Clarkson vs Merriwa

Clarkson is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 40 in Merriwa. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. On these figures, Merriwa tends to suit people living alone and older residents.

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

Clarkson

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (38 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (10 vs 4)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 4)
  • But Merriwa carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 68/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Clarkson has cheaper land ($672,500 vs $1,511,095)
  • Merriwa has cheaper units ($425,250 vs $550,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Clarkson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

Clarkson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (35.4 km vs 38.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Merriwa

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 9%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (24% vs 11%)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 68/100)
  • But Clarkson has more GPs (4 vs 2)

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

Investors

Clarkson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.2% vs 1.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Clarkson 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.

Clarkson 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.

Clarkson Merriwa
Walkability 82 / 81
Clarkson — Walkability: 82/100 Merriwa — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 32 / 43
Clarkson — Safety: 32/100 Merriwa — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 18 / 12
Clarkson — Low fire risk: 18/100 Merriwa — Low fire risk: 12/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Clarkson — Low flood risk: 100/100 Merriwa — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Clarkson has more residents (13,904 vs 5,587); Clarkson has higher household incomes ($91,572 vs $65,260).

Clarkson Merriwa
Population 13,904
+60% vs other
 5,587
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.2% +1.8%
Median age 34 40
Median household income $91,572/yr
+29% vs other
 $65,260/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+6% vs other
 $330/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Clarkson Merriwa
0-4 7.7% / 5.7%
Clarkson — 0-4: 7.7% Merriwa — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 13.8% / 13.8%
Clarkson — 5-14: 13.8% Merriwa — 5-14: 13.8%
15-19 5.7% / 6.1%
Clarkson — 15-19: 5.7% Merriwa — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 7.0% / 5.8%
Clarkson — 20-24: 7.0% Merriwa — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 17.7% / 11.7%
Clarkson — 25-34: 17.7% Merriwa — 25-34: 11.7%
35-44 15.6% / 12.3%
Clarkson — 35-44: 15.6% Merriwa — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 12.8% / 11.4%
Clarkson — 45-54: 12.8% Merriwa — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 10.6% / 8.4%
Clarkson — 55-64: 10.6% Merriwa — 55-64: 8.4%
65-74 6.0% / 8.1%
Clarkson — 65-74: 6.0% Merriwa — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 2.6% / 9.3%
Clarkson — 75-84: 2.6% Merriwa — 75-84: 9.3%
85+ 0.5% / 7.2%
Clarkson — 85+: 0.5% Merriwa — 85+: 7.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Clarkson 42.7% couple families
Clarkson — Couple Families: 42.7% Clarkson — Lone Person: 28.4% Clarkson — One Parent Families: 22.9% Clarkson — Group Household: 4.5% Clarkson — Other Families: 1.6%
Merriwa 33.5% couple families
Merriwa — Couple Families: 33.5% Merriwa — Lone Person: 38.1% Merriwa — One Parent Families: 23.0% Merriwa — Group Household: 3.2% Merriwa — Other Families: 2.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Clarkson 31.2% renting
Clarkson — Owned Outright: 16.0% Clarkson — Mortgage: 52.8% Clarkson — Renting: 31.2%
Merriwa 29.5% renting
Merriwa — Owned Outright: 19.2% Merriwa — Mortgage: 51.3% Merriwa — Renting: 29.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Clarkson Merriwa
Certificate III & IV 16.9% / 17.2%
Clarkson — Certificate III & IV: 16.9% Merriwa — Certificate III & IV: 17.2%
Bachelor Degree 10.7% / 4.9%
Clarkson — Bachelor Degree: 10.7% Merriwa — Bachelor Degree: 4.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 6.8%
Clarkson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Merriwa — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.5% / 0.9%
Clarkson — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5% Merriwa — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 0.9%
Clarkson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Merriwa — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

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.

Clarkson Merriwa
England 11.9% / 12.1%
Clarkson — England: 11.9% Merriwa — England: 12.1%
New Zealand 4.3% / 4.4%
Clarkson — New Zealand: 4.3% Merriwa — New Zealand: 4.4%
South Africa 3.6% / 2.5%
Clarkson — South Africa: 3.6% Merriwa — South Africa: 2.5%
Philippines 1.8% / 1.3%
Clarkson — Philippines: 1.8% Merriwa — Philippines: 1.3%
India 2.0% / 1.0%
Clarkson — India: 2.0% Merriwa — India: 1.0%
Scotland 1.9% / 1.1%
Clarkson — Scotland: 1.9% Merriwa — Scotland: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (12.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Clarkson 89.3% houses
Clarkson — Houses: 89.3% Clarkson — Townhouses: 9.8% Clarkson — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Merriwa 75.5% houses
Merriwa — Houses: 75.5% Merriwa — Townhouses: 23.6% Merriwa — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Clarkson Merriwa
Median house price $820,000 $770,000
Median unit price $550,000 $425,250
Median land price $672,500 $1,511,095
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 201 sales
 19 days
from 33 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.

