What makes a suburb liveable? For some, being close to the coast. For others, great cafes. But a ranking of all Melbourne’s suburbs across 16 key indicators has given us this list. Some suburbs have dramatically improved their rank from the 2011 study because of the introduction of new criteria, such as telecommunications coverage – vital in 2015 – and changes in the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ suburb boundaries.

A-D | E-H | I-L | M-P | Q-T | U-Z

A-D

Abbotsford

Ranked: 33

Previous rank: 53

Abbotsford’s up and coming status is supported by the rising liveability ranking of the area. Residents benefit from the close proximity to the CBD along with the abundance of cafes and shopping facilities. Crime and congested roads are the suburb’s biggest downfalls.

Aberfeldie. Photo: Daniel Mahon

Aberfeldie

Ranked: 57

Previous rank: 14

The small suburb of Aberfeldie borders on Essendon and the Maribyrnong River, eight kilometres from the CBD. Abderfeldie is a consistent ‘above average’ performer, shining only in terms of schools and buses.

Airport West

Ranked: 117

Previous rank: 228

This small suburb south of Tullamarine (252) and north of Niddrie (99) has excellent shopping facilities and low congestion on its arterial roads. Its higher ranking this year can be attributed to the improving cultural sector (previously the worst in the city) and good proximity to cafes and restaurants.

Albanvale

Ranked: 209

Previous rank: 260

Bordering Kings Park (281) and St Albans (253), Albanvale’s only positive scores are for its open spaces, buses anduncongested roads. It biggest downfalls are the very limited cultural and dining sectors of the area, but the suburb would also benefit from more schools, shops, trains and less crime.

Albert Park. Photo: Wayne Taylor

Albert Park

Ranked: 7

Previous rank: 29

Given better telecommunications coverage, Albert Park is a strong contender to eventually reach the top five most liveable suburbs. Up from 29 in the previous list, it ranks in the top 20 for its proximity to the CBD and coastline, shopping, culture, cafes, open space, trams and schools. Even traffic congestion is minimal, ranking at 14 in its category.

Albion

Ranked: 155

Previous rank: 218

Located 13 kilometres west of the CBD, Albion’s shining attributes are its excellent public open spaces, good access to buses and trains, close proximity to schools and relatively uncongested roads. Factors that drag down its overall ranking are the high crime rate, plus the limited shopping facilities, cultural sector and dining options.

Alphington.

Alphington

Ranked: 21

Previous rank: 67

Alphington performs fairly well across all the liveability factors, with its only notable downfall being the high proportion of congested roads. Residents may prefer to travel via public transport – the suburb has particularly good access to trains.

Altona. Photo: Hobsons Bay City Council

Altona

Ranked: 102

Previous rank: 184

Home to one of only two swimming beaches in the western suburbs, Altona features excellent public open spaces, albeit across a largely flat landscape. Its other key strengths are its proximity to buses, trains and schools, with few congested roads. Better tree cover, trains and shopping facilities would see Altona’s liveability rise further.

Truganina Explosives Reserve residence and gardens in Altona Meadows. Photo: Hobsons Bay City Council

Altona Meadows

Ranked: 271

Previous rank: 236

Altona Meadows is proof of how a short distance can make a big difference to a suburb’s overall rank. Despite being next to Altona (102) on the map, Altona Meadows achieves much weaker scores for CBD and coastline proximity. The suburb is further disadvantaged by the small culture and dining sectors, plus a high crime rate. Altona Meadows does shine however in the category of public open space, with nearby wetlands and the HD Graham Reserve.

Kororoit Creek in Altona North. Photo: Hobsons Bay City Council

Altona North

Ranked: 177

Previous rank: 248

Altona North’s liveability continues to improve, placing significantly higher than its rank of 248 achieved in 2011, most likely due to the increasing cultural sector and dining scene. Proximity to buses is among the best in Melbourne, and there’s also a decent amount of public open space in the area.

Ardeer

Ranked: 131

Previous rank: 244

Located between Sunshine West (239) and St Albans (253) Ardeer scores well on open space, thanks to parkland around Kororoit Creek. The suburb’s ranking plummeted in 2011 due to rising crime in the area, but in 2015 Ardeer has a very low crime ranking– the 27th best in the city. It’s also in good proximity to schools and trains.

Armadale. Photo: Michael Clayton-Jones

Armadale

Ranked: 4

Previous rank: 3

Well serviced by major roads, shopping and dining, Armadale is somewhat of a sanctuary away from the bustle of nearby Prahran. It ranks very highly in terms of access to trams (fourth on the list) and trains, with above average scores for almost all other categories. Its only major downfall is the lack of open space, with one of the lowest scores in the city.

Ascot Vale

Ranked: 58

Previous ranking: 80

Ascot Vale continues to climb the liveability ranks, performing well in terms of its location, telecommunications coverage, cultural sector, trams and schools. Congested roads, crime and tree cover are key areas for improvement. Increased shopping facilities and more public spaces have the potential to propel the suburb’s rank in the near future.

Ashburton

Ranked: 23

Previous rank: 68

Good public transport access and relatively few congested roads distinguish Ashburton from its other eastern neighbours. Performing consistently well across most categories, a lack of culture and open spaces keep the suburb from truly excelling.

Ashwood

Ranked: 72

Previous rank: 87

Located between Burwood and Ashburton (hence the name) in the city’s east, Ashwood is accessed by quality public transport services with a low proportion of congested roads and good telecommunications coverage. Ashwood’s weakest links are its small cultural sector and distance from the coastline.

Aspendale

Ranked: 236

Previous rank: 266

Located next to Edithvale (231), Aspendale offers good access to all public transport networks and public open spaces to add it its waterfront location. Like most coastal suburbs, it scores poorly for topographic variation and carries the added burden of heavily congested roads.

Aspendale Gardens

Ranked: 287

Previous rank: 286

Aspendale Gardens is part of a south east coastal pocket that generally performs poorly for liveability, with its neighbours including Chelsea (275), Patterson Lakes (245), Bonbeach (260) and Waterways (301). It does offer several open spaces and decent public transport, particularly in terms of buses.

Attwood. Photo: Daniel Mahon

Attwood

Ranked: 274

Previous rank: 298

Bordering on Weastmeadows next to Tullamarine Airport, Attwood scores very poorly for congested roads, schools, trains, culture and shops. Its redeeming factors are the very strong telecommunications coverage of the area, its topographic variation and low crime.

Avondale Heights

Ranked: 115

Previous rank: 189

Bordering Maribyrnong (128) 12 kilometres north-west of the city, Avondale Heights has great public open spaces and hilly streets that distinguish it from nearby suburbs. Its telecommunications coverage and access to buses and trams are also strong. A larger cultural sector, more cafes and more schools would see the suburb reach the top 100 of this list.

Balaclava

Ranked: 12

Previous rank: 22

Balaclava continues to climb the liveability ranks, scoring well across the board with the exception of public space. Trams and train services are a particular strength of the area, providing easy access to the nearby coastline or CBD, and help to counter the often-congested roads.

Whitehorse Road, Balwyn. Photo: Gary Medlicott

Balwyn

Ranked: 73

Previous rank: 102

Balwyn’s family friendly status is confirmed in the data, with a low crime rate, good access to schools and minimally congested roads. Where it doesn’t fare so well is its public open spaces (or lack thereof) and average train services, although this is largely made up for in its bus and tram services.

Balwyn North

Ranked: 76

Previous rank: 107

The slightly lower ranking of Balwyn North compared to its sister suburb of Balwyn (73) can be attributed to the smaller shopping facilities, cultural sector, more congested roads and less proximity to cafes and trains. It does outperform Balwyn, however, for having better access to schools.

Bangholme

Ranked: 312

Previous rank: –

Bangholme covers a reasonably large area compared to nearby suburbs, but has only a small population due to the mostly semi-rural land. It offers a large dining sector for its size, decent shopping facilities and few congested roads. Where it lacks is in schools, where it ranks the lowest citywide, with poor train access, minimal tree cover and a very high crime rate.

Bayswater Mall in Bayswater. Photo: Knox City Council

Bayswater

Ranked: 189

Previous rank: 278

Bayswater’s main weakness lies in its location, being close to neither the CBD nor coastline. That being said, the suburb’s liveability has improved considerably in recent years with larger shopping facilities, good bus access and great proximity to schools. A lower crime rate and added public open spaces would further improve its overall rank.

Bayswater North

Ranked: 283

Previous rank: 313

The reason Bayswater North ranks almost 100 spots lower than neighbouring Bayswater is due to not having a train station, with a smaller cultural sector and far fewer schools. Otherwise, Bayswater North achieves only slightly lower scores than Bayswater in most categories assessed, its strongest points being the shopping facilities, buses and tree cover.

Beaumaris

Ranked: 86

Previous rank: 81

The coastal locale of Beaumaris holds great appeal for its uncongested roads (rated 4th in the city), low crime and tree cover. More cafes, culture, schools and train access would see its overall ranking significantly improve.Brooklyn

Belgrave

Ranked: 156

Previous rank: 73

Belgrave achieved a top 75 position in the 2011 survey, (remarkable given its low scoring location), but has lost serious points in 2015 for its weak telecommunications coverage, shopping facilities and increasingly congested roads. Belgrave retains strong scores in most remaining categories however, especially for its naturally hilly and leafy streets.

Belgrave Heights

Ranked: 241

Previous rank: 183

Belgrave Heights’ strengths are in its natural surrounds, with excellent tree cover and a hilly landscape. Residents also benefit from the sizeable cultural sector and low crime rate. Unlike neighbouring Belgrave (156), the categories of public open space and train access show significant room for improvement.

Bellfield

Ranked: 114

Previous rank: 136

Bellfield borders on Heidelberg West, nine kilometres north east of the CBD. What sets it apart from its neighbours is the relatively large cultural sector, good public open spaces and uncongested major roads. The area would quickly benefit from larger shopping facilities and a lower crime rate.

Bentleigh

Ranked: 108

Previous rank: 104

Along with its proximity to the coastline, Bentleigh scores well for telecommunications coverage, shopping facilities, public transport and a relatively low proportion of congested roads. Its overall ranking would benefit from added restaurants, although its weaknesses are largely the lack of open space, tree cover and hills.

Bentleigh East

Ranked: 173

Previous rank: 203

Bentleigh East achieves a majority of positive scores across all factors assessed, with the exception of public open space where it ranks poorly. The area scores only averagely for access to cafes, trains and for its relatively flat landscape.

Berwick

Ranked: 300

Previous rank: 274

Located 41 kilometres south east of the CBD, Berwick scores most poorly for its city proximity and telecommunications coverage. The area does offer a sizeable cultural sector however, with decent scores on public open space and uncongestedroads. A lower crime rate, more shops, schools and dining options would improve the area.

