Merrylands West vs Smithfield

In both, most households own their home. In Smithfield, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Merrylands West is closer to the city centre: 26.5 km, against 32.1 km.

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

Smithfield

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (17 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 13)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (77% vs 50%)

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

First-home buyers

Merrylands West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($487,500 vs $1,190,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (33% vs 38%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Merrylands West

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (26.5 km vs 32.1 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (29 min vs 34 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Merrylands West has more units and townhouses to downsize into (50% vs 23%)
  • Smithfield has more GPs (3 vs 0)

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

Merrylands West and Smithfield 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 Smithfield
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 Smithfield
Walkability 80 / 73
Merrylands West — Walkability: 80/100 Smithfield — Walkability: 73/100
Safety 32 / 35
Merrylands West — Safety: 32/100 Smithfield — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Merrylands West — Low fire risk: 100/100 Smithfield — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Smithfield has more residents (13,160 vs 7,054); Smithfield skews older (38 vs 36).

Merrylands West Smithfield
Population 7,054 13,160
+87% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.0% +9.9%
Median age 36 38
Median household income $72,488/yr
+7% vs other
 $67,600/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Merrylands West Smithfield
0-4 6.5% / 6.3%
Merrylands West — 0-4: 6.5% Smithfield — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 13.4% / 13.3%
Merrylands West — 5-14: 13.4% Smithfield — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 6.3% / 6.7%
Merrylands West — 15-19: 6.3% Smithfield — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 6.8% / 6.6%
Merrylands West — 20-24: 6.8% Smithfield — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 15.2% / 13.3%
Merrylands West — 25-34: 15.2% Smithfield — 25-34: 13.3%
35-44 14.0% / 11.8%
Merrylands West — 35-44: 14.0% Smithfield — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 11.7% / 12.4%
Merrylands West — 45-54: 11.7% Smithfield — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 10.3% / 11.9%
Merrylands West — 55-64: 10.3% Smithfield — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 7.7% / 9.0%
Merrylands West — 65-74: 7.7% Smithfield — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 4.8% / 5.8%
Merrylands West — 75-84: 4.8% Smithfield — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 3.2% / 2.8%
Merrylands West — 85+: 3.2% Smithfield — 85+: 2.8%

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

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%
Smithfield 48.1% couple families
Smithfield — Couple Families: 48.1% Smithfield — Lone Person: 26.7% Smithfield — One Parent Families: 21.1% Smithfield — Group Household: 2.3% Smithfield — 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%
Smithfield 44.5% renting
Smithfield — Owned Outright: 28.3% Smithfield — Mortgage: 27.3% Smithfield — Renting: 44.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Merrylands West Smithfield
Certificate III & IV 9.1% / 9.6%
Merrylands West — Certificate III & IV: 9.1% Smithfield — Certificate III & IV: 9.6%
Bachelor Degree 10.8% / 7.4%
Merrylands West — Bachelor Degree: 10.8% Smithfield — Bachelor Degree: 7.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 5.8%
Merrylands West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Smithfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 1.5%
Merrylands West — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Smithfield — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 0.5%
Merrylands West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Smithfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5%

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

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 Smithfield
Iraq 2.2% / 18.1%
Merrylands West — Iraq: 2.2% Smithfield — Iraq: 18.1%
Lebanon 6.3% / 2.2%
Merrylands West — Lebanon: 6.3% Smithfield — Lebanon: 2.2%
Vietnam — / 6.9%
Merrylands West — Vietnam: not among its largest Smithfield — Vietnam: 6.9%
Afghanistan 4.7% / —
Merrylands West — Afghanistan: 4.7% Smithfield — Afghanistan: not among its largest
China 2.9% / 1.0%
Merrylands West — China: 2.9% Smithfield — China: 1.0%
Italy — / 2.3%
Merrylands West — Italy: not among its largest Smithfield — Italy: 2.3%
Pakistan 2.2% / —
Merrylands West — Pakistan: 2.2% Smithfield — Pakistan: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 1.2%
Merrylands West — New Zealand: not among its largest Smithfield — New Zealand: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Merrylands West 50.4% houses
Merrylands West — Houses: 50.4% Merrylands West — Flats / Apartments: 32.1% Merrylands West — Townhouses: 17.5%
Smithfield 77.3% houses
Smithfield — Houses: 77.3% Smithfield — Flats / Apartments: 12.0% Smithfield — Townhouses: 10.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Merrylands West Smithfield
Median house price $1,232,000 $1,325,000
Median unit price $487,500 $1,190,500
Median land price — $1,180,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 31 days
from 4 sales
 26 days
from 107 sales

