Merricks North vs Dromana

Dromana is the younger of the two, with a median age of 50 against 54 in Merricks North. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Merricks North, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Merricks North: a median of $3.33 million, against $920,000 in Dromana, though rent is higher in Dromana. On these figures, Merricks North tends to suit couples, while Dromana suits people living alone 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

  • Merricks North is already more of a family suburb (67% vs 49%)
  • Dromana has more parks and reserves (16 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Dromana

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($920,000 vs $3,330,000)
  • has cheaper land ($837,500 vs $2,490,000)

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 29%)
  • has cheaper rent ($258/wk vs $380/wk)
  • But Dromana has a bigger rental market to choose from (26% vs 12%)

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

Commuting to the city

Dromana

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (17/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Dromana

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 1%)
  • is more walkable (17/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • But Merricks North carries lower crime risk (62/100 vs 75/100)

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

Investors

Dromana

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.2% vs -0.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Merricks North Dromana
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.

Merricks North Dromana
Walkability 0 / 17
Merricks North — Walkability: 0/100 Dromana — Walkability: 17/100
Safety 38 / 25
Merricks North — Safety: 38/100 Dromana — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 100 / 40
Merricks North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Dromana — Low fire risk: 40/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Merricks North — Low flood risk: 100/100 Dromana — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Dromana has more residents (6,626 vs 423); Merricks North has higher household incomes ($125,632 vs $67,808).

Merricks North Dromana
Population 423 6,626
+1466% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.7% +14.2%
Median age 54 50
Median household income $125,632/yr
+46% vs other
 $67,808/yr
Median weekly rent $258/wk $380/wk
+47% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Merricks North Dromana
0-4 1.9% / 4.8%
Merricks North — 0-4: 1.9% Dromana — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 11.6% / 9.8%
Merricks North — 5-14: 11.6% Dromana — 5-14: 9.8%
15-19 5.4% / 4.6%
Merricks North — 15-19: 5.4% Dromana — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 6.1% / 4.5%
Merricks North — 20-24: 6.1% Dromana — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 7.1% / 9.2%
Merricks North — 25-34: 7.1% Dromana — 25-34: 9.2%
35-44 5.7% / 10.4%
Merricks North — 35-44: 5.7% Dromana — 35-44: 10.4%
45-54 15.1% / 13.8%
Merricks North — 45-54: 15.1% Dromana — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 18.0% / 13.9%
Merricks North — 55-64: 18.0% Dromana — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 18.2% / 16.4%
Merricks North — 65-74: 18.2% Dromana — 65-74: 16.4%
75-84 9.5% / 9.6%
Merricks North — 75-84: 9.5% Dromana — 75-84: 9.6%
85+ 3.1% / 3.1%
Merricks North — 85+: 3.1% Dromana — 85+: 3.1%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Dromana 32.1% couple families
Dromana — Couple Families: 32.1% Dromana — Lone Person: 44.8% Dromana — One Parent Families: 17.2% Dromana — Group Household: 4.4% Dromana — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Merricks North 12.3% renting
Merricks North — Owned Outright: 59.4% Merricks North — Mortgage: 28.3% Merricks North — Renting: 12.3%
Dromana 26.3% renting
Dromana — Owned Outright: 45.6% Dromana — Mortgage: 28.1% Dromana — Renting: 26.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Merricks North Dromana
Bachelor Degree 19.6% / 11.0%
Merricks North — Bachelor Degree: 19.6% Dromana — Bachelor Degree: 11.0%
Certificate III & IV 9.5% / 16.3%
Merricks North — Certificate III & IV: 9.5% Dromana — Certificate III & IV: 16.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 14.2% / 8.8%
Merricks North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 14.2% Dromana — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 6.1% / 2.5%
Merricks North — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1% Dromana — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 1.9%
Merricks North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Dromana — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

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.

