Merricks vs Balnarring

Balnarring is the younger of the two, with a median age of 46 against 57 in Merricks. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Merricks, about half of households are people living alone. In Balnarring, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Merricks tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Balnarring suits families with children and couples.

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

Balnarring

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (65% vs 49%)
  • But Merricks carries lower crime risk (30/100 vs 59/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Merricks

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (9% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($258/wk vs $480/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Balnarring

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (79.7 km vs 88.3 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (68 min vs 75 min)
  • But Merricks is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Merricks

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (30/100 vs 59/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (33% vs 24%)

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

Investors

Balnarring

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (4.4% vs -3.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Merricks and Balnarring 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 Balnarring
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 Balnarring
Walkability 10 / 0
Merricks — Walkability: 10/100 Balnarring — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 70 / 41
Merricks — Safety: 70/100 Balnarring — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Merricks — Low fire risk: 100/100 Balnarring — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 81 / 86
Merricks — Low flood risk: 81/100 Balnarring — Low flood risk: 86/100

Demographics

Balnarring has more residents (2,371 vs 184); Balnarring rents higher ($480/wk vs $258/wk).

Merricks Balnarring
Population 184 2,371
+1189% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.2% +4.4%
Median age 57 46
Median household income $143,000/yr
+30% vs other
 $99,736/yr
Median weekly rent $258/wk $480/wk
+86% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Merricks Balnarring
0-4 2.2% / 5.6%
Merricks — 0-4: 2.2% Balnarring — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 10.9% / 14.1%
Merricks — 5-14: 10.9% Balnarring — 5-14: 14.1%
15-19 6.0% / 5.2%
Merricks — 15-19: 6.0% Balnarring — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 2.2% / 3.2%
Merricks — 20-24: 2.2% Balnarring — 20-24: 3.2%
25-34 2.7% / 6.6%
Merricks — 25-34: 2.7% Balnarring — 25-34: 6.6%
35-44 6.0% / 13.0%
Merricks — 35-44: 6.0% Balnarring — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 15.2% / 13.7%
Merricks — 45-54: 15.2% Balnarring — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 22.8% / 14.4%
Merricks — 55-64: 22.8% Balnarring — 55-64: 14.4%
65-74 19.6% / 13.5%
Merricks — 65-74: 19.6% Balnarring — 65-74: 13.5%
75-84 10.3% / 7.9%
Merricks — 75-84: 10.3% Balnarring — 75-84: 7.9%
85+ 3.3% / 2.4%
Merricks — 85+: 3.3% Balnarring — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Merricks 41.5% couple families
Merricks — Couple Families: 41.5% Merricks — Lone Person: 51.2% Merricks — One Parent Families: 7.3% Merricks — Group Household: 0.0% Merricks — Other Families: 0.0%
Balnarring 53.1% couple families
Balnarring — Couple Families: 53.1% Balnarring — Lone Person: 33.0% Balnarring — One Parent Families: 12.0% Balnarring — Group Household: 1.3% Balnarring — Other Families: 0.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Merricks 7.6% renting
Merricks — Owned Outright: 59.5% Merricks — Mortgage: 32.9% Merricks — Renting: 7.6%
Balnarring 9.4% renting
Balnarring — Owned Outright: 50.0% Balnarring — Mortgage: 40.6% Balnarring — Renting: 9.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Merricks Balnarring
Bachelor Degree 23.4% / 18.5%
Merricks — Bachelor Degree: 23.4% Balnarring — Bachelor Degree: 18.5%
Certificate III & IV 8.2% / 14.2%
Merricks — Certificate III & IV: 8.2% Balnarring — Certificate III & IV: 14.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 10.0%
Merricks — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Balnarring — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 12.0% / 4.3%
Merricks — Postgraduate Degree: 12.0% Balnarring — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 3.1%
Merricks — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Balnarring — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.4%).

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.

Merricks Balnarring
England 8.2% / 7.1%
Merricks — England: 8.2% Balnarring — England: 7.1%
New Zealand 2.2% / 1.2%
Merricks — New Zealand: 2.2% Balnarring — New Zealand: 1.2%
Iraq 3.3% / —
Merricks — Iraq: 3.3% Balnarring — Iraq: not among its largest
South Africa 2.2% / —
Merricks — South Africa: 2.2% Balnarring — South Africa: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.5%
Merricks — Netherlands: not among its largest Balnarring — Netherlands: 0.5%
Ireland — / 0.4%
Merricks — Ireland: not among its largest Balnarring — Ireland: 0.4%
Italy — / 0.3%
Merricks — Italy: not among its largest Balnarring — Italy: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Merricks 100.0% houses
Merricks — Houses: 100.0% Merricks — Townhouses: 0.0% Merricks — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Balnarring 95.2% houses
Balnarring — Houses: 95.2% Balnarring — Townhouses: 3.9% Balnarring — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Merricks Balnarring
Median house price — $2,045,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $1,412,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 30 days
from 7 sales

Zoning mix

Merricks Balnarring
Rural and farming 95% 89%
Residential 1% 5%
Parks and recreation 2% 4%
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

Merricks Balnarring
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 Balnarring
Houses — 2.4%
$858/wk on $1.88M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Merricks Balnarring
House price — Higher than 86% of VIC
Income Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 69% of VIC Higher than 9% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 15% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 48% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 3% of VIC

Liveability

Merricks is more walkable (10 vs 0).

Merricks Balnarring
Grade — B
Score — 65/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Balnarring carries more crime risk (59 vs 30).

Merricks Balnarring
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
30/100
 Moderate
59/100
Flood Low
19/100
 Low
14/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Merricks Balnarring
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 Merricks

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

Schools in Balnarring

  • Balnarring Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Merricks Balnarring
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 3 4
Parks & reserves 0 10
Childcare 0 3
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 13 3

Mobility

Merricks sits further from the CBD (88.3 km vs 79.7 km).

Merricks Balnarring
Walkability score 10/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 88.3 km
+10% vs other
 79.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 75 min 68 min
Electric vehicle share 3.1%
postcode 3916
 1.7%
postcode 3926
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 3916
 48
postcode 3926

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 Balnarring
Car (driver) 44.0% / 62.4%
Merricks — Car (driver): 44.0% Balnarring — Car (driver): 62.4%
Worked from Home 50.0% / 32.0%
Merricks — Worked from Home: 50.0% Balnarring — Worked from Home: 32.0%
Walked Only 6.0% / 2.1%
Merricks — Walked Only: 6.0% Balnarring — Walked Only: 2.1%
Car (passenger) — / 3.1%
Merricks — Car (passenger): not among its largest Balnarring — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Bicycle — / 0.4%
Merricks — Bicycle: not among its largest Balnarring — Bicycle: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.4%).

Setting

Merricks Balnarring
Elevation 65 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 66 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.8 km 4.3 km

NBN connectivity

Merricks Balnarring
Connectivity score 30/100 70/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
137 premises
 49%
1,189 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Merricks Balnarring
Division Flinders
same for both
Member Zoe Mckenzie
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Merricks

Coastal Quiet Retirees River Rural

Balnarring

Acreage Premium

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Merricks

Merricks vs Red Hill South Merricks vs Shoreham Merricks vs Merricks North Merricks vs Point Leo Merricks vs Merricks Beach

Other comparisons with Balnarring

Balnarring vs Bittern Balnarring vs Somers Balnarring vs Balnarring Beach Balnarring vs Merricks North Balnarring vs Tuerong Balnarring vs Merricks Beach
Full data on Merricks Full data on Balnarring
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or