Merrylands

Merrylands is a notably young community, with a typical age of 33 and a children's population that is a little above the national figure at 20.7%. Seniors make up just 11.2% of the population, which is well below the state and national averages.

The area is very multicultural, with 50.1% of people born overseas, far above the 27.7% national figure. Common ancestries include Australian, Chinese, English, Indian, and Filipino.

Language diversity is very high, with 63.8% of people using a language other than English at home, far above the national figure. Arabic is the most common non-English language, and 13.7% of residents speak little or no English.

Faith plays a significant role here, as the 12.6% of people with no religion is far below the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity and Islam are the most common affiliations.

While 58.9% of residents have completed Year 12, matching the national figure, the proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is well below the state and national averages at 22.0%.

Typical weekly personal income is $607, which is much lower than most similar areas and well below the national figure of $805. This is consistent with the fact that only 16.1% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

The community reports fewer long-term health conditions and mental health issues than most areas. However, 6.5% of people need help with daily activities, which is slightly higher than the national figure.

Volunteer rates are among the lowest at this level, at 6.2%, which is well below the national figure of 14.1%. Participation in unpaid childcare and housework is also well below the state average.

First Nations people in the area are noticeably older than the national average with a typical age of 28. A significant 16.4% speak a First Nations language, which is far above the state figure.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 3.0 people per household and a higher-than-average rate of one-parent families at 15.4%. Most households consist of couples with children.

Renting is very common at 47%, while outright home ownership is well below the national figure. This helps explain why people per bedroom is among the highest at this level, as many live in smaller flats or apartments.

The area is well-served by public transport, with 6.0% of people commuting this way—well above the national figure. Around 13.4% of homes have no car, which is well above the national average.

The community is quite mobile, with 38.2% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals are much more common here than in most other areas, at 18.1%.

The unemployment rate is 9.5%, which is well above the national figure of 5.1%. Only 45.5% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the state average.

Merrylands is a walker's paradise with a score of 8.3. Every single home is within a 15-minute walk of public transport, parks, and health services, and almost all are near groceries and schools.