Clarkson Merriwa
3 bed $795K / $730K
Clarkson — 3 bed: $795K (150 sales) Merriwa — 3 bed: $730K (35 sales)

150 vs 35 sales

4 bed $845K / $775K
Clarkson — 4 bed: $845K (171 sales) Merriwa — 4 bed: $775K (75 sales)

171 vs 75 sales

Development activity

Clarkson Merriwa
New dwellings approved 4,125
across Wanneroo
same for both
Approvals change year on year +17%
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.

Clarkson Merriwa
Houses 4.6%
$750/wk on $849K
 4.4%
$700/wk on $824K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within WA

Clarkson Merriwa
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 55% of WA Higher than 23% of WA
Schools Higher than 11% of WA Higher than 25% of WA
Walkability Higher than 96% of WA Higher than 95% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 74% of WA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of WA Higher than 78% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of WA Higher than 52% of WA

Liveability

Clarkson scores higher overall (37 vs 31).

Clarkson Merriwa
Grade C
same for both
Score 37/100 31/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Clarkson carries more crime risk (68 vs 57).

Clarkson Merriwa
Bushfire High
82/100
 High
88/100
Crime Moderate
68/100
 Moderate
57/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Clarkson Merriwa
Inside the suburb 6 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 4 2
Universities within 10 km 1
ECU Joondalup Campus, 7.0 km
 1
ECU Joondalup Campus, 9.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4% 1.0%

Schools in Clarkson

  • St Andrew's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Clarkson Community High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Clarkson Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Somerly Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Youth Futures Community School Independent · Secondary · Special school below peers
  • Youth Futures Community School (Clarkson) Independent · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Merriwa

  • Alkimos Baptist College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Merriwa Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Alta-1 College - Merriwa Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school
  • Merriwa Education Support Centre Government · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Clarkson Merriwa
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 5 0
Parks & reserves 38 6
Childcare 10 4
GPs 4 2
Pharmacies 3 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 0
Fuel stations 3 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Merriwa sits further from the CBD (38.1 km vs 35.4 km).

Clarkson Merriwa
Walkability score 82/100 81/100
Distance to Perth 35.4 km 38.1 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 32 min
Public transport score 92/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 344.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 86.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 6030
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 66
postcode 6030
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.

Clarkson Merriwa
Car (driver) 73.0% / 77.0%
Clarkson — Car (driver): 73.0% Merriwa — Car (driver): 77.0%
Train 10.7% / 6.2%
Clarkson — Train: 10.7% Merriwa — Train: 6.2%
Worked from Home 7.3% / 6.1%
Clarkson — Worked from Home: 7.3% Merriwa — Worked from Home: 6.1%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 6.6%
Clarkson — Car (passenger): 6.0% Merriwa — Car (passenger): 6.6%
Bus 1.6% / 2.2%
Clarkson — Bus: 1.6% Merriwa — Bus: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.0%).

Setting

Clarkson Merriwa
Elevation 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.4 km
2.5 km to a named beach
 2.2 km
3.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Clarkson Merriwa
Connectivity score 73/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 50%
6,361 premises
 37%
2,368 premises

Climate

Clarkson Merriwa
Annual rainfall 592 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 33.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Clarkson Merriwa
Average residential rate $2,060/yr
same for both
Council Wanneroo
same for both

Federal electorate

Clarkson Merriwa
Division Pearce
same for both
Member Tracey Roberts
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Clarkson Merriwa
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Clarkson

Coastal Easy Commute Outer Parks River Transport Hub

Merriwa

Coastal Outer Parks Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Clarkson

Clarkson vs Mindarie Clarkson vs Ridgewood Clarkson vs Nowergup Clarkson vs Neerabup

Other comparisons with Merriwa

Merriwa vs Butler Merriwa vs Quinns Rocks Merriwa vs Mindarie Merriwa vs Ridgewood
Full data on Clarkson 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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