Merrijig vs Tolmie

Merrijig is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 52 in Tolmie. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Merrijig, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Merrijig tends to suit families with children, while Tolmie suits older residents.

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

  • Merrijig has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • Tolmie has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Merrijig

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($690,500 vs $810,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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 217.5 km)
  • Tolmie is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Tolmie

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 15%)
  • But Merrijig carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 36/100)

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

Investors

Merrijig

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (31.3% vs 22.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Merrijig and Tolmie 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 Tolmie
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 Tolmie
Walkability 0 / 13
Merrijig — Walkability: 0/100 Tolmie — Walkability: 13/100
Safety 83 / 64
Merrijig — Safety: 83/100 Tolmie — Safety: 64/100
Low fire risk 13 / 5
Merrijig — Low fire risk: 13/100 Tolmie — Low fire risk: 5/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Merrijig — Low flood risk: 100/100 Tolmie — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Tolmie skews older (52 vs 32); Merrijig has more residents (721 vs 547).

Merrijig Tolmie
Population 721
+24% vs other
 547
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +31.3% +22.4%
Median age 32 52
Median household income $91,624/yr
+23% vs other
 $70,356/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+6% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Merrijig Tolmie
0-4 2.8% / 3.7%
Merrijig — 0-4: 2.8% Tolmie — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 22.2% / 12.2%
Merrijig — 5-14: 22.2% Tolmie — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 16.8% / 4.0%
Merrijig — 15-19: 16.8% Tolmie — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 2.9% / 1.3%
Merrijig — 20-24: 2.9% Tolmie — 20-24: 1.3%
25-34 7.5% / 6.8%
Merrijig — 25-34: 7.5% Tolmie — 25-34: 6.8%
35-44 11.0% / 9.3%
Merrijig — 35-44: 11.0% Tolmie — 35-44: 9.3%
45-54 10.0% / 17.0%
Merrijig — 45-54: 10.0% Tolmie — 45-54: 17.0%
55-64 11.8% / 21.6%
Merrijig — 55-64: 11.8% Tolmie — 55-64: 21.6%
65-74 12.5% / 20.1%
Merrijig — 65-74: 12.5% Tolmie — 65-74: 20.1%
75-84 2.2% / 4.9%
Merrijig — 75-84: 2.2% Tolmie — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 0.4% / —
Merrijig — 85+: 0.4% Tolmie — 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% Merrijig — Other Families: 0.0%
Tolmie 40.4% lone person
Tolmie — Lone Person: 40.4% Tolmie — Couple Families: 43.9% Tolmie — One Parent Families: 13.2% Tolmie — Group Household: 0.0% Tolmie — Other Families: 2.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other 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%
Tolmie 6.7% renting
Tolmie — Owned Outright: 48.6% Tolmie — Mortgage: 44.8% Tolmie — Renting: 6.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Merrijig Tolmie
Certificate III & IV 9.7% / 18.1%
Merrijig — Certificate III & IV: 9.7% Tolmie — Certificate III & IV: 18.1%
Bachelor Degree 10.8% / 11.7%
Merrijig — Bachelor Degree: 10.8% Tolmie — Bachelor Degree: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.7% / 8.8%
Merrijig — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7% Tolmie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 6.2% / 3.1%
Merrijig — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2% Tolmie — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 4.0%
Merrijig — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Tolmie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

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 Tolmie
England 3.2% / 6.4%
Merrijig — England: 3.2% Tolmie — England: 6.4%
China 2.1% / —
Merrijig — China: 2.1% Tolmie — China: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.1%
Merrijig — New Zealand: 1.0% Tolmie — New Zealand: 1.1%
Germany — / 0.9%
Merrijig — Germany: not among its largest Tolmie — Germany: 0.9%
Canada 0.6% / —
Merrijig — Canada: 0.6% Tolmie — Canada: not among its largest
Italy — / 0.5%
Merrijig — Italy: not among its largest Tolmie — Italy: 0.5%
Philippines 0.4% / —
Merrijig — Philippines: 0.4% Tolmie — Philippines: 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.

Merrijig 96.4% houses
Merrijig — Houses: 96.4% Merrijig — Flats / Apartments: 3.6%
Tolmie 98.1% houses
Tolmie — Houses: 98.1% Tolmie — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Merrijig Tolmie
Median house price $760,000 $790,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $690,500 $810,000

Zoning mix

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

Merrijig Tolmie
Parks and recreation 49% 69%
Rural and farming 50% 29%
Environmental 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 Tolmie
New dwellings approved 76
across Mansfield
 238
across Wangaratta
Approvals change year on year -50% +329%

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 Tolmie
Houses 3.3%
$600/wk on $945K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Merrijig Tolmie
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 32% 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 30% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 27% of VIC —

Liveability

Tolmie is more walkable (13 vs 0); Merrijig scores higher overall (53 vs 39).

Merrijig Tolmie
Grade B C
Score 53/100 39/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Tolmie carries more crime risk (36 vs 17).

Merrijig Tolmie
Bushfire High
87/100
 High
95/100
Crime Low
17/100
 Low
36/100
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
same for both

Schools

Merrijig Tolmie
Inside the suburb 2 0
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 Tolmie

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

Amenities in the suburb

Merrijig Tolmie
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 1 4
Waterways 144 156

Mobility

Tolmie sits further from the CBD (217.5 km vs 212.9 km).

Merrijig Tolmie
Walkability score 0/100 13/100
Distance to Melbourne 212.9 km 217.5 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 185 min 183 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 Tolmie
Car (driver) 51.9% / 72.9%
Merrijig — Car (driver): 51.9% Tolmie — Car (driver): 72.9%
Worked from Home 21.8% / 20.6%
Merrijig — Worked from Home: 21.8% Tolmie — Worked from Home: 20.6%
Walked Only 23.0% / 3.0%
Merrijig — Walked Only: 23.0% Tolmie — Walked Only: 3.0%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 3.5%
Merrijig — Car (passenger): 2.1% Tolmie — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Bus 1.2% / —
Merrijig — Bus: 1.2% Tolmie — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.9%).

Setting

Merrijig Tolmie
Elevation 686 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 891 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Merrijig Tolmie
Connectivity score 25/100 27/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
268 premises
 0%
231 premises

Climate

Merrijig Tolmie
Annual rainfall 1,633 mm 964 mm
Summer max (Jan) 17.1°C 30.4°C
Winter min (Jul) -2.1°C 3.7°C

Council rates

Merrijig Tolmie
Average residential rate $1,697/yr $1,962/yr
Council Mansfield Wangaratta

Federal electorate

Merrijig Tolmie
Division Indi
same for both
Member Helen Haines
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Merrijig Tolmie
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

Tolmie

Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Merrijig

Merrijig vs Mansfield Merrijig vs Mount Buller Merrijig vs Barwite Merrijig vs Boorolite Merrijig vs Sawmill Settlement

Other comparisons with Tolmie

Tolmie vs Mount Buller Tolmie vs Barwite Tolmie vs Cheshunt Tolmie vs Myrrhee Tolmie vs Bridge Creek
Full data on Merrijig Full data on Tolmie
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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