Parramatta vs Merrylands

In Parramatta, most households rent and the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. In Merrylands, about half of households rent and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Parramatta: a median of $1.56 million, against $1.39 million in Merrylands, and rent is higher there too. Parramatta is closer to the city centre: 23.4 km, against 26.2 km. On these figures, Parramatta tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Merrylands suits families with children.

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

Merrylands

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (49% vs 8%)
  • has more childcare (35 vs 25)
  • is already more of a family suburb (64% vs 48%)
  • But Parramatta has more schools rated above their peers (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Merrylands

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($505,500 vs $620,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,387,000 vs $1,560,000)
  • But Parramatta leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 33%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Parramatta

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (72% vs 49%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 27%)
  • But Merrylands has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $440/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Parramatta

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (23.4 km vs 26.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Merrylands

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (15 vs 10)
  • carries lower crime risk (79/100 vs 95/100)
  • But Parramatta has more units and townhouses to downsize into (92% vs 51%)

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

Investors

Merrylands

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 2.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.5% vs 5.9%)
  • But Parramatta is growing faster (17.1% vs 9.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Parramatta Merrylands
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.

Parramatta Merrylands
Walkability 100 / 96
Parramatta — Walkability: 100/100 Merrylands — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 5 / 21
Parramatta — Safety: 5/100 Merrylands — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Parramatta — Low fire risk: 100/100 Merrylands — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Parramatta has higher household incomes ($108,784 vs $76,440); Parramatta rents higher ($440/wk vs $400/wk).

Parramatta Merrylands
Population 30,211 32,472
+7% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +17.1% +9.5%
Median age 32 33
Median household income $108,784/yr
+30% vs other
 $76,440/yr
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+9% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Parramatta Merrylands
0-4 7.3% / 7.9%
Parramatta — 0-4: 7.3% Merrylands — 0-4: 7.9%
5-14 9.0% / 12.8%
Parramatta — 5-14: 9.0% Merrylands — 5-14: 12.8%
15-19 2.4% / 5.6%
Parramatta — 15-19: 2.4% Merrylands — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 8.7% / 7.7%
Parramatta — 20-24: 8.7% Merrylands — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 31.3% / 18.7%
Parramatta — 25-34: 31.3% Merrylands — 25-34: 18.7%
35-44 21.4% / 14.9%
Parramatta — 35-44: 21.4% Merrylands — 35-44: 14.9%
45-54 7.3% / 11.0%
Parramatta — 45-54: 7.3% Merrylands — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 6.0% / 10.1%
Parramatta — 55-64: 6.0% Merrylands — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 4.1% / 6.5%
Parramatta — 65-74: 4.1% Merrylands — 65-74: 6.5%
75-84 1.9% / 3.5%
Parramatta — 75-84: 1.9% Merrylands — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 0.6% / 1.3%
Parramatta — 85+: 0.6% Merrylands — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Parramatta 39.4% couple families
Parramatta — Couple Families: 39.4% Parramatta — Lone Person: 34.7% Parramatta — One Parent Families: 9.1% Parramatta — Group Household: 13.6% Parramatta — Other Families: 3.2%
Merrylands 47.7% couple families
Merrylands — Couple Families: 47.7% Merrylands — Lone Person: 26.6% Merrylands — One Parent Families: 16.5% Merrylands — Group Household: 6.6% Merrylands — Other Families: 2.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Parramatta 71.8% renting
Parramatta — Owned Outright: 9.8% Parramatta — Mortgage: 18.4% Parramatta — Renting: 71.8%
Merrylands 49.0% renting
Merrylands — Owned Outright: 23.3% Merrylands — Mortgage: 27.7% Merrylands — Renting: 49.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Parramatta Merrylands
Bachelor Degree 26.9% / 11.9%
Parramatta — Bachelor Degree: 26.9% Merrylands — Bachelor Degree: 11.9%
Postgraduate Degree 17.1% / 4.6%
Parramatta — Postgraduate Degree: 17.1% Merrylands — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 7.1%
Parramatta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Merrylands — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Certificate III & IV 4.5% / 7.5%
Parramatta — Certificate III & IV: 4.5% Merrylands — Certificate III & IV: 7.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 0.9%
Parramatta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Merrylands — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.9%).

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.

Parramatta Merrylands
India 30.9% / 3.3%
Parramatta — India: 30.9% Merrylands — India: 3.3%
China 8.9% / 5.4%
Parramatta — China: 8.9% Merrylands — China: 5.4%
Lebanon 1.0% / 7.6%
Parramatta — Lebanon: 1.0% Merrylands — Lebanon: 7.6%
Nepal 5.5% / 2.9%
Parramatta — Nepal: 5.5% Merrylands — Nepal: 2.9%
Afghanistan — / 4.8%
Parramatta — Afghanistan: not among its largest Merrylands — Afghanistan: 4.8%
Philippines 2.5% / 1.9%
Parramatta — Philippines: 2.5% Merrylands — Philippines: 1.9%
Iran 1.3% / —
Parramatta — Iran: 1.3% Merrylands — Iran: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Parramatta 86.7% flats / apartments
Parramatta — Flats / Apartments: 86.7% Parramatta — Houses: 7.7% Parramatta — Townhouses: 5.7%
Merrylands 37.6% flats / apartments
Merrylands — Flats / Apartments: 37.6% Merrylands — Houses: 48.8% Merrylands — Townhouses: 13.6%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Parramatta Merrylands
Median house price $1,560,000 $1,387,000
Median unit price $620,000 $505,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 34 sales
 25 days
from 225 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.

