Bar Beach vs Merewether

Merewether (median $2,150,000) is roughly 24% cheaper to buy into than Bar Beach ($2,812,500).

Buying in Bar Beach or Merewether?

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Bar Beach and Merewether side by side

MeasureBar BeachMerewether
Price and market
Median house$2,812,500$2,150,000
Median unit$352,800$396,000
House price change, 12 months–+4.9%
Renting
House rent$750/wk$915/wk
Unit rent$670/wk$638/wk
Owner occupied56.0%65.0%
Renter occupied41.0%33.0%
Schools
Schools nearby2020
Average ICSEA10791086
Lifestyle and people
Walk score8246
Transit score00
Bike score100100
Population1,29211,788
Median age4139
Climate
Annual rainfall1190 mm1190 mm
Mean max, January27.5°C27.5°C

Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.

Which suits whom

Bar Beach scores higher on walkability (82/100 vs 46/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Merewether (1086) sits above Bar Beach (1079).

For buyers
Merewether is the lower entry point at $2,150,000 median, 24% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Merewether offers the higher gross rental yield (2.21% vs 1.39%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Merewether edges out on average school ICSEA (1086 vs 1079).

Bar Beach vs Merewether: common questions

Is Bar Beach or Merewether cheaper to buy in?

Merewether has the lower median house price at $2,150,000, roughly 24% below Bar Beach ($2,812,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Does Bar Beach or Merewether have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Merewether scores 1086 vs 1079 in Bar Beach. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.

Which is more walkable, Bar Beach or Merewether?

Bar Beach scores 82/100 on walkability vs 46/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.

Which suburb has higher rental yield, Bar Beach or Merewether?

Gross rental yield on houses is 2.21% in Merewether vs 1.39% in Bar Beach. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.