Carrara vs Merrimac.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,100,000 and $950,500. Merrimac edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Merrimac (median $950,500) is roughly 16% cheaper to buy into than Carrara ($1,100,000).
Merrimac scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 4/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Merrimac (1057) sits above Carrara (1046).
For buyers
Merrimac is the lower entry point at $950,500 median, 16% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Merrimac offers the higher gross rental yield (4.76% vs 3.90%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Merrimac edges out on average school ICSEA (1057 vs 1046).
Common questions
Is Carrara or Merrimac cheaper to buy in?
Merrimac has the lower median house price at $950,500, roughly 16% below Carrara ($1,100,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Carrara or Merrimac have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Merrimac scores 1057 vs 1046 in Carrara. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Carrara or Merrimac?
Merrimac scores 4/100 on walkability vs 0/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Carrara or Merrimac?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.76% in Merrimac vs 3.90% in Carrara. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
Compare Carrara against another suburb