Highfields vs Merewether

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Highfields, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Merewether: a median of $2.01 million, against $1.01 million in Highfields. On these figures, Highfields tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Merewether suits people living alone.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Highfields carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 80/100)
  • Merewether has more parks and reserves (13 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Highfields

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,007,500 vs $2,010,000)
  • has cheaper units ($584,000 vs $812,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Merewether

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (34% vs 16%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Highfields sits closer to the CBD (148.1 km vs 162.2 km)
  • Merewether is more walkable (74/100 vs 54/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Merewether

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (39% vs 3%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (74/100 vs 54/100)
  • But Highfields carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 80/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Highfields 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.

Highfields 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.

Highfields Merewether
Walkability 54 / 74
Highfields — Walkability: 54/100 Merewether — Walkability: 74/100
Safety 50 / 20
Highfields — Safety: 50/100 Merewether — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 28 / 47
Highfields — Low fire risk: 28/100 Merewether — Low fire risk: 47/100

Demographics

Merewether has more residents (11,788 vs 936); Merewether skews older (39 vs 37).

Highfields Merewether
Population 936 11,788
+1159% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.1% +7.5%
Median age 37 39
Median household income $114,296/yr $118,924/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $420/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Highfields Merewether
0-4 8.3% / 4.3%
Highfields — 0-4: 8.3% Merewether — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 14.6% / 12.1%
Highfields — 5-14: 14.6% Merewether — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 5.2% / 6.2%
Highfields — 15-19: 5.2% Merewether — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 5.0% / 7.9%
Highfields — 20-24: 5.0% Merewether — 20-24: 7.9%
25-34 10.8% / 13.9%
Highfields — 25-34: 10.8% Merewether — 25-34: 13.9%
35-44 15.2% / 12.4%
Highfields — 35-44: 15.2% Merewether — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 13.8% / 13.9%
Highfields — 45-54: 13.8% Merewether — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 11.9% / 13.3%
Highfields — 55-64: 11.9% Merewether — 55-64: 13.3%
65-74 7.2% / 9.8%
Highfields — 65-74: 7.2% Merewether — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 4.4% / 4.3%
Highfields — 75-84: 4.4% Merewether — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 3.5% / 1.8%
Highfields — 85+: 3.5% Merewether — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Highfields 53.0% couple families
Highfields — Couple Families: 53.0% Highfields — Lone Person: 24.3% Highfields — One Parent Families: 15.8% Highfields — Group Household: 4.9% Highfields — Other Families: 2.0%
Merewether 40.6% couple families
Merewether — Couple Families: 40.6% Merewether — Lone Person: 37.7% Merewether — One Parent Families: 10.3% Merewether — Group Household: 9.9% Merewether — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Highfields 15.5% renting
Highfields — Owned Outright: 37.3% Highfields — Mortgage: 47.2% Highfields — Renting: 15.5%
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.

Highfields Merewether
Bachelor Degree 18.1% / 23.0%
Highfields — Bachelor Degree: 18.1% Merewether — Bachelor Degree: 23.0%
Certificate III & IV 15.8% / 11.2%
Highfields — Certificate III & IV: 15.8% Merewether — Certificate III & IV: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 8.1%
Highfields — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Merewether — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 5.2% / 8.1%
Highfields — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2% Merewether — Postgraduate Degree: 8.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 2.9%
Highfields — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% 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.

Highfields Merewether
England 1.8% / 3.0%
Highfields — England: 1.8% Merewether — England: 3.0%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.1%
Highfields — New Zealand: 0.6% Merewether — New Zealand: 1.1%
India 0.9% / 0.5%
Highfields — India: 0.9% Merewether — India: 0.5%
Italy 0.4% / 0.4%
Highfields — Italy: 0.4% Merewether — Italy: 0.4%
Taiwan 0.5% / —
Highfields — Taiwan: 0.5% Merewether — Taiwan: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.5%
Highfields — South Africa: not among its largest Merewether — South Africa: 0.5%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Highfields 97.0% houses
Highfields — Houses: 97.0% Highfields — Flats / Apartments: 1.5% Highfields — Townhouses: 1.5%
Merewether 60.9% houses
Merewether — Houses: 60.9% Merewether — Flats / Apartments: 19.9% Merewether — Townhouses: 19.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Highfields Merewether
Median house price $1,007,500 $2,010,000
Median unit price $584,000 $812,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 6 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.