Black Rock

Ranked: 46

Previous rank: 54

Black Rock’s strengths are clearly defined in the data, with very high scores in some areas, in contrast with other categories that show obvious room for improvement. Positive scores are recorded in terms of crime, public open spaces and bus access and the low proportion of congested roads that are ranked the second best in the city. Improved train access and shopping would see Black Rock’s ranking further soar.

Blackburn

Ranked: 47

Previous rank: 89

Blackburn’s public transport network and low proportion of congested roads allow it to surpass the ranking of many other middle ring suburbs away from the CBD and coastline. Tree cover and Blackburn’s shopping facilities record decent scores, but are let down mainly by a lack of public open space, schools and restaurants.

Blackburn North

Ranked: 143

Previous rank: 165

Blackburn North scores highly in a select few categories, allowing its overall ranking to remain in the top half of this list. Buses, tree cover and schools are all in close proximity, with few congested roads. Among Blackburn North’s weakest scores are the shopping facilities and cafes– two areas that can be easily improved in the near future.

Blackburn South

Ranked: 118

Previous rank: 150

Blackburn South records high rankings in terms of it telecommunications coverage, trams and buses, with relativelyuncongested roads. What it lacks is proximity to cafes, restaurants, schools and shopping facilities. More access to train services would also increase the liveability of the area.

Bonbeach

Ranked: 241

Previous rank: 229

Bonbeach is located on the water, bordered by Carrum (212) and Chelsea (275). With its own train station, Bonbeach scores well for public transport, with excellent public open spaces and a decent amount of schools. Less congested roads and more cafes, shops and culture would see the area rank more favourably.

Boronia

Ranked: 223

Previous rank: 201

Boronia includes sections of the Dandenong Ranges foothills and therefore possesses many hills itself along with tree-lined streets and several nature reserves. There are also decent shopping facilities and public transport in the area. The limited cafes and culture of the area drag down its liveability.

Box Hill

Ranked: 41

Previous rank: 64

Despite having few schools and a reasonably high crime rate, Box Hill redeems itself as a family-centric suburb for its convenient access to all amenities. The size of its cultural sector is a particular strength of the area, especially for an eastern suburb, and is well serviced by all methods of public transport.

Box Hill North

Ranked: 116

Previous rank: 111

Despite recording a lower overall rank than its sister suburbs Box Hill and Box Hill South, Box Hill North does manage to outdo them both in terms of telecommunications coverage and crime (29 in this category compared to 202 and 203). Its biggest downfalls in comparison are the much smaller shopping facilities, fewer cafes and more congested roads.

Box Hill South

Ranked: 83

Previous rank: 137

Box Hill South receives decent scores for its shopping facilities, cultural sector, trams, and buses, with few major congested roads. Its main detracting factors are its lack of public open space (although tree cover is above average) and reasonably high crime rate.

Braybook

Ranked: 137

Previous rank: 95

This inner-western suburb has limited open space and tree cover but these factors are offset by low road congestion, great proximity to schools and large shopping facilities. More cafes and an increased cultural sector would improve Braybook’s ranking.

Briar Hill

Ranked: 165

Previous rank: 125

Adjacent to Greensborough (168) and Montmorency (125), Briar Hill scores well on a range of indicators, particularly proximity to bus lines, topographic variation and schools. Its only average overall rank can be attributed to the few cafes, restaurants, shopping facilities and public open spaces of the area.

Brighton

Ranked: 22

Previous rank: 27

The coastline and cafes of Brighton have long appealed to Melbourne’s elite buyers, but the suburb falls down in terms of public open space (although there is the beach) and topographic variation. Perhaps an underrated element of Brighton is its relatively low proportion of congested roads, combined with good access to all public transport networks.

Brighton East

Ranked: 68

Previous rank: 50

Along with its close proximity to the coastline, Brighton East scores well for its telecommunications coverage, low crime rate and good access to tram and buses. There are no major downfalls of the area (its weakest category is topographic variation), making this suburb a solid all rounder for liveability.

Broadmeadows

Ranked: 188

Previous rank: 219

Broadmeadows’ liveability varies widely depending on the categories being assessed. On one hand, the area offers many dining options and the convenience of sizeable shopping facilities. However, poor scores for its cultural sector, crime, tree cover and congested roads hold back Broadmeadows from achieving its full potential.

Brooklyn

Ranked: 195

Previous rank: 269

Brooklyn offers the convenience of nearby shopping facilities, excellent proximity to schools and a sizeable cultural sector. Located 10 kilometres west of the CBD, Brooklyn also allows easy access to the city and coastline but congested roads and the limited public space, tree cover and train access in the area affect its liveability.

Brunswick

Ranked: 78

Previous rank: 90

Brunswick’s high scores in the categories of public transport, cafes and culture and CBD proximity plus the relatively low price tag (approximately $760,000) have attracted young blood to the suburb in recent years. Its marginal topographic variation, crime, public open spaces, tree cover and congested roads hold back the suburb from further excelling.

Brunswick East

Ranked: 43

Previous rank: 78

The up and coming status of Brunswick East is solidified in its improving liveability rank, positioned inside the top 50 for the first time. Culture, cafes and schools are rife in the area, making this an attractive prospect for young families. Frequent buses and trams allow for an easy commute to the city and help to relieve nearby congested roads.

Brunswick West

Ranked: 62

Previous rank: 41

Brunswick West scores well in terms of trams, telecommunications coverage and schools, but falls down in other key areas such as congested roads and tree cover. One of the weakest elements in terms of the suburb’s liveability is its proximity to cafes and restaurants, surprising for a suburb this close to the CBD.

Bulleen

Ranked: 138

​Previous rank: 140

Bordering on Ivanhoe East, Bulleen scores top points for its public open spaces, tree cover and hilly streets. Where it’s let down is in the categories of congested roads, trains, restaurants and proximity to schools. The area would also benefit from having a larger cultural sector.

Bundoora

Ranked: 208

Previous rank: 235

Bundoora’s liveability has remained relatively consistent over the years. While it does have great public open spaces such as Mont Park and good access to buses and trams, there are many areas that show obvious room for improvement. More cafes, less crime and added primary and secondary schools would quickly improve the area, although it is well serviced by tertiary institutions with its own La Trobe and RMIT campuses.

Burnley

Ranked: 84

Previous rank: 16

Dropping 68 rankings since 2011, Burnley’s diminishing liveability status can be pinned on a few low scores in the categories of crime, schools and congested roads. The suburb continues to perform well for train access (the best in the city), shopping, culture, cafes and proximity to the CBD.

Burnside

Ranked: 315

Bordering on Burnside Heights (307) and Caroline Springs (313), Burnside is a further example of the low liveability this western pocket holds. The suburb has very few schools, minimal tree cover, cafes, culture and weak telecommunications coverage. It does offer decent shopping facilities, however, plus great access to buses.

Burnside Heights

Ranked: 307

Previous rank: –

Located 22 kilometres of north-west of the CBD, this young suburb can boast uncongested roads, great public open spaces and decent school access, but falls down significantly in most other areas. Most notably, telecommunications coverage, culture, cafes and tree cover are scarce, and there is a high crime rate.

Burwood

Ranked: 80

​Previous rank: 75

Burwood carries many of the same desirable traits as its surrounding eastern suburbs, with hilly streets, good proximity to schools, buses and trams. Its overall liveability would benefit from increased cafes and culture to match other middle ring suburbs, plus larger shopping facilities.

Burwood East

Ranked: 129

Previous rank: 166

Burwood East records average scores in the majority of categories assessed. Its most notable features are good tram and bus access, along with a low crime rate. Low proximity to schools, cafes and public open spaces mean its overall ranking is lower than its sister suburb of Burwood (80).

Cairnlea

Ranked: 298

Previous rank: –

A relatively new estate, Cairnlea is located 17 kilometres north west of the CBD, bordering St Albans. Still in the development stage, it currently lacks shops, culture, cafes, with very weak scores in all three categories. It does however have decent access to all public transport, and excellent public spaces with 130 hectares set aside for this purpose.

Camberwell

Ranked: 71

Previous rank: 84

Camberwell’s median house price of $1.3 million is slowly but surely being matched by its increasing liveability ranking. While it doesn’t rank in the top 50 for many of the individual categories assessed, it does record above average scores across the board, particularly for its hilly streets, trams, trains and CBD proximity.

Campbellfield

Ranked: 262

Previous rank: 310

One of the worst suburbs when last assessed in 2011, Campbellfield is slowly but steadily improving with increased shopping facilities and dining options adding to its strong public transport network. Where it continues to underperform is in tree cover, congested roads, culture and schools.

Canterbury

Ranked: 26

Previous rank: 48

Canterbury receives high scores for its schools, trains, and low crime rate. Interestingly, the suburb’s liveability ranking varies greatly between the 2005 (when it ranked 14), 2011 (48) and 2015 surveys, possibly due to the fewer cultural, cafe and shopping opportunities of the area, especially when compared to nearby developing suburbs.

Carlton. Photo: Alice Archer

Carlton

Ranked: 15

Previous rank: 12

Carlton scores strongly for its cultural sector and proximity to restaurants, which is unsurprising as the home of Melbourne’s Little Italy. Limited tree cover and congested roads have seen its ranking slip slightly, although access to tram and train networks is among the best in the city. Crime also remains an issue.

651 Canning Street, Carlton North Photo: Supplied

Carlton North

Ranked: 19

Previous rank: 13

Not much separates Carlton North from Carlton, the latter of which ranks only slightly higher at #15. What differentiates the two are Carlton’s more sizable shopping facilities and schools, whereas Carlton North is more preferable for telecommunications coverage and lower crime.

Carnegie

Ranked: 100

Previous rank: 86

Carnegie’s strength lies in its quality access to all public transport networks and strong telecommunications coverage. With above average scores for most amenities, Carnegie’s downfalls are for its natural attributes, with few public open spaces, tree cover and topographic variation.

Caroline Springs

Ranked: 313

Previous rank: –

Masterplanned Caroline Springs has a rapidly growing population, but this is not being matched by amenity and facilities in the area. The area scores very poorly for telecommunications coverage, culture, cafes and tree cover and is not serviced by train (although this is planned). The amount of public spaces and uncongested roads are positive.

Carrum

Ranked:212

Previous rank: 211

Carrum benefits from its waterfront location, along with great bus and train access and close proximity to schools. Its relatively low ranking on this list can be attributed to the very flat landscape of the area, plus the limited shopping facilities, culture and dining options.

