Overall score
Box Hill
41.5/100
Nelson
39.8/100
Box Hill for families and investment; Nelson for schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Box Hill
41.5/100
Nelson
39.8/100
Crime rate
Box Hill
39.7 / 1k
Nelson
40.0 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Box Hill
67
Nelson
7
Population
Box Hill
6,450
Nelson
460
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 | Box Hill | Nelson |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 41.5/100 | 39.8/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 42.2/100 | 26.0/100 |
| Crime rate | 39.7 / 1k | 40.0 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | — |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 4 | — |
| Public transport stops | 157 | 29 |
| Walkability | 30.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 67 | 7 |
| Planning activity | 141 | 1 |
| Green cover | 2.3% | 0.0% |
| Population | 6,450 | 460 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 10/10 | 9/10 |
Box Hill is an energetic metro mid-sized suburb where cafés and local life overlap, while Nelson is a leafier hillside smaller community with elevated outlooks. Nelson sits among greener hillside streets, while Box Hill keeps a flatter suburban layout.
On the data, Box Hill is stronger for housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and public transport access; Nelson answers with a calmer planning outlook.
Investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools may find Box Hill the better fit, while retirees and families are more likely to prefer Nelson.
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.