Highfields Merewether
2 bed $952K / $1.29M
Highfields — 2 bed: $952K (6 sales) Merewether — 2 bed: $1.29M (26 sales)

6 vs 26 sales

3 bed $935K / $1.73M
Highfields — 3 bed: $935K (11 sales) Merewether — 3 bed: $1.73M (84 sales)

11 vs 84 sales

Zoning mix

Highfields Merewether
Residential 42% 46%
Environmental 42% 37%
Parks and recreation 12% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 11%
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

Highfields Merewether
New dwellings approved 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
 912
across Newcastle
Approvals change year on year +2% +77%

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.

Highfields Merewether
Houses — 2.5%
$950/wk on $2M
Units — 4.2%
$620/wk on $776K

Ranking within NSW

Highfields Merewether
House price Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Income Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 32% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 6% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 28% of NSW

Liveability

Merewether is more walkable (74 vs 54); Highfields scores higher overall (47 vs 42).

Highfields Merewether
Grade C
same for both
Score 47/100 42/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Merewether carries more crime risk (80 vs 50); Highfields carries more bushfire risk (72 vs 53).

Highfields Merewether
Bushfire High
72/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime Moderate
50/100
 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 2
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Highfields Merewether
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 6.6 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 4.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 3.9%

Schools in Highfields

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

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

Highfields Merewether
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 0 13
Childcare 1 6
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 3 2

Mobility

Merewether sits further from the CBD (162.2 km vs 148.1 km).

Highfields Merewether
Walkability score 54/100 74/100
Distance to Sydney 148.1 km 162.2 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 125 min 127 min
Public transport score 60/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 18.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 226.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
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.

Highfields Merewether
Car (driver) 58.4% / 57.9%
Highfields — Car (driver): 58.4% Merewether — Car (driver): 57.9%
Worked from Home 33.8% / 33.1%
Highfields — Worked from Home: 33.8% Merewether — Worked from Home: 33.1%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 2.9%
Highfields — Car (passenger): 4.8% Merewether — Car (passenger): 2.9%
Bicycle 1.5% / 2.1%
Highfields — Bicycle: 1.5% Merewether — Bicycle: 2.1%
Walked Only — / 2.9%
Highfields — Walked Only: not among its largest Merewether — Walked Only: 2.9%
Bus 1.5% / 0.9%
Highfields — Bus: 1.5% Merewether — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.4%).

Setting

Highfields Merewether
Elevation 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.1 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 908 m
1.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Highfields Merewether
Connectivity score 71/100 64/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
365 premises
 34%
5,571 premises

Climate

Highfields 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)

Highfields 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

Highfields Merewether
Average residential rate $1,708/yr $1,783/yr
Council Lake Macquarie Newcastle

Federal electorate

Highfields Merewether
Division Shortland Newcastle
Member Pat Conroy Sharon Claydon
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Highfields

Coastal Family Large Blocks Parks Professionals River

Merewether

Beach Coastal Parks Premium Professionals Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Highfields

Highfields vs Charlestown Highfields vs Adamstown Heights Highfields vs Whitebridge Highfields vs Kahibah

Other comparisons with Merewether

Merewether vs Adamstown Merewether vs Adamstown Heights Merewether vs Hamilton South Merewether vs Whitebridge Merewether vs Merewether Heights Merewether vs Bar Beach
Full data on Highfields Full data on Merewether
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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