Mildura vs Merbein

Mildura is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 44 in Merbein. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Mildura: a median of $562,000, against $420,000 in Merbein, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Merbein 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

Mildura

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (16 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (24 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (39 vs 6)
  • But Merbein carries lower crime risk (79/100 vs 91/100)

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

First-home buyers

Merbein

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($128,400 vs $250,000)
  • has cheaper units ($215,000 vs $332,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($420,500 vs $562,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Mildura has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 23%)
  • Merbein has cheaper rent ($210/wk vs $280/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Mildura

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (61/100 vs 25/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (365 min vs 376 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (542.4 km vs 554.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mildura

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (16 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (61/100 vs 25/100)
  • But Merbein carries lower crime risk (79/100 vs 91/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mildura Merbein
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.

Mildura Merbein
Walkability 61 / 25
Mildura — Walkability: 61/100 Merbein — Walkability: 25/100
Safety 9 / 21
Mildura — Safety: 9/100 Merbein — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Mildura — Low fire risk: 100/100 Merbein — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 20 / 10
Mildura — Low flood risk: 20/100 Merbein — Low flood risk: 10/100

Demographics

Mildura has more residents (34,565 vs 2,770); Mildura rents higher ($280/wk vs $210/wk).

Mildura Merbein
Population 34,565
+92% vs other
 2,770
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.6% +2.1%
Median age 39 44
Median household income $67,340/yr
+11% vs other
 $59,644/yr
Median weekly rent $280/wk
+25% vs other
 $210/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mildura Merbein
0-4 5.9% / 5.7%
Mildura — 0-4: 5.9% Merbein — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 12.2% / 13.0%
Mildura — 5-14: 12.2% Merbein — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 5.6% / 4.6%
Mildura — 15-19: 5.6% Merbein — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 6.1% / 4.5%
Mildura — 20-24: 6.1% Merbein — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 14.7% / 12.2%
Mildura — 25-34: 14.7% Merbein — 25-34: 12.2%
35-44 11.8% / 10.1%
Mildura — 35-44: 11.8% Merbein — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 11.8% / 12.5%
Mildura — 45-54: 11.8% Merbein — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 12.0% / 14.6%
Mildura — 55-64: 12.0% Merbein — 55-64: 14.6%
65-74 10.5% / 11.6%
Mildura — 65-74: 10.5% Merbein — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 6.4% / 7.0%
Mildura — 75-84: 6.4% Merbein — 75-84: 7.0%
85+ 2.9% / 4.1%
Mildura — 85+: 2.9% Merbein — 85+: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mildura 41.8% lone person
Mildura — Lone Person: 41.8% Mildura — Couple Families: 32.1% Mildura — One Parent Families: 19.3% Mildura — Group Household: 5.2% Mildura — Other Families: 1.6%
Merbein 43.1% lone person
Merbein — Lone Person: 43.1% Merbein — Couple Families: 34.6% Merbein — One Parent Families: 17.9% Merbein — Group Household: 3.3% Merbein — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mildura 38.5% renting
Mildura — Owned Outright: 31.4% Mildura — Mortgage: 30.1% Mildura — Renting: 38.5%
Merbein 22.7% renting
Merbein — Owned Outright: 34.2% Merbein — Mortgage: 43.1% Merbein — Renting: 22.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mildura Merbein
Certificate III & IV 14.4% / 17.4%
Mildura — Certificate III & IV: 14.4% Merbein — Certificate III & IV: 17.4%
Bachelor Degree 8.0% / 4.5%
Mildura — Bachelor Degree: 8.0% Merbein — Bachelor Degree: 4.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 5.6%
Mildura — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Merbein — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.0%
Mildura — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Merbein — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%
Postgraduate Degree 1.9% / 0.5%
Mildura — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9% Merbein — Postgraduate Degree: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

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.

Mildura Merbein
Malaysia 2.6% / 0.3%
Mildura — Malaysia: 2.6% Merbein — Malaysia: 0.3%
England 1.3% / 1.2%
Mildura — England: 1.3% Merbein — England: 1.2%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.9%
Mildura — New Zealand: 0.9% Merbein — New Zealand: 0.9%
India 1.5% / —
Mildura — India: 1.5% Merbein — India: not among its largest
Italy 1.0% / 0.2%
Mildura — Italy: 1.0% Merbein — Italy: 0.2%
Vietnam 0.9% / —
Mildura — Vietnam: 0.9% Merbein — Vietnam: not among its largest
Thailand — / 0.4%
Mildura — Thailand: not among its largest Merbein — Thailand: 0.4%
Scotland — / 0.4%
Mildura — Scotland: not among its largest Merbein — Scotland: 0.4%
Netherlands — / 0.3%
Mildura — Netherlands: not among its largest Merbein — Netherlands: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mildura 80.7% houses
Mildura — Houses: 80.7% Mildura — Townhouses: 10.9% Mildura — Flats / Apartments: 8.4%
Merbein 89.8% houses
Merbein — Houses: 89.8% Merbein — Townhouses: 5.9% Merbein — Flats / Apartments: 4.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mildura Merbein
Median house price $562,000 $420,500
Median unit price $332,500 $215,000
Median land price $250,000 $128,400
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 409 sales
 28 days
from 32 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Mildura Merbein
2 bed $376K / $348K
Mildura — 2 bed: $376K (67 sales) Merbein — 2 bed: $348K (8 sales)

