Overall score
Balnarring Beach
39.5/100
Merricks North
33.7/100
Balnarring Beach vs Merricks North, VIC suburb comparison
Balnarring Beach for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Balnarring BeachMerricks North
Crime rate
Balnarring Beach
49.8 / 1k
Merricks North
74.9 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Balnarring Beach
9
Merricks North
5
Population
Balnarring Beach
471
Merricks North
423
Metric leadBalnarring Beach 6Merricks North 12 tiedacross 9 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesBalnarring Beach
- Best for familiesBalnarring Beach
- Best for beach lifestyleBalnarring Beach
- Best for best valueBalnarring Beach
- Best for best schoolsBalnarring Beach
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Balnarring Beach | Merricks North |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 39.5/100 | 33.7/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 9.8/100 | 2.6/100 |
| Crime rate | 49.8 / 1k | 74.9 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | — |
| Parks & reserves | 1 | 1 |
| Walkability | 0.0/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 9 | 5 |
| Planning activity | 26 | 34 |
| Population | 471 | 423 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 9/10 | 10/10 |
Comparison summary
Balnarring Beach is a beachside smaller community where the coast sets the tone, while Merricks North is a hillside smaller community with greener streets and a quieter pace. Balnarring Beach leans into coastal living, while Merricks North feels more inland and suburban in character.
Balnarring Beach pulls ahead on housing affordability and nearby cafés and amenities, whereas Merricks North is the better pick for a quieter safety profile and stronger socioeconomic advantage.
On balance, retirees and families are more likely to prefer Balnarring Beach, while Merricks North remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.