Overall score
Balwyn
61.1/100
Surrey Hills
60.4/100
Balwyn vs Surrey Hills, VIC Suburb Comparison
Balwyn for retirees; Surrey Hills for investment and value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
BalwynSurrey Hills
Crime rate
Balwyn
53.6 / 1k
Surrey Hills
40.9 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Balwyn
433
Surrey Hills
333
Population
Balwyn
13,495
Surrey Hills
13,655
Metric leadBalwyn 5Surrey Hills 44 tiedacross 13 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesBalwyn
- Best for investmentSurrey Hills
- Best for best valueSurrey Hills
- Best for best schoolsSurrey Hills
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 | Balwyn | Surrey Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 61.1/100 | 60.4/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 43.6/100 | 44.9/100 |
| Crime rate | 53.6 / 1k | 40.9 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 14 | 12 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 8 | 8 |
| Public transport stops | 47 | 63 |
| Walkability | 100.0/100 | 100.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 433 | 333 |
| Planning activity | 119 | 216 |
| Green cover | 4.4% | 3.4% |
| Population | 13,495 | 13,655 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 10/10 | 10/10 |
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Balwyn is a lively metro established suburb with dining and everyday convenience close by, and Surrey Hills is a hills established suburb where tree cover and calm define the mood. Surrey Hills sits among greener hillside streets, while Balwyn keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Balwyn pulls ahead on schools and education options, nearby cafés and amenities, and a calmer planning outlook, whereas Surrey Hills is the better pick for housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and public transport access.
On balance, retirees, families, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Surrey Hills, while Balwyn 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.