The list: Melbourne suburbs' liveability ranking revealed

I found this news in the Age, Its an old article but I think it could be interesting for some people.

You can read it from here or from the Age (The Age)

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 $$$$$

31. Collingwood -9 $$$

32. Ivanhoe -25 $$$$

Ranked seven in the 2005 study, Ivanhoe has dropped 25 spots since then and is a lesson in how a few points can make a big difference. Ivanhoe suffered marginal losses in a few indicators, but the drop is largely attributed to the relative rise of other suburbs.

33. Sandringham -21 $$$$$

34. Prahran -4 $$$$

35. Kew +10 $$$$$

36. Northcote +20 $$$$

37. Footscray +7 $$

The most affordable suburb in the top 50 (by a mile), Footscray rates higher than many traditionally more highly regarded suburbs including blue‑blooded Canterbury (48), super-expensive Middle Park (61) and the middle-class heartland Malvern East (62).

38. Mont Albert = $$$$

39. St Kilda +1 $$$$

40. Williamstown -12 $$$$

41. Brunswick West = $$$

42. Newport +12 $$$

Closing the gap on its desirable neighbour Williamstown (40), Newport is close to the coast and city, scores high on culture and cafes and restaurants, has low congestion on main roads, good proximity to trains and open spaces.

43. Gardenvale +26 *

Melbourne’s smallest suburb, at just under a third of a hectare, Gardenvale - a tiny wedge near Caulfield South (21) and Elsternwick (24) - flies under the radar but is close to the coast and city and has great public transport and roads, overcoming its lack of open space and hills.

44. Flemington +29 $$$

45. Essendon +2 $$$$

46. Kew East -35 $$$$

47. South Melbourne -11 $$$$

48. Canterbury -34 $$$$$

49. Seddon +62 $$$

Twenty years ago, who would have thought that Seddon would be ranked just one spot below Canterbury (48)? The inner-western suburb has risen 62 places since 2005, scoring better in cafes and restaurants thanks to the evolving Victoria Street area, among other factors.

50. Brighton East +3 $$$$

51. Richmond -17 $$$$

With Swan Street, Bridge Road, Victoria Street, Church Street and Victoria Gardens, Richmond is the top suburb for shopping facilities. Its popular cafe and restaurant strips and train and tram services also score highly (although it loses points for traffic congestion).

52. Travancore +40 $$$

53. Abbotsford -18 $$$

54. Black Rock -34 $$$$$

55. Footscray West +34 $$

56. North Melbourne -8 $$$

57. Caulfield +6 $$$$

The established south-east suburb of Caulfield is actually the worst suburb in the city for open space, with relatively few parks, the bigger Caulfield Park falling within Caulfield North (63) and Princes Park in Caulfield South (21).

58. Yarraville +30 $$$

Up-and-coming Yarraville is one suburb closer to the city than Brooklyn (269), yet sits 211 places above it on the list, the disparity pinned down to differences in culture, cafes, schools and open space.

59. Glen Iris +1 $$$$$

60. Montmorency +7 $$

61. Middle Park -2 $$$$$

62. Malvern East -13 $$$$

63. Caulfield North +2 $$$$$

64. Box Hill -3 $$$$

65. Malvern -26 $$$$$

66. Surrey Hills -34 $$$$

67. Alphington -16 $$$$

68. Ashburton -25 $$$$

69. Southbank +12 $$$

As might be expected, Southbank’s proximity to the Arts Centre and the National Gallery of Victoria in St Kilda Road sees it ranked as the top suburb in Melbourne by size of cultural sector.

70. Fitzroy -15 $$$$

71. McKinnon +41 $$$$

72. St Kilda West +34 $$$$$

Any rank inside the top 75 is upper echelon but St Kilda West, with a median housing price of $2.273 million, might expect a higher ranking. Its downsides are busy main roads, flatness and crime.

73. Belgrave -1 $

Also inside the top 75, with a median house price of $370k, Belgrave is the success story of the survey, shattering the trend of outer areas ranking low. If proximity to city and coast are left out, this gem shoots to number two.

74. Cremorne +36 $$$

75. Burwood -52 $$$

One of a wide band of middle-eastern suburbs that have dropped in rank marginally since 2005 — not unlike Blackburn (89) and Bulleen (140) — Burwood fell 52 places in 2011, despite remaining stable in liveability. Its drop is relative to the rise of other suburbs.

76. Glen Huntly -26 $$$$

77. Caulfield East +44 $$$$

78. Brunswick East -10 $$$

79. Murrumbeena = $$$$

80. Ascot Vale +3 $$$

81. Beaumaris -4 $$$$

82. Moonee Ponds +3 $$$$

Outscored by neighbouring Aberfeldie (14), Moonee Ponds has great public transport and is close to the city, schools, shopping and cafes, but its roads are congested, its crime rates are high and it has limited open space.

