Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Bargara

Bargara is a relaxed coastal town centred on a popular esplanade and beachfront. The shoreline, jetty, Kelly's Beach and the nearby Mon Repos turtle reserve draw swimmers, fishers and holidaymakers, and the esplanade is lined with cafes, takeaway shops and places to stroll. Housing mixes low-rise holiday apartments, newer family homes and older weatherboard cottages, so residents range from retirees to young families. Everyday needs are met by a local shopping strip and community facilities, and boating, cycling and seaside leisure shape life here.

With a population of 8,883 and a median age of 54, the community is weighted towards couple families without children and about 72.4% owner-occupation. Shoreline protection works under the local management plan are under way, a coastal sewer diversion has delivered a new pump station and a 7 km diversion pipeline, and planning is in place for a road upgrade and a shopping-centre walking network. Whether Bargara suits you depends on how much you value a seaside, leisure-focused setting and an older, established community.

For renters in Bargara, weekly housing costs take a large share of what a typical local household earned at the last Census. A house rent of $695 a week is about 55.1% of a $1,261 weekly household income at the last Census, while a unit rent of $565 a week is about 44.8% of that weekly income.

Buying is more stretched against local incomes: the median house price of $914,000 works out to roughly 13.9 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, which sits well above local incomes.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

If you're weighing up capital growth versus rental income in Bargara, the past 12 months saw the house side move more. Median house values rose 7.1% over the year, a solid increase, while house rents grew 6.9%, also a solid rise — so house value growth was slightly ahead of house rent growth. Unit values edged up 1.2% and unit rents increased 2.7%, a more modest change on both counts.

The value figures show how capital changed over the year and the rent figures show how rental income moved. In Bargara this year, houses outpaced units on both measures; whether that pattern fits your investment goals depends on what you want from a property.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.