Overall score
Balnarring
47.9/100
Merricks North
49.5/100
Balnarring vs Merricks North, VIC Suburb Comparison
Balnarring for retirees and families; Merricks North for investment and schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
BalnarringMerricks North
Crime rate
Balnarring
50.1 / 1k
Merricks North
70.0 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Balnarring
23
Merricks North
7
Population
Balnarring
2,371
Merricks North
423
Metric leadBalnarring 5Merricks North 42 tiedacross 11 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
- Best for familiesBalnarring
- Best for investmentMerricks North
- Best for best schoolsMerricks North
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 | Merricks North |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 47.9/100 | 49.5/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 36.7/100 | 44.2/100 |
| Crime rate | 50.1 / 1k | 70.0 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | — |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 9 | 1 |
| Public transport stops | 5 | — |
| Walkability | 7.5/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 23 | 7 |
| Planning activity | 68 | 34 |
| Green cover | 6.6% | 10.4% |
| Population | 2,371 | 423 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 10/10 | 10/10 |
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Balnarring is a metro smaller community with a gently premium housing feel and familiar suburban calm, and Merricks North is a hillside smaller community with greener streets and a quieter pace. Merricks North sits among greener hillside streets, while Balnarring keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Balnarring pulls ahead on housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and parks and reserves, whereas Merricks North is the better pick for a calmer planning outlook.
On balance, retirees, families, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Balnarring, while Merricks North remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.