Overall score
Balmoral Ridge
38.2/100
North Maleny
51.0/100
Balmoral Ridge for retirees; North Maleny for investment and value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Balmoral Ridge
38.2/100
North Maleny
51.0/100
Crime rate
Balmoral Ridge
9.7 / 1k
North Maleny
8.2 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Balmoral Ridge
4
North Maleny
22
Population
Balmoral Ridge
302
North Maleny
710
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Balmoral Ridge | North Maleny |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 38.2/100 | 51.0/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 20.2/100 | 49.7/100 |
| Crime rate | 9.7 / 1k | 8.2 / 1k |
| Parks & reserves | 2 | 4 |
| Walkability | 0.0/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 4 | 22 |
| Population | 302 | 710 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 9/10 | 8/10 |
Balmoral Ridge reads as a hillside smaller community with greener streets and a quieter pace; North Maleny is a regional smaller community with local services and a more relaxed pace. Balmoral Ridge sits among greener hillside streets, while North Maleny keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Balmoral Ridge tends to lead on a quieter safety profile and stronger socioeconomic advantage, while North Maleny stands out for housing affordability and parks and reserves. Balmoral Ridge generally means more sought-after housing, while North Maleny leans toward more mid-market housing value.
Choose Balmoral Ridge if you are weighing retirees; lean toward North Maleny for investors and value-focused buyers.