83. Thornbury +25 $$$

84. Camberwell +7 $$$$$

85. Templestowe Lower -28 $$$

86. Carnegie -11 $$$$

87. Ashwood -7 $$$

88. Kensington -24 $$$

89. Blackburn -31 $$$$

90. Brunswick -6 $$$

91. Kingsville +27 $$$

92. Princes Hill +34 $$$$

Tiny Princes Hill is the best suburb in Melbourne for proximity to schools, meaning residents on average have less distance to travel to reach a kindergarten, primary, secondary or special needs school — public or private — than anywhere else.

93. Ivanhoe East -22 $$$$$

94. Heidelberg -42 $$$

95. Braybrook -17 $$

This maligned inner-western suburb has limited open space and tree cover, plus high crime, but these are offset by low congestion, great proximity to schools, shopping facilities, cafes and restaurants. Braybrook is also (relatively) close to the city and the beach.

96. South Kingsville +46 *

This little suburb you might not have heard of sneaks into the top 100. South Kingsville sits just underneath Spotswood (157), scores high for cafes, restaurants and culture, is near both the bay and the bridge and is relatively low in crime.

97. Tecoma +6 $

98. Hughesdale -16 $$$

99. Essendon West +2 $$$

100. Highett -34 $$$

101. Sassafras -4 $$

102. Balwyn +5 $$$$$

103. Oakleigh -4 $$$

104. Bentleigh +52 $$$$

Another of the biggest movers, the rise of Bentleigh is probably more a reflection of its relatively low result last time than any major change in the suburb since then.

105. Upwey -19 $$

106. Eltham North +53 $$$

107. Balwyn North -9 $$$$

108. Ringwood East +9 $$

109. Essendon North -9 $$$$

110. Oak Park -1 $$$

111. Box Hill North -6 $$$

112. Coburg +63 $$$

One of the big improvers since 2005, Coburg rose 63 places (from 175), attributable to a notable increase in score on the size of the cultural sector, following a general inner-northern trend towards renewal and gentrification.

113. Heathmont -18 $$

114. Pascoe Vale South +65 $$$

Cross Moreland Road from Brunswick West (41) and you enter Pascoe Vale South. A big improver since 2005, the suburb rises 65 places, due to nothing dramatic but a series of small gains in half a dozen liveability indicators including shopping services.

115. Ferny Creek +13 *

Topographical mapping reveals that Ferny Creek, perched on the edge of Mount Dandenong, is officially Melbourne’s hilliest suburb. It can also boast, according to per capita measures, the lowest crime rate in Melbourne.

116. Seaholme -2 $$$

117. Macleod -1 $$$

118. Selby -37 $$$

119. Maribyrnong +27 $$$$

120. Kallista -7 $$

121. Mount Waverley -34 $$$

An interesting example of the difference a boundary line can make, stable Mount Waverley is 151 spots above Clayton (272), but the only sizeable difference between the two is Mount Waverley’s good rating on crime.

122. Chadstone -60 $$$

123. Huntingdale +6 $$$

124. Kingsbury -28 $$

125. Briar Hill +67 $$

Adjoining Greensborough (162) and Montmorency (60), Briar Hill has risen 67 places in the rankings since 2005 with improved scores on a range of indicators including cafes and restaurants, proximity to bus lines, size of the local cultural sector and crime.

126. Warrandyte -33 $$$

127. Saint Helena +60 $$$

128. Mount Dandenong +2 $$

The number one suburb for tree density in Melbourne, and, naturally, one of the hilliest, Mount Dandenong sits 152 places higher than its neighbour Kilsyth (280), which has less open space and a less dramatic landscape.

129. Docklands +78 $$$$

Docklands is improving, tram extensions and better shopping contributing to a 78-place rise in ranking since the 2005 study. The waterfront neighbourhood is also a great reflection of how liveability is difficult to define, sitting on virtually equal footing with leafy Eltham (130).

130. Eltham -5 $$$

131. Watsonia -37 $$

132. Port Melbourne -13 $$$$

133. Moorabbin -31 $$$

134. Wattle Glen +9 $$

In the far east, north of Diamond Creek (205), Wattle Glen is a low-density suburb that ranks on the bottom for shopping facilities yet very well for its low levels of road congestion, its open space, tree cover and proximity to trains.

135. Cheltenham -15 $$$

136. Bellfield +1 $$

137. Box Hill South -14 $$$

138. Lower Plenty +11 $$$

139. Pascoe Vale +25 $$$

140. Bulleen -37 $$$

141. Ringwood North +3 $$

142. Vermont -4 $$

143. Mitcham -16 $$$

144. Edithvale +23 $$

The corridor along the coast between Aspendale (266) and Frankston (193) does not fare well. Except for Edithvale, which is better on trains, congestion, tree cover and schools, outranking nearby Chelsea Heights (290) by 146 places.

