Overall score
Merrimac
53.3/100
Tallai
42.6/100
Merrimac for retirees and investment; Tallai for schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Merrimac
53.3/100
Tallai
42.6/100
Crime rate
Merrimac
42.5 / 1k
Tallai
39.4 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Merrimac
74
Tallai
15
Population
Merrimac
7,212
Tallai
4,465
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 | Merrimac | Tallai |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 53.3/100 | 42.6/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 60.5/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Crime rate | 42.5 / 1k | 39.4 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 4 | — |
| Weather (desirability) | 42.8/100 | 42.8/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | — |
| Public transport stops | 21 | 5 |
| Walkability | 55.0/100 | 7.5/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 74 | 15 |
| Green cover | 2.9% | 0.5% |
| Population | 7,212 | 4,465 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 5/10 | 9/10 |
Merrimac is a well-serviced metro mid-sized suburb with plenty happening nearby, while Tallai is a sought-after metro mid-sized suburb where housing reflects strong local demand. Merrimac sits in a middle-ring position, whereas Tallai is further out with more breathing room.
Merrimac pulls ahead on public transport access, walkability, and nearby cafés and amenities, whereas Tallai is the better pick for a quieter safety profile and stronger socioeconomic advantage.
On balance, families, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Merrimac, while Tallai 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.