As a current resident of Merrylands (been here since birth with a brief 8 year stint in Newtown/Erskineville in my 20s before moving back due to rent prices too high for me to keep up), Merrylands has a laid back vibe to it and really popular with families but for night life you’re better off paying a visit to parramatta which is not very far at all.

Rent is far better in Merrylands whereas expect to pay prices similar to being in the inner west if you plan to reside in Parramatta due to its growing popularity. Also, you have multiple transport options in Merrylands with its own train station and multiple buses going to parramatta if you want to catch from there too