Cassilis vs Merriwa

Cassilis is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 45 in Merriwa. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Merriwa: a median of $402,000, against $300,000 in Cassilis, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Cassilis 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

Merriwa

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Cassilis

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($300,000 vs $402,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cassilis

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (13% vs 20%)
  • has cheaper rent ($180/wk vs $245/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Merriwa

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (231 min vs 263 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (318.6 km vs 359.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Merriwa

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (3.6% vs -8.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cassilis Merriwa
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.

Cassilis Merriwa
Walkability 0 / 0
Cassilis — Walkability: 0/100 Merriwa — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 32 / 27
Cassilis — Safety: 32/100 Merriwa — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 47 / 51
Cassilis — Low fire risk: 47/100 Merriwa — Low fire risk: 51/100

Demographics

Merriwa has more residents (1,825 vs 278); Merriwa rents higher ($245/wk vs $180/wk).

Cassilis Merriwa
Population 278 1,825
+556% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -8.6% +3.6%
Median age 42 45
Median household income $71,500/yr
+12% vs other
 $62,816/yr
Median weekly rent $180/wk $245/wk
+36% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cassilis Merriwa
0-4 7.2% / 5.4%
Cassilis — 0-4: 7.2% Merriwa — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 12.9% / 14.4%
Cassilis — 5-14: 12.9% Merriwa — 5-14: 14.4%
15-19 6.5% / 5.4%
Cassilis — 15-19: 6.5% Merriwa — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 2.5% / 4.4%
Cassilis — 20-24: 2.5% Merriwa — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 10.1% / 9.8%
Cassilis — 25-34: 10.1% Merriwa — 25-34: 9.8%
35-44 11.9% / 10.5%
Cassilis — 35-44: 11.9% Merriwa — 35-44: 10.5%
45-54 11.5% / 11.6%
Cassilis — 45-54: 11.5% Merriwa — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 10.4% / 13.6%
Cassilis — 55-64: 10.4% Merriwa — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 14.7% / 13.4%
Cassilis — 65-74: 14.7% Merriwa — 65-74: 13.4%
75-84 6.8% / 7.2%
Cassilis — 75-84: 6.8% Merriwa — 75-84: 7.2%
85+ 1.4% / 3.8%
Cassilis — 85+: 1.4% Merriwa — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cassilis 41.5% lone person
Cassilis — Lone Person: 41.5% Cassilis — Couple Families: 40.0% Cassilis — One Parent Families: 13.8% Cassilis — Group Household: 4.6% Cassilis — Other Families: 0.0%
Merriwa 43.9% lone person
Merriwa — Lone Person: 43.9% Merriwa — Couple Families: 37.0% Merriwa — One Parent Families: 15.2% Merriwa — Group Household: 3.0% Merriwa — Other Families: 0.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cassilis 16.9% renting
Cassilis — Owned Outright: 63.9% Cassilis — Mortgage: 19.3% Cassilis — Renting: 16.9%
Merriwa 25.8% renting
Merriwa — Owned Outright: 46.4% Merriwa — Mortgage: 27.8% Merriwa — Renting: 25.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cassilis Merriwa
Certificate III & IV 14.4% / 15.9%
Cassilis — Certificate III & IV: 14.4% Merriwa — Certificate III & IV: 15.9%
Bachelor Degree 10.4% / 6.7%
Cassilis — Bachelor Degree: 10.4% Merriwa — Bachelor Degree: 6.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.7% / 4.8%
Cassilis — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.7% Merriwa — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8%
Postgraduate Degree — / 0.8%
Cassilis — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Merriwa — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 0.5%
Cassilis — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Merriwa — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

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.

Cassilis Merriwa
England 1.1% / 1.5%
Cassilis — England: 1.1% Merriwa — England: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.2%
Cassilis — New Zealand: 1.4% Merriwa — New Zealand: 1.2%
Scotland 1.4% / 0.3%
Cassilis — Scotland: 1.4% Merriwa — Scotland: 0.3%
Nepal — / 0.5%
Cassilis — Nepal: not among its largest Merriwa — Nepal: 0.5%
Vietnam — / 0.4%
Cassilis — Vietnam: not among its largest Merriwa — Vietnam: 0.4%
Philippines — / 0.4%
Cassilis — Philippines: not among its largest Merriwa — Philippines: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cassilis 98.0% houses
Cassilis — Houses: 98.0% Cassilis — Flats / Apartments: 2.0% Cassilis — Townhouses: 0.0%
Merriwa 95.3% houses
Merriwa — Houses: 95.3% Merriwa — Flats / Apartments: 1.7% Merriwa — Townhouses: 3.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Cassilis Merriwa
Median house price $300,000 $402,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $248,750
Typical days to sell (houses) — 72 days
from 22 sales

Zoning mix

Cassilis has more rural and farming land (94% vs 84%); Merriwa has more land zoned for conservation (16% vs 6%).

Cassilis Merriwa
Rural and farming 94% 84%
Environmental 6% 16%
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

Cassilis Merriwa
New dwellings approved 41
across Upper Hunter
same for both
Approvals change year on year -20%
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.

Cassilis Merriwa
Houses — 4.2%
$420/wk on $515K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Cassilis Merriwa
House price Higher than 3% of NSW Higher than 11% of NSW
Income Higher than 36% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 11% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
EV adoption —
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 6% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 83% of NSW

Liveability

Cassilis Merriwa
Grade — D
Score — 16/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Cassilis Merriwa
Bushfire Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
49/100
Crime Moderate
68/100
 High
73/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cassilis Merriwa
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Cassilis

  • Cassilis Public School Government · Primary

Schools in Merriwa

  • Merriwa Central School Government · Combined above peers
  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cassilis Merriwa
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 2 5
Childcare 0 1
GPs 1
same for both
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 105 275

Mobility

Cassilis sits further from the CBD (359.6 km vs 318.6 km).

Cassilis Merriwa
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 359.6 km
+11% vs other
 318.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 263 min 231 min
Electric vehicle share 0.0%
postcode 2329
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 46
postcode 2329
same for both

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.

Cassilis Merriwa
Car (driver) 42.4% / 67.2%
Cassilis — Car (driver): 42.4% Merriwa — Car (driver): 67.2%
Worked from Home 34.8% / 18.0%
Cassilis — Worked from Home: 34.8% Merriwa — Worked from Home: 18.0%
Walked Only 17.4% / 9.0%
Cassilis — Walked Only: 17.4% Merriwa — Walked Only: 9.0%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 5.1%
Cassilis — Car (passenger): 5.4% Merriwa — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Bus — / 0.7%
Cassilis — Bus: not among its largest Merriwa — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.2%).

Setting

Cassilis Merriwa
Elevation 519 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 433 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Cassilis Merriwa
Connectivity score 15/100 27/100
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster) Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
92 premises
 0%
883 premises

Climate

Cassilis Merriwa
Annual rainfall 659 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Cassilis Merriwa
Average residential rate $968/yr
same for both
Council Upper Hunter
same for both

Federal electorate

Cassilis Merriwa
Division New England
same for both
Member Barnaby Joyce
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cassilis Merriwa
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cassilis

Rural

Merriwa

Affordable Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cassilis

Cassilis vs Coolah Cassilis vs Blackville Cassilis vs Turill

Other comparisons with Merriwa

Merriwa vs Gungal Merriwa vs Giants Creek Merriwa vs Bunnan Merriwa vs Baerami Merriwa vs Widden Merriwa vs Parraweena
Full data on Cassilis Full data on Merriwa
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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