Berrambool vs Merimbula

Berrambool is the younger of the two, with a median age of 46 against 54 in Merimbula. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Berrambool, about half of households are people living alone. In Merimbula, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Merimbula: a median of $940,000, against $850,000 in Berrambool. On these figures, Merimbula tends to suit people living alone and older residents.

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

Berrambool

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (16/100 vs 70/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (46% vs 34%)
  • But Merimbula has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Berrambool has cheaper houses ($850,000 vs $940,000)
  • Merimbula has cheaper units ($477,500 vs $570,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Berrambool is more walkable (61/100 vs 39/100)
  • Merimbula sits closer to the CBD (524.9 km vs 526.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Berrambool carries lower crime risk (16/100 vs 70/100)
  • Merimbula has more GPs (4 vs 0)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Berrambool Merimbula
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.

Berrambool Merimbula
Walkability 61 / 39
Berrambool — Walkability: 61/100 Merimbula — Walkability: 39/100
Safety 84 / 30
Berrambool — Safety: 84/100 Merimbula — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 100 / 53
Berrambool — Low fire risk: 100/100 Merimbula — Low fire risk: 53/100

Demographics

Merimbula has more residents (3,821 vs 486); Merimbula skews older (54 vs 46).

Berrambool Merimbula
Population 486 3,821
+686% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.6% +7.8%
Median age 46 54
Median household income $59,072/yr $59,592/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+3% vs other
 $310/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Berrambool Merimbula
0-4 4.1% / 3.4%
Berrambool — 0-4: 4.1% Merimbula — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 11.9% / 8.4%
Berrambool — 5-14: 11.9% Merimbula — 5-14: 8.4%
15-19 5.8% / 3.5%
Berrambool — 15-19: 5.8% Merimbula — 15-19: 3.5%
20-24 4.7% / 4.2%
Berrambool — 20-24: 4.7% Merimbula — 20-24: 4.2%
25-34 12.8% / 10.7%
Berrambool — 25-34: 12.8% Merimbula — 25-34: 10.7%
35-44 10.3% / 8.6%
Berrambool — 35-44: 10.3% Merimbula — 35-44: 8.6%
45-54 13.4% / 11.2%
Berrambool — 45-54: 13.4% Merimbula — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 14.4% / 16.7%
Berrambool — 55-64: 14.4% Merimbula — 55-64: 16.7%
65-74 13.2% / 17.3%
Berrambool — 65-74: 13.2% Merimbula — 65-74: 17.3%
75-84 8.0% / 11.3%
Berrambool — 75-84: 8.0% Merimbula — 75-84: 11.3%
85+ 2.3% / 4.6%
Berrambool — 85+: 2.3% Merimbula — 85+: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Berrambool 48.3% lone person
Berrambool — Lone Person: 48.3% Berrambool — Couple Families: 24.8% Berrambool — One Parent Families: 21.4% Berrambool — Group Household: 2.8% Berrambool — Other Families: 2.8%
Merimbula 60.3% lone person
Merimbula — Lone Person: 60.3% Merimbula — Couple Families: 21.1% Merimbula — One Parent Families: 12.6% Merimbula — Group Household: 4.6% Merimbula — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Berrambool 32.0% renting
Berrambool — Owned Outright: 40.9% Berrambool — Mortgage: 27.1% Berrambool — Renting: 32.0%
Merimbula 33.4% renting
Merimbula — Owned Outright: 43.1% Merimbula — Mortgage: 23.5% Merimbula — Renting: 33.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Berrambool Merimbula
Certificate III & IV 19.8% / 17.7%
Berrambool — Certificate III & IV: 19.8% Merimbula — Certificate III & IV: 17.7%
Bachelor Degree 12.1% / 12.0%
Berrambool — Bachelor Degree: 12.1% Merimbula — Bachelor Degree: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 9.1%
Berrambool — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% Merimbula — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.3% / 3.3%
Berrambool — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3% Merimbula — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.3%
Berrambool — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Merimbula — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

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.

