Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Merimbula suburb profile
Merimbula, NSW · Postcode 2548
This Merimbula suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Merimbula, NSW (postcode 2548). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Merimbula with nearby suburbs.
Merimbula at a glance
Population
3,821
Median rent
$310/wk
Household income
$1,146/wk
Median age
54
Merimbula trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+14.9% over 10 years
Population
3,821
was 3,544 in 2016
+277 · +7.8%
Median rent
$310/wk
was $250/wk in 2016
+$60 · +24%
Household income
$1,146/wk
was $945/wk in 2016
+$201 · +21.3%
Median age
54
was 55 in 2016
-1 · -1.8%
Dig deeper: Merimbula population growth · Merimbula then and now
Merimbula vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Merimbula, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-26.2% vs area
- Merimbula$310/wk
- Nearby$325/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-37.8% vs area
- Merimbula$1,146/wk
- Nearby$1,156.5/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+35% vs area
- Merimbula54
- Nearby56
- NSW40
Personal income
-12.4% vs area
- Merimbula$708/wk
- Nearby$612/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Merimbula compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Merimbula sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage. It shows limited economic resources.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 4993.4
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 4960.3
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 2955.4
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 5963.8
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Merimbula on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Merimbula, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Merimbula people
- Population
- 3,821
- Median age
- 54
- Born overseas
- 16.4%
- Average household size
- 2.0
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Merimbula income
- Median household income
- $1,146/wk
- Median personal income
- $708/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Merimbula housing
- Median rent
- $310/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,517/mo
- Separate houses
- 43%
- Flats & apartments
- 16.4%
- Owned outright
- 30%
- Mortgaged
- 16.4%
- Rented
- 23.2%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 26.3%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Merimbula work
- Employment to population
- 49.5%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.8%
- Year 12 or above
- 48%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 2548)
Compare Merimbula with nearby suburbs
Merimbula in numbers
Merimbula had 3,821 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 54, 32% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2 people. 16.4% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 30% own their home outright, 16.4% are paying a mortgage, 23.2% rent. Separate houses make up 43% of dwellings, with 16.4% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $310/wk, 22% below the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,146/wk, 36% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 3.8%. 48% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 4 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 7.8% (from 3,544 to 3,821). Median rent moved from $250/wk to $310/wk (+24%).
Merimbula suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Merimbula, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Merimbula was $310/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Merimbula, NSW?
- Merimbula had 3,821 residents at the 2021 Census, up 7.8% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Merimbula?
- Median household income in Merimbula was $1,146/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Merimbula?
- 23.2% of occupied homes in Merimbula were rented, 30% were owned outright and 16.4% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Merimbula suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Merimbula. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology