Merrylands West vs Guildford West

Guildford West is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 36 in Merrylands West. In both, most households own their home. In Guildford West, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. On these figures, Merrylands West tends to suit people living alone, while Guildford West suits families with children and couples.

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

Guildford West

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (77% vs 50%)
  • carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 68/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 61%)
  • But Merrylands West has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Merrylands West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $460/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Merrylands West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 72/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Merrylands West

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (50% vs 23%)
  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 72/100)
  • But Guildford West carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

Guildford West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (17.2% vs 7.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Merrylands West Guildford West
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.

Merrylands West Guildford West
Walkability 80 / 72
Merrylands West — Walkability: 80/100 Guildford West — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 32 / 49
Merrylands West — Safety: 32/100 Guildford West — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Merrylands West — Low fire risk: 100/100 Guildford West — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Merrylands West skews older (36 vs 31); Guildford West rents higher ($460/wk vs $400/wk).

Merrylands West Guildford West
Population 7,054
+18% vs other
 5,762
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.0% +17.2%
Median age 36 31
Median household income $72,488/yr $82,316/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $460/wk
+15% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Merrylands West Guildford West
0-4 6.5% / 8.4%
Merrylands West — 0-4: 6.5% Guildford West — 0-4: 8.4%
5-14 13.4% / 16.4%
Merrylands West — 5-14: 13.4% Guildford West — 5-14: 16.4%
15-19 6.3% / 7.2%
Merrylands West — 15-19: 6.3% Guildford West — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 6.8% / 6.6%
Merrylands West — 20-24: 6.8% Guildford West — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 15.2% / 16.0%
Merrylands West — 25-34: 15.2% Guildford West — 25-34: 16.0%
35-44 14.0% / 13.1%
Merrylands West — 35-44: 14.0% Guildford West — 35-44: 13.1%
45-54 11.7% / 11.4%
Merrylands West — 45-54: 11.7% Guildford West — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 10.3% / 9.9%
Merrylands West — 55-64: 10.3% Guildford West — 55-64: 9.9%
65-74 7.7% / 6.1%
Merrylands West — 65-74: 7.7% Guildford West — 65-74: 6.1%
75-84 4.8% / 3.5%
Merrylands West — 75-84: 4.8% Guildford West — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 3.2% / 1.4%
Merrylands West — 85+: 3.2% Guildford West — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Merrylands West 42.3% couple families
Merrylands West — Couple Families: 42.3% Merrylands West — Lone Person: 33.0% Merrylands West — One Parent Families: 18.6% Merrylands West — Group Household: 4.3% Merrylands West — Other Families: 1.7%
Guildford West 56.8% couple families
Guildford West — Couple Families: 56.8% Guildford West — Lone Person: 18.4% Guildford West — One Parent Families: 19.4% Guildford West — Group Household: 3.5% Guildford West — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Merrylands West 43.6% renting
Merrylands West — Owned Outright: 27.2% Merrylands West — Mortgage: 29.2% Merrylands West — Renting: 43.6%
Guildford West 34.2% renting
Guildford West — Owned Outright: 27.1% Guildford West — Mortgage: 38.7% Guildford West — Renting: 34.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Merrylands West Guildford West
Lebanon 6.3% / 8.1%
Merrylands West — Lebanon: 6.3% Guildford West — Lebanon: 8.1%
Afghanistan 4.7% / 3.6%
Merrylands West — Afghanistan: 4.7% Guildford West — Afghanistan: 3.6%
Iraq 2.2% / 3.3%
Merrylands West — Iraq: 2.2% Guildford West — Iraq: 3.3%
China 2.9% / 1.7%
Merrylands West — China: 2.9% Guildford West — China: 1.7%
Pakistan 2.2% / 1.8%
Merrylands West — Pakistan: 2.2% Guildford West — Pakistan: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.1%).

