Best-performing councils in Victoria

Victorian councils ranked by overall performance across the four dimensions of the Council Scorer index. See the full table and how each council compares.

Last updated: September 2026 · How these rankings are calculated

Ranked by Composite score

  1. Bayside City — VIC · metro · Composite score: 73/100 · composite 73/100
  2. Wellington Shire — VIC · regional · Composite score: 68/100 · composite 68/100
  3. Monash City — VIC · metro · Composite score: 67/100 · composite 67/100
  4. Borough of Queenscliffe — VIC · rural · Composite score: 66/100 · composite 66/100
  5. Banyule City — VIC · metro · Composite score: 64/100 · composite 64/100
  6. Manningham City — VIC · metro · Composite score: 64/100 · composite 64/100
  7. Port Phillip City — VIC · metro · Composite score: 63/100 · composite 63/100
  8. Warrnambool City — VIC · regional · Composite score: 62/100 · composite 62/100
  9. Wodonga City — VIC · regional · Composite score: 62/100 · composite 62/100
  10. Corangamite Shire — VIC · regional · Composite score: 61/100 · composite 61/100
  11. Boroondara City — VIC · metro · Composite score: 60/100 · composite 60/100
  12. West Wimmera Shire — VIC · rural · Composite score: 60/100 · composite 60/100
  13. Whitehorse City — VIC · metro · Composite score: 60/100 · composite 60/100
  14. Ararat Rural City — VIC · rural · Composite score: 59/100 · composite 59/100
  15. Campaspe Shire — VIC · regional · Composite score: 59/100 · composite 59/100

How we rank

Rankings are calculated from Council Scorer's four performance dimensions (Sustainability, Community Services, Lifestyle & Amenity, Core Operations), each derived from statutory data submitted to state and federal regulators. We compare within state and peer group so that metro, regional and rural councils are judged like-for-like. Read the full methodology.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a council score well?

Councils score well when they combine sound financial health with reliable service delivery — strong sustainability indicators, well-used community services, good lifestyle and amenity provision, and dependable core operations like roads, waste and planning. Every dimension is weighted and normalised so metro, regional and rural councils are compared like-for-like. How these rankings are calculated.

How often is this updated?

Scores are refreshed whenever new statutory reporting is released by state and federal regulators, and the page is rebuilt with each data update. The 'last updated' date above reflects the current data build. How these rankings are calculated.

Where does the data come from?

All inputs come from official public sources — state local-government performance reporting, audited council financial statements and ABS datasets. We do not use survey data, and councils cannot pay to change a score. How these rankings are calculated.