145. Preston -12 $$$

146. Mordialloc-24 $$$

147. Dingley Village +4 $$

148. Springvale South -8 $$

149. Strathmore Heights +46 $$$

150. Blackburn South +21 $$$

151. Beaconsfield +10 $$

152. Olinda -8 $$

153. Maidstone +109 $$

A big part of the inner-west resurgence, Maidstone has risen 109 places (more than any other suburb) since 2005. Another great example of the variable nature of liveability, it is ranked alongside the tourist village of Olinda (152).

154. Coburg North +55 $$

155. Glen Waverley +58 $$$

156. Nunawading -41 $$$

157. Spotswood +20 $$$

158. Doncaster -34 $$$

159. Yallambie +4 $$

160. Park Orchards -24 $$$$

161. Noble Park +22 $$

162. Greensborough -15 $$

163. Seabrook +68 $$

Improved open space and provision of cafes and restaurants has helped outer south-western Seabrook rise 68 places since the 2005 Liveable Melbourne survey, although the greatest change was an increase in proximity to bus lines. It scores well on congestion, open space and proximity to coast.

164. Jacana +5 $

With a median house price of $385,000, one of the lowest in the survey, Jacana, near Broadmeadows, is relatively good value, perched midway in our table above many much pricier suburbs.

165. Blackburn North +13 $$$

166. Burwood East -35 $$$

167. Research +22 $$$

168. Clayton South -34 $$

169. Viewbank -21 $$$

170. Kalorama = $$

171. Belgrave South +17 $$$

172. West Melbourne +36 $$$$

173. Donvale +33 $$$

174. Doncaster East -16 $$$

175. Upper Ferntree Gully +27 $$

176. Reservoir -44 $$

Located just north of Preston (145), Reservoir is Melbourne’s most populous suburb, home to more than 45,000 residents. A slight decline in a few indicators caused the suburb to drop 44 ranking spots since 2005.

177. Rosanna -27 $$$

178. Mentone -4 $$$

In many ways, Mentone is an ideal bayside suburb, and it does score highly for shopping, cafes and coastal proximity, but it is dragged out of the top half of the rankings by low scores on public transport, open space, and lack of hilliness and tree cover.

179. Oakleigh East +42 $$$

180. Williamstown North +9 *

181. Niddrie +18 $$$

182. Oakleigh South -30 $$$

183. Belgrave Heights +43 $$

184. Altona +12 $$$

185. Montrose -25 $$

186. Wheelers Hill +52 $$$

One of the highest risers in our list since the last survey, the south-eastern suburb of Wheelers Hill jumps up 52 places. A major attraction is the vast Jells Park, which has nine kilometres of bike paths.

187. Templestowe -6 $$$$

188. Clarinda -53 $$

189. Avondale Heights -4 $$

190. Heatherton +33 $$$

191. Keysborough +46 $$

192. Ringwood -27 $$

193. Frankston -25 $

194. North Warrandyte +42 $$$

195. Monbulk -15 $$

196. Glenroy -14 $$

197. Dallas +1 $

198. Fawkner +3 $$

199. Eaglemont -37 $$$$$

Dropping 37 places since our last survey in 2005, leafy Eaglemont, proud custodian of a group of homes designed around parkland by Walter Burley Griffin, ranks as the lowest-placed suburb with a median house price over $1.2 million — two spots below Dallas, where the median house price is just $320,000.

200. Plenty +28 $$$$

201. Boronia -61 $$

202. Seaford -49 $$

203. Bentleigh East +51 $$$

204. The Basin +14 $$

205. Diamond Creek +18 $$

206. Dandenong -34 $$

207. Watsonia North +3 $$

208. Sunshine -8 $$

209. Vermont South -33 $$$

210. The Patch +25 $$

211. Carrum -58 $$

212. Frankston North -39 $

The cheapest suburb in Melbourne is Frankston North, with a median house price of $288,000 - yet it's a long way from being the least liveable. A bargain.

213. Gladstone Park +21 $$

214. Mount Evelyn -10 $$

215. Sherbrooke -58 *

216. Heidelberg West -30 $$

217. Laverton +30 $

218. Albion -5 $$

219. Broadmeadows -28 $

220. Ferntree Gully +7 $$

221. Mooroolbark -38 $$

222. Forest Hill -25 $$

223. Meadow Heights -19 $

224. Truganina -14 $

225. Lalor -1 $

226. Croydon -33 $$

227. Keilor East -15 $$$

228. Airport West -26 $$

A small suburb south of Tullamarine (289) and north of Niddrie (181), Airport West has the lowest ranking for cultural sector but has excellent shopping facilities and low congestion on its arterial roads.