Qualifications

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

Merrylands West Guildford West
Bachelor Degree 10.8% / 8.2%
Merrylands West — Bachelor Degree: 10.8% Guildford West — Bachelor Degree: 8.2%
Certificate III & IV 9.1% / 9.7%
Merrylands West — Certificate III & IV: 9.1% Guildford West — Certificate III & IV: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 6.8%
Merrylands West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Guildford West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 2.3%
Merrylands West — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Guildford West — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 0.4%
Merrylands West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Guildford West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Merrylands West 50.4% houses
Merrylands West — Houses: 50.4% Merrylands West — Townhouses: 17.5% Merrylands West — Flats / Apartments: 32.1%
Guildford West 77.0% houses
Guildford West — Houses: 77.0% Guildford West — Townhouses: 20.4% Guildford West — Flats / Apartments: 2.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Merrylands West Guildford West
Median house price $1,232,000 $1,280,000
Median unit price $487,500 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 31 days
from 4 sales
 38 days
from 10 sales

Zoning mix

Merrylands West Guildford West
Residential 81% 80%
Parks and recreation 14% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 6%
Industrial 0% 6%
Commercial 2% 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

Merrylands West Guildford West
New dwellings approved 1,756
across Cumberland
same for both
Approvals change year on year -28%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Merrylands West Guildford West
House price Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
Income Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Schools Higher than 49% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW

Liveability

Merrylands West is more walkable (80 vs 72).

Merrylands West Guildford West
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 59/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Merrylands West carries more crime risk (68 vs 51).

Merrylands West Guildford West
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
68/100
 Moderate
51/100
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 13
within 5 km
 14
within 5 km

Schools

Merrylands West Guildford West
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 4.4 km
 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 5.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8% 2.5%

Schools in Merrylands West

  • Cerdon College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Sherwood Grange Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Merrylands High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Key College, Chapel School campus Independent · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Guildford West

  • Guildford West Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Merrylands West Guildford West
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 1
Parks & reserves 13 8
Childcare 3
same for both
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 2 0

Mobility

Merrylands West Guildford West
Walkability score 80/100 72/100
Distance to Sydney 26.5 km 28.2 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 29 min 33 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 159.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 170.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2160
 0.4%
postcode 2161
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 2160
 25
postcode 2161

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.

Merrylands West Guildford West
Car (driver) 53.0% / 56.7%
Merrylands West — Car (driver): 53.0% Guildford West — Car (driver): 56.7%
Worked from Home 35.8% / 33.5%
Merrylands West — Worked from Home: 35.8% Guildford West — Worked from Home: 33.5%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 4.9%
Merrylands West — Car (passenger): 4.7% Guildford West — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Train 3.6% / 2.6%
Merrylands West — Train: 3.6% Guildford West — Train: 2.6%
Bus 2.0% / 0.8%
Merrylands West — Bus: 2.0% Guildford West — Bus: 0.8%
Walked Only 0.9% / 1.4%
Merrylands West — Walked Only: 0.9% Guildford West — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.7%).

Setting

Merrylands West Guildford West
Elevation 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 22.1 km 21.6 km

NBN connectivity

Merrylands West Guildford West
Connectivity score 83/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 28%
2,835 premises
 55%
1,889 premises

Climate

Merrylands West Guildford West
Annual rainfall 931 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Merrylands West Guildford West
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.83 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Merrylands West Guildford West
Average residential rate $1,038/yr
same for both
Council Cumberland
same for both

Federal electorate

Merrylands West Guildford West
Division Blaxland
same for both
Member Jason Clare
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Merrylands West Guildford West
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Merrylands West

Apartments Multicultural Outer Parks Urban

Guildford West

Family Multicultural Outer Parks Townhouses Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Merrylands West

Merrylands West vs Merrylands Merrylands West vs Guildford Merrylands West vs Greystanes Merrylands West vs Smithfield Merrylands West vs Woodpark

Other comparisons with Guildford West

Guildford West vs Guildford Guildford West vs Smithfield Guildford West vs Woodpark Guildford West vs Yennora
Full data on Merrylands West Full data on Guildford West
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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