Balnarring vs Merricks North

Balnarring is the younger of the two, with a median age of 46 against 54 in Merricks North. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Merricks North: a median of $3.33 million, against $2.04 million in Balnarring, though rent is higher in Balnarring. On these figures, Balnarring tends to suit families with children and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Balnarring

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Balnarring

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($1,412,500 vs $2,490,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($2,045,000 vs $3,330,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 33%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Merricks North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (11% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($258/wk vs $480/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Merricks North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (31% vs 24%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Balnarring

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (4.4% vs -0.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Balnarring and Merricks North drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Balnarring Merricks North
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Balnarring Merricks North
Walkability 0 / 0
Balnarring — Walkability: 0/100 Merricks North — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 41 / 38
Balnarring — Safety: 41/100 Merricks North — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Balnarring — Low fire risk: 100/100 Merricks North — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 86 / 100
Balnarring — Low flood risk: 86/100 Merricks North — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Balnarring has more residents (2,371 vs 423); Balnarring rents higher ($480/wk vs $258/wk).

Balnarring Merricks North
Population 2,371
+82% vs other
 423
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.4% -0.7%
Median age 46 54
Median household income $99,736/yr $125,632/yr
+26% vs other
Median weekly rent $480/wk
+46% vs other
 $258/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balnarring Merricks North
0-4 5.6% / 1.9%
Balnarring — 0-4: 5.6% Merricks North — 0-4: 1.9%
5-14 14.1% / 11.6%
Balnarring — 5-14: 14.1% Merricks North — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 5.2% / 5.4%
Balnarring — 15-19: 5.2% Merricks North — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 3.2% / 6.1%
Balnarring — 20-24: 3.2% Merricks North — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 6.6% / 7.1%
Balnarring — 25-34: 6.6% Merricks North — 25-34: 7.1%
35-44 13.0% / 5.7%
Balnarring — 35-44: 13.0% Merricks North — 35-44: 5.7%
45-54 13.7% / 15.1%
Balnarring — 45-54: 13.7% Merricks North — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 14.4% / 18.0%
Balnarring — 55-64: 14.4% Merricks North — 55-64: 18.0%
65-74 13.5% / 18.2%
Balnarring — 65-74: 13.5% Merricks North — 65-74: 18.2%
75-84 7.9% / 9.5%
Balnarring — 75-84: 7.9% Merricks North — 75-84: 9.5%
85+ 2.4% / 3.1%
Balnarring — 85+: 2.4% Merricks North — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Balnarring 53.1% couple families
Balnarring — Couple Families: 53.1% Balnarring — Lone Person: 33.0% Balnarring — One Parent Families: 12.0% Balnarring — Group Household: 1.3% Balnarring — Other Families: 0.7%
Merricks North 52.3% couple families
Merricks North — Couple Families: 52.3% Merricks North — Lone Person: 32.6% Merricks North — One Parent Families: 15.1% Merricks North — Group Household: 0.0% Merricks North — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Balnarring 9.4% renting
Balnarring — Owned Outright: 50.0% Balnarring — Mortgage: 40.6% Balnarring — Renting: 9.4%
Merricks North 12.3% renting
Merricks North — Owned Outright: 59.4% Merricks North — Mortgage: 28.3% Merricks North — Renting: 12.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Balnarring Merricks North
Bachelor Degree 18.5% / 19.6%
Balnarring — Bachelor Degree: 18.5% Merricks North — Bachelor Degree: 19.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.0% / 14.2%
Balnarring — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0% Merricks North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 14.2%
Certificate III & IV 14.2% / 9.5%
Balnarring — Certificate III & IV: 14.2% Merricks North — Certificate III & IV: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 4.3% / 6.1%
Balnarring — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3% Merricks North — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 2.8%
Balnarring — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Merricks North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Balnarring Merricks North
England 7.1% / 6.4%
Balnarring — England: 7.1% Merricks North — England: 6.4%
New Zealand 1.2% / 2.1%
Balnarring — New Zealand: 1.2% Merricks North — New Zealand: 2.1%
Scotland 0.3% / 1.2%
Balnarring — Scotland: 0.3% Merricks North — Scotland: 1.2%
Singapore — / 1.2%
Balnarring — Singapore: not among its largest Merricks North — Singapore: 1.2%
South Africa — / 0.7%
Balnarring — South Africa: not among its largest Merricks North — South Africa: 0.7%
Netherlands 0.5% / —
Balnarring — Netherlands: 0.5% Merricks North — Netherlands: not among its largest
Ireland 0.4% / —
Balnarring — Ireland: 0.4% Merricks North — Ireland: not among its largest
Italy 0.3% / —
Balnarring — Italy: 0.3% Merricks North — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Balnarring 95.2% houses
Balnarring — Houses: 95.2% Balnarring — Townhouses: 3.9% Balnarring — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Merricks North 99.3% houses
Merricks North — Houses: 99.3% Merricks North — Townhouses: 0.0% Merricks North — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Balnarring Merricks North
Median house price $2,045,000 $3,330,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $1,412,500 $2,490,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 7 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Merricks North has more rural and farming land (99% vs 89%).

