Westmead vs Merrylands

In both, about half of households are couple families. In Westmead, most households rent and the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. In Merrylands, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Westmead: a median of $1.8 million, against $1.39 million in Merrylands. On these figures, Westmead tends to suit renters, while Merrylands suits 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

Merrylands

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (49% vs 15%)
  • has more childcare (35 vs 12)
  • has more parks and reserves (38 vs 15)
  • But Westmead has more schools rated above their peers (2 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 houses ($1,387,000 vs $1,800,000)
  • has cheaper units ($505,500 vs $585,000)
  • But Westmead leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 33%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Westmead

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (70% vs 49%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Westmead has more units and townhouses to downsize into (85% vs 51%)
  • Merrylands has more GPs (15 vs 8)

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

Investors

Merrylands

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (9.5% vs 1.5%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 2.5%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.5% vs 5.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Westmead 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.

Westmead 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.

Westmead Merrylands
Walkability 96 / 96
Westmead — Walkability: 96/100 Merrylands — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 27 / 21
Westmead — Safety: 27/100 Merrylands — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Westmead — Low fire risk: 100/100 Merrylands — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Merrylands has more residents (32,472 vs 16,555); Westmead has higher household incomes ($111,488 vs $76,440).

Westmead Merrylands
Population 16,555 32,472
+96% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.5% +9.5%
Median age 33
same for both
Median household income $111,488/yr
+31% vs other
 $76,440/yr
Median weekly rent $410/wk
+2% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Westmead Merrylands
0-4 8.0% / 7.9%
Westmead — 0-4: 8.0% Merrylands — 0-4: 7.9%
5-14 13.0% / 12.8%
Westmead — 5-14: 13.0% Merrylands — 5-14: 12.8%
15-19 3.2% / 5.6%
Westmead — 15-19: 3.2% Merrylands — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 6.4% / 7.7%
Westmead — 20-24: 6.4% Merrylands — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 23.4% / 18.7%
Westmead — 25-34: 23.4% Merrylands — 25-34: 18.7%
35-44 22.8% / 14.9%
Westmead — 35-44: 22.8% Merrylands — 35-44: 14.9%
45-54 8.2% / 11.0%
Westmead — 45-54: 8.2% Merrylands — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 6.3% / 10.1%
Westmead — 55-64: 6.3% Merrylands — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 4.6% / 6.5%
Westmead — 65-74: 4.6% Merrylands — 65-74: 6.5%
75-84 2.8% / 3.5%
Westmead — 75-84: 2.8% Merrylands — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 1.3% / 1.3%
Westmead — 85+: 1.3% Merrylands — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Westmead 52.3% couple families
Westmead — Couple Families: 52.3% Westmead — Lone Person: 28.8% Westmead — One Parent Families: 9.0% Westmead — Group Household: 7.5% Westmead — Other Families: 2.4%
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.

Westmead 70.4% renting
Westmead — Owned Outright: 9.9% Westmead — Mortgage: 19.7% Westmead — Renting: 70.4%
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.

Westmead Merrylands
Bachelor Degree 24.5% / 11.9%
Westmead — Bachelor Degree: 24.5% Merrylands — Bachelor Degree: 11.9%
Postgraduate Degree 18.0% / 4.6%
Westmead — Postgraduate Degree: 18.0% Merrylands — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.4% / 7.1%
Westmead — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4% Merrylands — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Certificate III & IV 3.8% / 7.5%
Westmead — Certificate III & IV: 3.8% Merrylands — Certificate III & IV: 7.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 0.9%
Westmead — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Merrylands — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.5%).

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.

Westmead Merrylands
India 38.1% / 3.3%
Westmead — India: 38.1% Merrylands — India: 3.3%
China 3.9% / 5.4%
Westmead — China: 3.9% Merrylands — China: 5.4%
Lebanon 0.9% / 7.6%
Westmead — Lebanon: 0.9% Merrylands — Lebanon: 7.6%
Nepal 3.4% / 2.9%
Westmead — Nepal: 3.4% Merrylands — Nepal: 2.9%
Afghanistan — / 4.8%
Westmead — Afghanistan: not among its largest Merrylands — Afghanistan: 4.8%
Philippines 2.2% / 1.9%
Westmead — Philippines: 2.2% Merrylands — Philippines: 1.9%
Sri Lanka 2.8% / —
Westmead — Sri Lanka: 2.8% Merrylands — Sri Lanka: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (38.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Westmead 76.2% flats / apartments
Westmead — Flats / Apartments: 76.2% Westmead — Houses: 15.0% Westmead — Townhouses: 8.9%
Merrylands 37.6% flats / apartments
Merrylands — Flats / Apartments: 37.6% Merrylands — Houses: 48.8% Merrylands — Townhouses: 13.6%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Westmead Merrylands
Median house price $1,800,000 $1,387,000
Median unit price $585,000 $505,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 39 sales
 25 days
from 225 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.

