Merricks North vs Red Hill South

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 $1.73 million in Red Hill South, though rent is higher in Red Hill South. On these figures, Red Hill South tends to suit 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

Red Hill South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 62/100)

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

First-home buyers

Red Hill South

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,725,000 vs $3,330,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 33%)

Weighs house 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 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($258/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Merricks North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (66 min vs 78 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (80.9 km vs 91.3 km)
  • But Red Hill South is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Red Hill South

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 62/100)

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

Investors

Red Hill South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (17.4% vs -0.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Merricks North and Red Hill South 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 Red Hill South
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 Red Hill South
Walkability 0 / 10
Merricks North — Walkability: 0/100 Red Hill South — Walkability: 10/100
Safety 38 / 78
Merricks North — Safety: 38/100 Red Hill South — Safety: 78/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Merricks North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Red Hill South — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Merricks North — Low flood risk: 100/100 Red Hill South — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Red Hill South rents higher ($500/wk vs $258/wk); Red Hill South has more residents (708 vs 423).

Merricks North Red Hill South
Population 423 708
+67% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.7% +17.4%
Median age 54 56
Median household income $125,632/yr
+6% vs other
 $117,572/yr
Median weekly rent $258/wk $500/wk
+94% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Merricks North Red Hill South
0-4 1.9% / 3.0%
Merricks North — 0-4: 1.9% Red Hill South — 0-4: 3.0%
5-14 11.6% / 11.2%
Merricks North — 5-14: 11.6% Red Hill South — 5-14: 11.2%
15-19 5.4% / 5.4%
Merricks North — 15-19: 5.4% Red Hill South — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 6.1% / 3.5%
Merricks North — 20-24: 6.1% Red Hill South — 20-24: 3.5%
25-34 7.1% / 4.7%
Merricks North — 25-34: 7.1% Red Hill South — 25-34: 4.7%
35-44 5.7% / 7.6%
Merricks North — 35-44: 5.7% Red Hill South — 35-44: 7.6%
45-54 15.1% / 12.4%
Merricks North — 45-54: 15.1% Red Hill South — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 18.0% / 21.3%
Merricks North — 55-64: 18.0% Red Hill South — 55-64: 21.3%
65-74 18.2% / 18.6%
Merricks North — 65-74: 18.2% Red Hill South — 65-74: 18.6%
75-84 9.5% / 8.9%
Merricks North — 75-84: 9.5% Red Hill South — 75-84: 8.9%
85+ 3.1% / 3.4%
Merricks North — 85+: 3.1% Red Hill South — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.3%).

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%
Red Hill South 50.3% couple families
Red Hill South — Couple Families: 50.3% Red Hill South — Lone Person: 40.3% Red Hill South — One Parent Families: 9.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent 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%
Red Hill South 10.6% renting
Red Hill South — Owned Outright: 65.7% Red Hill South — Mortgage: 23.7% Red Hill South — Renting: 10.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Merricks North Red Hill South
Bachelor Degree 19.6% / 21.2%
Merricks North — Bachelor Degree: 19.6% Red Hill South — Bachelor Degree: 21.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 14.2% / 9.2%
Merricks North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 14.2% Red Hill South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Certificate III & IV 9.5% / 9.3%
Merricks North — Certificate III & IV: 9.5% Red Hill South — Certificate III & IV: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 6.1% / 7.3%
Merricks North — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1% Red Hill South — Postgraduate Degree: 7.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 3.4%
Merricks North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Red Hill South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

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.

Merricks North Red Hill South
England 6.4% / 5.4%
Merricks North — England: 6.4% Red Hill South — England: 5.4%
New Zealand 2.1% / 1.4%
Merricks North — New Zealand: 2.1% Red Hill South — New Zealand: 1.4%
Scotland 1.2% / 0.4%
Merricks North — Scotland: 1.2% Red Hill South — Scotland: 0.4%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.8%
Merricks North — South Africa: 0.7% Red Hill South — South Africa: 0.8%
Singapore 1.2% / —
Merricks North — Singapore: 1.2% Red Hill South — Singapore: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.7%
Merricks North — Germany: not among its largest Red Hill South — Germany: 0.7%
India — / 0.4%
Merricks North — India: not among its largest Red Hill South — India: 0.4%

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 — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Red Hill South 100.0% houses
Red Hill South — Houses: 100.0% Red Hill South — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Merricks North Red Hill South
Median house price $3,330,000 $1,725,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $2,490,000 —

Zoning mix

Merricks North Red Hill South
Rural and farming 99% 96%
Residential 0% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 1%
same for both
Parks and recreation 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 Red Hill South
New dwellings approved 791
across Mornington Peninsula
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Merricks North Red Hill South
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 5% of VIC Higher than 69% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 49% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC

Liveability

Red Hill South is more walkable (10 vs 0).

Merricks North Red Hill South
Grade — A
Score — 75/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Merricks North carries more crime risk (62 vs 22).

Merricks North Red Hill South
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
62/100
 Low
22/100
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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Merricks North Red Hill South
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

Merricks North Red Hill South
Cafes & restaurants 1 4
Parks & reserves 1 3
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Red Hill South sits further from the CBD (91.3 km vs 80.9 km).

Merricks North Red Hill South
Walkability score 0/100 10/100
Distance to Melbourne 80.9 km 91.3 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 66 min 78 min
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 3926
 3.4%
postcode 3937
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 48
postcode 3926
 52
postcode 3937

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 Red Hill South
Car (driver) 55.9% / 49.6%
Merricks North — Car (driver): 55.9% Red Hill South — Car (driver): 49.6%
Worked from Home 39.0% / 47.4%
Merricks North — Worked from Home: 39.0% Red Hill South — Worked from Home: 47.4%
Walked Only 3.4% / 1.1%
Merricks North — Walked Only: 3.4% Red Hill South — Walked Only: 1.1%
Car (passenger) 1.7% / 1.8%
Merricks North — Car (passenger): 1.7% Red Hill South — Car (passenger): 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.9%).

Setting

Merricks North Red Hill South
Elevation 111 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 140 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.6 km 4.7 km

NBN connectivity

Merricks North Red Hill South
Connectivity score 30/100 57/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
255 premises
 32%
448 premises

Climate

Merricks North Red Hill South
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

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

Federal electorate

Merricks North Red Hill South
Division Flinders
same for both
Member Zoe Mckenzie
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Merricks North Red Hill South
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

Red Hill South

Acreage Premium Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Merricks North

Merricks North vs Dromana Merricks North vs Balnarring Merricks North vs Red Hill Merricks North vs Tuerong Merricks North vs Merricks

Other comparisons with Red Hill South

Red Hill South vs Red Hill Red Hill South vs Shoreham Red Hill South vs Main Ridge Red Hill South vs Merricks
Full data on Merricks North Full data on Red Hill South
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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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