Heddon Greta vs Stanford Merthyr

Heddon Greta is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 41 in Stanford Merthyr. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Heddon Greta, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Heddon Greta: a median of $860,000, against $710,000 in Stanford Merthyr, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Heddon Greta tends to suit families with children and couples, while Stanford Merthyr suits people living alone, older residents, and 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

Heddon Greta

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (79% vs 57%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Heddon Greta leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 27%)
  • Stanford Merthyr has cheaper houses ($710,000 vs $860,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Stanford Merthyr

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($310/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Stanford Merthyr

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 27/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (147.4 km vs 157.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Stanford Merthyr

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 10%)
  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 27/100)

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

Investors

Heddon Greta

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (38.6% vs 4.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
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.

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Walkability 27 / 52
Heddon Greta — Walkability: 27/100 Stanford Merthyr — Walkability: 52/100
Safety 25 / 27
Heddon Greta — Safety: 25/100 Stanford Merthyr — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 38 / 21
Heddon Greta — Low fire risk: 38/100 Stanford Merthyr — Low fire risk: 21/100

Demographics

Heddon Greta has more residents (2,838 vs 575); Heddon Greta has higher household incomes ($110,760 vs $69,524).

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Population 2,838
+80% vs other
 575
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +38.6% +4.2%
Median age 33 41
Median household income $110,760/yr
+37% vs other
 $69,524/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+26% vs other
 $310/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
0-4 8.7% / 6.8%
Heddon Greta — 0-4: 8.7% Stanford Merthyr — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 15.0% / 11.8%
Heddon Greta — 5-14: 15.0% Stanford Merthyr — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 6.0% / 5.2%
Heddon Greta — 15-19: 6.0% Stanford Merthyr — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 6.2% / 6.3%
Heddon Greta — 20-24: 6.2% Stanford Merthyr — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 17.5% / 13.6%
Heddon Greta — 25-34: 17.5% Stanford Merthyr — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 14.5% / 9.4%
Heddon Greta — 35-44: 14.5% Stanford Merthyr — 35-44: 9.4%
45-54 11.3% / 14.1%
Heddon Greta — 45-54: 11.3% Stanford Merthyr — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 11.3% / 11.1%
Heddon Greta — 55-64: 11.3% Stanford Merthyr — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 7.3% / 14.6%
Heddon Greta — 65-74: 7.3% Stanford Merthyr — 65-74: 14.6%
75-84 1.9% / 5.4%
Heddon Greta — 75-84: 1.9% Stanford Merthyr — 75-84: 5.4%
85+ 0.6% / 1.7%
Heddon Greta — 85+: 0.6% Stanford Merthyr — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Heddon Greta 58.5% couple families
Heddon Greta — Couple Families: 58.5% Heddon Greta — Lone Person: 18.3% Heddon Greta — One Parent Families: 20.3% Heddon Greta — Group Household: 1.8% Heddon Greta — Other Families: 1.2%
Stanford Merthyr 32.1% couple families
Stanford Merthyr — Couple Families: 32.1% Stanford Merthyr — Lone Person: 34.5% Stanford Merthyr — One Parent Families: 24.8% Stanford Merthyr — Group Household: 5.5% Stanford Merthyr — Other Families: 3.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Heddon Greta 25.9% renting
Heddon Greta — Owned Outright: 24.0% Heddon Greta — Mortgage: 50.1% Heddon Greta — Renting: 25.9%
Stanford Merthyr 17.0% renting
Stanford Merthyr — Owned Outright: 44.5% Stanford Merthyr — Mortgage: 38.5% Stanford Merthyr — Renting: 17.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Certificate III & IV 23.9% / 24.7%
Heddon Greta — Certificate III & IV: 23.9% Stanford Merthyr — Certificate III & IV: 24.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 5.9%
Heddon Greta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Stanford Merthyr — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9%
Bachelor Degree 6.0% / 4.2%
Heddon Greta — Bachelor Degree: 6.0% Stanford Merthyr — Bachelor Degree: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.7% / 0.7%
Heddon Greta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7% Stanford Merthyr — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7%
Postgraduate Degree 0.7% / —
Heddon Greta — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7% Stanford Merthyr — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.7%).

