New South Wales · Suburb Profile

Merimbula NSW — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Merimbula, New South Wales. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Merimbula NSW is 3,821 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Merimbula is $708 per week ($36,816 per year). Median rent in Merimbula is $310 per week ($1,343 per month). Merimbula has a median age of 54 years, older than the national median of 38. Merimbula has a population density of 211.5 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Merimbula is England. The most common religion is No Religion (50% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Thai. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Merimbula is $1,517.

There were 67 recorded offences in Merimbula in 2025-26, a rate of 18 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (30 offences).

Merimbula Map

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Merimbula Population

residents (Census 2021)

Merimbula Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$708/wk

$36,816 per year

#5343 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$310/wk

$1,343 per month

#4328 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

54years

16 years older than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$1,517/mo

Avg household size: 2 · 0.7 per bedroom

Merimbula Demographics

Gender Split

Male 46.7% (1,785) Female 53.3% (2,035)

Population Density

211.5

people per km²

3,821 people · 18.1 km²

Households

Avg household size

0.7

Persons per bedroom

$1,727

Family income/wk

Merimbula Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Merimbula Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

64.7% 701 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

35.3% 382 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Merimbula Country of Birth

Australia

91.3%

England

5.9%

India

0.9%

Germany

0.5%

Hong Kong

0.5%

Canada

0.3%

Chile

0.3%

France

0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Merimbula Religion

No Religion

50.0%

Catholic

17.0%

Anglican

16.4%

Not stated

7.7%

Uniting Church

3.2%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

2.4%

Christian (other)

1.8%

Buddhism

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Merimbula Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

54.5%

Year 10 or equivalent

26.6%

Year 11 or equivalent

12.3%

Year 9 or equivalent

6.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Merimbula Languages Spoken at Home

Thai

17.8%

Other

16.4%

Hindi

13.7%

IAL Nepali

12.3%

German

12.3%

IAL Punjabi

9.6%

Spanish

9.6%

Greek

8.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Merimbula Employment

💼

Employed full-time

28.6% 873 people

⏰

Employed part-time

22.4% 684 people

🔍

Unemployed

2.1% 63 people

🏠

Not in labour force

46.9% 1,428 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Merimbula Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

39.0%

Bachelor Degree

26.3%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

19.7%

Postgraduate Degree

7.2%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

5.1%

Certificate I/II

2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Merimbula Occupation

Professionals

25.2%

Technicians & Trade Workers

17.2%

Community & Personal Service

14.1%

Managers

14.0%

Clerical & Administrative

10.0%

Sales Workers

9.7%

Labourers

6.4%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Merimbula Field of Study

Management & Commerce

16.0%

Health

15.2%

Society & Culture

13.7%

Engineering

13.2%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

10.7%

Architecture & Building

10.6%

Education

9.2%

Creative Arts

4.5%

Agriculture & Environment

3.4%

Natural & Physical Sciences

2.0%

Information Technology

1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Merimbula Dwelling Types

Separate house

77.6%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

12.0%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

10.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Merimbula Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.4%

$1-$149/wk

1.3%

$150-$299/wk

1.7%

$300-$399/wk

3.5%

$400-$499/wk

10.1%

$500-$649/wk

9.2%

$650-$799/wk

8.5%

$800-$999/wk

8.6%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

10.1%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.2%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

5.3%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.4%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

9.8%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

5.7%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

4.3%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

1.6%

$4,000+/wk

5.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Merimbula Marital Status

💍

Married

40.7% 1,372

↔️

Separated

3.5% 118

📋

Divorced

14.8% 501

🕊️

Widowed

9.8% 332

👤

Never married

31.1% 1,051

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Merimbula Ancestry

English

36.0%

Australian

27.6%

Irish

10.6%

Scottish

9.0%

Other

5.3%

German

3.6%

Italian

2.1%

Dutch

2.0%

Aboriginal Australianralian

1.5%

Chinese

0.8%

Welsh

0.7%

Polish

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Merimbula School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

31.4%

Secondary — Catholic

17.0%

Vocational Education

16.2%

Secondary — Government

14.3%

Pre-school

10.6%

Primary — Catholic

6.6%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

2.1%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Merimbula Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

7.1% 510

✅

No need for assistance

92.9% 6,669

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Merimbula Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

22.0% 691

—

Not a volunteer

78.0% 2,455

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Merimbula Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

7.4%

$300-$449/mo

3.4%

$450-$599/mo

2.6%

$600-$799/mo

6.3%

$800-$999/mo

8.0%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

19.2%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

17.2%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

22.1%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

8.3%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Merimbula How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

71.2%

Did not go to work

13.3%

Walked only

7.1%

Car (passenger)

4.7%

Other

1.2%

Truck

0.9%

Bicycle

0.6%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.5%

Bus

0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Merimbula Car Ownership

0 vehicles

6.9%

1 vehicle

47.6%

2 vehicles

33.1%

3 vehicles

8.4%

4+ vehicles

4.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Merimbula Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

