Where does your suburb rank in terms of liveability? Use this list to see its current rating, compare with its rating in the last The Age liveability survey (from 2005) and use the house price indicator to see where the bargain suburbs are nowadays (take a bow, Footscray).
LEGEND
1. Overall rank
+ Suburb has risen in rank since 2005 (number indicates how many places)
- Suburb has dropped in rank since 2005 (number indicates how many places)
= No change since last survey
$$$$$ Median house price above $1.2 million
$$$$ Median house price $800k-$1.2 million
$$$ Median house price $600k-$800k
$$ Median house price $400k-$600k
$$$$$ Median house price below $400k
1. South Yarra = $$$$$
Despite six years passing and our methodology somewhat changing since our last survey, South Yarra retains top spot, achieving a perfect score on nine out of 14 indicators, including provision of cafes/restaurants, shopping, schools and culture. Close to the city and coast, it also excels in areas where inner suburbs traditionally struggle — namely, it has plenty of open space and trees, aided by Fawkner Park and the Botanic Gardens. It is also hilly, has great public transport, and falls down only on crime rates and clogged main roads. Hard to budge.
2. East Melbourne = $$$$$
Home to Yarra Park, Treasury Gardens, the MCG and Parliament House, East Melbourne holds its ground in the 2011 survey with top marks in eight categories, also improving its score for shopping after changes to the "Eastbourne" retail strip on Wellington Parade. Not exactly in the belly of the bustle, what it lacks in urgency it makes up in proximity to dynamism — cross a boundary and you enter the CBD (26), Carlton (12), Fitzroy (70), Collingwood (31), Abbotsford (53) or Richmond (51).
3. Armadale +2 $$$$$
Hemmed in on the north, south, east and west by (respectively) Malvern, Dandenong, Glenferrie and Orrong roads, Armadale is perhaps bigger than you think. Toorak Park and Toorak Railway Station, for instance, are both inside its western edge. Train, tram and bus are never far away, shopping is plentiful, and crime rates and congestion on its main roads are not as big a problem as in most other suburbs close to the CBD — the only thing preventing Armadale from a higher ranking is its almost total lack of open spaces.
4. Hawthorn East -1 $$$$$
Unlike those neighbourhoods ranked above it, Hawthorn East can boast only two perfect scores across all indicators — one of those courtesy of its low crime rate. A thin, vertical strip of land between Hawthorn (11) and Camberwell (84), it is rich in historic mansions and stately homes, but the survey doesn’t take architectural aesthetics into account — Hawthorn East simply performs well by every measure, even more so than notable neighbours Kooyong (23), Kew (35) and Canterbury (48).
5. Toorak +1 $$$$$
High congestion, virtually no bus services and basically no open space — these are the things that drag Toorak down to fifth place in our rankings. One of Australia's most expensive suburbs, with a median house price of $2.274 million, its curving northern boundary is formed by the steep slopes along the Yarra, where Melbourne’s largest homes were initially perched so that wealthy industrialists might keep an eye on their factories in flat "struggletown" suburbs to the north such as Burnley (16) and Richmond (51).
6. Clifton Hill -2 $$$
With a median house price of $766,000 and a ranking solidly in the top 10, Clifton Hill — a leafy oasis of Victorian homes and Yarra parkland amid the traffic of Hoddle Street and the Eastern Freeway — is arguably the best-value suburb in Melbourne: you’ll have to drop down to 20th place (Hampton East) to find somewhere cheaper that’s even close in terms of liveability. So why is it so much higher than its immediate (and pricier) neighbour Fitzroy North (28)? It has marginally better access to the train, it’s a bit hillier, and it has a bit more open space. What’s not to like? Crime levels aren’t great.
7. Parkville +12 $$$$$
A new arrival in the top 10, Parkville, another green oasis in the inner north, scores highly on open space (take a bow, Royal Park), and improved slightly on the last survey with schools and shopping to jump 12 places. What cost it ranking points? Crime, poor access to bus routes and, when you venture onto the main roads, traffic flow is lousy.
8. Ormond +10 $$$$
If you live in Ormond and always wished you could have afforded neighbouring Brighton East (50) or even Brighton (27) proper, here’s solace: your suburb is nicer than both. And cheaper. And, depending on your address, gets you into one of the best schools in Melbourne for free: savvy families know that parts of Ormond (below North Road) fall within the zone for McKinnon Secondary College. Crime is relatively low, there’s a train line and you’re well served by several good Indian restaurants. The only major negatives, at least in terms of how this study works, are small amounts of open space and a flat landscape.
9. Fairfield +1 $$$$
Bordering Clifton Hill (6), it’s not surprising that Fairfield scores highly too: again, access to Yarra Bend parklands means it fares well on open space, with high marks, too, for shopping and cafes. Only less-than-stellar proximity to schools and congested main roads costs it ranking points.
10. Hampton +36 $$$$$
So why did Hampton fare better than neighbouring, and ritzier, Brighton (languishing in 27th spot)? Less congested main roads (none to speak of, really, except Beach Road), slightly more (and hillier) open space, better bus routes and slightly better crime levels. Brighton has better shopping though.
11. Hawthorn -3 $$$$$
12. Carlton +5 $$$$
13. Carlton North = $$$$
14. Aberfeldie +28 $$$$
15. Mont Albert North +1 $$$$
The big performer in the east, Mont Albert North is strong on all indicators. Crossing the Eastern Freeway to the north, however, direct neighbour Doncaster (158) finds itself 143 places further down — the main differences being lack of proximity to schools, congested main roads and crime rates.
16. Burnley +20 $$$$
17. Ripponlea +73 $$$$
When proximity to train, tram and bus are combined, Ripponlea is the best suburb in the city for public transport. What about Melbourne (26), you ask? The CBD scores well, too, but is let down by parkland stretching to Cremorne (74), where there are less bus stops.
18. Windsor -9 $$$$
19. St Kilda East +51 $$$$
20. Hampton East +56 $$$
21. Caulfield South +10 $$$$
22. Balaclava +3 $$$$
23. Kooyong +4 $$$$$
24. Elsternwick = $$$$$
25. Parkdale +3 $$$
26. Melbourne +7 $$$
The Melbourne CBD scores highest for restaurants and cafes. It is also the worst suburb for crime (per capita), but this is because it has so many visitors and so few residents. For instance, many of the violent crimes committed here are “outsider on outsider” offences.
27. Brighton -12 $$$$$
28. Fitzroy North -7 $$$$
29. Albert Park -3 $$$$$
30. Elwood +44 $$$$$
The rest... >
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