Carrum Downs

Ranked: 308

Previous rank: 284

Carrum Downs ranks almost 100 places lower than neighbouring Carrum (211) for being further from the coastline and city, having a higher crime rate, fewer schools and more congested roads. Carrum Downs is particularly far from trains and would benefit from more tree cover, cafes and culture.

Caulfield

Ranked: 81

Previous rank: 57

Caulfield is one of the worst suburbs in the city for open space, with relatively few parks (nearby open space Caulfield Park falls within Caulfield North and Princes Park is in Caulfield South). Its higher ranking over Caulfield East (98) can be attributed to the larger cultural sector and lower crime rate

Caulfield East

Ranked:98

Previous ranking: 77

Caulfield East is the lowest ranking of the four Caulfield suburbs, a fact that can be partly attributed to its location, being the furthest from both the CBD and coastline. Its smaller cultural sector, significantly more congested roads and minimal tree cover are all negatives compared to its sister suburbs, although it does carry quality public open spaces, trams and schools

Caulfield North

Ranked: 45

Previous rank: 63

Not much separates the four Caulfield suburbs, but Caulfield North manages to inch ahead due to its location (the closest to the CBD) and its more diverse cultural sector. Like of all of its sister suburbs, the flatness of the area and limited public open space drag down the overall ranking.

Caulfield South

Ranked: 50

Previous rank: 21

Caulfield South’s strengths are similar to neighbouring Caulfield North, which ranks only slightly better overall at 45. What separates the two is Caulfield South’s smaller shopping facilities, cultural sector and public open spaces. However, Caulfield South manages to significantly outperform Caulfield North for proximity to schools and has clearer roads.

Chadstone

Ranked: 95

Previous rank: 122

Chadstone’s scores are consistently average, with the obvious benefits being the size of its shopping facilities and topographic variation. More public open space in particular would propel its ranking.

Chelsea

Ranked: 275

Previous rank: 270

More amenities are needed to boost Chelsea’s liveability, with many poor scores in the data for shops, culture, dining, hills, schools and roads. It does, however, have good access to public transport, great public open spaces such as Bicentennial Park, and is just a short stroll from the water.

Chelsea Heights

Ranked: 242

Previous rank: 290

Located behind Edithvale (231) just a short walk from the water, Chelsea Heights’ most positive attributes is the excellent public open space in the area, including Bicentennial Park just over the suburb’s border, plus great bus access. The flat landscape drags down the overall rank, along with poor scores for schools and congested roads.

Cheltenham

Ranked:133

Previous rank: 135

Situated near the coastline, Cheltenham offers good proximity to large shopping facilities, many cafes and restaurants, plus the benefit of few congested roads. Where it can improve most is in the provision of public open space, along with more tree cover and schools.

Clarinda

Ranked: 227

Previous rank: 188

Clarinda shares very similar characteristics to neighbouring Clayton South (224) with mostly average scores across the board. Clarinda’s best asset is the low proportion of congested roads in the area, with poor scores for open space, train access and schools.

Clayton

Ranked:219

Previous rank: 272

Clayton’s most positive attributes are the size of its shopping facilities, public transport access and good proximity to cafes and restaurants with many Asian eateries in the area. What the area lacks is public open space (with only two parks over a large space) and schools, although this study doesn’t take into account tertiary institutions (Clayton is home to the main Monash University campus).

Clayton South

Ranked:224

Previous rank: 168

Not much separates Clayton South from neighbouring Clayton in terms of liveability, (which ranks just higher at 219) with the exception of having smaller shopping facilities plus fewer cafes and restaurants. Clayton South features good access to all public transport networks with a relatively low crime rate.

Clematis

Ranked: 286

Previous rank: –

Clematis, which borders on Emerald (279), has not been assessed previously due to its small population (just over 350 residents were recorded in the 2011 census.) Given its size, it lacks shopping facilities, cafes and restaurants, schools and trains. Where it does perform well is in the categories of buses, crime, hills and culture, with its own Puffing Billy Railway station.

Queens Parade, Clifton Hill Photo: Eddie Jim

Clifton Hill

Ranked: 11

Previous rank: 6

Clifton Hill offers an attractive lifestyle close to the CBD, culture and cafes. Its desirability is reflected in the median house price, rising from $766,000 in 2011 to its current price of $1.025 million. Crime and heavy traffic on Hoddle Street and the Eastern Freeway drag down the overall ranking, but residents are somewhat compensated by good access to trains.

Sydney Road, Coburg Photo: Craig Sillitoe

Coburg

Ranked:150

Previous rank: 112

Being relatively close to the CBD, Coburg’s location, cultural sector, public transport and schools have seen a rise in desirability and median price (now $769,000) in recent years. On the other hand, it has one of the lowest scores in the city in terms of tree cover, along with a high crime rate and few public open spaces.

Coburg North

Ranked:111

Previous rank: 154

Despite being further away from both the CBD and coastline, Coburg North has overtaken Coburg’s liveability rank (150) for the first time, mainly due to the larger shopping facilities, public open spaces and better overall public transport access. A larger cultural sector and better crime rate would see Coburg North rank higher on this list.

Collingwood

Ranked: 60

Previous rank: 31

Collingwood’s liveability rank has declined since 2011, most likely due to increasing traffic and crime in the area. It continues to perform extremely well for a number of factors, recording individual category ranks in the top 30 for the size of shopping facilities (8), cultural sector (9), cafes (8), trams (29), trains (22) and schools (5). If Collingwood were hillier with more open space and tree cover, it would be a serious contender for a top spot.

Coolaroo

Ranked:217

Previous rank: 251

Located 19 kilometres north of the CBD, Coolaroo and its surrounding suburbs such as Meadow Heights and Dallas all rank in the bottom half of this list, but are somewhat saved by the good access to all public transport networks and excellent proximity to schools and cafes. Coolaroo has one of the lowest scoring cultural sectors citywide, and would benefit from added public open space and tree cover.

Craigieburn

Ranked: 317

Previous rank: 306

Craigieburn has a large population with over 32,000 residents, but is not serviced by adequate amenity. The suburb achieves very low scores for telecommunications coverage, shopping and cafes, with the worst cultural sector recorded in Melbourne. It scores more favourably for trams and buses, but its only standout feature is the low proportion of congested roads.

Cranbourne

Ranked: 243

Previous rank: 263

Cranbourne is a consistently low performer on this list. Its highest scores are for shops, the size of the area’s cultural sector and for public open space, being home to the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. Where it is let down most is in terms of crime, followed by a lack of schools and dining options.

Cranbourne North

Ranked: 318

Previous rank: 299

All of Cranbourne North’s scores for the categories assessed are at least below average, with the exception of bus access which is good. It worst attribute is its lack of cafes and restaurants, followed by the high crime rate. More shops and public space would see its overall rank improve.

Cremorne

Ranked: 135

Previous rank: 74

Being just two kilometres south-east of the CBD, Cremorne scores highly for location and amenity but is dragged down by crime, congested roads, the flat landscape and few public spaces. On the other hand, its shopping facilities, cafes and access to trains are among the best in the city.

Croydon

Ranked: 233

Previous rank: 226

Located on the edge of Ringwood, Croydon features excellent tree cover, good bus access and with relatively uncongestedroads, but otherwise offers little amenity to make up for its low scoring location. The area is need of more schools, culture and a decreased crime rate to boost its liveability.

Croydon Hills

Ranked: 237

Previous rank: 252

Croydon Hills’ liveability is just beaten by neighbouring Croydon (233) due to lower scores on shopping facilities, tree cover and trains. It does, however, achieve better results for proximity to schools and offers a more hilly landscape. Being so far from the coastline disadvantages Croydon Hills’ overall score.

Croydon North

Ranked: 244

Previous rank: 254

The very small shopping and dining sectors of Croydon North make it hard for the suburb to overcome its low scoring location, although it does offer leafy, hilly and clear streets. More culture, schools and a lower crime rate would see its ranking improve.

Croydon South

Ranked: 245

Previous rank: 255

Close to the foothills of Mount Dandenong and the Dandenong Ranges, Croydon South offers the same excellent tree cover and uncongested roads of its surrounding suburbs. More shopping facilities, a larger cultural sector and more public open spaces would improve the area, along with a lower crime rate.

Dallas

Ranked: 235

Previous rank: 197

Bordering Broadmeadows (188), Dallas scores well for public transport and proximity to schools, with several cafes and reasonably uncongested roads. Its biggest downfall is the high crime rate of the area, followed by the limited cultural sector and tree cover. Dallas has one of the lowest median house prices in the city at approximately $340,000 – impressive for a suburb of this rank.

Dandenong

Ranked: 232

Previous rank: 206

Dandenong achieves some high scores in the data, most notably for large shopping facilities, good bus access and its reasonable dining sector. The overall liveability of the area however is dragged down by the high crime rate (the fourth worst in the city), the small cultural sector and very limited tree cover.

Dandenong North

Ranked: 285

Previous rank: 277

Dandenong North has great public open space, bus access and decent proximity to schools, but otherwise achieves average to poor scores across the remaining factors assessed. Its weakest points are crime, cafes, culture, shops and train access.

Dandenong South

Ranked: 305

Previous rank: 305

A primarily industrial suburb, Dandenong South lacks schools, tree cover and has a very high crime rate. Apart from having large shopping facilities and several dining options, Dandenong South records below average scores in almost all categories, although roads are relatively uncongested.

Deepdene

Ranked: 69

Previous rank: –

Formerly a neighbourhood within the suburb of Balwyn (73), Deepdene now carries a strong liveability ranking of its own. Many families are attracted by the suburb’s low crime rate, tram access and proximity to schools, but less impressive is the lack of public open space and often congested roads.

St Andrew’s Field, Deer Park.

Deer Park

Ranked: 295

Previous rank: 304

Unlike most of the poor ranking suburbs on this list, Deer Park has the benefit of its own train station, has decent access to trams and sizeable shopping facilities. Its downfalls are mainly in terms of culture in the area (very minimal), cafes, schools, tree cover and with a high crime rate.

Delahey

Ranked: 303

Previous rank: 281

Delahey lacks in culture, cafes and tree cover, but it does have good access to schools, public transport and has relativelyuncongested roads. More hills, public open spaces and a lower crime rate are required to boost the area’s overall ranking.

Derrimut

Ranked: 246

Previous rank: –

New to the study, Derrimut is a newly developed suburb 18 kilometres west of the CBD. The suburb has decent access to all public transport networks, schools and public open spaces such as Derrimut Greenland Reserve, but like neighbouring Sunshine, suffers from high crime. More cafes and restaurants would further improve Derrimut.

