Thinking about buying your first home in Merrylands (2160)? This page brings together 17 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, Transport for NSW, and Domain auction results to help you decide if Merrylands is the right fit. The analysis covers affordability and FHB scheme eligibility, schools and childcare, dealbreakers like flood and bushfire, and how the suburb is changing. Jump between the four sections using the sticky navigation, or scroll through the full analysis below.
Is Merrylands a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Merrylands (2160) scores a Stickybeak Grade across safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle. Scroll down for the full 17-card analysis, or use the section navigation to jump to what matters most.
Tick the places you actually go and how often. We'll work out your typical travel time from this suburb, so you can compare suburbs against the trips you really do.
Your typical trip from hereTick a destination below
51 min
50 min
7 min
33 min
51 min
Approximate off-peak driving times: straight-line distance × a Sydney detour factor at 35 km/h. Real road times will vary. Saved on this device.
The verdict
Who it is for
Merrylands suits younger buyers, given the median age of 33, who want a dense, walkable western suburb with genuine convenience. Six supermarkets, seven medical services, and 107 transport stops within 1.6 kilometres make car-free daily life realistic. The unit median of $675,000 is the more accessible entry point, though that figure has slipped 3.5% over the past year, which at least takes some pressure off negotiation.
Who would not love it
The SEIFA disadvantage score of 2 out of 10 is low, and the single secondary school in the postcode carries a mean ICSEA of 950, below the national average of 1,000. If school quality is central to your decision, the data does not support confidence here. The owner-occupier rate sits at just 49%, meaning nearly half your neighbours are renters, which affects community stability and strata culture in the suburb's many apartment buildings.
What to verify before you bid
- The unit median fell 3.5% year-on-year across 4,165 sales. Pull the specific building's strata records and check the sinking fund balance before committing, as oversupply in a soft unit market often masks deferred maintenance costs. - First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme stamp duty relief does not apply at the $1,317,500 house median. Confirm your exact purchase price against current FHBAS thresholds with Revenue NSW directly. - The walkability score of 56 is only at the 55th percentile for Sydney. Walk your intended route to the station at peak hour before you sign anything.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Merrylands?
BOCSAR · MERRYLANDS 2160
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K9,71912 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY+21%Above Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Cumberland
Within LGA: Cumberland
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT46%918 reports
AGAINST JUSTICE PROCEDURES36%714 reports
DRUG OFFENCES17%345 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED52%
NON-DOMESTIC48%
Across 316 assault reports in this window.
DV-flagged assault has risen statewide as reporting has improved. Compare with caution to suburbs whose population has changed materially.
BOCSAR Recorded Criminal Incidents · Updated March 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Air quality
Air quality in Merrylands
35
FairAQI · NSW DCCEEW
Reading may be delayed · 00:00 AEST
Parramatta North station · 4.2 km from centroid
12-month median:AQI 31 · Good
Air quality is acceptable but sensitive groups may notice effects.
AQI · last 12 months · daily mean
Parramatta North station · 365 daily points
Source: NSW DCCEEW Air Quality API↗ (CC BY 4.0). Historical data updated weekly; live readings cached 60 minutes.
Median weekly rent from lodged bonds. Sep 2025. Based on 201 new bond lodgements this quarter.
Rents here sit around the Sydney middle. A balance of rental stock and owner-occupier demand.
Median weekly rent · Unit · 2 bed
$600per week
Sep 2025 · 201 bonds lodged
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
Guildford2161
$550▼$50
2.4 km away
Harris Park2150
$700▲$100
3.3 km away
Granville2142
$630▲$30
3.3 km away
Pendle Hill2145
$630▲$30
3.5 km away
NSW DCJ Rental Bond Board↗ · Sep 2025 · CC BY. Cells with 10 or fewer bond lodgements are suppressed; cells with 30 or fewer have the bond count suppressed but rent published. Figures are transacted rents, not asking rents.
DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE · NSW PLANNING PORTAL · 2160
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2160. Expected back by Q3 2026.
Get one email when Merrylands's prices, FHB eligibility, or strata health change. No newsletter, no upsell, unsubscribe with one click.
Your email is used only for this notification. Unsubscribe in one click.
Compare Merrylands with another suburb
Also in Cumberland
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other Cumberland postcodes, or explore the full Cumberland suburb index.
Merrylands is the primary suburb with postcode 2160 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Merrylands is the main locality.
Which local government area is Merrylands in?
Merrylands (2160) is located in the Cumberland local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Merrylands?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Merrylands (2160) covering affordability (median sale prices, rental yield, first home buyer eligibility), lifestyle (schools, childcare, walkability, commute times), risk factors (flood zones, bushfire prone land, air quality, traffic volume), and suburb growth signals (development pipeline, price trajectory, demographics).
Is Merrylands flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Merrylands. Check the Dealbreakers section on this page for the latest NSW flood zone mapping sourced from official state government data. Always verify at the property level with a Section 10.7 certificate before purchasing.
What are the best schools near Merrylands?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Merrylands (2160), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Merrylands (2160) eligible for the First Home Buyer scheme?
The First Home Buyer eligibility card on this page shows which NSW and federal government schemes — including the First Home Guarantee, stamp duty exemptions, and the First Home Super Saver scheme — apply to purchases in Merrylands (2160). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Merrylands changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Merrylands (2160) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
