Main Ridge vs Arthurs Seat

Arthurs Seat is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 against 56 in Main Ridge. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Main Ridge, about half of households are people living alone. In Arthurs Seat, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Main Ridge: a median of $2.69 million, against $1.54 million in Arthurs Seat, though rent is higher in Arthurs Seat. On these figures, Main Ridge tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Arthurs Seat suits couples 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

  • Main Ridge carries lower crime risk (38/100 vs 59/100)
  • Arthurs Seat is already more of a family suburb (66% vs 50%)

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

First-home buyers

Arthurs Seat

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,545,000 vs $2,694,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Main Ridge

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($354/wk vs $435/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Arthurs Seat

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (89.4 km vs 93.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Main Ridge

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (38/100 vs 59/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (32% vs 24%)
  • But Arthurs Seat is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs 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

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

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
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.

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Walkability 0 / 10
Main Ridge — Walkability: 0/100 Arthurs Seat — Walkability: 10/100
Safety 62 / 41
Main Ridge — Safety: 62/100 Arthurs Seat — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 79 / 27
Main Ridge — Low fire risk: 79/100 Arthurs Seat — Low fire risk: 27/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Main Ridge — Low flood risk: 100/100 Arthurs Seat — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Arthurs Seat rents higher ($435/wk vs $354/wk); Main Ridge skews older (56 vs 48).

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Population 453
+9% vs other
 414
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.9% +5.1%
Median age 56 48
Median household income $112,632/yr
+7% vs other
 $104,780/yr
Median weekly rent $354/wk $435/wk
+23% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
0-4 2.0% / 4.3%
Main Ridge — 0-4: 2.0% Arthurs Seat — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 9.1% / 12.8%
Main Ridge — 5-14: 9.1% Arthurs Seat — 5-14: 12.8%
15-19 5.7% / 5.3%
Main Ridge — 15-19: 5.7% Arthurs Seat — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 3.3% / 3.1%
Main Ridge — 20-24: 3.3% Arthurs Seat — 20-24: 3.1%
25-34 4.9% / 4.6%
Main Ridge — 25-34: 4.9% Arthurs Seat — 25-34: 4.6%
35-44 7.3% / 14.0%
Main Ridge — 35-44: 7.3% Arthurs Seat — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 15.9% / 16.2%
Main Ridge — 45-54: 15.9% Arthurs Seat — 45-54: 16.2%
55-64 19.9% / 16.2%
Main Ridge — 55-64: 19.9% Arthurs Seat — 55-64: 16.2%
65-74 21.4% / 13.3%
Main Ridge — 65-74: 21.4% Arthurs Seat — 65-74: 13.3%
75-84 8.6% / 7.5%
Main Ridge — 75-84: 8.6% Arthurs Seat — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 2.2% / 3.1%
Main Ridge — 85+: 2.2% Arthurs Seat — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Main Ridge 39.6% couple families
Main Ridge — Couple Families: 39.6% Main Ridge — Lone Person: 45.3% Main Ridge — One Parent Families: 10.4% Main Ridge — Other Families: 4.7%
Arthurs Seat 56.0% couple families
Arthurs Seat — Couple Families: 56.0% Arthurs Seat — Lone Person: 30.8% Arthurs Seat — One Parent Families: 9.9% Arthurs Seat — Other Families: 3.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Main Ridge 11.4% renting
Main Ridge — Owned Outright: 58.1% Main Ridge — Mortgage: 30.5% Main Ridge — Renting: 11.4%
Arthurs Seat 8.8% renting
Arthurs Seat — Owned Outright: 50.7% Arthurs Seat — Mortgage: 40.5% Arthurs Seat — Renting: 8.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Bachelor Degree 21.2% / 20.0%
Main Ridge — Bachelor Degree: 21.2% Arthurs Seat — Bachelor Degree: 20.0%
Certificate III & IV 8.6% / 15.7%
Main Ridge — Certificate III & IV: 8.6% Arthurs Seat — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 7.2%
Main Ridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Arthurs Seat — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Postgraduate Degree 8.4% / 4.8%
Main Ridge — Postgraduate Degree: 8.4% Arthurs Seat — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 5.6%
Main Ridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Arthurs Seat — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

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.