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.

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
England 1.0% / 1.0%
Heddon Greta — England: 1.0% Stanford Merthyr — England: 1.0%
Germany — / 0.9%
Heddon Greta — Germany: not among its largest Stanford Merthyr — Germany: 0.9%
Scotland 0.5% / —
Heddon Greta — Scotland: 0.5% Stanford Merthyr — Scotland: not among its largest
New Zealand 0.4% / —
Heddon Greta — New Zealand: 0.4% Stanford Merthyr — New Zealand: not among its largest
India 0.4% / —
Heddon Greta — India: 0.4% Stanford Merthyr — India: not among its largest
Philippines 0.3% / —
Heddon Greta — Philippines: 0.3% Stanford Merthyr — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Heddon Greta 93.8% houses
Heddon Greta — Houses: 93.8% Heddon Greta — Townhouses: 5.6% Heddon Greta — Flats / Apartments: 0.6%
Stanford Merthyr 94.6% houses
Stanford Merthyr — Houses: 94.6% Stanford Merthyr — Townhouses: 3.6% Stanford Merthyr — Flats / Apartments: 1.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Median house price $860,000 $710,000
Median unit price $650,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 71 sales
 22 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Heddon Greta has more land zoned for conservation (14% vs 3%).

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Residential 42% 52%
Rural and farming 27% 35%
Environmental 14% 3%
Parks and recreation 10% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 3%
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

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
New dwellings approved 719
across Cessnock
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
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.

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Houses 3.7%
$650/wk on $910K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
House price Higher than 36% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
Income Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 58% of NSW —

Liveability

Stanford Merthyr is more walkable (52 vs 27); Heddon Greta scores higher overall (27 vs 21).

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Grade D
same for both
Score 27/100 21/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Stanford Merthyr carries more bushfire risk (79 vs 62).

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Bushfire Moderate
62/100
 High
79/100
Crime High
75/100
 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 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Heddon Greta

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Stanford Merthyr

  • Stanford Merthyr Infants School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
GPs 1 0
Fuel stations 2 1

Mobility

Heddon Greta sits further from the CBD (157.6 km vs 147.4 km).

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Walkability score 27/100 52/100
Distance to Sydney 157.6 km
+6% vs other
 147.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 112 min
same for both
Public transport score 76/100
Bus
 26/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 37.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 3 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2321
 0.2%
postcode 2327
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 69
postcode 2321
 40
postcode 2327

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.

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Car (driver) 78.3% / 81.0%
Heddon Greta — Car (driver): 78.3% Stanford Merthyr — Car (driver): 81.0%
Worked from Home 16.8% / 11.8%
Heddon Greta — Worked from Home: 16.8% Stanford Merthyr — Worked from Home: 11.8%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 5.6%
Heddon Greta — Car (passenger): 3.4% Stanford Merthyr — Car (passenger): 5.6%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.5%
Heddon Greta — Walked Only: 0.7% Stanford Merthyr — Walked Only: 1.5%
Bus 0.5% / —
Heddon Greta — Bus: 0.5% Stanford Merthyr — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.0%).

Setting

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Elevation 32 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 25.3 km 25.9 km

NBN connectivity

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Connectivity score 85/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 66%
1,528 premises
 61%
247 premises

Climate

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Annual rainfall 804 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.1°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Average residential rate $1,405/yr
same for both
Council Cessnock
same for both

Federal electorate

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Division Paterson Hunter
Member Meryl Swanson Dan Repacholi
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Heddon Greta Stanford Merthyr
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Heddon Greta

Family Large Blocks Quiet Young Families

Stanford Merthyr

Large Blocks Quiet

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Stanford Merthyr

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Full data on Heddon Greta Full data on Stanford Merthyr
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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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