Berrambool Merimbula
England 4.7% / 5.6%
Berrambool — England: 4.7% Merimbula — England: 5.6%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.2%
Berrambool — New Zealand: 0.8% Merimbula — New Zealand: 1.2%
Netherlands 1.0% / 0.8%
Berrambool — Netherlands: 1.0% Merimbula — Netherlands: 0.8%
Philippines 1.0% / 0.6%
Berrambool — Philippines: 1.0% Merimbula — Philippines: 0.6%
Germany 0.6% / 0.7%
Berrambool — Germany: 0.6% Merimbula — Germany: 0.7%
India 0.6% / 0.7%
Berrambool — India: 0.6% Merimbula — India: 0.7%
Italy 1.0% / —
Berrambool — Italy: 1.0% Merimbula — Italy: not among its largest
Scotland 1.0% / —
Berrambool — Scotland: 1.0% Merimbula — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Berrambool 67.3% houses
Berrambool — Houses: 67.3% Berrambool — Townhouses: 20.4% Berrambool — Flats / Apartments: 12.3%
Merimbula 58.5% houses
Merimbula — Houses: 58.5% Merimbula — Townhouses: 16.8% Merimbula — Flats / Apartments: 24.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Berrambool Merimbula
Median house price $850,000 $940,000
Median unit price $570,000 $477,500
Median land price — $343,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 37 days
from 3 sales
 80 days
from 27 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Berrambool Merimbula
3 bed $790K / $895K
Berrambool — 3 bed: $790K (9 sales) Merimbula — 3 bed: $895K (33 sales)

9 vs 33 sales

4 bed $900K / $985K
Berrambool — 4 bed: $900K (7 sales) Merimbula — 4 bed: $985K (23 sales)

7 vs 23 sales

Zoning mix

Merimbula has more land zoned for conservation (66% vs 41%).

Berrambool Merimbula
Environmental 41% 66%
Residential 39% 16%
Parks and recreation 20% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 11%
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

Berrambool Merimbula
New dwellings approved 109
across Bega Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -32%
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.

Berrambool Merimbula
Houses — 2.8%
$600/wk on $1.12M
Units — 5.0%
$478/wk on $499K

Ranking within NSW

Berrambool Merimbula
House price Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
Income Higher than 21% of NSW
same for both
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 54% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 13% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 67% of NSW

Liveability

Berrambool is more walkable (61 vs 39).

Berrambool Merimbula
Grade — D
Score — 30/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Merimbula carries more bushfire risk (47 vs 0); Merimbula carries more crime risk (70 vs 16).

Berrambool Merimbula
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
47/100
Crime Low
16/100
 High
70/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
75/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Berrambool Merimbula
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Berrambool

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

Schools in Merimbula

  • Merimbula Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Berrambool Merimbula
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 23
Parks & reserves 0 5
Childcare 1 2
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 6
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 0 2
Beaches 0 3
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Berrambool sits further from the CBD (526.9 km vs 524.9 km).

Berrambool Merimbula
Walkability score 61/100 39/100
Distance to Sydney 526.9 km 524.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 367 min 363 min
Public transport score 22/100
Bus
 57/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 4.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 25.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2548
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 40
postcode 2548
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.

Berrambool Merimbula
Car (driver) 80.7% / 71.6%
Berrambool — Car (driver): 80.7% Merimbula — Car (driver): 71.6%
Worked from Home 7.3% / 15.5%
Berrambool — Worked from Home: 7.3% Merimbula — Worked from Home: 15.5%
Walked Only 5.7% / 7.2%
Berrambool — Walked Only: 5.7% Merimbula — Walked Only: 7.2%
Car (passenger) 6.2% / 4.7%
Berrambool — Car (passenger): 6.2% Merimbula — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Bicycle — / 0.6%
Berrambool — Bicycle: not among its largest Merimbula — Bicycle: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.7%).

Setting

Berrambool Merimbula
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 65 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 900 m
1.2 km to a named beach
 999 m
2.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Berrambool Merimbula
Connectivity score 87/100 64/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 37%
280 premises
 14%
3,308 premises

Climate

Berrambool Merimbula
Annual rainfall 768 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Berrambool Merimbula
Average residential rate $1,767/yr
same for both
Council Bega Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

Berrambool Merimbula
Division Eden-monaro
same for both
Member Kristy Mcbain
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Berrambool Merimbula
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Berrambool

Beach Coastal Quiet Townhouses

Merimbula

Affordable Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Berrambool

Berrambool vs Tura Beach Berrambool vs Mirador

Other comparisons with Merimbula

Merimbula vs Tura Beach Merimbula vs Pambula Merimbula vs Pambula Beach Merimbula vs Millingandi Merimbula vs Mirador Merimbula vs Bournda
Full data on Berrambool Full data on Merimbula
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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