Whorouly South vs Merriang

Whorouly South is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 47 in Merriang. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Whorouly South, most households are couple families. On these figures, Whorouly South tends to suit families with children and couples, while Merriang suits 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

Whorouly South

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (11/100 vs 24/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (84% vs 67%)

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

First-home buyers

Whorouly South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (16% vs 27%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Whorouly South has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 11%)
  • Merriang has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Whorouly South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (281.8 km vs 284.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Whorouly South carries lower crime risk (11/100 vs 24/100)
  • Merriang has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 19%)

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

Investors

Whorouly South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (25.5% vs 2.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Whorouly South Merriang
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.

Whorouly South Merriang
Walkability 0 / 4
Whorouly South — Walkability: 0/100 Merriang — Walkability: 4/100
Safety 89 / 76
Whorouly South — Safety: 89/100 Merriang — Safety: 76/100
Low fire risk 17 / 100
Whorouly South — Low fire risk: 17/100 Merriang — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 21
Whorouly South — Low flood risk: 100/100 Merriang — Low flood risk: 21/100

Demographics

Merriang has more residents (182 vs 64); Whorouly South rents higher ($400/wk vs $300/wk).

Whorouly South Merriang
Population 64 182
+184% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +25.5% +2.2%
Median age 40 47
Median household income $108,316/yr
+11% vs other
 $96,200/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+25% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Whorouly South Merriang
0-4 14.1% / —
Whorouly South — 0-4: 14.1% Merriang — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 9.4% / 14.8%
Whorouly South — 5-14: 9.4% Merriang — 5-14: 14.8%
15-19 4.7% / 9.3%
Whorouly South — 15-19: 4.7% Merriang — 15-19: 9.3%
20-24 — / 4.9%
Whorouly South — 20-24: not among its largest Merriang — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 17.2% / 8.2%
Whorouly South — 25-34: 17.2% Merriang — 25-34: 8.2%
35-44 9.4% / 7.7%
Whorouly South — 35-44: 9.4% Merriang — 35-44: 7.7%
45-54 9.4% / 15.9%
Whorouly South — 45-54: 9.4% Merriang — 45-54: 15.9%
55-64 20.3% / 11.0%
Whorouly South — 55-64: 20.3% Merriang — 55-64: 11.0%
65-74 14.1% / 19.8%
Whorouly South — 65-74: 14.1% Merriang — 65-74: 19.8%
75-84 — / 3.8%
Whorouly South — 75-84: not among its largest Merriang — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 4.7% / 1.6%
Whorouly South — 85+: 4.7% Merriang — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Whorouly South 57.9% couple families
Whorouly South — Couple Families: 57.9% Whorouly South — One Parent Families: 26.3% Whorouly South — Lone Person: 15.8%
Merriang 43.6% couple families
Merriang — Couple Families: 43.6% Merriang — One Parent Families: 23.1% Merriang — Lone Person: 33.3%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Whorouly South 33.3% renting
Whorouly South — Owned Outright: 47.6% Whorouly South — Mortgage: 19.0% Whorouly South — Renting: 33.3%
Merriang 11.3% renting
Merriang — Owned Outright: 50.9% Merriang — Mortgage: 37.7% Merriang — Renting: 11.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Whorouly South 100.0% houses
Whorouly South — Houses: 100.0%
Merriang 100.0% houses
Merriang — Houses: 100.0%
Houses

Qualifications

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

Whorouly South Merriang
Certificate III & IV 15.6% / 17.0%
Whorouly South — Certificate III & IV: 15.6% Merriang — Certificate III & IV: 17.0%
Bachelor Degree 18.8% / 11.5%
Whorouly South — Bachelor Degree: 18.8% Merriang — Bachelor Degree: 11.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 14.1% / 6.0%
Whorouly South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 14.1% Merriang — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 6.2% / 1.6%
Whorouly South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 6.2% Merriang — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%
Postgraduate Degree — / 1.6%
Whorouly South — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Merriang — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

Zoning mix

Merriang has more rural and farming land (91% vs 70%).

Whorouly South Merriang
Rural and farming 70% 91%
Parks and recreation 30% 6%
Residential 0% 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

Whorouly South Merriang
New dwellings approved 238
across Wangaratta
 32
across Alpine
Approvals change year on year +329% -42%

Ranking within VIC

Whorouly South Merriang
House price —
same for both
Income — Higher than 67% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 11% of VIC Higher than 65% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption — Higher than 24% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 49% of VIC

Liveability

Whorouly South Merriang
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Whorouly South carries more bushfire risk (83 vs 0); Merriang carries more flood risk (79 vs 0).

Whorouly South Merriang
Bushfire High
83/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
11/100
 Low
24/100
Flood None
0/100
 High
79/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Whorouly South Merriang
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Whorouly South Merriang
Waterways 4 1

Mobility

Merriang sits further from the CBD (284.9 km vs 281.8 km).

Whorouly South Merriang
Walkability score 0/100 4/100
Distance to Melbourne 281.8 km 284.9 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 190 min 191 min
Electric vehicle share 0.0%
postcode 3735
 0.3%
postcode 3737
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 48
postcode 3735
 50
postcode 3737

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.

Whorouly South Merriang
Car (driver) 71.4% / 63.5%
Whorouly South — Car (driver): 71.4% Merriang — Car (driver): 63.5%
Worked from Home 21.4% / 15.3%
Whorouly South — Worked from Home: 21.4% Merriang — Worked from Home: 15.3%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 8.2%
Whorouly South — Car (passenger): 7.1% Merriang — Car (passenger): 8.2%
Walked Only — / 9.4%
Whorouly South — Walked Only: not among its largest Merriang — Walked Only: 9.4%
Bicycle — / 3.5%
Whorouly South — Bicycle: not among its largest Merriang — Bicycle: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.4%).

Setting

Whorouly South Merriang
Elevation 276 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 231 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Whorouly South Merriang
Connectivity score 29/100 30/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
25 premises
 0%
63 premises

Climate

Whorouly South Merriang
Annual rainfall 964 mm 1,451 mm
Summer max (Jan) 30.4°C —
Winter min (Jul) 3.7°C —

Council rates

Whorouly South Merriang
Average residential rate $1,962/yr $1,945/yr
Council Wangaratta Alpine

Federal electorate

Whorouly South Merriang
Division Indi
same for both
Member Helen Haines
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Whorouly South Merriang
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Whorouly South

Family River Rural Young Families

Merriang

Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Whorouly South

Whorouly South vs Whorouly Whorouly South vs Buffalo River Whorouly South vs Bobinawarrah Whorouly South vs Carboor Whorouly South vs Whorouly East

Other comparisons with Merriang

Merriang vs Myrtleford Merriang vs Buffalo River Merriang vs Gapsted Merriang vs Whorouly East
Full data on Whorouly South Full data on Merriang
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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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