8.5%

2 bedrooms

31.4%

3 bedrooms

38.5%

4 bedrooms

16.3%

5 bedrooms

4.1%

6+ bedrooms

1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Merimbula Population Mobility

18.4%

moved in the last year

49.8%

moved in the last 5 years

3.8%

unemployment rate (Census)

51.4%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Merimbula Indigenous Population

2.3%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

167

Indigenous residents

7,032

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Merimbula Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

396

Arthritis

185

Heart disease

151

Asthma

130

Lung condition

117

Diabetes

115

Cancer

Kidney disease

Stroke

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Merimbula Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

6.0%

$1-$149/wk

4.2%

$150-$299/wk

5.0%

$300-$399/wk

5.2%

$400-$499/wk

6.1%

$500-$649/wk

6.3%

$650-$799/wk

11.6%

$800-$999/wk

13.0%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

14.0%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.4%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.6%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

4.7%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

6.3%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

0.9%

$3,500+/wk

2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Merimbula Family Structure

Couple — no children

46.5%

Couple — children under 15

28.7%

Couple — no children under 15

9.6%

One parent — children under 15

8.6%

One parent — no children under 15

6.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Merimbula Military Service

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

0.1% 3

🏅

Previously served

4.2% 132

👤

Never served

95.7% 3,019

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Merimbula Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

12.1% 379

—

Did not provide

87.9% 2,757

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Merimbula Children Ever Born

No children

29.1%

1 child

11.8%

2 children

33.6%

3 children

18.4%

4 children

6.0%

5+ children

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Merimbula When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

114

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Merimbula Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

20.6%

5–14 hours

32.6%

15–29 hours

14.4%

30+ hours

8.6%

Did not do domestic work

23.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Merimbula Household Size

1 person

40.8%

2 persons

38.7%

3 persons

9.9%

4 persons

6.5%

5 persons

2.6%

6+ persons

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Merimbula Where Residents Moved From

Same address

2,884

Moved — same area (SA2)

290

Moved from NSW

247

Moved from VIC

Moved from QLD

Moved from ACT

Moved from SA

Moved from TAS

Moved from WA

Moved from overseas

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Merimbula Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

80.3%

Step family — no other children

16.8%

Blended family — no other children

1.7%

Other couple — children only

1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Merimbula Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 67 total

Theft

Other Against Property

Assault

Sexual Offences

Other Against Person

Property Damage

Offence trend by year:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR — bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Merimbula Schools

schools nearby

government

1001

avg ICSEA score

428

total students

Merimbula Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 428 students

1001

ICSEA

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Merimbula with map →

Merimbula Rent Prices & Affordability

27%

of income

Moderate

Household Income $1,146/wk

Median Rent $310/wk

Rent-to-Income 27.1%

Rent is between 25–35% of household income — moderate housing costs.

If you earn X in Merimbula

Your weekly income

≈ $4,966/month

Median rent $310/wk

Left after rent $836/wk

Rent share 27.1%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Berrigan

Income: $586/wk Rent: $173/wk Save: $137/wk

Mulwala

Income: $638/wk Rent: $270/wk Save: $40/wk

Eden

Income: $577/wk Rent: $270/wk Save: $40/wk

Corowa

Income: $634/wk Rent: $230/wk Save: $80/wk

Crookwell

Income: $639/wk Rent: $280/wk Save: $30/wk

Moruya

Income: $592/wk Rent: $300/wk Save: $10/wk

Dungog

Income: $582/wk Rent: $300/wk Save: $10/wk

Finley

Income: $636/wk Rent: $175/wk Save: $135/wk

Merimbula vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

Batehaven

Pop: 1,911 Income: $595/wk Rent: $320/wk

Tumbarumba

Pop: 1,915 Income: $677/wk Rent: $220/wk

Windsor (NSW)

Pop: 1,915 Income: $756/wk Rent: $360/wk

Revesby Heights

Pop: 1,916 Income: $1,005/wk Rent: $650/wk

Luddenham

Pop: 1,927 Income: $1,007/wk Rent: $480/wk

Cabarita (NSW)

Pop: 1,933 Income: $1,150/wk Rent: $900/wk

Compare Merimbula

Merimbula vs Batehaven →Merimbula vs Tumbarumba →Merimbula vs Windsor (NSW) →Merimbula vs Revesby Heights →

Frequently Asked Questions About Merimbula

What is the population of Merimbula NSW?

The population of Merimbula NSW is 3,821 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 211.5 people per km².Merimbula is ranked #1,996 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Merimbula?

The median personal income in Merimbula NSW is $708 per week, or $36,816 per year.The median household income is $1,146 per week.Family income is $1,727 per week.Merimbula is ranked #5,343 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Merimbula?

Median rent in Merimbula NSW is $310 per week ($1,343 per month).Rent represents 27.1% of household income, which is considered moderate.Merimbula ranks #4,328 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Merimbula?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Merimbula NSW is $1,517. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Merimbula?

The median age in Merimbula NSW is 54 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Merimbula a good suburb to live in?

Merimbula is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 3,821.The median income is $708/wk, which is below the NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as moderate (27.1% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 12586. All dollar figures in AUD.