Merrijig vs Mount Buller

Mount Buller is the younger of the two, with a median age of 27 against 32 in Merrijig. In Merrijig, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. In Mount Buller, about half of households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. On these figures, Merrijig tends to suit families with children, while Mount Buller suits renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

Merrijig

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (47% vs 13%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 42%)
  • But Mount Buller has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Mount Buller

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (13% vs 23%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Mount Buller

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (48% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($241/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Merrijig

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (185 min vs 293 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (212.9 km vs 251.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Merrijig has more residents already 65 and over (15% vs 5%)
  • Mount Buller has more units and townhouses to downsize into (58% vs 4%)

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

Investors

Mount Buller

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (37.0% vs 31.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Merrijig Mount Buller
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.

Merrijig Mount Buller
Walkability 0 / 0
Merrijig — Walkability: 0/100 Mount Buller — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 83 / 90
Merrijig — Safety: 83/100 Mount Buller — Safety: 90/100
Low fire risk 13 / 10
Merrijig — Low fire risk: 13/100 Mount Buller — Low fire risk: 10/100
Low flood risk 100 / 87
Merrijig — Low flood risk: 100/100 Mount Buller — Low flood risk: 87/100

Demographics

Merrijig has more residents (721 vs 333); Merrijig rents higher ($320/wk vs $241/wk).

Merrijig Mount Buller
Population 721
+54% vs other
 333
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +31.3% +37.0%
Median age 32 27
Median household income $91,624/yr $92,248/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+25% vs other
 $241/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Merrijig Mount Buller
0-4 2.8% / 0.9%
Merrijig — 0-4: 2.8% Mount Buller — 0-4: 0.9%
5-14 22.2% / 5.4%
Merrijig — 5-14: 22.2% Mount Buller — 5-14: 5.4%
15-19 16.8% / 7.8%
Merrijig — 15-19: 16.8% Mount Buller — 15-19: 7.8%
20-24 2.9% / 20.4%
Merrijig — 20-24: 2.9% Mount Buller — 20-24: 20.4%
25-34 7.5% / 36.6%
Merrijig — 25-34: 7.5% Mount Buller — 25-34: 36.6%
35-44 11.0% / 8.7%
Merrijig — 35-44: 11.0% Mount Buller — 35-44: 8.7%
45-54 10.0% / 6.0%
Merrijig — 45-54: 10.0% Mount Buller — 45-54: 6.0%
55-64 11.8% / 7.5%
Merrijig — 55-64: 11.8% Mount Buller — 55-64: 7.5%
65-74 12.5% / 3.0%
Merrijig — 65-74: 12.5% Mount Buller — 65-74: 3.0%
75-84 2.2% / 2.4%
Merrijig — 75-84: 2.2% Mount Buller — 75-84: 2.4%
85+ 0.4% / —
Merrijig — 85+: 0.4% Mount Buller — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (36.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Merrijig 48.0% lone person
Merrijig — Lone Person: 48.0% Merrijig — Couple Families: 39.2% Merrijig — Group Household: 4.9% Merrijig — One Parent Families: 7.8%
Mount Buller 64.5% lone person
Mount Buller — Lone Person: 64.5% Mount Buller — Couple Families: 12.9% Mount Buller — Group Household: 22.6% Mount Buller — One Parent Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Merrijig 11.2% renting
Merrijig — Owned Outright: 55.0% Merrijig — Mortgage: 33.8% Merrijig — Renting: 11.2%
Mount Buller 47.7% renting
Mount Buller — Owned Outright: 40.9% Mount Buller — Mortgage: 11.4% Mount Buller — Renting: 47.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Merrijig Mount Buller
Bachelor Degree 10.8% / 14.1%
Merrijig — Bachelor Degree: 10.8% Mount Buller — Bachelor Degree: 14.1%
Certificate III & IV 9.7% / 8.4%
Merrijig — Certificate III & IV: 9.7% Mount Buller — Certificate III & IV: 8.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.7% / 5.1%
Merrijig — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7% Mount Buller — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.1%
Postgraduate Degree 6.2% / 2.1%
Merrijig — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2% Mount Buller — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 0.9%
Merrijig — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Mount Buller — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.1%).