Merricks North Dromana
England 6.4% / 4.0%
Merricks North — England: 6.4% Dromana — England: 4.0%
New Zealand 2.1% / 1.8%
Merricks North — New Zealand: 2.1% Dromana — New Zealand: 1.8%
Greece — / 1.9%
Merricks North — Greece: not among its largest Dromana — Greece: 1.9%
Scotland 1.2% / 0.6%
Merricks North — Scotland: 1.2% Dromana — Scotland: 0.6%
Italy — / 1.4%
Merricks North — Italy: not among its largest Dromana — Italy: 1.4%
Singapore 1.2% / —
Merricks North — Singapore: 1.2% Dromana — Singapore: not among its largest
South Africa 0.7% / —
Merricks North — South Africa: 0.7% Dromana — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Merricks North 99.3% houses
Merricks North — Houses: 99.3% Merricks North — Townhouses: 0.0% Merricks North — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Dromana 82.3% houses
Dromana — Houses: 82.3% Dromana — Townhouses: 10.6% Dromana — Flats / Apartments: 7.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Merricks North Dromana
Median house price $3,330,000 $920,000
Median unit price — $650,000
Median land price $2,490,000 $837,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 38 days
from 131 sales

Zoning mix

Merricks North has more rural and farming land (99% vs 69%).

Merricks North Dromana
Rural and farming 99% 69%
Residential 0% 15%
Parks and recreation 0% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 7%
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

Merricks North Dromana
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.

Merricks North Dromana
Houses — 3.0%
$700/wk on $1.2M
Units — 5.0%
$550/wk on $572K

Ranking within VIC

Merricks North Dromana
House price — Higher than 62% of VIC
Income Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 29% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 75% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 5% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 19% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 49% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 15% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 61% of VIC

Liveability

Dromana is more walkable (17 vs 0).

Merricks North Dromana
Grade — C
Score — 48/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Dromana carries more bushfire risk (60 vs 0); Dromana carries more crime risk (75 vs 62).

Merricks North Dromana
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
60/100
Crime Moderate
62/100
 High
75/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
57/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Merricks North Dromana
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Merricks North

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

Schools in Dromana

  • Dromana Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Dromana Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Peninsula College Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Merricks North Dromana
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 1 22
Parks & reserves 1 16
Childcare 0 5
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 1 32

Mobility

Merricks North Dromana
Walkability score 0/100 17/100
Distance to Melbourne 80.9 km 81.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 66 min 65 min
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 3926
 1.2%
postcode 3936
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 48
postcode 3926
 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.

Merricks North Dromana
Car (driver) 55.9% / 69.4%
Merricks North — Car (driver): 55.9% Dromana — Car (driver): 69.4%
Worked from Home 39.0% / 22.7%
Merricks North — Worked from Home: 39.0% Dromana — Worked from Home: 22.7%
Car (passenger) 1.7% / 4.1%
Merricks North — Car (passenger): 1.7% Dromana — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 3.4% / 1.9%
Merricks North — Walked Only: 3.4% Dromana — Walked Only: 1.9%
Bus — / 1.0%
Merricks North — Bus: not among its largest Dromana — Bus: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.4%).

Setting

Merricks North Dromana
Elevation 111 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.6 km 2.5 km
2.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Merricks North Dromana
Connectivity score 30/100 75/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
255 premises
 56%
5,437 premises

Climate

Merricks North Dromana
Annual rainfall 696 mm 700 mm
Summer max (Jan) 24.5°C —
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C —

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Merricks North

Luxury Retirees Rural

Dromana

Coastal Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Merricks North

Merricks North vs Balnarring Merricks North vs Red Hill Merricks North vs Red Hill South Merricks North vs Tuerong Merricks North vs Merricks

Other comparisons with Dromana

Dromana vs Mount Martha Dromana vs Safety Beach Dromana vs McCrae Dromana vs Red Hill Dromana vs Arthurs Seat Dromana vs Tuerong
Full data on Merricks North Full data on Dromana
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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