Diamond Creek

Ranked: 196

Previous rank: 205

Diamond Creek makes up for its low scoring location, lack of open space and few schools with positive scores for tree cover, public transport, and topographic variation. The suburb also rates well for having few congested roads and a low crime rate. More cafes and restaurants would improve the overall liveability.

Dingley Village

Ranked: 255

Previous rank: 147

Nestled between Moorabbin (146) and Springvale South (216) the liveability of Dingley Village has weakened since 2011 due to the congested roads, few schools and the limited dining and cultural sectors of the area. The suburb does, however, offer great access to public open space, with multiple reserves.

Docklands

Ranked: 88

Previous rank: 129

Docklands gets a bad rap, but has significantly improved over the years, rising from 207 in 2005. Its cons are perhaps unsurprising with a largely flat landscape, limited access to schools and poor tree cover, but being just two kilometres from the CBD comes with excellent proximity to amenity.

Doncaster

Ranked: 139

Previous rank: 158

Doncaster records above average scores in most categories, but is let down by poor train access, congested roads and from having limited schools in the area. The suburb’s biggest attributes are its telecommunications coverage, buses, cafes and hilly streets.

Doncaster East

Ranked: 151

Previous rank: 174

The liveability ranking of Doncaster East is fairly high given its relatively far distance from both the CBD and coastline. Its slightly inferior ranking compared to neighbouring Doncaster is mainly due to lower scores in the categories of shopping facilities and cafes. It does however reign superior in terms of roads, along with a much lower crime rate.

Donvale

Ranked: 191

Previous rank: 173

The eastern suburb of Donvale features hilly tree lined streets and a low crime rate that boost its liveability. Its lowest scores are in the categories of train access, shopping facilities and cafes and schools – all of which can all be easily improved given time

Doveton

Ranked: 247

Previous rank: 241

Located next to Dandenong (232), Doveton offers great access to public open spaces such as Eumemmerring Park, easy bus access and decent proximity to schools, but shows significant room for improvement in all other categories assessed. In particular, there’s a lack of shops, culture, cafes, and tree cover, plus a high proportion of congested roads. Crime in the area is relatively low.

Durham Street, Eaglemont. Photo: Gary Medlicott GAM

E-H |

Eaglemont

Ranked: 148

Previous rank: 199

Tucked between Heidelberg and Ivanhoe, Eaglemont is a small suburb with just over 1500 dwellings and one of the highest hold rates in Melbourne. Despite the high median price point ($1.4 million) and exclusivity of the area, there is room for improvement, particularly in the categories of shopping facilities, restaurants, schools and congested roads.

East Melbourne. Photo: Craig Sillitoe

East Melbourne

Ranked: 1

Previous rank: 2

Placing runner-up in the past two liveability surveys (published in 2005 and 2011), East Melbourne has finally moved to claim the top spot. This quiet pocket nestled between the CBD, inner-north and inner-east is a haven of culture, cafes and public transport. Ranking within the top 15 for seven of the liveability categories considered, the only areas where East Melbourne figures less desirably are telecommunications coverage and topographic variation.

Edithvale beach boxes. Photo: Gary Medlicott

Edithvale

Ranked: 231

Previous rank: 144

Edithvale scores well for its coastline location, excellent public open spaces and train access, but the suburb has lost considerable ground since 2011 due to the congested roads of the area. While the poor topographic variation of the area is hard to shift, Edithvale could improve on shopping facilities, culture and cafes.

Elsternwick. Photo: Chris Hopkins

Elsternwick Ranked: 6

Previous rank: 24 A big mover it terms of its overall ranking, Elsternwick records consistently well across the majority of factors assessed, falling down only on topographic variation, public open spaces and tree cover. Residents benefit mostly from the size of Elsternwick’s shopping facilities, proximity to restaurants and access to trams and buses.

Eltham

Ranked: 178

Previous rank: 130

Leafy and hilly Eltham offers a picturesque living environment with good public open space, but would benefit from added amenity. There are few shopping facilities, schools and cafes on offer, along with a significant amount of congested roads despite being relatively far from both the CBD and coastline.

Eltham North

Ranked: 152

Previous rank: 106

Eltham North’s weakest point is its low scoring location, being far from both the CBD and coastline, followed by its lack of cafes and restaurants. These factors aside, Eltham North rates favourably across the board, particularly in the categories of topographic variation, buses and tree cover.

Elwood. Photo: Andrew De La Rue

Elwood

Ranked: 20

Previous rank: 30

The locals of Elwood have long boasted of its desirability, with a liveability rating that continues to climb the ranks. Its biggest downfall is its limited topographic variation, small shopping facilities and lack of public open spaces, but the quality schools, culture and cafes balance these factors out.

Emerald Lake.

Emerald

Ranked: 279

Previous rank: –

Not measured in the last study, Emerald falls just inside the urban area of Melbourne, 44 kilometres east of the CBD. Its positive traits are typical for its area, with good tree cover, hills and uncongested roads. It also rates well for culture, with its own museum, a Puffing Billy railway station and the popular Emerald Lake. There are next to no shops and schools in the area and there is poor telecommunications coverage.

Endeavour Hills

Ranked: 226

Previous rank: 279

Endeavour Hills scores well for hills, low crime, buses and schools, with excellent proximity to public open space such as the Dandenong Police Paddocks Reserve. Its main downfall is the limited dining options of the area, followed by its small shopping sector.

Epping

Ranked: 277

Previous rank: 291

With the exception of shopping facilities, Epping has limited amenity to cater for its large population of over 30,000 residents. It offers decent access to public transport and open spaces which are dotted throughout the area, but is let down by congested roads, the lack of tree cover, limited culture and high crime.

Essendon

Ranked: 85

Previous rank: 45

Despite its ranking decreasing since 2011, Essendon remains an attractive suburb for cafes, trams, buses and proximity to schools. The suburb’s weakest points are congested roads and the limited public open space, but otherwise its scores are consistently decent across the board.

Essendon North

Ranked: 145

Previous rank: 109

Essendon North ranks lower than both Essendon West (77) and Essendon (85), but still carries many desirable traits. In fact, Essendon North outperforms both suburbs in terms of shopping facilities and proximity to cafes. Where it’s less impressive is in the categories of tree cover, congested roads and public open spaces.

Essendon West

Ranked: 77

Previous rank: 99

It may be the furthest away from the CBD of the three Essendon suburbs, but the natural amenity of Essendon West allows it to reign superior. Its hilly streets and public open spaces are among the best in the city, and can be accessed by minimally congested roads. On the downside, train access and the size of the cultural sector are below average.

Eumemmerring

Ranked: 250

Previous rank: 240

Bordering Hallam (288) and Doveton (263) 32 kilometres south east of the CBD, Eumemmerring benefits from clear roads, good bus access and excellent public open spaces such Eumemmerring Park and Waratah Reserve. Its weaknesses are the lack of schools, train access, and limited amount of dining options in the area.

Fairfield

Ranked: 13

Previous rank: 9

Much like its inner-north neighbour Clifton Hill (#11), Fairfield figures strongly for its culture and cafes but less so for topographic variation (not such a downside for cyclists), crime and the area’s main culprit– congested roads. The area also features quality open spaces and bus services.

Fawkner.

Fawkner

Ranked: 122

Previous rank: 198

Despite the limited amenity in Fawkner in terms of shopping, dining and culture, its major redeeming factor is the close proximity to schools. The suburb is also easily accessed, with good public transport connections and uncongested roads. More tree cover would further boost the overall ranking.

Ferntree Gully

Ranked: 220

Previous rank: 220

Ferntree Gully shares the same natural attributes as its higher ranking surrounding suburbs (tree cover, hills and uncongested roads), but with less supporting amenity. The size of the cultural sector is small, and there are few cafes and schools. There’s also a high crime rate in the area.

Ferny Creek

Ranked: 169

Previous rank: 115

Topographical mapping reveals that Ferny Creek, perched on the edge of Mount Dandenong, is officially Melbourne’s hilliest suburb. It can also boast a consistently low crime rate, excellent public open spaces and solid tree cover. To boost its ranking further, Ferny Creek requires larger shopping facilities and more schools.

Fitzroy

Ranked: 82

Previous rank: 70

Fitzroy’s liveability spans both ends of spectrum depending on the factors being taken into consideration. On one hand, the proximity to the shopping, facilities, culture, schools, trams cafes all rank in the top 10 of the city, but Fitzroy scores poorly for its relatively flat landscape, crime and public open spaces.

Alfred Crescent, North. Fitzroy. Photo: Ken Irwin

Fitzroy North

Ranked: 38

Previous rank: 28

Fitzroy North performs exceptionally well in terms of schools (the third best in the city), cafes and culture, attracting many young families to the area. Being only four kilometres from the CBD, congested roads are an issue, but are slightly alleviated by frequent tram and bus services. Fitzroy North scores poorly for topographic variation and crime.

Flemington

Ranked: 66

Previous rank: 44

Proximity to schools is a particular strength of Flemington, ranking eighth best in this category. The suburb also fares well in terms of its cultural sector, cafes, trams, trains, but is let down by its high crime rate, lack of public space and congested roads. Hillier streets with more tree cover would see its overall ranking improve.

Footscray

Ranked: 74

Previous rank: 37

Footscray’s ranking has slipped since 2011, most likely due to the gentrification of other inner city and middle ring suburbs. It still records high individual scores in the categories of buses and schools, along with strong proximity to shopping, cafes, culture and the CBD. Where it’s less desirable is in terms of crime, topographic variation, congested roads and tree cover.

Forest Hill

Ranked: 93

Previous rank: 222

Located 18 kilometres east of the CBD, Forest Hill is a consistently above average performer. The main strength of the area is the size of its shopping facilities and minimal traffic, with its weaknesses being limited train access and distance from the coastline.

Frankston

Ranked: 179

Previous rank: 193

Contrary to popular belief, Frankston carries multiple traits that make for a desirable place to live. In particular, the suburb features a large shopping sector, good tree cover, access to buses and few congested roads. It does however have one of the highest crime rates in the city, and only a small cultural sector.

Frankston North

Ranked: 136

Previous rank: 212

With a median house price of $295,000, Frankston North remains the fifth cheapest suburb in the city. Despite the bargain price tag, the suburb outperforms more than 50 per cent of Melbourne suburbs for liveability (including its neighbouring and more expensive areas Frankston and Frankston South), scoring particularly well for low crime, access to public spaces, buses and schools.

Violet Street, Frankston South. Photo: Simon Schluter

Frankston South

Ranked: 268

Previous rank: 231

Frankston South is the weakest of the three Frankston suburbs in terms of liveability, with much smaller shopping facilities, a minor cultural sector and the worst proximity to public transport. It rates well for having clear roads, good tree cover and hills. The crime rate is among the highest in the city.