Westmead Merrylands
1 bed $480K / $440K
Westmead — 1 bed: $480K (40 sales) Merrylands — 1 bed: $440K (25 sales)

40 vs 25 sales

2 bed $585K / $505K
Westmead — 2 bed: $585K (303 sales) Merrylands — 2 bed: $505K (251 sales)

303 vs 251 sales

3 bed $745K / $695K
Westmead — 3 bed: $745K (41 sales) Merrylands — 3 bed: $695K (26 sales)

41 vs 26 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.

Westmead Merrylands
2 bed $711K / $1.25M
Westmead — 2 bed: $711K (15 sales) Merrylands — 2 bed: $1.25M (37 sales)

15 vs 37 sales

3 bed $1.85M / $1.31M
Westmead — 3 bed: $1.85M (8 sales) Merrylands — 3 bed: $1.31M (115 sales)

8 vs 115 sales

4 bed $1.77M / $1.39M
Westmead — 4 bed: $1.77M (8 sales) Merrylands — 4 bed: $1.39M (64 sales)

8 vs 64 sales

5 bed $1.86M / $1.64M
Westmead — 5 bed: $1.86M (11 sales) Merrylands — 5 bed: $1.64M (38 sales)

11 vs 38 sales

Zoning mix

Westmead Merrylands
Residential 65% 83%
Infrastructure and transport 29% 4%
Parks and recreation 3% 7%
Commercial 0% 6%
Environmental 1% 0%
Industrial 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

Westmead Merrylands
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.

Westmead Merrylands
Houses 2.5%
$720/wk on $1.47M
 3.6%
$850/wk on $1.25M
Units 5.5%
$640/wk on $600K
 6.5%
$650/wk on $520K

Ranking within NSW

Westmead Merrylands
House price Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Income Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Schools Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 8% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW

Liveability

Westmead scores higher overall (67 vs 47).

Westmead Merrylands
Grade B C
Score 67/100 47/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Westmead Merrylands
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
73/100
 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 15
within 5 km
 19
within 5 km

Schools

Westmead Merrylands
Inside the suburb 9 6
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 3
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 2.0 km
 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 3.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.1% 2.9%

Schools in Westmead

  • Catherine McAuley Westmead Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Parramatta Marist High School Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Mother Teresa Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Sacred Heart Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Westmead Christian Grammar School Independent · Primary below peers
  • Westmead Public School Government · Primary below 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

Westmead Merrylands
Supermarkets 2 3
Cafes & restaurants 16 8
Parks & reserves 15 38
Childcare 12 35
GPs 8 15
Pharmacies 5 7
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 5
Fuel stations 1 4
Waterways 4 5

Mobility

Westmead Merrylands
Walkability score 96/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 26.2 km
same for both
Drive time (normal traffic) 28 min
same for both
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 91/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 380.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 530.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2145
 0.6%
postcode 2160
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 2145
 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.

Westmead Merrylands
Worked from Home 52.8% / 34.0%
Westmead — Worked from Home: 52.8% Merrylands — Worked from Home: 34.0%
Car (driver) 26.3% / 48.0%
Westmead — Car (driver): 26.3% Merrylands — Car (driver): 48.0%
Train 10.0% / 9.6%
Westmead — Train: 10.0% Merrylands — Train: 9.6%
Walked Only 5.9% / 2.0%
Westmead — Walked Only: 5.9% Merrylands — Walked Only: 2.0%
Car (passenger) 2.9% / 4.8%
Westmead — Car (passenger): 2.9% Merrylands — Car (passenger): 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.8%).

Setting

Westmead Merrylands
Elevation 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 22.7 km 20.8 km

NBN connectivity

Westmead Merrylands
Connectivity score 77/100 79/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
7,076 premises
 16%
12,210 premises

Climate

Westmead 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)

Westmead 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Westmead

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Professionals River Trams Transport Hub Urban

Merrylands

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Westmead

Westmead vs Parramatta Westmead vs Wentworthville Westmead vs North Parramatta Westmead vs Northmead Westmead vs South Wentworthville Westmead vs Mays Hill

Other comparisons with Merrylands

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