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more parks and reserves (13 vs 5)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Adamstown

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,200,000 vs $2,010,000)
  • has cheaper units ($687,500 vs $812,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Adamstown

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 74/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (122 min vs 127 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (158.8 km vs 162.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Adamstown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 74/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Adamstown

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.1% vs 4.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.0% vs 2.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Adamstown and Merewether drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Adamstown Merewether
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Adamstown Merewether
Walkability 85 / 74
Adamstown — Walkability: 85/100 Merewether — Walkability: 74/100
Safety 16 / 20
Adamstown — Safety: 16/100 Merewether — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 100 / 47
Adamstown — Low fire risk: 100/100 Merewether — Low fire risk: 47/100

Demographics

Merewether has more residents (11,788 vs 6,335); Merewether has higher household incomes ($118,924 vs $97,500).

Adamstown Merewether
Population 6,335 11,788
+86% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.8% +7.5%
Median age 36 39
Median household income $97,500/yr $118,924/yr
+22% vs other
Median weekly rent $395/wk $420/wk
+6% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Adamstown Merewether
0-4 5.5% / 4.3%
Adamstown — 0-4: 5.5% Merewether — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 11.5% / 12.1%
Adamstown — 5-14: 11.5% Merewether — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 5.5% / 6.2%
Adamstown — 15-19: 5.5% Merewether — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 9.0% / 7.9%
Adamstown — 20-24: 9.0% Merewether — 20-24: 7.9%
25-34 17.1% / 13.9%
Adamstown — 25-34: 17.1% Merewether — 25-34: 13.9%
35-44 13.6% / 12.4%
Adamstown — 35-44: 13.6% Merewether — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 12.2% / 13.9%
Adamstown — 45-54: 12.2% Merewether — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 11.5% / 13.3%
Adamstown — 55-64: 11.5% Merewether — 55-64: 13.3%
65-74 7.6% / 9.8%
Adamstown — 65-74: 7.6% Merewether — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 4.7% / 4.3%
Adamstown — 75-84: 4.7% Merewether — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 1.7% / 1.8%
Adamstown — 85+: 1.7% Merewether — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Adamstown 39.2% lone person
Adamstown — Lone Person: 39.2% Adamstown — Couple Families: 34.9% Adamstown — One Parent Families: 14.7% Adamstown — Group Household: 9.1% Adamstown — Other Families: 2.1%
Merewether 37.7% lone person
Merewether — Lone Person: 37.7% Merewether — Couple Families: 40.6% Merewether — One Parent Families: 10.3% Merewether — Group Household: 9.9% Merewether — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Adamstown 40.6% renting
Adamstown — Owned Outright: 27.8% Adamstown — Mortgage: 31.6% Adamstown — Renting: 40.6%
Merewether 34.0% renting
Merewether — Owned Outright: 35.9% Merewether — Mortgage: 30.1% Merewether — Renting: 34.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Adamstown Merewether
Bachelor Degree 17.5% / 23.0%
Adamstown — Bachelor Degree: 17.5% Merewether — Bachelor Degree: 23.0%
Certificate III & IV 15.0% / 11.2%
Adamstown — Certificate III & IV: 15.0% Merewether — Certificate III & IV: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 8.1%
Adamstown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Merewether — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 5.0% / 8.1%
Adamstown — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0% Merewether — Postgraduate Degree: 8.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.9%
Adamstown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Merewether — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.0%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Adamstown Merewether
England 2.0% / 3.0%
Adamstown — England: 2.0% Merewether — England: 3.0%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.1%
Adamstown — New Zealand: 1.1% Merewether — New Zealand: 1.1%
India 0.5% / 0.5%
Adamstown — India: 0.5% Merewether — India: 0.5%
South Africa 0.4% / 0.5%
Adamstown — South Africa: 0.4% Merewether — South Africa: 0.5%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.4%
Adamstown — Scotland: 0.4% Merewether — Scotland: 0.4%
China 0.6% / —
Adamstown — China: 0.6% Merewether — China: not among its largest
Italy — / 0.4%
Adamstown — Italy: not among its largest Merewether — Italy: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Adamstown 67.7% houses
Adamstown — Houses: 67.7% Adamstown — Townhouses: 17.4% Adamstown — Flats / Apartments: 14.9%
Merewether 60.9% houses
Merewether — Houses: 60.9% Merewether — Townhouses: 19.2% Merewether — Flats / Apartments: 19.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Adamstown Merewether
Median house price $1,200,000 $2,010,000
Median unit price $687,500 $812,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 43 sales
 26 days
from 119 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Adamstown Merewether
2 bed $931K / $1.29M
Adamstown — 2 bed: $931K (18 sales) Merewether — 2 bed: $1.29M (26 sales)