Gardenvale

Ranked: 17

Previous rank: 43

Melbourne’s smallest suburb is making big waves in terms of liveability, jumping from 69 in 2005, 43 in 2011 to 17 today. Wedged between Caulfield South and Elsternwick, Gardenvale benefits from its attractive location close to amenity and quiet roads, lacking only in schools, hills and open space.

Gladstone Park

Ranked: 147

Previous rank: 213

Surrounded by Tullamarine (252), Westmeadows (167) and Broadmeadows (188), Gladstone Park has jumped the liveability ranks considerably on the back of strong scores for telecommunications coverage, shopping facilities, public open space, buses, trams and with relatively good proximity to schools. Its weakest points are the small cultural sector of the area and limited tree cover.

Glen Huntly

Ranked: 48

Previous rank: 76

Glen Huntly’s rising overall rank can be attributed to its strong telecommunications coverage, train services and low proportion of congested roads. Recording above average scores in almost all categories, the area’s only weaknesses are its absence of hills, public open space and less than desirable crime rate.

Dorrington Avenue, Glen Iris. Photo: Rodger Cummins

Glen Iris

Ranked: 31

Previous rank: 59

Young and established families have long dominated Glen Iris, and it’s not hard to see why. The suburb is best known for its leafy streets, low crime and village-like shopping facilities. With the added benefit of good access to public transport, Glen Iris is a steady all rounder.

Glen Waverley

Ranked: 130

Previous rank: 155

Given its close proximity to Mount Waverley (124), Glen Waverley shares many of the same positive attributes. Both suburbs offer reasonably sized shopping facilities, good public transport, and only mildly congested roads. Despite having more open spaces, Glen Waverley is affected by having less tree cover and a much higher crime rate.

Glenroy

Ranked:202

Previous rank: 196

Glenroy offers many desirable traits, but its downfalls are the lack of cafes, culture and tree cover in the area. The area is close by to many schools, and has uncongested roads and the convenience of good public transport networks. Glenroy would also benefit from a lower crime rate and larger shopping sector.

Gowanbrae

Ranked: 218

Previous rank: 257

Located between Glenroy (202) and Gladstone Park (147), Gowanbrae has improved over the years with great proximity to bus services, trams, and hilly public open spaces (although tree cover is very poor). A much larger cultural sector, fewer congested roads and more schools would see the area’s liveability improve.

Greensborough

Ranked:168

Previous rank: 162

Greensborough maintains its consistent position in this survey with good scores for topographic variation, tree cover and bus access. The overall ranking of the area would improve given less congested roads, as well the introduction of more cafes and public open spaces.

Hadfield

Ranked: 229

Previous rank: 253

Being relatively close to the CBD (13 kilometres north), Hadfield ticks the boxes

for location and public transport. The area also offers good proximity to schools and has the rare inner-city trait of having few congested roads. Where it could improve most is cafes, crime and public open spaces.

Hallam. Photo: Isamu Sawa

Hallam

Ranked: 288

Previous rank: 314

2011’s poorest performing suburb, Hallam has since improved its shopping facilities but still has many areas that require growth. Schools in particular are scarce and the area has a very high proportion of congested roads, despite being 34 kilometres from the CBD.

Hampton

Ranked: 53

Previous rank: 10

Dropping 43 places, Hampton’s dwindling ranking is one of the most significant in the top half of this list, and can most likely be attributed to the rising status of surrounding suburbs. Schools, culture and shopping facilities and public open spaces in particular show room for improvement, but the low proportion of congested roads and bus access remain a constant strength of the area.

Hampton East

Ranked: 49

Previous rank: 20

Hampton East’s liveability ranking is subject to rapid movements, being largely dependent on frequently changing factors such as public transport and traffic. Its strongest points are its schools, low proportion of congested roads and good access to buses and trains. The main downside is the limited public open space and minimal tree cover.

Hampton Park

Ranked: 291

Previous rank: 288

Hampton Park is located in a poor pocket of suburbs in terms of liveability, surrounded by Narre Warren (289), Narre Warren South (316) and Hallam (288). The suburb does have good bus access, public open space and shopping facilities, but falls down in many other areas. Its main weaknesses are congested roads, cafes, restaurants, and telecommunications coverage.

Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn.

Hawthorn

Ranked: 18

Previous rank: 11

Trams, trains and schools make Hawthorn a particularly attractive suburb for young families who commute via public transport (just don’t do the school drop-off yourself; roads here are among the most congested in the city.) Shopping and dining opportunities are easy to access, but crime rates and proximity to public open spaces are less than desirable.

Hawthorn East

Ranked: 25

Previous rank: 4

Ranked fourth on the 2011 list, Hawthorn East has since taking a beating, allowing it to be surpassed by neighbouring Hawthorn. Despite having less crime and fewer congested roads, Hawthorn East offers fewer amenities of the two suburbs, particularly in terms of schools, open space and culture.

Heatherton

Ranked: 242

Previous rank: 190

Bordered by Moorabbin (146) and Clarinda (227), Heatherton can boast one of the city’s lowest crime rates, plus good bus access and large shopping facilities close to the coastline. The few schools and a high proportion of congested roads in the area drag down its liveability.

Heathmont

Ranked: 192

Previous rank: 113

Located between Bayswater and Ringwood, Heathmont’s low scoring location (being far away from the CBD and coastline) is redeemed through its topographic variation, tree cover and decent crime rate. A better cultural sector, more public open space and schools would see Heathmont achieve a higher score.

Buckingham Drive, Heidelberg. Photo: Ken Irwin

Heidelberg

Ranked: 106

Previous rank: 94

Heidelberg’s ranking has been affected by low scores in the categories of congested roads and crime. These factors aside, Heidelberg residents benefit from quality access to public open space with hills and relatively large shopping facilities.

Heidelberg Heights

Ranked: 194

Previous rank: 238

Good public transport is the main feature of Heidelberg Heights, which otherwise records average to poor scores across the liveability categories assessed. Areas that show the most room for improvement are the shopping sector, tree cover, schools and roads. The suburb performs reasonably well for its cultural sector and telecommunications coverage.

Heidelberg West

Ranked: 182

Previous rank: 216

Heidelberg West features great public open space, easy access to most public transport methods (bus connections in particular), few congested roads and a reasonable cultural sector. Where it could benefit further is in tree cover, schools and shopping facilities

Highett

Ranked: 119

Previous rank: 100

Highett has good access to amenity, but is dragged down mainly in terms of its natural attributes. Residents benefit most from the large shopping facilities, cafes, crime and buses and the largely uncongested roads. The limited tree cover, topographic variation and public open spaces are less desirable, along with the lack of schools in the area.

Hillside

Ranked: 319

Previous rank: –

Hillside is a relatively new suburb, located 23 kilometres north-west of the CBD. The biggest downfalls of the area are its poor telecommunications coverage and cafes– both of which are ranked the worst citywide. It also lacks schools, tree cover and culture. What it does offer are hills, decent bus access and almost no congested roads.

Hoppers Crossing

Ranked: 272

Previous rank: 267

Hoppers Crossing offers residents sizeable shopping facilities, great bus access and relatively clear roads. It is dragged down mainly by the lack of tree cover, and its high crime rate. More public open spaces would also improve the area.

Hughesdale

Ranked: 107

Previous rank: 98

Located 14 kilometres south east of the city, Hughesdale scores highly for public transport and its proximity to schools. Where it’s less successful is in public open space, crime and the size of its cultural sector

Huntingdale

Ranked: 215

Previous rank: 123

Huntingdale’s liveability ranking has dropped 92 places since 2011, despite its only major downfall in the data being the lack of public open space. Rather, Huntingdale scores are just average across the board, with its only high scores being for cafes and public transport access. The relatively high crime rate, few schools and congested roads all contribute to its declining rank.

Post Office Cafe, Main St Hurstbridge. Photo: Gary Medlicott

Hurstbridge

Ranked: 247

Previous rank: –

Previously unmeasured due to its outlying location, Hurstbridge records high scores for hills, public open space, with low crime and clear roads. What it lacks is virtually any manmade amenity, and would greatly benefit from cafes, shops, culture, schools and better telecommunications coverage.

Ivanhoe Shopping Centre in Ivanhoe. Photo: Banyule City Council

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Ivanhoe

Ranked: 8

Previous rank: 32

Ivanhoe’s liveability ranking is up 25 spots this year to retain its original top ten ranking, first achieved in 2005. The suburb scores favourably in almost every category, with no huge downfalls (unless you’re set on a coastal view) to drag down its overall score. Its biggest drawcard is the proximity to schools.

Ivanhoe East

Ranked: 92

Previous rank: 93

Ivanhoe East is a consistent performer in terms of liveability, with a relatively steady ranking. Its highest scores are in the categories that cover natural attributes, with hilly streets, quality public open spaces and tree cover. Where it falls down is in the category of congested roads, with relatively few cafes and restaurants.

Jacana

Ranked: 103

Previous rank: 164

Despite its exceptionally low median price point of $350,000, Jacana’s liveability continues to rise, scoring well for schools, public open spaces, buses and the size of its shopping facilities. Located next to Broadmeadows, what holds Jacana back is its high crime rate, minimal tree cover and the size of its cultural sector.

Junction Village

Ranked: 310

Previous rank: 296

Junction Village is the second worst assessed suburb for CBD proximity, located 45 kilometres from the city. It rates well for culture and clear roads, but could improve in almost all other areas. Schools, shops and cafes are particularly scarce, and the crime rate is high.

Kallista

Ranked: 210

Previous rank: 120

Along with the other towns among the Dandenong Ranges, Kallista is celebrated for its picturesque natural setting and country atmosphere within commuting distance to inner Melbourne. That being said, its location is mainly responsible for its low ranking in the survey, being far from both the CBD and coastline. It has one of the lowest crime rates citywide and an excellent cultural sector, but is affected by the limited shopping facilities and schools of the area.

Overlooking the Cardinia Reservoir on a cold icy morning from Kalorama. Photo: Arsineh Houspian

Kalorama

Ranked: 213

Previous rank: 170

Located on the edge of Dandenong Ranges National Park, Kalorama fares extremely well in the categories of topographic variation, public open space and the size of its cultural sector. There’s also few congested roads and a low crime rate. It could improve with larger shopping facilities and better proximity to schools.

Kealba

Ranked: 201

Previous rank: 258

Kealba’s name is derived from the letters of two of its neighbouring suburbs – Keilor and St Albans – overtaking both in terms of liveability. Its strengths are the strong telecommunications coverage, with its hilly streets, public open spaces and great bus access. By far its biggest downfall is the amount of congested roads, which are among the worst in Melbourne.

