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

Bentleigh has a village heart around Centre Road and Bentleigh station on the Frankston line. Tree-lined streets mix timber cottages, post-war brick homes and pockets of low-rise apartments, and the area is popular with families and commuters. The shopping strip supports a steady cafe culture, independent shops and occasional markets, while nearby parks and sporting ovals provide outdoor options. Good public transport and road links make getting around straightforward.

Home to 17,921 people with a median age of 39 and a typical household income of $2,263 a week, Bentleigh is largely a suburb of families. Couple families with and without children account for about 83.8% of families, and roughly seven in ten homes are owner-occupied while 29.1% are rented. Council plans for a town-centre plaza, active laneways and a redeveloped library and youth hub point to ongoing local renewal.

Buying in Bentleigh 3204 sits well above what local households earned at the last Census. A median house price of $1,570,000 is about 13.3 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census (weekly household income $2,263, or $117,676 a year). The median unit price of $650,000 is about 5.5 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, so units sit closer to local incomes than houses do.

On the rental side, a house rent of $893 a week would take about 39.5% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, a sizeable share, while a unit rent of $625 a week would take about 27.6% of that weekly income, a moderate share. Whether that feels expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

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

The market in Bentleigh has been split over the last year. House values fell 2.4% (a modest decline) while unit values rose 9.8% (a solid increase). On the income side, house rents climbed 4.4% and unit rents climbed 4.2%, both modest rises, so rental income has edged up for both property types.

Put simply, the past 12 months show capital growth favouring units, while rents have moved up modestly for houses and units. Which of those outcomes matters to you depends on whether your priority is capital growth or rental income.

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.