Overall score
Balwyn North
62.5/100
Surrey Hills
60.4/100
Balwyn North for retirees and investment; Surrey Hills for schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Balwyn North
62.5/100
Surrey Hills
60.4/100
Crime rate
Balwyn North
33.6 / 1k
Surrey Hills
40.9 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Balwyn North
720
Surrey Hills
333
Population
Balwyn North
21,302
Surrey Hills
13,655
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 | Balwyn North | Surrey Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 62.5/100 | 60.4/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 31.4/100 | 44.9/100 |
| Crime rate | 33.6 / 1k | 40.9 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 8 | 12 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 11 | 8 |
| Public transport stops | 108 | 63 |
| Walkability | 100.0/100 | 100.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 720 | 333 |
| Planning activity | 158 | 216 |
| Green cover | 10.7% | 3.4% |
| Population | 21,302 | 13,655 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 10/10 | 10/10 |
Balwyn North reads as a lively metro established suburb with dining and everyday convenience close by; Surrey Hills is a hills established suburb where tree cover and calm define the mood. Surrey Hills sits among greener hillside streets, while Balwyn North keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Balwyn North pulls ahead on a quieter safety profile, parks and reserves, and public transport access, whereas Surrey Hills is the better pick for housing affordability, plus schools and education options.
On balance, families are more likely to prefer Balwyn North, while Surrey Hills 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.