Zoning mix

Smithfield has more industrially zoned land (47% vs 0%).

Merrylands West Smithfield
Residential 81% 37%
Industrial 0% 47%
Parks and recreation 14% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 4%
Environmental 0% 4%
Commercial 2% 1%
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 Smithfield
New dwellings approved 1,756
across Cumberland
same for both
Approvals change year on year -28%
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.

Merrylands West Smithfield
Houses — 3.0%
$720/wk on $1.24M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Merrylands West Smithfield
House price Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
Income Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
Schools Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 23% of NSW

Liveability

Merrylands West scores higher overall (56 vs 50).

Merrylands West Smithfield
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 50/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Merrylands West Smithfield
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
68/100
 Moderate
65/100
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
 22
within 5 km

Schools

Merrylands West Smithfield
Inside the suburb 4
same for both
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 4.4 km
 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 7.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8% 2.6%

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 Smithfield

  • St Gertrude's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Smithfield Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Smithfield West Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Aspect Western Sydney School, Smithfield Independent · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Merrylands West Smithfield
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 1
Parks & reserves 13 21
Childcare 3 17
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 2 6
Waterways 0 4

Mobility

Smithfield sits further from the CBD (32.1 km vs 26.5 km).

Merrylands West Smithfield
Walkability score 80/100 73/100
Distance to Sydney 26.5 km 32.1 km
+21% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 29 min 34 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 159.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 319.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2160
 0.6%
postcode 2164
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 2160
 44
postcode 2164

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 Smithfield
Car (driver) 53.0% / 60.8%
Merrylands West — Car (driver): 53.0% Smithfield — Car (driver): 60.8%
Worked from Home 35.8% / 29.6%
Merrylands West — Worked from Home: 35.8% Smithfield — Worked from Home: 29.6%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 5.0%
Merrylands West — Car (passenger): 4.7% Smithfield — Car (passenger): 5.0%
Train 3.6% / 2.1%
Merrylands West — Train: 3.6% Smithfield — Train: 2.1%
Bus 2.0% / 0.9%
Merrylands West — Bus: 2.0% Smithfield — Bus: 0.9%
Walked Only 0.9% / 1.3%
Merrylands West — Walked Only: 0.9% Smithfield — Walked Only: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.8%).

Setting

Merrylands West Smithfield
Elevation 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 22.1 km 23.7 km

NBN connectivity

Merrylands West Smithfield
Connectivity score 83/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 28%
2,835 premises
 21%
6,055 premises

Climate

Merrylands West Smithfield
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 Smithfield
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³ 6.7 µg/m³
PM10 16.9 µg/m³ 17.6 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.83 pphm 0.88 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Merrylands West Smithfield
Division Blaxland Mcmahon
Member Jason Clare Chris Bowen
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Merrylands West Smithfield
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

Smithfield

Multicultural Outer Parks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Merrylands West

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

Other comparisons with Smithfield

Smithfield vs Greystanes Smithfield vs Fairfield Smithfield vs Fairfield West Smithfield vs Fairfield Heights Smithfield vs Wetherill Park Smithfield vs Guildford West
Full data on Merrylands West Full data on Smithfield
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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