229. Bonbeach -13 $$

230. Mill Park -8 $$

231. Frankston South -1 $$

232. Wonga Park +18 $$$

233. Sunshine West +39 $$

234. Westmeadows -40 $$

235. Bundoora -16 $$

236. Altona Meadows -21 $$

237. Wantirna +2 $$

238. Heidelberg Heights +3 $$

239. Strathmore +5 $$$

240. Eumemmerring +6 *

241. Doveton +1 $

242. Lilydale +6 $$

243. Notting Hill -104 $$

The greatest decline in ranking since 2005, Notting Hill plummeted 104 places, mostly after a drop in score on schools due to the closure of Monash Primary School, Monash Secondary School and Westerfield Preschool between 2006 and 2009.

244. Ardeer -79 $

Between Sunshine West (233) and St Albans (282) — both geographically and in our rankings — Ardeer scores well on open space, thanks to parkland around Kororoit Creek, but has dropped 79 places since 2005 on the back of an increase in crime.

245. Point Cook -13 $$

246. Lysterfield South +7 *

The top suburb for open space, more than 50 per cent of Lysterfield South is made up of Lysterfield Park, with a swimmable lake and extensive trails; it was the venue for mountain biking events at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

247. Harkaway +2 $$

248. Altona North +8 $$

249. Wantirna South -24 $$

250. Springvale -5 $$

251. Coolaroo -31 $

252. Croydon Hills +15 $$

253. Hadfield +16 $$

254. Croydon North -4 $$

255. Croydon South +2 $$

256. Roxburgh Park -16 $

257. Gowanbrae +38 $$

Up 38 places (from 295 in 2005), Gowanbrea, between Glenroy (196) and Gladstone Park (213), climbs the list thanks to its greatly improved proximity to bus services, including the opening of bus route 490 in 2008.

258. Kealba = $

259. Langwarrin -16 $$

260. Albanvale -1 $

261. Wandin North +12 $$

262. Patterson Lakes -1 $$

Just up the road from Frankston (193), Patterson Lakes is a short walk from the coast with loads of open space and uncluttered roads but it lacks tree cover, proximity to schools and scores low on all forms of public transport.

263. Cranbourne = $

264. Taylors Lakes +12 $$

A gain of 12 places since 2005 (when it ranked 276) in Taylors Lakes can be put down to a higher rating on shopping facilities following the expansion of Watergardens Town Centre in 2007.

265. Warranwood +10 $$$

266. Aspendale +4 $$$

267. Hoppers Crossing -7 $

268. Mulgrave +12 $$

269. Brooklyn +12 $$

270. Chelsea +12 $$

271. Kings Park +16 $

272. Clayton -55 $$$

273. Keilor Downs +4 $$

274. Berwick +12 $$

275. Baxter -42 $

276. Werribee -5 $

277. Dandenong North -9 $$

278. Bayswater -12 $$

279. Endeavour Hills = $$

280. Kilsyth -25 $$

281. Delahey +23 $

282. St Albans -19 $$

283. Greenvale -9 $$

A developing suburb on the edge of Roxburgh Park (256) and Meadow Heights (223), Greenvale is the worst-ranked suburb for cafes and restaurants, although developments are planned.

284. Carrum Downs -19 $

285. Narre Warren South +5 $$

286. Aspendale Gardens +23 $$

287. Narre Warren -4 $

288. Hampton Park +1 $

289. Tullamarine -4 $$

290. Chelsea Heights +4 $$

291. Epping +1 $

292. Lysterfield +11 $$$

293. Thomastown -5 $$

294. Scoresby -10 $$

295. Knoxfield -4 $$

296. Junction Village +16 $

297. Keilor +2 $$

298. Attwood -46 $$$

299. Cranbourne North +8 $

300. Chirnside Park -22 $$

At just over 32 hectares, outer-northeast Chirnside Park is by far our largest suburb. An area of small farms and some houses, it is ranked worst for proximity to schools in part because of its sheer size.

301. Rowville -8 $$

302. Keilor Park -2 $$

303. Narre Warren North -3 $$$$

304. Deer Park -8 $

305. Dandenong South +3 *

306. Craigieburn -9 $

307. Sydenham -1 $$

308. Kilsyth South +2 $$

309. Wandin -7 *

Just past Mount Evelyn (214), Wandin is the worst suburb in Melbourne for proximity to public transport, although that proximity is measured by distance, not travel time: on Wandin’s uncongested roads, the drive to Lilydale Station typically takes less than 10 minutes.

310. Campbellfield -5 $

311. Keilor Lodge +3 *

312. Sunshine North -14 $$

313. Bayswater North -2 $$

314. Hallam -1 $

Somebody has to be on the bottom of the list, and it's Hallam, which is relatively hilly, has good proximity to trains plus moderate open space, but which falls down most notably on culture, schools, shopping and tree cover.

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