Guildford West - Merrylands West is still affordable — but less advantaged
Guildford West - Merrylands West 2161 · Merrylands - Guildford, Greater Sydney, NSW
Guildford West - Merrylands West is still relatively affordable to rent, with a median of $600 a week (DCJ, 2026-Q1) — about $180 below the Greater Sydney median; a young, family-heavy area (median age 33). The trade-offs: it is less advantaged than most of Australia (SEIFA decile 3 of 10); unemployment runs above the Sydney norm, at 8.9%.
A mix of houses and units, with a median age of 33 and households on a median $1,458 a week at the 2021 Census.
Compiled from ABS regional population (SA2), the 2021 Census, SEIFA 2021, NSW DCJ median rents, NSW DCJ median sale prices, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reported offences, OpenStreetMap and ACARA Schools NSW / NSW Dept of Education · figures current to September 2026.
What it costs to buy
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2025-Q4Median sale price from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's recorded property sales. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2025-Q4 quarter
| Type | Median sale price |
|---|---|
| House | $1,391,000n=74 |
| Unit / flat | $490,000n=54 |
The median sale price across all dwellings in Guildford West - Merrylands West was $1,196,000, based on sales in postcode 2161, for the 2025-Q4 quarter. By type: a house $1,391,000 and a unit / flat $490,000.
This is the median price of properties recorded as sold this quarter — settlement can lag a purchase decision by weeks, so the most recent quarter can revise slightly as more sales are recorded.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median price | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-Q4 | $1,196,000 | — | $1,200,000 |
Sale price data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on sales in postcode 2161, December 2025 release. Figures are the median for properties sold in the quarter. DCJ suppresses a median where too few properties sold.
What it costs to rent
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2026-Q1Median weekly rent for new tenancies, from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's bond lodgements. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2026-Q1 quarter
| Type | Studio | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House | — | — | $600low sample | $750n=42 | $950n=39 |
| Unit / flat | $400low sample | $450low sample | $575n=52 | — | — |
n is the number of new bonds behind each median — treat a figure marked low sample as indicative only.
The median weekly rent across all dwellings in Guildford West - Merrylands West was $600, based on new bonds lodged in postcode 2161, for the 2026-Q1 quarter. That is $180 a week below the Greater Sydney median. By type: a 3-bedroom house $750 and a 2-bedroom unit $575.
This is the median rent on new leases signed this quarter, not what existing tenants pay. It usually runs higher than the Census figure.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median rent | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q1 | $600 | — | $930 |
Rent data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on new bonds in postcode 2161, March 2026 release. Figures are the median for new bonds lodged in the quarter, not all tenancies. DCJ suppresses a median where too few bonds were lodged.
Guildford West - Merrylands West on the map
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area 2 outline for Guildford West - Merrylands West, NSW.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary: ABS SA2 (ASGS 2021), simplified — an SA2 can differ from the gazetted suburb, and detached parts such as islands may not all be shown.
How the population has changed
Guildford West - Merrylands West against the New South Wales average, both set to 100 in the first year shown so the growth rates compare.
Guildford West - Merrylands West population grew from 21,525 in 2016 to 25,002 in 2025, a change of 16.2% over the period, against the New South Wales average.
Show the data table
| Year | Guildford West - Merrylands West | New South Wales average |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 21,525 | 7,732,858 |
| 2017 | 22,108 | 7,855,316 |
| 2018 | 22,538 | 7,954,476 |
| 2019 | 23,056 | 8,046,748 |
| 2020 | 23,277 | 8,110,610 |
| 2021 | 23,127 | 8,097,062 |
| 2022 | 23,325 | 8,182,098 |
| 2023 | 23,945 | 8,356,387 |
| 2024 | 24,581 | 8,492,050 |
| 2025 | 25,002 | 8,592,524 |
Where the growth is coming from
Guildford West - Merrylands West gained 1,874 residents from internal migration and 505 from overseas in the year to June 2025, while 2,274 people moved away — a net addition of 105 before natural increase.
- Internal migration in+1,874
- Internal migration out+2,083
- Overseas migration in+505
- Natural increase+316
Components of population change over the sample year. Natural increase is shown apart from migration so the two are not read as one figure.
How it has changed
Census · five-yearlyThe 2016 Census against 2021. Older figures are mapped onto today's boundaries via the ABS Time Series Profile, so comparisons are approximate where borders moved.
| Measure | 2016 | 2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,722 | 22,929 | +11% |
| Median age | 33 | 33 | +0 yrs |
| Median household income | $1,203/wk | $1,458/wk | +21% |
| Median weekly rent | $380/wk | $400/wk | +5.3% |
| Born overseas | 45.5% | 47.0% | +1.5 pts |
Who lives here
Census · five-yearlyFrom the 2021 Census — the most recent available; 2026 Census data isn't expected until mid-2027. Each figure carries its definition, so you know what is being counted.
People
Income
Housing
Work
Household
Country of birth
Language at home
How homes are held
- Owned outright 24.1%
- Mortgaged 31.1%
- Rented 40.8%
- Other / not stated 4.0%
How well-off the area is
Census · five-yearlyThe ABS SEIFA indexes rank every area by relative advantage and disadvantage. Decile 1 is the lowest tenth of Australia; decile 10 is the highest.
