Merewether Heights vs Merewether

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Merewether Heights, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Merewether: a median of $2.01 million, against $1.66 million in Merewether Heights, though rent is higher in Merewether Heights. On these figures, Merewether Heights 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

  • Merewether Heights carries lower crime risk (28/100 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

Merewether Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,655,000 vs $2,010,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Merewether

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (34% vs 9%)
  • has cheaper rent ($420/wk vs $580/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Merewether

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (74/100 vs 57/100)

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 57/100)
  • But Merewether Heights carries lower crime risk (28/100 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

Merewether Heights 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.

Merewether Heights 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.

Merewether Heights Merewether
Walkability 57 / 74
Merewether Heights — Walkability: 57/100 Merewether — Walkability: 74/100
Safety 72 / 20
Merewether Heights — Safety: 72/100 Merewether — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 28 / 47
Merewether Heights — Low fire risk: 28/100 Merewether — Low fire risk: 47/100

Demographics

Merewether has more residents (11,788 vs 1,495); Merewether Heights rents higher ($580/wk vs $420/wk).

Merewether Heights Merewether
Population 1,495 11,788
+688% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.8% +7.5%
Median age 41 39
Median household income $157,144/yr
+24% vs other
 $118,924/yr
Median weekly rent $580/wk
+28% vs other
 $420/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Merewether Heights Merewether
0-4 5.6% / 4.3%
Merewether Heights — 0-4: 5.6% Merewether — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 18.3% / 12.1%
Merewether Heights — 5-14: 18.3% Merewether — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 7.1% / 6.2%
Merewether Heights — 15-19: 7.1% Merewether — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 4.2% / 7.9%
Merewether Heights — 20-24: 4.2% Merewether — 20-24: 7.9%
25-34 6.7% / 13.9%
Merewether Heights — 25-34: 6.7% Merewether — 25-34: 13.9%
35-44 13.8% / 12.4%
Merewether Heights — 35-44: 13.8% Merewether — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 15.0% / 13.9%
Merewether Heights — 45-54: 15.0% Merewether — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 9.2% / 13.3%
Merewether Heights — 55-64: 9.2% Merewether — 55-64: 13.3%
65-74 6.8% / 9.8%
Merewether Heights — 65-74: 6.8% Merewether — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 7.5% / 4.3%
Merewether Heights — 75-84: 7.5% Merewether — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 5.0% / 1.8%
Merewether Heights — 85+: 5.0% Merewether — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Merewether Heights 63.6% couple families
Merewether Heights — Couple Families: 63.6% Merewether Heights — Lone Person: 21.9% Merewether Heights — One Parent Families: 10.0% Merewether Heights — Group Household: 3.3% Merewether Heights — Other Families: 1.1%
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.

Merewether Heights 9.2% renting
Merewether Heights — Owned Outright: 43.8% Merewether Heights — Mortgage: 47.0% Merewether Heights — Renting: 9.2%
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.

Merewether Heights Merewether
Bachelor Degree 21.3% / 23.0%
Merewether Heights — Bachelor Degree: 21.3% Merewether — Bachelor Degree: 23.0%
Certificate III & IV 9.0% / 11.2%
Merewether Heights — Certificate III & IV: 9.0% Merewether — Certificate III & IV: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 8.1%
Merewether Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Merewether — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 7.2% / 8.1%
Merewether Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 7.2% Merewether — Postgraduate Degree: 8.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 2.9%
Merewether Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% 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.

Merewether Heights Merewether
England 2.4% / 3.0%
Merewether Heights — England: 2.4% Merewether — England: 3.0%
New Zealand 0.7% / 1.1%
Merewether Heights — New Zealand: 0.7% Merewether — New Zealand: 1.1%
India 0.5% / 0.5%
Merewether Heights — India: 0.5% Merewether — India: 0.5%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.5%
Merewether Heights — South Africa: 0.5% Merewether — South Africa: 0.5%
China 0.4% / —
Merewether Heights — China: 0.4% Merewether — China: not among its largest
Italy — / 0.4%
Merewether Heights — 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.

Merewether Heights 97.5% houses
Merewether Heights — Houses: 97.5% Merewether Heights — Townhouses: 2.7% Merewether Heights — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Merewether 60.9% houses
Merewether — Houses: 60.9% Merewether — Townhouses: 19.2% Merewether — Flats / Apartments: 19.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Merewether Heights Merewether
Median house price $1,655,000 $2,010,000
Median unit price — $812,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 12 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.

Merewether Heights Merewether
3 bed $1.54M / $1.73M
Merewether Heights — 3 bed: $1.54M (11 sales) Merewether — 3 bed: $1.73M (84 sales)

11 vs 84 sales

4 bed $1.72M / $2.33M
Merewether Heights — 4 bed: $1.72M (10 sales) Merewether — 4 bed: $2.33M (70 sales)

10 vs 70 sales

Zoning mix

Merewether has more land zoned for conservation (37% vs 0%).

Merewether Heights Merewether
Residential 89% 46%
Environmental 0% 37%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 11%
Parks and recreation 0% 6%
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

Merewether Heights 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.

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

Ranking within NSW

Merewether Heights Merewether
House price Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Income Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 32% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 76% 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 Heights scores higher overall (59 vs 42); Merewether is more walkable (74 vs 57).

Merewether Heights Merewether
Grade B C
Score 59/100 42/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Merewether carries more crime risk (80 vs 28); Merewether Heights carries more bushfire risk (72 vs 53).

Merewether Heights Merewether
Bushfire High
72/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime Low
28/100
 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 3
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Merewether Heights Merewether
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 4.9 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 4.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 3.9%

Schools in Merewether Heights

  • Merewether Heights Public School Government · Primary at 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

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

Mobility

Merewether Heights Merewether
Walkability score 57/100 74/100
Distance to Sydney 161.1 km 162.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 127 min
same for both
Public transport score 62/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 23.0
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 1.5%
postcode 2291
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 35
postcode 2291
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.

Merewether Heights Merewether
Car (driver) 55.6% / 57.9%
Merewether Heights — Car (driver): 55.6% Merewether — Car (driver): 57.9%
Worked from Home 38.9% / 33.1%
Merewether Heights — Worked from Home: 38.9% Merewether — Worked from Home: 33.1%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 2.9%
Merewether Heights — Car (passenger): 3.7% Merewether — Car (passenger): 2.9%
Walked Only 0.8% / 2.9%
Merewether Heights — Walked Only: 0.8% Merewether — Walked Only: 2.9%
Bicycle 1.0% / 2.1%
Merewether Heights — Bicycle: 1.0% Merewether — Bicycle: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.9%).

Setting

Merewether Heights Merewether
Elevation 71 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.6 km
2.3 km to a named beach
 908 m
1.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Merewether Heights Merewether
Connectivity score 69/100 64/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
515 premises
 34%
5,571 premises

Climate

Merewether Heights 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)

Merewether Heights 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Merewether Heights

Coastal Family Professionals

Merewether

Beach Coastal Parks Premium Professionals Regional Centre

More comparisons

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Merewether Heights vs Adamstown

Other comparisons with Merewether

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