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
England 4.2% / 5.8%
Main Ridge — England: 4.2% Arthurs Seat — England: 5.8%
Scotland 0.9% / 1.0%
Main Ridge — Scotland: 0.9% Arthurs Seat — Scotland: 1.0%
Greece — / 1.9%
Main Ridge — Greece: not among its largest Arthurs Seat — Greece: 1.9%
New Zealand 0.7% / 0.7%
Main Ridge — New Zealand: 0.7% Arthurs Seat — New Zealand: 0.7%
Canada 0.9% / —
Main Ridge — Canada: 0.9% Arthurs Seat — Canada: not among its largest
South Africa 0.7% / —
Main Ridge — South Africa: 0.7% Arthurs Seat — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.7%
Main Ridge — Philippines: not among its largest Arthurs Seat — Philippines: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Main Ridge 98.3% houses
Main Ridge — Houses: 98.3% Main Ridge — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Arthurs Seat 100.0% houses
Arthurs Seat — Houses: 100.0% Arthurs Seat — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Median house price $2,694,000 $1,545,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $830,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 31 days
from 5 sales

Zoning mix

Main Ridge has more rural and farming land (89% vs 58%).

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Rural and farming 89% 58%
Parks and recreation 10% 30%
Residential 0% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 3%
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

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
New dwellings approved 791
across Mornington Peninsula
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 36% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC

Liveability

Arthurs Seat is more walkable (10 vs 0).

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Arthurs Seat carries more bushfire risk (73 vs 21); Arthurs Seat carries more crime risk (59 vs 38).

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Bushfire Low
21/100
 High
73/100
Crime Low
38/100
 Moderate
59/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Cafes & restaurants 1 2
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Waterways 45 10

Mobility

Main Ridge sits further from the CBD (93.5 km vs 89.4 km).

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Walkability score 0/100 10/100
Distance to Melbourne 93.5 km
+4% vs other
 89.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 78 min 74 min
Electric vehicle share 2.8%
postcode 3928
 1.2%
postcode 3936
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 3928
 25
postcode 3936

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.

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Car (driver) 48.1% / 57.3%
Main Ridge — Car (driver): 48.1% Arthurs Seat — Car (driver): 57.3%
Worked from Home 41.6% / 40.9%
Main Ridge — Worked from Home: 41.6% Arthurs Seat — Worked from Home: 40.9%
Walked Only 8.6% / —
Main Ridge — Walked Only: 8.6% Arthurs Seat — Walked Only: not among its largest
Car (passenger) 1.6% / 1.8%
Main Ridge — Car (passenger): 1.6% Arthurs Seat — Car (passenger): 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.3%).

Setting

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Elevation 186 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 253 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.0 km 2.8 km
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Connectivity score 30/100 64/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
328 premises
 42%
271 premises

Climate

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Annual rainfall 696 mm 700 mm
Summer max (Jan) 24.5°C —
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C —

Council rates

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Average residential rate $1,659/yr
same for both
Council Mornington Peninsula
same for both

Federal electorate

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Division Flinders
same for both
Member Zoe Mckenzie
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Main Ridge Arthurs Seat
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Main Ridge

Luxury Retirees River Rural

Arthurs Seat

Acreage Coastal Premium River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Main Ridge

Main Ridge vs Rosebud Main Ridge vs Flinders Main Ridge vs Red Hill Main Ridge vs Red Hill South Main Ridge vs Shoreham Main Ridge vs Boneo

Other comparisons with Arthurs Seat

Arthurs Seat vs Rosebud Arthurs Seat vs Dromana Arthurs Seat vs McCrae Arthurs Seat vs Red Hill
Full data on Main Ridge Full data on Arthurs Seat
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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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