Box Hill vs Surrey Hills: Which Melbourne Suburb Is Right for You?

Name a middle-ring suburb in City of Whitehorse and most people will not say Box Hill first. That is the point. At 12km from the CBD, Box Hill is the neighbour everyone overlooks until they check the data.

At a Glance

Transport

Box Hill has 161 public transport stops (3 tram, 16 train, 142 bus). Surrey Hills has 0 stops (0 tram, 0 train, 0 bus).

Box Hill has train access via Box Hill Station. Surrey Hills does not have a nearby train station.

Winner: Box Hill edges out Surrey Hills with 161 vs 0 transit stops (161 more).

Food & Drink

Box Hill has 11 verified dining venues (grade: C+). Surrey Hills has 15 (grade: A).

Box Hill standouts: Max’s Bistro (4.8 stars), The Rustic Bar (4.5 stars), The Ruby Hotel (4.5 stars) Surrey Hills standouts: Alice’s Bistro (4.8 stars), The New Kitchen (4.6 stars), The Silver Bar (4.5 stars)

Cost of Living

Rental cost data for these suburbs is not yet available. We are working on integrating RTBA bond data from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing – check back soon.

Pros & Cons Summary

Box Hill Strengths

• 161 public transport stops including 3 tram + 16 train + 142 bus (ranked 52 of 252)
• Train access via Box Hill Station
• 7 verified dining venues including Max’s Bistro (4.8 stars, 793 reviews) – ranked 60 of 122 suburbs

Surrey Hills Strengths

• 10 verified dining venues including Alice’s Bistro (4.8 stars, 379 reviews) – ranked 17 of 122 suburbs
• 2 bars and pubs including The Silver Bar (4.5 stars) (ranked 82 of 122)
• 10km from the CBD – close enough for easy access

Our Verdict

For commuters: Box Hill wins with 161 transit stops vs Surrey Hills’s 0. For food lovers: Surrey Hills with 15 verified venues vs Box Hill’s 11. For families: Insufficient data for both suburbs – school and childcare ratings are being integrated. For nightlife: Box Hill (B) edges out Surrey Hills (C+). For budget-conscious renters: Rental data is pending for these suburbs – we will update when RTBA bond data is integrated.

FAQ

Is Box Hill or Surrey Hills better for public transport?

Box Hill has 161 public transport stops compared to Surrey Hills’s 0, making it the better-connected suburb based on PTV data.

Is Box Hill or Surrey Hills cheaper to rent in?

Rental cost data is not yet available for either suburb. We are integrating RTBA bond data and will update this comparison when figures are confirmed.

Which suburb is better, Box Hill or Surrey Hills?

It depends on your priorities. See our verdict section above for recommendations by use case (commuting, food, families, nightlife, budget).