Merrijig vs Sawmill Settlement

Merrijig is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 42 in Sawmill Settlement. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Merrijig: a median of $760,000, against $485,000 in Sawmill Settlement, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Merrijig tends to suit families with children, while Sawmill Settlement 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

Merrijig

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 79%)

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

First-home buyers

Sawmill Settlement

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($195,000 vs $690,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($485,000 vs $760,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Sawmill Settlement

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($289/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Merrijig sits closer to the CBD (212.9 km vs 219.8 km)
  • Sawmill Settlement is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Sawmill Settlement

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (21% vs 4%)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Merrijig is growing faster (31.3% vs -2.3%)
  • Sawmill Settlement returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.5% vs 3.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Merrijig and Sawmill Settlement 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 Sawmill Settlement
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 Sawmill Settlement
Walkability 0 / 13
Merrijig — Walkability: 0/100 Sawmill Settlement — Walkability: 13/100
Safety 83 / 80
Merrijig — Safety: 83/100 Sawmill Settlement — Safety: 80/100
Low fire risk 13 / 2
Merrijig — Low fire risk: 13/100 Sawmill Settlement — Low fire risk: 2/100
Low flood risk 100 / 80
Merrijig — Low flood risk: 100/100 Sawmill Settlement — Low flood risk: 80/100

Demographics

Merrijig has more residents (721 vs 86); Sawmill Settlement skews older (42 vs 32).

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
Population 721
+88% vs other
 86
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +31.3% -2.3%
Median age 32 42
Median household income $91,624/yr
+19% vs other
 $74,048/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+10% vs other
 $289/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
0-4 2.8% / —
Merrijig — 0-4: 2.8% Sawmill Settlement — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 22.2% / 11.6%
Merrijig — 5-14: 22.2% Sawmill Settlement — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 16.8% / 4.7%
Merrijig — 15-19: 16.8% Sawmill Settlement — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 2.9% / 7.0%
Merrijig — 20-24: 2.9% Sawmill Settlement — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 7.5% / 11.6%
Merrijig — 25-34: 7.5% Sawmill Settlement — 25-34: 11.6%
35-44 11.0% / 12.8%
Merrijig — 35-44: 11.0% Sawmill Settlement — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 10.0% / 20.9%
Merrijig — 45-54: 10.0% Sawmill Settlement — 45-54: 20.9%
55-64 11.8% / 10.5%
Merrijig — 55-64: 11.8% Sawmill Settlement — 55-64: 10.5%
65-74 12.5% / 10.5%
Merrijig — 65-74: 12.5% Sawmill Settlement — 65-74: 10.5%
75-84 2.2% / 3.5%
Merrijig — 75-84: 2.2% Sawmill Settlement — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 0.4% / —
Merrijig — 85+: 0.4% Sawmill Settlement — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Merrijig 48.0% lone person
Merrijig — Lone Person: 48.0% Merrijig — Couple Families: 39.2% Merrijig — One Parent Families: 7.8% Merrijig — Group Household: 4.9%
Sawmill Settlement 47.1% lone person
Sawmill Settlement — Lone Person: 47.1% Sawmill Settlement — Couple Families: 52.9% Sawmill Settlement — One Parent Families: 0.0% Sawmill Settlement — Group Household: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

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%
Sawmill Settlement 30.0% renting
Sawmill Settlement — Owned Outright: 30.0% Sawmill Settlement — Mortgage: 40.0% Sawmill Settlement — Renting: 30.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
Certificate III & IV 9.7% / 11.6%
Merrijig — Certificate III & IV: 9.7% Sawmill Settlement — Certificate III & IV: 11.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.7% / 15.1%
Merrijig — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7% Sawmill Settlement — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 15.1%
Bachelor Degree 10.8% / 7.0%
Merrijig — Bachelor Degree: 10.8% Sawmill Settlement — Bachelor Degree: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 6.2% / —
Merrijig — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2% Sawmill Settlement — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 3.5%
Merrijig — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Sawmill Settlement — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

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 Sawmill Settlement
Germany — / 4.7%
Merrijig — Germany: not among its largest Sawmill Settlement — Germany: 4.7%
England 3.2% / —
Merrijig — England: 3.2% Sawmill Settlement — England: not among its largest
China 2.1% / —
Merrijig — China: 2.1% Sawmill Settlement — China: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.0% / —
Merrijig — New Zealand: 1.0% Sawmill Settlement — New Zealand: not among its largest
Canada 0.6% / —
Merrijig — Canada: 0.6% Sawmill Settlement — Canada: not among its largest
Philippines 0.4% / —
Merrijig — Philippines: 0.4% Sawmill Settlement — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Merrijig 96.4% houses
Merrijig — Houses: 96.4% Merrijig — Flats / Apartments: 3.6%
Sawmill Settlement 79.4% houses
Sawmill Settlement — Houses: 79.4% Sawmill Settlement — Flats / Apartments: 20.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
Median house price $760,000 $485,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $690,500 $195,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 209 days
from 5 sales

Zoning mix

Merrijig has more rural and farming land (50% vs 29%).

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
Parks and recreation 49% 63%
Rural and farming 50% 29%
Residential 1% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 2%
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 Sawmill Settlement
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 Sawmill Settlement
Houses 3.3%
$600/wk on $945K
 4.5%
$650/wk on $748K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 40% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 75% 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 19% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 27% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC

Liveability

Sawmill Settlement is more walkable (13 vs 0).

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

Risk profile

Sawmill Settlement carries more flood risk (20 vs 0); Sawmill Settlement carries more bushfire risk (98 vs 87).

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
Bushfire High
87/100
 High
98/100
Crime Low
17/100
 Low
20/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
20/100
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 Sawmill Settlement
Inside the suburb 2 1
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 Sawmill Settlement

  • Princes Hill Secondary College-Mirimbah Country Centre Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 1 0
Waterways 144 1

Mobility

Sawmill Settlement sits further from the CBD (219.8 km vs 212.9 km).

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
Walkability score 0/100 13/100
Distance to Melbourne 212.9 km 219.8 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 185 min 188 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 Sawmill Settlement
Car (driver) 51.9% / 56.8%
Merrijig — Car (driver): 51.9% Sawmill Settlement — Car (driver): 56.8%
Worked from Home 21.8% / 10.8%
Merrijig — Worked from Home: 21.8% Sawmill Settlement — Worked from Home: 10.8%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 21.6%
Merrijig — Car (passenger): 2.1% Sawmill Settlement — Car (passenger): 21.6%
Walked Only 23.0% / —
Merrijig — Walked Only: 23.0% Sawmill Settlement — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus 1.2% / 10.8%
Merrijig — Bus: 1.2% Sawmill Settlement — Bus: 10.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.8%).

Setting

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
Elevation 686 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 726 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
Connectivity score 25/100 21/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
268 premises
 0%
73 premises

Climate

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
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 Sawmill Settlement
Average residential rate $1,697/yr
same for both
Council Mansfield
same for both

Federal electorate

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
Division Indi
same for both
Member Helen Haines
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Merrijig Sawmill Settlement
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

Sawmill Settlement

Affordable Rural
Full data on Merrijig Full data on Sawmill Settlement
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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