Balnarring Merricks North
Rural and farming 89% 99%
Residential 5% 0%
Parks and recreation 4% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Balnarring Merricks North
New dwellings approved 791
across Mornington Peninsula
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Balnarring Merricks North
Houses 2.4%
$858/wk on $1.88M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Balnarring Merricks North
House price Higher than 86% of VIC —
Income Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 9% of VIC Higher than 5% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 15% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 49% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 3% of VIC —

Liveability

Balnarring Merricks North
Grade B —
Score 65/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Balnarring carries more flood risk (14 vs 0).

Balnarring Merricks North
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
59/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood Low
14/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Balnarring Merricks North
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Balnarring

  • Balnarring Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Merricks North

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Balnarring Merricks North
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 1
Parks & reserves 10 1
Childcare 3 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Balnarring Merricks North
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 79.7 km 80.9 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 68 min 66 min
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 3926
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 48
postcode 3926
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Balnarring Merricks North
Car (driver) 62.4% / 55.9%
Balnarring — Car (driver): 62.4% Merricks North — Car (driver): 55.9%
Worked from Home 32.0% / 39.0%
Balnarring — Worked from Home: 32.0% Merricks North — Worked from Home: 39.0%
Walked Only 2.1% / 3.4%
Balnarring — Walked Only: 2.1% Merricks North — Walked Only: 3.4%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 1.7%
Balnarring — Car (passenger): 3.1% Merricks North — Car (passenger): 1.7%
Bicycle 0.4% / —
Balnarring — Bicycle: 0.4% Merricks North — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.4%).

Setting

Balnarring Merricks North
Elevation 66 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 111 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.3 km 6.6 km

NBN connectivity

Balnarring Merricks North
Connectivity score 70/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
1,189 premises
 0%
255 premises

Climate

Balnarring Merricks North
Annual rainfall 696 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 24.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Balnarring Merricks North
Average residential rate $1,659/yr
same for both
Council Mornington Peninsula
same for both

Federal electorate

Balnarring Merricks North
Division Flinders
same for both
Member Zoe Mckenzie
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Balnarring Merricks North
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Balnarring

Acreage Premium

Merricks North

Luxury Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balnarring

Balnarring vs Bittern Balnarring vs Somers Balnarring vs Balnarring Beach Balnarring vs Tuerong Balnarring vs Merricks Balnarring vs Merricks Beach

Other comparisons with Merricks North

Merricks North vs Dromana Merricks North vs Red Hill Merricks North vs Red Hill South Merricks North vs Tuerong Merricks North vs Merricks
Full data on Balnarring Full data on Merricks North
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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