67 vs 8 sales

3 bed $534K / $420K
Mildura — 3 bed: $534K (542 sales) Merbein — 3 bed: $420K (70 sales)

542 vs 70 sales

4 bed $649K / $603K
Mildura — 4 bed: $649K (254 sales) Merbein — 4 bed: $603K (17 sales)

254 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Merbein has more rural and farming land (56% vs 33%).

Mildura Merbein
Rural and farming 33% 56%
Parks and recreation 16% 33%
Residential 25% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 15% 5%
Other and special use 5% 0%
Industrial 3% 1%
Commercial 2% 0%
Environmental 1% 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

Mildura Merbein
New dwellings approved 446
across Mildura
same for both
Approvals change year on year +29%
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.

Mildura Merbein
Houses 4.4%
$510/wk on $600K
 4.5%
$450/wk on $520K
Units 5.1%
$360/wk on $367K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Mildura Merbein
House price Higher than 19% of VIC Higher than 10% of VIC
Income Higher than 29% of VIC Higher than 20% of VIC
Schools Higher than 40% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 2% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 67% of VIC —

Liveability

Mildura is more walkable (61 vs 25); Mildura scores higher overall (27 vs 17).

Mildura Merbein
Grade D
same for both
Score 27/100 17/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Mildura carries more crime risk (91 vs 79); Merbein carries more flood risk (90 vs 80).

Mildura Merbein
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
91/100
 High
79/100
Flood High
80/100
 High
90/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Mildura Merbein
Inside the suburb 16 2
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 6 2
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Mildura

  • Chaffey Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Sacred Heart School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Mildura Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mildura South Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mildura West Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Ranfurly Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Merbein

  • Merbein P-10 College Government · Combined at peers
  • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mildura Merbein
Supermarkets 7 1
Cafes & restaurants 37 0
Parks & reserves 39 6
Childcare 24 3
GPs 16 1
Pharmacies 7 1
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 11 2
Fuel stations 11 1
EV chargers 2 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 11 3

Mobility

Merbein sits further from the CBD (554.8 km vs 542.4 km).

Mildura Merbein
Walkability score 61/100 25/100
Distance to Melbourne 542.4 km 554.8 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 365 min 376 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 43/100
Peak arrivals per hour 221.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 14.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 3500
 0.1%
postcode 3505
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 3500
 54
postcode 3505

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.

Mildura Merbein
Car (driver) 77.4% / 83.6%
Mildura — Car (driver): 77.4% Merbein — Car (driver): 83.6%
Worked from Home 8.7% / 7.5%
Mildura — Worked from Home: 8.7% Merbein — Worked from Home: 7.5%
Car (passenger) 9.3% / 5.1%
Mildura — Car (passenger): 9.3% Merbein — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Walked Only 3.4% / 3.4%
Mildura — Walked Only: 3.4% Merbein — Walked Only: 3.4%
Bus 0.5% / 0.3%
Mildura — Bus: 0.5% Merbein — Bus: 0.3%
Bicycle 0.6% / —
Mildura — Bicycle: 0.6% Merbein — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.6%).

Setting

Mildura Merbein
Elevation 48 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 56 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Mildura Merbein
Connectivity score 80/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 50%
18,977 premises
 38%
1,515 premises

Climate

Mildura Merbein
Annual rainfall 278 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 33.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 4.9°C
same for both

Council rates

Mildura Merbein
Average residential rate $2,340/yr
same for both
Council Mildura
same for both

Federal electorate

Mildura Merbein
Division Mallee
same for both
Member Anne Webster
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mildura Merbein
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mildura

Affordable Regional Centre

Merbein

Acreage Affordable

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mildura

Mildura vs Irymple Mildura vs Nichols Point Mildura vs Birdwoodton Mildura vs Cabarita Mildura vs Koorlong

Other comparisons with Merbein

Merbein vs Birdwoodton Merbein vs Merbein South Merbein vs Yelta Merbein vs Merbein West
Full data on Mildura Full data on Merbein
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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