Merriwa vs Bunnan

Merriwa is the younger of the two, with a median age of 45 against 53 in Bunnan. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Bunnan, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Merriwa: a median of $402,000, against $270,000 in Bunnan, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Merriwa tends to suit families with children, while Bunnan suits couples 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

They split

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

  • Merriwa has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)
  • Bunnan is already more of a family suburb (64% vs 52%)

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

First-home buyers

Bunnan

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($106,800 vs $248,750)
  • has cheaper houses ($270,000 vs $402,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bunnan

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($150/wk vs $245/wk)

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

  • Merriwa has a shorter drive in (231 min vs 237 min)
  • Bunnan sits closer to the CBD (298.9 km vs 318.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Bunnan

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (61/100 vs 73/100)

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

Investors

Merriwa

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (3.6% vs -6.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Merriwa Bunnan
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.

Merriwa Bunnan
Walkability 0 / 0
Merriwa — Walkability: 0/100 Bunnan — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 27 / 39
Merriwa — Safety: 27/100 Bunnan — Safety: 39/100
Low fire risk 51 / 71
Merriwa — Low fire risk: 51/100 Bunnan — Low fire risk: 71/100

Demographics

Merriwa has more residents (1,825 vs 94); Merriwa rents higher ($245/wk vs $150/wk).

Merriwa Bunnan
Population 1,825
+95% vs other
 94
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.6% -6.0%
Median age 45 53
Median household income $62,816/yr
+35% vs other
 $40,768/yr
Median weekly rent $245/wk
+39% vs other
 $150/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Merriwa Bunnan
0-4 5.4% / 8.5%
Merriwa — 0-4: 5.4% Bunnan — 0-4: 8.5%
5-14 14.4% / 6.4%
Merriwa — 5-14: 14.4% Bunnan — 5-14: 6.4%
15-19 5.4% / 4.3%
Merriwa — 15-19: 5.4% Bunnan — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 4.4% / 4.3%
Merriwa — 20-24: 4.4% Bunnan — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 9.8% / 13.8%
Merriwa — 25-34: 9.8% Bunnan — 25-34: 13.8%
35-44 10.5% / 8.5%
Merriwa — 35-44: 10.5% Bunnan — 35-44: 8.5%
45-54 11.6% / 8.5%
Merriwa — 45-54: 11.6% Bunnan — 45-54: 8.5%
55-64 13.6% / 20.2%
Merriwa — 55-64: 13.6% Bunnan — 55-64: 20.2%
65-74 13.4% / 19.1%
Merriwa — 65-74: 13.4% Bunnan — 65-74: 19.1%
75-84 7.2% / 8.5%
Merriwa — 75-84: 7.2% Bunnan — 75-84: 8.5%
85+ 3.8% / —
Merriwa — 85+: 3.8% Bunnan — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Merriwa 37.0% couple families
Merriwa — Couple Families: 37.0% Merriwa — Lone Person: 43.9% Merriwa — One Parent Families: 15.2% Merriwa — Group Household: 3.0% Merriwa — Other Families: 0.9%
Bunnan 50.0% couple families
Bunnan — Couple Families: 50.0% Bunnan — Lone Person: 36.4% Bunnan — One Parent Families: 13.6% Bunnan — Group Household: 0.0% Bunnan — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Merriwa 25.8% renting
Merriwa — Owned Outright: 46.4% Merriwa — Mortgage: 27.8% Merriwa — Renting: 25.8%
Bunnan 20.6% renting
Bunnan — Owned Outright: 52.9% Bunnan — Mortgage: 26.5% Bunnan — Renting: 20.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Merriwa 95.3% houses
Merriwa — Houses: 95.3% Merriwa — Flats / Apartments: 1.7% Merriwa — Townhouses: 3.0%
Bunnan 90.5% houses
Bunnan — Houses: 90.5% Bunnan — Flats / Apartments: 9.5% Bunnan — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Qualifications

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

Merriwa Bunnan
Certificate III & IV 15.9% / 19.1%
Merriwa — Certificate III & IV: 15.9% Bunnan — Certificate III & IV: 19.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.8% / 6.4%
Merriwa — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8% Bunnan — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Bachelor Degree 6.7% / —
Merriwa — Bachelor Degree: 6.7% Bunnan — Bachelor Degree: not among its largest
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.5% / 3.2%
Merriwa — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5% Bunnan — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%
Postgraduate Degree 0.8% / —
Merriwa — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8% Bunnan — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

Property market

Merriwa Bunnan
Median house price $402,500 $270,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $248,750 $106,800
Typical days to sell (houses) 72 days
from 22 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Bunnan has more rural and farming land (100% vs 84%); Merriwa has more land zoned for conservation (16% vs 0%).

Merriwa Bunnan
Rural and farming 84% 100%
Environmental 16% 0%
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

Merriwa Bunnan
New dwellings approved 41
across Upper Hunter
same for both
Approvals change year on year -20%
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.

Merriwa Bunnan
Houses 4.2%
$420/wk on $515K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Merriwa Bunnan
House price Higher than 11% of NSW Higher than 6% of NSW
Income Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 87% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption — Higher than 14% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 83% of NSW —

Liveability

Merriwa Bunnan
Grade D —
Score 16/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
same for both

Risk profile

Merriwa carries more bushfire risk (49 vs 29); Merriwa carries more crime risk (73 vs 61).

Merriwa Bunnan
Bushfire Moderate
49/100
 Low
29/100
Crime High
73/100
 Moderate
61/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Merriwa Bunnan
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Merriwa

  • Merriwa Central School Government · Combined above peers
  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Schools in Bunnan

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

Amenities in the suburb

Merriwa Bunnan
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 5 0
Childcare 1 0
GPs 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 275 30

Mobility

Merriwa sits further from the CBD (318.6 km vs 298.9 km).

Merriwa Bunnan
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 318.6 km
+6% vs other
 298.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 231 min 237 min
Electric vehicle share 0.0%
postcode 2329
 0.2%
postcode 2337
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 46
postcode 2329
 41
postcode 2337

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.

Merriwa Bunnan
Car (driver) 67.2% / 67.6%
Merriwa — Car (driver): 67.2% Bunnan — Car (driver): 67.6%
Worked from Home 18.0% / 17.6%
Merriwa — Worked from Home: 18.0% Bunnan — Worked from Home: 17.6%
Walked Only 9.0% / 14.7%
Merriwa — Walked Only: 9.0% Bunnan — Walked Only: 14.7%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / —
Merriwa — Car (passenger): 5.1% Bunnan — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Bus 0.7% / —
Merriwa — Bus: 0.7% Bunnan — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.6%).

Setting

Merriwa Bunnan
Elevation 433 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 313 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Merriwa Bunnan
Connectivity score 27/100 15/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
883 premises
 0%
46 premises

Climate

Merriwa Bunnan
Annual rainfall 659 mm 631 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 31.6°C
Winter min (Jul) — 4.1°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Merriwa Bunnan
PM2.5 4.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.31 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Merriwa Bunnan
Average residential rate $968/yr
same for both
Council Upper Hunter
same for both

Federal electorate

Merriwa Bunnan
Division New England
same for both
Member Barnaby Joyce
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Merriwa Bunnan
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Merriwa

Affordable Rural

Bunnan

Retirees Rural Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Merriwa

Merriwa vs Cassilis Merriwa vs Gungal Merriwa vs Giants Creek Merriwa vs Baerami Merriwa vs Widden Merriwa vs Parraweena

Other comparisons with Bunnan

Bunnan vs Giants Creek Bunnan vs Owens Gap Bunnan vs Manobalai
Full data on Merriwa Full data on Bunnan
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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