Parramatta Merrylands
2 bed $735K / $1.25M
Parramatta — 2 bed: $735K (13 sales) Merrylands — 2 bed: $1.25M (37 sales)

13 vs 37 sales

3 bed $1.66M / $1.31M
Parramatta — 3 bed: $1.66M (25 sales) Merrylands — 3 bed: $1.31M (115 sales)

25 vs 115 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Parramatta Merrylands
1 bed $497K / $440K
Parramatta — 1 bed: $497K (143 sales) Merrylands — 1 bed: $440K (25 sales)

143 vs 25 sales

2 bed $630K / $505K
Parramatta — 2 bed: $630K (507 sales) Merrylands — 2 bed: $505K (251 sales)

507 vs 251 sales

3 bed $821K / $695K
Parramatta — 3 bed: $821K (90 sales) Merrylands — 3 bed: $695K (26 sales)

90 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Parramatta Merrylands
Residential 53% 83%
Parks and recreation 24% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 4%
Commercial 6%
same for both
Environmental 4% 0%
Industrial 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

Parramatta Merrylands
New dwellings approved 2,888
across Parramatta
 1,756
across Cumberland
Approvals change year on year +154% -28%

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.

Parramatta Merrylands
Houses 2.4%
$748/wk on $1.65M
 3.6%
$850/wk on $1.25M
Units 5.9%
$700/wk on $620K
 6.5%
$650/wk on $520K

Ranking within NSW

Parramatta Merrylands
House price Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Income Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Schools Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW

Liveability

Parramatta scores higher overall (72 vs 47).

Parramatta Merrylands
Grade A C
Score 72/100 47/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Parramatta carries more crime risk (95 vs 79).

Parramatta Merrylands
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
95/100
 High
79/100
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 19
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Parramatta Merrylands
Inside the suburb 10 6
Rated above peers 4 0
Rated at peers 2
same for both
Rated below peers 2 3
Universities within 10 km 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 0.0 km
 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 3.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.8% 2.9%

Schools in Parramatta

  • Macarthur Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta Independent · Secondary above peers
  • Parramatta High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • St Patrick's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Arthur Phillip High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Parramatta West Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Merrylands

  • Hilltop Road Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Margaret Mary's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Merrylands East Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Merrylands Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Fowler Road School Government · Combined · Special school below peers
  • Holroyd School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Parramatta Merrylands
Supermarkets 14 3
Cafes & restaurants 180 8
Parks & reserves 30 38
Childcare 25 35
GPs 10 15
Pharmacies 9 7
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 21 5
Fuel stations 2 4
Waterways 18 5

Mobility

Merrylands sits further from the CBD (26.2 km vs 23.4 km).

Parramatta Merrylands
Walkability score 100/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 23.4 km 26.2 km
+12% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 28 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Tram · Bus · Ferry
 91/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 1024.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 530.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 2150
 0.6%
postcode 2160
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 3
postcode 2150
 19
postcode 2160

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.

Parramatta Merrylands
Worked from Home 56.9% / 34.0%
Parramatta — Worked from Home: 56.9% Merrylands — Worked from Home: 34.0%
Car (driver) 22.3% / 48.0%
Parramatta — Car (driver): 22.3% Merrylands — Car (driver): 48.0%
Train 10.7% / 9.6%
Parramatta — Train: 10.7% Merrylands — Train: 9.6%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 4.8%
Parramatta — Car (passenger): 2.1% Merrylands — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Walked Only 4.3% / 2.0%
Parramatta — Walked Only: 4.3% Merrylands — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bus 3.4% / 1.3%
Parramatta — Bus: 3.4% Merrylands — Bus: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.9%).

Setting

Parramatta Merrylands
Elevation 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 20.9 km 20.8 km

NBN connectivity

Parramatta Merrylands
Connectivity score 76/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
19,356 premises
 16%
12,210 premises

Climate

Parramatta Merrylands
Annual rainfall 1,021 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Parramatta Merrylands
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

Parramatta Merrylands
Average residential rate $1,103/yr $1,038/yr
Council Parramatta Cumberland

Federal electorate

Parramatta Merrylands
Division Parramatta Blaxland
Member Andrew Charlton Jason Clare
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Parramatta

Affordable Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals River Trams Transport Hub Urban

Merrylands

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Parramatta

Parramatta vs Granville Parramatta vs Westmead Parramatta vs North Parramatta Parramatta vs Rydalmere Parramatta vs Oatlands Parramatta vs Harris Park

Other comparisons with Merrylands

Merrylands vs Guildford Merrylands vs Greystanes Merrylands vs Granville Merrylands vs Westmead Merrylands vs Merrylands West Merrylands vs South Wentworthville
Full data on Parramatta Full data on Merrylands
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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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