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.

Merrijig Mount Buller
England 3.2% / 1.5%
Merrijig — England: 3.2% Mount Buller — England: 1.5%
China 2.1% / 0.9%
Merrijig — China: 2.1% Mount Buller — China: 0.9%
Taiwan 0.4% / 1.8%
Merrijig — Taiwan: 0.4% Mount Buller — Taiwan: 1.8%
Germany — / 1.2%
Merrijig — Germany: not among its largest Mount Buller — Germany: 1.2%
New Zealand 1.0% / —
Merrijig — New Zealand: 1.0% Mount Buller — New Zealand: not among its largest
Italy — / 0.9%
Merrijig — Italy: not among its largest Mount Buller — Italy: 0.9%
Canada 0.6% / —
Merrijig — Canada: 0.6% Mount Buller — Canada: not among its largest
Philippines 0.4% / —
Merrijig — Philippines: 0.4% Mount Buller — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Merrijig 96.4% houses
Merrijig — Houses: 96.4% Merrijig — Flats / Apartments: 3.6%
Mount Buller 41.5% houses
Mount Buller — Houses: 41.5% Mount Buller — Flats / Apartments: 58.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Merrijig Mount Buller
Median house price $760,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $690,500 —

Zoning mix

Merrijig has more rural and farming land (50% vs 0%).

Merrijig Mount Buller
Parks and recreation 49% 99%
Rural and farming 50% 0%
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

Merrijig Mount Buller
New dwellings approved 76
across Mansfield
same for both
Approvals change year on year -50%
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.

Merrijig Mount Buller
Houses 3.3%
$600/wk on $945K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Merrijig Mount Buller
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 61% of VIC
same for both
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 59% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 27% of VIC —

Liveability

Merrijig Mount Buller
Grade B —
Score 53/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Mount Buller carries more flood risk (13 vs 0).

Merrijig Mount Buller
Bushfire High
87/100
 High
90/100
Crime Low
17/100
 Low
10/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
13/100
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

Merrijig Mount Buller
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Merrijig

  • Merrijig Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Geelong Grammar School - Timbertop Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Mount Buller

  • Mansfield Primary School-Mt Buller Campus Government · Primary
  • Mansfield Secondary College-Mansfield Secondary Mt Buller Annexe Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Merrijig Mount Buller
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 2 17
Parks & reserves 1 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 144 1615

Mobility

Mount Buller sits further from the CBD (251.5 km vs 212.9 km).

Merrijig Mount Buller
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 212.9 km 251.5 km
+18% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 185 min 293 min
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 3723
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 3723
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.

Merrijig Mount Buller
Walked Only 23.0% / 72.1%
Merrijig — Walked Only: 23.0% Mount Buller — Walked Only: 72.1%
Car (driver) 51.9% / 8.8%
Merrijig — Car (driver): 51.9% Mount Buller — Car (driver): 8.8%
Worked from Home 21.8% / 16.9%
Merrijig — Worked from Home: 21.8% Mount Buller — Worked from Home: 16.9%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 2.2%
Merrijig — Car (passenger): 2.1% Mount Buller — Car (passenger): 2.2%
Bus 1.2% / —
Merrijig — Bus: 1.2% Mount Buller — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.1%).

Setting

Merrijig Mount Buller
Elevation 686 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 867 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Merrijig Mount Buller
Connectivity score 25/100 99/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
268 premises
 99%
459 premises

Climate

Merrijig Mount Buller
Annual rainfall 1,633 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 17.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) -2.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Merrijig Mount Buller
Average residential rate $1,697/yr
same for both
Council Mansfield
same for both

Federal electorate

Merrijig Mount Buller
Division Indi
same for both
Member Helen Haines
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Merrijig Mount Buller
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Merrijig

Family River Rural

Mount Buller

Apartments Multicultural River Rural Students

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Merrijig

Merrijig vs Mansfield Merrijig vs Tolmie Merrijig vs Barwite Merrijig vs Boorolite Merrijig vs Sawmill Settlement

Other comparisons with Mount Buller

Mount Buller vs Tolmie Mount Buller vs Jamieson Mount Buller vs Howqua
Full data on Merrijig Full data on Mount Buller
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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