Overall score
Darley
38.5/100
Merrimu
35.0/100
Darley vs Merrimu, VIC Suburb Comparison
Darley for retirees and families; Merrimu for schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
DarleyMerrimu
Crime rate
Darley
56.8 / 1k
Merrimu
66.2 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Darley
21
Merrimu
0
Population
Darley
9,190
Merrimu
397
Metric leadDarley 7Merrimu 21 tiedacross 10 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
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 | Darley | Merrimu |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 38.5/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 54.5/100 | 31.6/100 |
| Crime rate | 56.8 / 1k | 66.2 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | — |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | — |
| Public transport stops | 27 | — |
| Walkability | 32.0/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 21 | 0 |
| Planning activity | 38 | 11 |
| Green cover | 5.6% | 0.3% |
| Population | 9,190 | 397 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 5/10 | 7/10 |
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Darley is a well-connected metro established suburb with a familiar suburban feel, and Merrimu is a slower-paced smaller community with open surrounds. Darley sits further out with more breathing room, whereas Merrimu is more regionally self-contained.
Darley tends to lead on housing affordability, walkability, and nearby cafés and amenities, while Merrimu stands out for a quieter safety profile, a calmer planning outlook, and stronger socioeconomic advantage. On housing, Darley sits in a well priced band, compared with a gently premium feel in Merrimu.
Choose Darley if you are weighing investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools; lean toward Merrimu for retirees and families.
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.