- Relative disadvantage (IRSD)Lower decile means more relative disadvantageDecile 1score 876
- Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)Higher decile means more relative advantageDecile 3score 930
- Economic resources (IER)Income and housing capacityDecile 2score 933
- Education & occupation (IEO)Education and occupational skill levelsDecile 5score 969
Safety context
NSW BOCSAR · June 2026How much crime is reported in Guildford West - Merrylands West, from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
Most-reported offences · Guildford West - Merrylands West, last 12 months
- Intimidation, stalking and harassment328 /100k+5% vs Greater Sydney↑ 21%
- Assault192 /100k+264% vs Greater Sydney↓ 20%
- Malicious damage to property188 /100k−34% vs Greater Sydney↓ 19%
- Theft164 /100k+326% vs Greater Sydney↑ 32%
- Drug offences76 /100k+364% vs Greater Sydney↓ 10%
- Robbery4 /100k+41% vs Greater Sydney↓ 87%
Rate per 100,000 people in Guildford West - Merrylands West; the arrow compares the last 12 months with the 12 before.
Of these categories, intimidation, stalking and harassment is reported most in Guildford West - Merrylands West over the last 12 months, running 5% above the Greater Sydney rate and up on the year before.
Show the data table
| Offence category | Suburb | Greater Sydney | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 328 per 100k | 312 per 100k | ↑ 21% vs prior year |
| Assault | 192 per 100k | 53 per 100k | ↓ 20% vs prior year |
| Malicious damage to property | 188 per 100k | 287 per 100k | ↓ 19% vs prior year |
| Theft | 164 per 100k | 38 per 100k | ↑ 32% vs prior year |
| Drug offences | 76 per 100k | 16 per 100k | ↓ 10% vs prior year |
| Robbery | 4 per 100k | 3 per 100k | ↓ 87% vs prior year |
Crime statistics © State of New South Wales (NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research), used under CC BY 4.0, updated June 2026. Matched to this suburb from BOCSAR’s own locality-level data — see the safest/highest-crime rankings’ methodology for the locality-to-suburb matching used. Monthly counts are volatile — the 12-month figures above smooth that noise.
Getting around, and what's nearby
OpenStreetMap · quarterlyWhat OpenStreetMap records inside the suburb boundary. Counts reflect what is tagged in OSM and can undercount a real but less-mapped area. The park count here is OpenStreetMap green space of any kind, including privately held land — it is a different measure from the council parks below.
Within the Guildford West - Merrylands West SA2, OpenStreetMap records 6 schools, 1 hospital, 1 supermarket and 46 green spaces. For families: 28 playgrounds. Eating out and socialising: 4 cafés, 3 restaurants and 2 pubs and bars. Staying active: 2 public pools and 28 sports fields. The nearest train station, Guildford, is about 1,650 m from the suburb centre. OpenStreetMap also maps 136 bus stops here.
List every mapped place
Schools
- Guildford West Public School
- Merrylands High School
- Cerdon College
- Sherwood Grange Public School
- St Patricks Primary School
- Guildford Public School
Hospitals
- Holroyd Private Hospital
Supermarkets
- IGA
Green spaces
- Cusack Street Park
- Cusack Street Reserve
- Princes Street Park
- Fowler Road Reserve
- Maley Park
- Arnett Park
- Helena Street Park
- Albert Street Park
Train stations
- Guildford
Schools
Every open NSW school whose campus sits inside the SA2 boundary, with the average ICSEA across them. Open a school for its own ICSEA, student background and a link to My School.
The Guildford West - Merrylands West SA2 contains 7 schools — 4 primary schools, 2 secondary schools and 1 special school, of which 4 are government and 3 non-government. Its 6 schools with a published ICSEA average 977 (1000 is the national average); each school's own figure and student background are on its page. NAPLAN results for each school are on its My School profile (ACARA). For area context, Guildford West - Merrylands West sits in decile 5 of the ABS SEIFA index of education and occupation nationally and 61% of adults here completed Year 12 (Census 2021).
The centre of this SA2 is zoned for Guildford West Public School (primary).
Parts of this SA2 also fall in the catchment of Guildford Public School (primary), Ringrose Public School (primary), Hilltop Road Public School (primary), Sherwood Grange Public School (primary), Merrylands Public School (primary), Chester Hill High School (secondary), Greystanes High School (secondary), Arthur Phillip High School (secondary), Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School (secondary), Holroyd High School (secondary).
Catchments can divide a suburb — confirm your address on EdMap.
Want another suburb? Search the catchment finder.
Show school list
- Guildford Public School · State
- Guildford West Public School · State
- Sherwood Grange Public School · State
- St Patrick's Primary School · Non-Government
- Cerdon College · Non-Government
- Merrylands High School · State
- Key College, Chapel School campus · Non-Government
School list: NSW Government open data — ACARA Schools NSW, via the NSW data portal, CC BY 4.0. Catchments: NSW Department of Education “School intake zones” dataset, CC BY 4.0. ICSEA: ACARA School Profile. NAPLAN: myschool.edu.au (ACARA).
Nearby, in Merrylands - Guildford
Others in the same ABS district, by population growth. If this one doesn't fit, one of these might.
- HereGuildford West - Merrylands West+1.7%
- 01Merrylands - Holroyd+4.4%
- 02Pemulwuy - Greystanes (North)+2.3%
- 03Guildford - South Granville+1.3%
- 04Granville - Clyde+1.2%
- 05Fairfield - East+1.1%
- 06South Wentworthville+0.7%
- 07Chester Hill - Sefton+0.5%
- 08Greystanes - South+0.0%
- 09Yennora Industrial+0.0%
Dots place each suburb's growth on the same scale, slowest at left.
Guildford West - Merrylands West: common questions
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