Keilor

Ranked: 204

Previous rank: 297

Much like Keilor Downs and Keilor East, Keilor’s liveability has improved considerably in recent years. The area features good topographic variation, low crime, easy access to buses and quality open spaces such as Green Gully Reserve. While it doesn’t record any exceptionally poor scores, Keilor would benefit from larger shopping facilities, better train access, added schools and fewer congested roads.

Keilor Downs

Ranked: 181

Previous rank: 273

Keilor Downs offers great access to public open spaces, with several small parks dotted among its streets. The suburb also scores positively for proximity to schools, public transport and for its sizeable shopping facilities. Keilor Downs’ main downfall is the lack of dining options in the area, followed by the relatively congested roads.

Keilor East

Ranked: 109

Previous rank: 227

Keilor East’s much-improved ranking can be attributed to its strong telecommunications coverage and high scoring public open spaces. It remains hard to access, with decent bus and tram connections but poor proximity to trains and with congested roads. More schools, tree cover and larger shopping facilities would see a further rise in Keilor East’s overall score.

Keilor Lodge

Ranked: 244

Previous rank: 311

Keilor Lodge has jumped the ranks since 2011, offering added amenity in terms of culture, cafes and restaurants plus easy access to buses. Its lowest score is in the category of telecommunications coverage, but the area also lacks schools, trams, hills and has many congested roads.

Keilor Park

Ranked: 197

Previous rank: 302

Keilor Park is one of the biggest movers in this survey, jumping 105 places since 2011. As home to the Keilor Botanic Gardens, it rates particularly well for public open space and has also benefitted from new cafes and restaurants in the area. Poor train access, congested roads and the small shopping sector are weaknesses.

The Corner on Bellair in Kensington. Photo: Craig Sillitoe

Kensington

Ranked: 75

Previous rank: 88

Being just four kilometres north west of the CBD, Kensington fares well for its inner city location, shopping facilities, cafe culture and access to all public transport networks. Schools are also in decent proximity. Less impressive is Kensington’s tree cover, congested roads and telecommunications coverage.

Kew

Ranked: 34

Previous rank: 35

Despite being closer to the CBD, Kew ranks behind sister suburb Kew East (28), mainly due to the much higher crime rate (coming in at 165 compared to 13) less schools and more congested roads. It does, however, have better access to cafes and restaurants, slightly hillier streets and improved telecommunications coverage.

Kew East

Ranked: 28

Previous rank: 46

Kew East rates well in categories that make for an aesthetically pleasing environment, such as tree cover and topographic variation. The low crime rate (the 13th lowest in the city) and its good proximity to schools make this an attractive suburb for young families. Its biggest downfalls are train access and the size of shopping facilities.

Keysborough

Ranked: 269

Previous rank: 191

Located between Springvale South and Dandenong, Keysborough offers great train access and shopping facilities, along with relatively uncongested roads. Its scores in the remaining categories assessed are consistently average, and is disadvantaged by having a relatively flat landscape with little tree cover.

Kilsyth

Ranked: 280

Previous rank: 280

Ranking just two points lower than neighbouring Kilsyth South, these areas share many of the same characteristics. The only big difference between the two is the size of the shopping facilities (where Kilsyth South wins) and congested roads (where Kilsyth wins). Both score well for buses and have a low crime rate.

Kilsyth South

Ranked: 278

Previous rank: 308

Bordering on Bayswater North, the small suburb of Kilsyth South is improving over time with increased shopping facilities, buses, cafes and tree cover. Its major weaknesses are its location, schools, culture and public open spaces.

Kingsbury

Ranked: 160

Previous rank: 124

The recipient of many below average scores in the individual categories assessed, Kingsbury’s redeeming factors are its excellent public open spaces, tram and bus access and proximity to schools. Adjacent to Reservoir (158), Kingbury’sdownfalls are similar, with few dining options and a high crime rate. A larger cultural sector would also benefit the area.

Kings Park

Ranked: 281

Previous rank: 271

Kings Park has the same postcode as St Albans (253) and shares the area’s lack of culture and mostly flat landscape. It has the second least amount of dining options citywide, but it does have good access to buses, schools and very few congested roads.

Wales Street, Kingsville. Photo: Ken Irwin

Kingsville

Ranked: 190

Previous rank: 91

Often mistaken for being part of West Footscray or Yarraville, Kingsville is in fact its own small suburb nestled between the two. Residents benefit from being close to both the CBD and coastline, with good public transport and a large cultural sector. Its lower overall ranking compared to 2011 can in part be attributed to the increasingly congested roads.

Kooyong

Ranked: 44

Previous rank: 23

Kooyong’s considerably lower rank compared to 2011 is mostly due to increased traffic, with the highest proportion of congested roads in the city. Traffic aside, Kooyong remains a desirable place to live, and its ranking would further improve with increased schools in the area.

Knoxfield

Ranked: 198

Previous rank: 295

Another big mover in this survey, Knoxfield features great access to shopping facilities, buses, schools and public open spaces such as Lakewood Nature Reserve. Residents can also boast having a low crime rate. Where it could improve is in the categories of congested roads, train access, tree cover and telecommunications coverage

Lalor

Ranked: 241

Previous rank: 225

Located 18 kilometres north of the CBD, Lalor’s only stand out scores are for its buses, proximity to schools and relativelyuncongested roads. Areas that show the most room for improvement are tree cover, cafes, culture and public open spaces.

Langwarrin

Ranked: 294

Previous rank: 259

Langwarrin’s liveability has dropped given the very few dining options, schools and poor train access of the area. That being said, it does maintain some redeeming qualities, such as a low crime rate, good public open spaces and easy bus access. More shops and culture would help Langwarrin improve.

Langwarrin South

Ranked: 279

Previous rank: –

Langwarrin South wasn’t included in the previous survey (the radius of suburbs assessed has been slightly extended since then). Given the small population of the area (approximately 1000 residents), there is very little amenity, but it can boast great tree cover, uncongested roads and a low crime rate. Its biggest weakness is the lack of schools nearby.

Laverton Community Hub in Laverton. Photo: Pete Glenane/ HiVis Pictures

Laverton

Ranked: 183

Previous rank: 217

Laverton is bordered by Seabrook and Williams Landing, 17 kilometres south-west of the CBD. Its highest scores are in the categories of coastline proximity, schools, trams and trains. Laverton’s liveability is disadvantaged by the lack of tree cover and topographic variation of the area, and would rank higher with a lower crime rate.

Lilydale

Ranked: 297

Previous rank: 242

Lilydale’s diminishing liveability can be attributed to its heavily congested roads that add to its low scoring location, lack of schools and the minimal public space of the area. It also achieves below average scores for culture and shops. Tree cover and hills are the main features of the area.

Heidelberg Golf Club. Photo: Gary Medlicott

Lower Plenty

Ranked: 162

Previous rank: 138

Lower Plenty’s most notable assets are its strong telecommunications coverage, low crime rate and the hilly, leafy streets that are complemented by good access to public open space. Where it’s let down is the size of its shopping facilities (attracting one of the worst scores citywide), few schools and often congested roads.

Lynbrook

Ranked: 292

Previous rank: –

Formerly part of Lyndhurst (306), Lynbrook has been undergoing development since 1994. While it doesn’t have any exceptionally poor scores recorded, its only obvious asset is the low crime rate. It could most improve on telecommunications coverage, tree cover and culture.

Lyndhurst

Ranked: 306

Previous rank: –

Continuing this south eastern pocket’s legacy of poor liveability, (Lyndhurst is bordered by Lynbrook, Cranbourne North and Hampton Park) Lyndhurst lacks tree cover, schools, open space, hills, culture and decent telecommunications coverage. Its saving grace is the low crime rate and clear roads, with decent bus and train access.

Lysterfield South

Ranked: 238

Previous rank: 246

Lysterfield South is the second best suburb for open space, with more than 50 per cent of land dedicated to Lysterfield Park and Churchill National Park. It scores highly for tree cover and has few congested roads (but granted, there aren’t many roads in the area). Only approximately 1000 people live in the suburb, which features no train access, few schools and very limited dining options.

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Macleod

Ranked: 141

Previous rank: 117

Located 14 kilometres north east of the CBD next to Bundoora La Trobe University campus, Macleod offers good public transport, a low crime rate and plenty of public open space. Where it suffers is its small shopping facilities, and poor access to primary and secondary schools.

Maidstone

Ranked: 186

Previous rank: 153

Located in the city’s inner west, Maidstone benefits from the convenience of Highpoint shopping centre on the suburb’s border, nearby bus and tram services and relatively few congested roads. On the downside, it has the lowest tree cover of any Melbourne suburb, with few schools and a high crime rate.

Malvern

Ranked: 42

Previous rank: 65

Malvern residents benefit from the convenience of nearby shops, restaurants, trams and trains. Despite its prestigious, family-friendly reputation, Malvern scores relatively poorly in terms of schools, open public spaces and tree cover, failing to surpass Malvern East in its overall rank.

Malvern East

Ranked: 37

Previous rank: 62

Malvern East hosts a convenient lifestyle in close proximity to sizeable shopping facilities, cafes and restaurants. With a high proportion of congested roads, residents can turn to the quality train, tram and bus services. The relatively poor topographic variation, public open spaces and high level of crime are weaknesses of the area.

Maribyrnong

Ranked: 128

Previous rank: 119

Maribyrnong’s steady liveability rank can be attributed to the strong amenity of the area, despite low scores in the categories of trains, schools, crime and telecommunications coverage. Shopping facilities, cafes, trams and buses are all in easy access to residents.

Rose Street, McKinnon. Photo: Ken Irwin

McKinnon

Ranked: 89

Previous rank: 71

McKinnon’s main advantage is its accessibility, with good access to all public transport, uncongested roads and decent proximity to schools. What it lacks is public open space with few cafes and restaurants, and has a largely flat landscape.

Meadow Heights

Ranked: 282

Previous rank: 223

Formerly known as Broadmeadows North, Meadows Heights underwent a housing boom in the 1990s but very little amenity has been implemented since, particularly in terms of culture. The area does feature great public open spaces, however and decent access to all public transport networks.

Melbourne

Ranked: 5

Previous rank: 26

Melbourne’s liveability varies widely depending on the categories assessed, averaging out to an overall positive ranking that’s considerably stronger than it was in 2011. The suburb ranks in the top 10 citywide for its proximity to the CBD (unsurprisingly), shopping, culture, dining, trams and buses, but has the highest crime rate and many congested roads.

Mentone

Ranked: 90

Previous rank: 178

Mentone’s rising position can mostly be attributed to the improved public transport access of the area. It carries many ideal bayside suburb traits, scoring highly for shopping, cafes, coastal proximity and schools, but loses point for open space and tree cover.

