Overall score
Merricks North
33.7/100
Red Hill South
45.0/100
Red Hill South for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Merricks North
33.7/100
Red Hill South
45.0/100
Crime rate
Merricks North
74.9 / 1k
Red Hill South
17.3 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Merricks North
5
Red Hill South
7
Population
Merricks North
423
Red Hill South
708
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 | Merricks North | Red Hill South |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 33.7/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 2.6/100 | 6.9/100 |
| Crime rate | 74.9 / 1k | 17.3 / 1k |
| Parks & reserves | 1 | 4 |
| Walkability | 0.0/100 | 2.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 5 | 7 |
| Planning activity | 34 | 65 |
| Population | 423 | 708 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 10/10 | 10/10 |
Merricks North reads as a hillside smaller community with greener streets and a quieter pace; Red Hill South is a hillside smaller community with greener streets and a quieter pace.
Merricks North tends to lead on a calmer planning outlook, while Red Hill South stands out for housing affordability and a quieter safety profile.
On balance, retirees and families are more likely to prefer Red Hill South, while Merricks North remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.