Birdwoodton vs Merbein

Birdwoodton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 44 in Merbein. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Birdwoodton, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Birdwoodton: a median of $805,000, against $420,000 in Merbein, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Birdwoodton tends to suit couples, while Merbein suits people living alone, older residents, 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Birdwoodton is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 52%)
  • Merbein has more parks and reserves (6 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Merbein

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($420,500 vs $805,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Merbein

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (23% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($210/wk vs $300/wk)

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

  • Birdwoodton sits closer to the CBD (549.3 km vs 554.8 km)
  • Merbein is more walkable (25/100 vs 12/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Merbein

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (25/100 vs 12/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 15%)
  • But Birdwoodton carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 79/100)

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

Investors

Birdwoodton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.3% vs 2.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Birdwoodton Merbein
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.

Birdwoodton Merbein
Walkability 12 / 25
Birdwoodton — Walkability: 12/100 Merbein — Walkability: 25/100
Safety 42 / 21
Birdwoodton — Safety: 42/100 Merbein — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Birdwoodton — Low fire risk: 100/100 Merbein — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 38 / 10
Birdwoodton — Low flood risk: 38/100 Merbein — Low flood risk: 10/100

Demographics

Merbein has more residents (2,770 vs 748); Birdwoodton has higher household incomes ($92,768 vs $59,644).

Birdwoodton Merbein
Population 748 2,770
+270% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.3% +2.1%
Median age 39 44
Median household income $92,768/yr
+36% vs other
 $59,644/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+30% vs other
 $210/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Birdwoodton Merbein
0-4 6.4% / 5.7%
Birdwoodton — 0-4: 6.4% Merbein — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 16.2% / 13.0%
Birdwoodton — 5-14: 16.2% Merbein — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 7.5% / 4.6%
Birdwoodton — 15-19: 7.5% Merbein — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 3.1% / 4.5%
Birdwoodton — 20-24: 3.1% Merbein — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 11.1% / 12.2%
Birdwoodton — 25-34: 11.1% Merbein — 25-34: 12.2%
35-44 12.6% / 10.1%
Birdwoodton — 35-44: 12.6% Merbein — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 14.6% / 12.5%
Birdwoodton — 45-54: 14.6% Merbein — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 13.6% / 14.6%
Birdwoodton — 55-64: 13.6% Merbein — 55-64: 14.6%
65-74 8.0% / 11.6%
Birdwoodton — 65-74: 8.0% Merbein — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 5.1% / 7.0%
Birdwoodton — 75-84: 5.1% Merbein — 75-84: 7.0%
85+ 1.5% / 4.1%
Birdwoodton — 85+: 1.5% Merbein — 85+: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Birdwoodton 60.4% couple families
Birdwoodton — Couple Families: 60.4% Birdwoodton — Lone Person: 21.5% Birdwoodton — One Parent Families: 16.1% Birdwoodton — Group Household: 2.0% Birdwoodton — Other Families: 0.0%
Merbein 34.6% couple families
Merbein — Couple Families: 34.6% Merbein — Lone Person: 43.1% Merbein — One Parent Families: 17.9% Merbein — Group Household: 3.3% Merbein — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Birdwoodton 8.5% renting
Birdwoodton — Owned Outright: 41.8% Birdwoodton — Mortgage: 49.8% Birdwoodton — Renting: 8.5%
Merbein 22.7% renting
Merbein — Owned Outright: 34.2% Merbein — Mortgage: 43.1% Merbein — Renting: 22.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Birdwoodton Merbein
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 17.4%
Birdwoodton — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Merbein — Certificate III & IV: 17.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 5.6%
Birdwoodton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Merbein — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6%
Bachelor Degree 5.7% / 4.5%
Birdwoodton — Bachelor Degree: 5.7% Merbein — Bachelor Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 1.0%
Birdwoodton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Merbein — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / 0.5%
Birdwoodton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% Merbein — Postgraduate Degree: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

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.