Canterbury Road, Middle Park. Photo: supplied

Middle Park

Ranked: 54

Previous rank: 61

Middle Park’s great location close to both the CBD and coastline is dragged down slightly by its flat landscape, lack of trains and poor telecommunications coverage. The suburb’s overall ranking would be higher given larger shopping facilities to match the already stellar public open spaces, cafes, cultural sector and minimally congested roads.

Mill Park

Ranked: 199

Previous rank: 230

Mill Park rates high than many of its surrounding areas, sharing a border with Epping (277), Bundoora (208), South Morang (273) and Lalor (241). It excels in some categories, with excellent telecommunications coverage, a large shopping sector and access to public open space, buses and trams. What’s lacking in Mill Park is cafes, restaurants, schools and tree cover, and the area would benefit from less congested roads and crime.

Mitcham

Ranked: 105

Previous rank: 143

Mitcham makes up for its low scoring location (being far from both the CBD and coastline) in its great public transport, low crime, uncongested roads and tree cover. Better access to cafes and restaurants and more public open space would further improve Mitcham’s offering.

Churchill Street, Mont Albert. Photo: Luis Ascui

Mont Albert

Ranked: 59

Previous rank: 38

Mont Albert is easily accessed via public transport and car with few congested roads– a necessity given the lack of amenity in walking distance. The size of shopping facilities and public open spaces in particularly are the two key factors drawing down the suburb’s ranking. Introducing more cafes and schools to the area would quickly improve Mont Albert’s overall score.

Mont Albert North

Ranked: 65

Previous rank: 15

Dropping 50 spots since 2011, Mont Albert North’s liveability has suffered from its lack of amenity, particularly in terms of shopping, cafes and public spaces. The eastern suburb’s redeeming factors are its hilly streets, low crime rate, schools and low proportion of congested roads, seeing it outperform its neighbours Doncaster and Box Hill North.

The Were Street Food Store, Montmorency. Photo: Gary Medlicott

Montmorency

Ranked: 125

Previous rank: 60

Located next to Eltham, the decline of Montmorency’s liveability can most likely be attributed to the growing amenity of surrounding areas and the limited shopping facilities, dining options and culture in the suburb. Montmorency fares particularly well in the categories of topographic variation, crime, tree cover and schools, with decent access to public transport.

Montrose

Ranked: 249

Previous rank: 185

Montrose is situated at the foothills of Mount Dandenong, and therefore scores well for tree cover, public open space and hills. It is a gateway to many tourist destinations that boost its cultural sector and has a low crime rate. On the downside, the shopping facilities in the area are very small and there are few schools.

Moonee Ponds

Ranked: 79

Previous rank: 82

Moonee Ponds has great public transport and is close to the city, schools, shopping, and cafes. On the other hand, it is outscored significantly by neighbouring Aberfeldie (57) due to its more congested roads, smaller cultural sector and limited open spaces.

Moorabbin

Ranked: 146

Previous rank: 133

Moorabbin benefits from being relatively close to the coastline, with good access to shopping facilities, cafes, schools and buses. It is dragged down most notably in the categories of congested roads and in terms of its natural attributes, with little tree cover, few public open spaces and a flat landscape.

Mooroolbark

Ranked: 259

Previous rank: 221

Bordered by Croydon 31 kilometres east of the CBD, Mooroolbark is disadvantaged in this survey by its location, being far from both the CBD and coastline. It rates well for tree cover, hills and has its own train station, plus has decent access to schools and a low crime rate. There’s a distinct lack of shopping facilities in the area, despite having close to 20,000 residents.

Mordialloc

Ranked: 205

Previous rank: 146

Mordialloc adds to desirability of its coastline location with good bus access and positive scores for shopping facilities, cafes and restaurants. It loses points for its relatively flat landscape, proportion of congested roads and the small cultural sector. A better crime rate and more schools would also help its overall rank.

Mount Dandenong

Ranked: 153

Previous rank: 128

Mount Dandenong offers clear benefits in terms of its high scoring cultural sector, cafes, low crime, public open space, tree cover and naturally, its topographic variation. What it lacks, however, is equally as significant, with few schools, poor train access and non-existent shopping facilities.

Mount Evelyn

Ranked: 270

Previous rank: 214

Being 37 kilometres north-east of the CBD places Mount Evelyn at a disadvantage, recording low scores for city and coastline proximity. It is however somewhat redeemed through its sizeable cultural sector, low crime rate, tree cover and hills. More schools, a train station and added dining options would improve its liveability.

Mount Waverley

Ranked: 124

Previous rank: 121

An interesting example of the difference a boundary line can make, stable Mount Waverley is almost 100 spots above Clayton (219), but the only sizeable difference between the two is Mount Waverley’s hillier streets with more tree cover and open spaces.

Mulgrave

Ranked: 234

Previous rank: 268

Mulgrave’s best features are its sizeable shopping facilities, good bus access and reasonable tree cover. The suburb records average to poor scores for all other categories assessed, with particularly low scores for congested roads and culture.

Murrumbeena

Ranked: 104

Previous rank: 79

Murrumbeena shines in terms of its proximity to public transport, but its overall liveability is pulled down by its flat landscape with limited public space (although there is good tree cover). Larger shopping facilities and a more significant cultural sector would also boost Murrumbeena’s ranking.

Narre Warren

Ranked: 289

Previous rank: 287

Narre Warren and its sister suburbs Narre Warren North and Narre Warren South all share poor liveability scores, with Narre Warren ranking the highest of the three. While the suburb has large shopping facilities and good bus access, it falls down on almost all other categories, particularly for congested roads.

Narre Warren North

Ranked: 293

Previous rank: 303

Narre Warren North offers a hilly landscape, low crime and good public open space, but could do with more amenity. In particular, there are very few nearby schools, train access is poor, and there are next to no dining options. Better telecommunications coverage would also improve the area.

Narre Warren South

Ranked: 316

Previous rank: 285

The lack of cafes and restaurants is Narre Warren South’s greatest weakness, followed by poor telecommunications coverage and high crime. It does however

offer good access to public open spaces with several small parks in the area, and is easily accessed by bus.

Newport

Ranked: 64

Previous rank: 42

Newport is close to the coast and city and scores high on culture, buses, open space and with low congestion on main roads. What’s holding this western pocket back is its small shopping facilities, few cafes and the largely flat landscape.

Niddrie

Ranked: 99

Previous rank: 181

Located 13 kilometres north-west of the city, between Keilor West and Essendon North, Niddrie residents benefit from high scoring shopping facilities, cafes, and hilly streets. The suburb is also in good proximity to schools, which are easily accessible via road, tram or bus. Niddrie would profit from better train access and a larger cultural sector.

Noble Park

Ranked: 258

Previous rank: 161

Decreasing amenity has caused Noble Park’s liveability ranking to plummet, with few cafes and restaurants, limited culture and few public open spaces, along with a high crime rate. The area is well serviced by pubic transport and has relativelyuncongested roads, decent tree cover and access to schools.

Noble Park North

Ranked: 222

Previous rank: –

Noble Park North is a new addition to the list (previously counted as part of Noble Park) wedged between Springvale andEastlink. It scores highly for its bus access, shopping facilities and with relatively good access to cafes. The limited amount of culture, cafes and trains detracts from the liveability of the area.

Queensberry Street, North Melbourne Photo: Supplied.

North Melbourne

Ranked: 10

Previous rank: 56

Jumping a whopping 46 places from 2011 to make the top 10, the appeal of North Melbourne is more obvious than ever. While its crime rate, public open spaces and telecommunications coverage aren’t the best, schools, trams, cafes, culture, shopping and the CBD are all within easy reach.Northcote

North Warrandyte

Ranked: 256

Previous rank: 194

Known for its location among the treetops, North Warrandyte unsurprisingly scores well for its tree cover, topographic variation and has access to decent public open space. The area suffers from being relatively inaccessible, with poor telecommunications coverage, no train access and mostly congested roads. There’s also a severe lack of schools and shops in the area.

Northcote

Ranked: 40

Previous rank: 36

With the exception of crime and congested roads, Northcote performs consistently above average across the remainder of categories assessed. Its key strengths are public transport, culture, cafes, restaurants and CBD proximity.

Notting Hill

Ranked: 200

Previous rank: 243

Notting Hill is slowly but surely making a comeback. This south eastern suburb features a large shopping sector and good access to cafes and restaurants, along with relatively uncongested roads. More schools and public open space would significantly improve the area, with poor scores in both categories.

Nunawading

Ranked: 112

Previous rank: 156

Nunawading’s strengths are its large shopping facilities, tree cover and relatively uncongested roads, along with good access to public transport. While it has lovely leafy streets, the area lacks open space and its cultural sector could be improved.

Oak Park

Ranked: 140

Previous rank: 110

It may have some of the smallest shopping facilities in the city, but Oak Park retains its position in the top half of the list with good public transport, uncongested roads and close proximity to schools. Its overall score would improve given a lower crime rate and a larger cultural sector.

Oakleigh

Ranked: 144

Previous rank: 103

With its own shopping centre and abundance of Greek restaurants, Oakleigh’s highest scores are unsurprisingly in the categories of dining and shopping, followed by public transport. The suburb’s remaining scores are mostly average, and would benefit from more public open space and less congested roads

Oakleigh East

Ranked: 206

Previous rank: 179

It may rate the lowest out of three Oakleigh suburbs, but Oakleigh East is desirable in its own right in terms of shopping facilities, public transport, cafes and tree cover. Congested roads, minimal public open space access and few schools are areas that show room for improvement.

Oakleigh South

Ranked: 187

Previous rank: 182

Oakleigh South’s shining features are the low crime rate, (significantly less than neighbouring Oakleigh and Oakleigh East) and excellent bus access. With mostly decent scores across the board, the poor access to public open space, schools and shopping facilities drag down the overall rank.

Ormond

Ranked: 63

Previous rank: 8

In 2011 Ormond rose to claim the overall #8 position and overtake neighbouring Brighton, only to slip back over 50 spots in 2015. The main reason for its decline is the increased crime, along with the usual culprits of minimal public space and a flat landscape. Public transport, uncongested roads and proximity to schools continue to attract residents to the area, but larger shopping facilities and more cafes would quickly improve Ormond’s overall rank.

Park Orchards

Ranked: 225

Previous rank: 160

Located 23 kilometres north east of the CBD, the green wedge area of Park Orchards features excellent tree cover and a hilly landscape. Its low rank here is due mainly to very poor scores for restaurants and shopping facilities, on which it ranks the worst in the city.

