Merewether vs Hamilton South

Merewether is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 44 in Hamilton South. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Hamilton South, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Merewether: a median of $2.01 million, against $1.65 million in Hamilton South, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Hamilton South tends to suit people living alone 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

Merewether

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (6 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (13 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Merewether leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 39%)
  • Hamilton South has cheaper houses ($1,650,000 vs $2,010,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hamilton South

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($162/wk vs $420/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (11% vs 18%)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 34%)

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

Commuting to the city

Hamilton South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (159.6 km vs 162.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Merewether

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (80/100 vs 95/100)

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

Investors

Hamilton South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 2.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Merewether and Hamilton South 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 Hamilton South
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 Hamilton South
Walkability 74 / 76
Merewether — Walkability: 74/100 Hamilton South — Walkability: 76/100
Safety 20 / 5
Merewether — Safety: 20/100 Hamilton South — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 47 / 100
Merewether — Low fire risk: 47/100 Hamilton South — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Merewether has more residents (11,788 vs 4,057); Merewether rents higher ($420/wk vs $162/wk).

Merewether Hamilton South
Population 11,788
+66% vs other
 4,057
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.5% +4.7%
Median age 39 44
Median household income $118,924/yr
+38% vs other
 $74,152/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+61% vs other
 $162/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Merewether Hamilton South
0-4 4.3% / 4.6%
Merewether — 0-4: 4.3% Hamilton South — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 12.1% / 12.3%
Merewether — 5-14: 12.1% Hamilton South — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 6.2% / 5.5%
Merewether — 15-19: 6.2% Hamilton South — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 7.9% / 6.0%
Merewether — 20-24: 7.9% Hamilton South — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 13.9% / 10.6%
Merewether — 25-34: 13.9% Hamilton South — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 12.4% / 11.7%
Merewether — 35-44: 12.4% Hamilton South — 35-44: 11.7%
45-54 13.9% / 15.4%
Merewether — 45-54: 13.9% Hamilton South — 45-54: 15.4%
55-64 13.3% / 14.1%
Merewether — 55-64: 13.3% Hamilton South — 55-64: 14.1%
65-74 9.8% / 11.1%
Merewether — 65-74: 9.8% Hamilton South — 65-74: 11.1%
75-84 4.3% / 6.1%
Merewether — 75-84: 4.3% Hamilton South — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 1.8% / 2.7%
Merewether — 85+: 1.8% Hamilton South — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Merewether 37.7% lone person
Merewether — Lone Person: 37.7% Merewether — Couple Families: 40.6% Merewether — One Parent Families: 10.3% Merewether — Group Household: 9.9% Merewether — Other Families: 1.5%
Hamilton South 47.7% lone person
Hamilton South — Lone Person: 47.7% Hamilton South — Couple Families: 34.5% Hamilton South — One Parent Families: 11.2% Hamilton South — Group Household: 5.6% Hamilton South — Other Families: 1.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Merewether 34.0% renting
Merewether — Owned Outright: 35.9% Merewether — Mortgage: 30.1% Merewether — Renting: 34.0%
Hamilton South 44.6% renting
Hamilton South — Owned Outright: 32.6% Hamilton South — Mortgage: 22.8% Hamilton South — Renting: 44.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Merewether Hamilton South
Bachelor Degree 23.0% / 16.9%
Merewether — Bachelor Degree: 23.0% Hamilton South — Bachelor Degree: 16.9%
Certificate III & IV 11.2% / 10.0%
Merewether — Certificate III & IV: 11.2% Hamilton South — Certificate III & IV: 10.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 6.2%
Merewether — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Hamilton South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Postgraduate Degree 8.1% / 5.8%
Merewether — Postgraduate Degree: 8.1% Hamilton South — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 2.6%
Merewether — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Hamilton South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