18 vs 26 sales

3 bed $1.19M / $1.73M
Adamstown — 3 bed: $1.19M (52 sales) Merewether — 3 bed: $1.73M (84 sales)

52 vs 84 sales

4 bed $1.6M / $2.33M
Adamstown — 4 bed: $1.6M (19 sales) Merewether — 4 bed: $2.33M (70 sales)

19 vs 70 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Adamstown Merewether
1 bed $518K / $632K
Adamstown — 1 bed: $518K (8 sales) Merewether — 1 bed: $632K (14 sales)

8 vs 14 sales

2 bed $688K / $822K
Adamstown — 2 bed: $688K (36 sales) Merewether — 2 bed: $822K (56 sales)

36 vs 56 sales

3 bed $910K / $900K
Adamstown — 3 bed: $910K (6 sales) Merewether — 3 bed: $900K (5 sales)

6 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Merewether has more land zoned for conservation (37% vs 9%).

Adamstown Merewether
Residential 55% 46%
Environmental 9% 37%
Parks and recreation 29% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 11%
Industrial 4% 0%
Commercial 1%
same for both
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Adamstown Merewether
New dwellings approved 912
across Newcastle
same for both
Approvals change year on year +77%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Adamstown Merewether
Houses 3.0%
$772/wk on $1.35M
 2.5%
$950/wk on $2M
Units 5.1%
$660/wk on $670K
 4.2%
$620/wk on $776K

Ranking within NSW

Adamstown Merewether
House price Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Income Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Schools Higher than 28% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 6% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW

Liveability

Adamstown scores higher overall (49 vs 42); Adamstown is more walkable (85 vs 74).

Adamstown Merewether
Grade B C
Score 49/100 42/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Merewether carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 0).

Adamstown Merewether
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime High
84/100
 High
80/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
43/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Adamstown Merewether
Inside the suburb 3
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 2
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 5.2 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 4.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 3.9%

Schools in Adamstown

  • Trinity Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Adamstown Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Columba's Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Merewether

  • Hamilton South Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Holy Family Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Merewether Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Adamstown Merewether
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 11 3
Parks & reserves 5 13
Childcare 5 6
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 1 2
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1 0
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Merewether sits further from the CBD (162.2 km vs 158.8 km).

Adamstown Merewether
Walkability score 85/100 74/100
Distance to Sydney 158.8 km 162.2 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 122 min 127 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 126.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 226.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 2289
 1.5%
postcode 2291
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2289
 35
postcode 2291

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Adamstown Merewether
Car (driver) 61.4% / 57.9%
Adamstown — Car (driver): 61.4% Merewether — Car (driver): 57.9%
Worked from Home 30.3% / 33.1%
Adamstown — Worked from Home: 30.3% Merewether — Worked from Home: 33.1%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 2.9%
Adamstown — Car (passenger): 3.3% Merewether — Car (passenger): 2.9%
Walked Only 2.5% / 2.9%
Adamstown — Walked Only: 2.5% Merewether — Walked Only: 2.9%
Bicycle 0.7% / 2.1%
Adamstown — Bicycle: 0.7% Merewether — Bicycle: 2.1%
Bus 1.4% / 0.9%
Adamstown — Bus: 1.4% Merewether — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.4%).

Setting

Adamstown Merewether
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.8 km
3.2 km to a named beach
 908 m
1.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Adamstown Merewether
Connectivity score 64/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
3,226 premises
 34%
5,571 premises

Climate

Adamstown Merewether
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Adamstown Merewether
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 21.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.64 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Adamstown Merewether
Average residential rate $1,783/yr
same for both
Council Newcastle
same for both

Federal electorate

Adamstown Merewether
Division Newcastle
same for both
Member Sharon Claydon
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Adamstown Merewether
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Adamstown

Coastal Parks Professionals

Merewether

Beach Coastal Parks Premium Professionals Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Adamstown

Adamstown vs New Lambton Adamstown vs Adamstown Heights Adamstown vs Hamilton South Adamstown vs Kotara Adamstown vs Broadmeadow Adamstown vs Merewether Heights

Other comparisons with Merewether

Merewether vs Adamstown Heights Merewether vs Hamilton South Merewether vs Whitebridge Merewether vs Merewether Heights Merewether vs Bar Beach Merewether vs The Junction
Full data on Adamstown Full data on Merewether
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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