Parkdale

Ranked: 149

Previous rank: 25

Dropping a huge 124 places since 2005, Parkdale’s diminishing ranking is due to poor scores in crime, public open space and culture. Located 23km south-east from Melbourne’s central business district, it maintain good scores in terms of proximity to coastline, buses and trains, with only a few congested roads.

Parkville. Photo: John Lamb

Parkville

Ranked: 9

Previous rank: 7

Few city suburbs have the same green open spaces as Parkville, especially this close to the CBD and coastline. The suburb scores well for the size of its cultural sector and access to cafes, but is considerably let down by the proportion of congested roads, which rate among the worst in the city.

Pascoe Vale

Ranked: 163

Previous rank: 139

Pascoe Vale’s relatively close location to the city, good public transport connections and access to schools solidify its up and coming status. Its weakest points are in terms of the lack of shopping facilities and cafes – both factors that are likely to improve with continued gentrification of the area. More public open space would also benefit.

Pascoe Vale South

Ranked: 179

Previous rank: 114

Pascoe Vale South’s close proximity to schools and the CBD (nine kilometres from the city) is complemented by strong public transport connections and a relatively hilly landscape. Larger shopping facilities, more cafes and less congested roads would increase the liveability of the area.

Patterson Lakes

Ranked: 245

Previous rank: 262

Located along the line coastline not far from Frankston (176), Patterson Lakes features excellent open space for its size and has low crime, but lacks tree cover, proximity to schools and scores low on trains and trams. Its liveability is disadvantaged further by its flat landscape.

Point Cook

Ranked: 309

Previous rank: 245

Point Cook’s liveability is dropping as the crime rate of the area increases. It scores well for coastline proximity and public open space such as Point Cook Coastal Park, but is deprived of culture, tree cover, cafes, shops and schools.

Port Melbourne

Ranked: 56

Previous rank: 132

Port Melbourne’s scores for each of the liveability factors assessed are on opposite ends of the spectrum. On one hand, there’s the indisputably great location close to the CBD and coastline, plus high ranking shopping facilities, cafes, few congested roads and the diverse cultural sector, but on the other, there’s the flat streets, above average crime rate, lack of trains and almost no tree cover.

Prahran

Ranked: 30

Previous rank: 34

The proximity of Chapel Street to Prahran sees it perform exceptionally well in terms of shopping facilities, trams, cafes and restaurants. For the remainder of the categories assessed, Prahran scores above average, with the exception of topographic variation. The high crime rate is the one true negative.

Preston

Ranked: 96

Previous rank: 145

Preston has benefited from added shopping facilities and cafes in recent years, allowing for its overall ranking to rise. Proximity to trams, buses, schools and proximity to the CBD are strong points of the area. Preston’s major downfall is crime, ranking poorly in this category.

Princes Hill. Photo: Ken Irwin

Princes Hill

Ranked: 16

Previous rank: 92

Nestled between Parkville and Fitzroy North, tiny Princes Hill has the best telecommunications coverage and proximity to schools in Melbourne, meaning residents have less distance to travel to primary and secondary institutions than anywhere else in the city. Given its small land area, public open spaces are minimal, but Royal Park is only a short walk away.

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Research

Ranked: 254

Previous rank: 167

Located just beyond Eltham, Research’s location scores poorly (in terms of this study) with weak telecommunications coverage and minimal shopping facilities. Its more positive attributes are the sizeable cultural sector, hilly, uncongestedstreets and excellent tree cover. More cafes, schools and public open spaces would improve the area’s liveability.

Reservoir

Ranked: 158

Previous rank: 176

Located just north of Preston (96), Reservoir would achieve a higher overall rank given more shopping facilities, a lower crime rate and better access to cafes in the area. Its best qualities are the good tram and bus access.

Richmond

Ranked: 67

Previous rank: 51

Encompassing Swan Street, Victoria Street, Church Street and Victoria Gardens, Richmond is a high scoring suburb for its shopping facilities, although its ranking has declined in this category from #1 in 2011 to #5 today, most likely due to the shrinking retail sector of Bridge Road. Its popular cafe and restaurant strips plus train and tram services also score highly, but the crime, topographic variation and congested roads in the area are less desirable.

Ringwood

Ranked: 185

Previous rank: 192

Ringwood carries many of the same positive attributes as neighbouring Ringwood East (172) but with a larger shopping and dining sector. Where it scores poorly is in crime, congested roads and the size of its cultural sector.

Ringwood East

Ranked: 172

Previous rank: 108

Ringwood East makes up for its low scoring location and lack of public open space with good access to all public transport services, good tree cover and topographic variation. A larger cultural sector would further improve Ringwood East.

Ringwood North

Ranked: 221

Previous rank: 141

Leafy and hilly Ringwood North scores well for its country-like setting with the added benefit of bus access and few congested roads. Improvements in cafes, culture, shopping facilities and crime would greatly boost its overall rank.

Ripponlea

Ranked: 29

Previous rank: 17

Ripponlea ranks extremely well in many of the individual categories measured, but its overall ranking is dragged down by the heavily congested roads and for having the second least of public open space in the city. In stark contrast, resident access to all public transport networks is the overall best in the city.

Rosanna

Ranked: 121

Previous rank: 177

Rosanna’s best attributes are its hilly streets and the good access to all public transport networks. The area also scores relatively well for its proximity to schools. More shopping, cafe and a larger cultural sector would see its ranking improve, along with a lower crime rate.

Rowville

Ranked: 284

Previous rank: 301

Rowville has benefitted from improved bus services in recent years, but the area is still dragged down by its very poor proximity to trains. There are also few cultural opportunities, schools and cafes in the area. Rowville’s greatest asset is its public open space, such as the Dandenong Valley Parklands.

Roxburgh Park

Ranked: 302

Previous rank: 256

Roxburgh Park’s liveability has decreased over the years with high crime, poor telecommunications coverage and limited culture. The suburb is serviced by decent public transport services and has good proximity to schools. More dining options and shops would also benefit the area.

Sandhurst

Ranked: 320

Previous rank: –

Previously part of Cranbourne, Sandhurst records the worst proximity to public open space in the city and loses points for crime, trains and schools. Where it scores favourably is for coastline proximity and bus access, and access to cafes and restaurants is decent compared to other low ranking suburbs.

Sandringham

Ranked: 27

Previous rank: 33

Being 16 kilometres from the CBD has its advantages. Sandringham ranks the fifth best citywide for its uncongested roads, making this an attractive suburb for commuters. While it doesn’t score so favourably in terms of its topographic variation, shopping and culture, its redeeming factors are the coastal location, dining scene and low crime rate.

Miss Marple’s Tearooms, in Sassafras. Photo: Gary Medlicott

Sassafras

Ranked: 134

Previous rank: 101

Located 43 kilometres from the CBD, Sassafras offers the benefits of a country lifestyle on the outskirts of a major city. Known for its natural surrounds, the area scores highly in the categories of tree cover, hills and public open space. There’s also a very low crime rate (coming third in this category) and a strong cultural sector.

Scoresby

Ranked: 193

Previous rank: 294

Scoresby has jumped just over 100 spots since 2011, most likely due to the large shopping sector of the area paired with low crime, great public open space and the high number of schools in the area. The reason its overall rank remains low is due to the heavily congested roads and poor train access. The area would quickly improve given more cafes and restaurants.

Seabrook

Ranked: 299

Previous rank: 163

In 2011, improved open space helped the outer south western suburb of Seabrook rise 68 places, but it now underperforms significantly for cafes and restaurants, telecommunications coverage, shops and has the second most congested roads in the city. The area offers decent public transport access and is nearby several schools.

Seaford

Ranked: 214

Previous rank: 202

Seaford’s liveability continues to steadily decline given the limited amenity of the area, reflected through low scores on cafes and culture. It does, however, perform well in the categories of public open space and train access, with reasonable tree cover.

Seaholme

Ranked: 113

Previous rank: 116

This bayside enclave within Altona benefits from having its own train station, clear roads and great public open spaces right on the water. Its lowest score is in terms of its topographic variation, being largely flat, followed by shopping facilities and proximity to cafes.

Seddon

Ranked: 126

Previous rank: 49

After jumping into the top 50 in 2011, Seddon’s ranking has slipped due to the small shopping facilities, higher crime rate and fewer public spaces compared to neighbouring suburbs. It does however retain a strong public transport framework and relatively uncongested roads, along with a good cultural sector.

Selby

Ranked: 175

Previous rank: 118

Selby is known for its natural beauty, with hilly streets, excellent tree cover and public open spaces unspoiled by traffic-free roads. The weak telecommunications coverage, lack of shopping facilities and few schools paired with its low scoring location (being far from the CBD and coastline) are factors which drag down the area’s overall liveability.

Sherbrooke

Ranked: 157

Previous rank: 215

Much like nearby Belgrave that ranks just one place above, Sherbrooke makes up for its poor location (at least in terms of this study) with strong scores in the other remaining categories. In fact, Sherbrooke is the only suburb in this survey to score a #1 rank across three categories, with the lowest crime rate, best public open space and best tree cover in the city.

Skye

Ranked: 321

Previous rank: –

Skye comes in last in this year’s liveability study, placing just one spot behind neighbouring suburb Sandhurst. Unlike other low ranking suburbs such as Hillside (319), Skye does not place last for any of the individual categories assessed, but offers few redeeming factors to balance out the cons. Its weakest points are the small shopping facilities, high crime, lack of public open space and poor access to trains. But being ranked the least liveable suburb in the most liveable city in the world isn’t really so bad.

South Kingsville

Ranked: 209

Previous rank: 96

This tiny western suburb made it into the top 100 in 2011, but has dropped in liveability since then due to its limited cafes, fewer schools and an alarmingly high proportion of congested roads. It continues to score well for its prominent cultural sector and access to buses.

South Melbourne

Ranked: 70

Previous rank: 47

South Melbourne ranks extremely well in most categories, but its overall average ranking is pulled down by outlying low scores on topographic variation, crime, public open space, telecommunications coverage and tree cover. Those factors aside, South Melbourne offers a great lifestyle close to the CBD, shopping facilities, cafes, schools and culture, with few congested roads.

South Morang

Ranked: 273

Previous rank: –

Not included in the previous survey due its outlying location, South Morang has been the recipient of new development in recent years, with its own train station opening in 2012. The area offers great public open spaces across its hilly landscape such as Plenty Gorge Park and has a reasonable shopping sector. Areas for improvement are schools, congested roads, culture and dining.

South Yarra.

South Yarra

Ranked: 2

Previous rank: 1

There’s no disputing the liveability of cosmopolitan South Yarra. The suburb continues to perform consistently highly in terms of dining, transport, location and shopping, with only crime rates and congested roads contributing to it