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 Hamilton South
England 3.0% / 2.3%
Merewether — England: 3.0% Hamilton South — England: 2.3%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.1%
Merewether — New Zealand: 1.1% Hamilton South — New Zealand: 1.1%
Italy 0.4% / 1.0%
Merewether — Italy: 0.4% Hamilton South — Italy: 1.0%
Greece — / 1.1%
Merewether — Greece: not among its largest Hamilton South — Greece: 1.1%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.5%
Merewether — South Africa: 0.5% Hamilton South — South Africa: 0.5%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.6%
Merewether — Scotland: 0.4% Hamilton South — Scotland: 0.6%
India 0.5% / —
Merewether — India: 0.5% Hamilton South — India: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Merewether 60.9% houses
Merewether — Houses: 60.9% Merewether — Flats / Apartments: 19.9% Merewether — Townhouses: 19.2%
Hamilton South 60.2% houses
Hamilton South — Houses: 60.2% Hamilton South — Flats / Apartments: 27.9% Hamilton South — Townhouses: 11.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Merewether Hamilton South
Median house price $2,010,000 $1,650,000
Median unit price $812,500 $887,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 119 sales
 54 days
from 23 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 Hamilton South
2 bed $1.29M / $1.14M
Merewether — 2 bed: $1.29M (26 sales) Hamilton South — 2 bed: $1.14M (14 sales)

26 vs 14 sales

3 bed $1.73M / $1.52M
Merewether — 3 bed: $1.73M (84 sales) Hamilton South — 3 bed: $1.52M (29 sales)

84 vs 29 sales

4 bed $2.33M / $1.89M
Merewether — 4 bed: $2.33M (70 sales) Hamilton South — 4 bed: $1.89M (32 sales)

70 vs 32 sales

5 bed $2.86M / $1.85M
Merewether — 5 bed: $2.86M (26 sales) Hamilton South — 5 bed: $1.85M (7 sales)

26 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

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

Merewether Hamilton South
Residential 46% 86%
Environmental 37% 0%
Parks and recreation 6% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 2%
Commercial 1%
same for both
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 Hamilton South
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 Hamilton South
Houses 2.5%
$950/wk on $2M
 3.6%
$1,000/wk on $1.45M
Units 4.2%
$620/wk on $776K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Merewether Hamilton South
House price Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Income Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Schools Higher than 32% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 10% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 6% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 28% of NSW —

Liveability

Hamilton South scores higher overall (49 vs 42).

Merewether Hamilton South
Grade C B
Score 42/100 49/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Merewether carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 0); Hamilton South carries more crime risk (95 vs 80).

Merewether Hamilton South
Bushfire Moderate
53/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
80/100
 High
95/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
43/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Merewether Hamilton South
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 4.1 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 3.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.9% 2.8%

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

Schools in Hamilton South

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

Amenities in the suburb

Merewether Hamilton South
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 13 4
Childcare 6 1
GPs 2
same for both
Pharmacies 2 1
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Merewether sits further from the CBD (162.2 km vs 159.6 km).

Merewether Hamilton South
Walkability score 74/100 76/100
Distance to Sydney 162.2 km
+2% vs other
 159.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 127 min 123 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 226.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 59.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 2291
 1.5%
postcode 2303
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 35
postcode 2291
 30
postcode 2303

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 Hamilton South
Car (driver) 57.9% / 53.6%
Merewether — Car (driver): 57.9% Hamilton South — Car (driver): 53.6%
Worked from Home 33.1% / 36.1%
Merewether — Worked from Home: 33.1% Hamilton South — Worked from Home: 36.1%
Car (passenger) 2.9% / 3.7%
Merewether — Car (passenger): 2.9% Hamilton South — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Walked Only 2.9% / 2.8%
Merewether — Walked Only: 2.9% Hamilton South — Walked Only: 2.8%
Bicycle 2.1% / 2.2%
Merewether — Bicycle: 2.1% Hamilton South — Bicycle: 2.2%

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

Setting

Merewether Hamilton South
Elevation 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 908 m
1.3 km to a named beach
 1.8 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Merewether Hamilton South
Connectivity score 64/100 57/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
5,571 premises
 22%
2,148 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Merewether

Beach Coastal Parks Premium Professionals Regional Centre

Hamilton South

Coastal Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Merewether

Merewether vs Adamstown Merewether vs Adamstown Heights Merewether vs Whitebridge Merewether vs Merewether Heights Merewether vs Bar Beach Merewether vs The Junction

Other comparisons with Hamilton South

Hamilton South vs Adamstown Hamilton South vs Hamilton Hamilton South vs Cooks Hill Hamilton South vs Broadmeadow Hamilton South vs Newcastle West Hamilton South vs Hamilton East
Full data on Merewether Full data on Hamilton South
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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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