Birdwoodton Merbein
Italy 1.2% / 0.2%
Birdwoodton — Italy: 1.2% Merbein — Italy: 0.2%
New Zealand 0.4% / 0.9%
Birdwoodton — New Zealand: 0.4% Merbein — New Zealand: 0.9%
Malaysia 0.9% / 0.3%
Birdwoodton — Malaysia: 0.9% Merbein — Malaysia: 0.3%
England — / 1.2%
Birdwoodton — England: not among its largest Merbein — England: 1.2%
Vietnam 0.8% / —
Birdwoodton — Vietnam: 0.8% Merbein — Vietnam: not among its largest
Thailand 0.4% / 0.4%
Birdwoodton — Thailand: 0.4% Merbein — Thailand: 0.4%
Taiwan 0.5% / —
Birdwoodton — Taiwan: 0.5% Merbein — Taiwan: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.4%
Birdwoodton — Scotland: not among its largest Merbein — Scotland: 0.4%
Netherlands — / 0.3%
Birdwoodton — Netherlands: not among its largest Merbein — Netherlands: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Birdwoodton 100.0% houses
Birdwoodton — Houses: 100.0% Birdwoodton — Townhouses: 0.0% Birdwoodton — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Merbein 89.8% houses
Merbein — Houses: 89.8% Merbein — Townhouses: 5.9% Merbein — Flats / Apartments: 4.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Birdwoodton Merbein
Median house price $805,000 $420,500
Median unit price — $215,000
Median land price — $128,400
Typical days to sell (houses) — 28 days
from 32 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.

Birdwoodton Merbein
3 bed $550K / $420K
Birdwoodton — 3 bed: $550K (7 sales) Merbein — 3 bed: $420K (70 sales)

7 vs 70 sales

4 bed $1.05M / $603K
Birdwoodton — 4 bed: $1.05M (6 sales) Merbein — 4 bed: $603K (17 sales)

6 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Birdwoodton Merbein
Rural and farming 65% 56%
Parks and recreation 28% 33%
Residential 4% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 5%
Industrial 0% 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

Birdwoodton Merbein
New dwellings approved 446
across Mildura
same for both
Approvals change year on year +29%
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.

Birdwoodton Merbein
Houses — 4.5%
$450/wk on $520K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Birdwoodton Merbein
House price — Higher than 10% of VIC
Income Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 20% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 78% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 2% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 91% of VIC

Liveability

Birdwoodton scores higher overall (40 vs 17); Merbein is more walkable (25 vs 12).

Birdwoodton Merbein
Grade C D
Score 40/100 17/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Merbein carries more flood risk (90 vs 62); Merbein carries more crime risk (79 vs 58).

Birdwoodton Merbein
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
58/100
 High
79/100
Flood Moderate
62/100
 High
90/100
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

Birdwoodton Merbein
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Birdwoodton

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

Schools in Merbein

  • Merbein P-10 College Government · Combined at peers
  • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Birdwoodton Merbein
Supermarkets 0 1
Parks & reserves 0 6
Childcare 0 3
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Merbein sits further from the CBD (554.8 km vs 549.3 km).

Birdwoodton Merbein
Walkability score 12/100 25/100
Distance to Melbourne 549.3 km 554.8 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 372 min 376 min
Public transport score 26/100 43/100
Peak arrivals per hour 6.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 14.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.1%
postcode 3505
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 3505
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.

Birdwoodton Merbein
Car (driver) 72.0% / 83.6%
Birdwoodton — Car (driver): 72.0% Merbein — Car (driver): 83.6%
Worked from Home 15.2% / 7.5%
Birdwoodton — Worked from Home: 15.2% Merbein — Worked from Home: 7.5%
Car (passenger) 6.4% / 5.1%
Birdwoodton — Car (passenger): 6.4% Merbein — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Walked Only 6.4% / 3.4%
Birdwoodton — Walked Only: 6.4% Merbein — Walked Only: 3.4%
Bus — / 0.3%
Birdwoodton — Bus: not among its largest Merbein — Bus: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.6%).

Setting

Birdwoodton Merbein
Elevation 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 56 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Birdwoodton Merbein
Connectivity score 48/100 66/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 22%
289 premises
 38%
1,515 premises

Climate

Birdwoodton Merbein
Annual rainfall 278 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 33.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 4.9°C
same for both

Council rates

Birdwoodton Merbein
Average residential rate $2,340/yr
same for both
Council Mildura
same for both

Federal electorate

Birdwoodton Merbein
Division Mallee
same for both
Member Anne Webster
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Birdwoodton Merbein
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Birdwoodton

Acreage Family

Merbein

Acreage Affordable

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Birdwoodton

Birdwoodton vs Mildura Birdwoodton vs Cabarita Birdwoodton vs Merbein South Birdwoodton vs Koorlong

Other comparisons with Merbein

Merbein vs Mildura Merbein vs Merbein South Merbein vs Yelta Merbein vs Merbein West
Full data on Birdwoodton Full data on Merbein
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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