Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Black Rock

Black Rock is a bayside suburb on Port Phillip Bay centred on the rocky headland Red Bluff and a stretch of sandy beach. A compact village centre near the shore has cafes and shops and supports a relaxed coastal lifestyle built around waterfront walking paths, sailing and parkland. Housing ranges from interwar cottages and postwar bungalows to larger modern homes closer to the water, attracting families and people who value seaside living. It is a community of 6,389 people with a median age of 49 and a median household income of $2,416 a week; families are the dominant household type, with couple families with and without children together representing almost nine in ten families, and about 82.2% of homes owner-occupied.

Public transport and nearby Sandringham provide access to wider services, and the foreshore is the focus of a Bayside City Council masterplan and related Bay Trail and coastal protection work. Proposals include collaborating with Life Saving Victoria on the Black Rock Life Saving Club, locating a single all-ability toilet facility by the playground, and improving beach access, while an urban forest precinct plan guides new tree planting and vegetation protection. Whether Black Rock suits you depends on how much you value seaside amenities, village shops and a settled, owner-occupied community.

Buying a house in Black Rock at the current median of $2,307,500 works out to about 18.4 times a typical local household's annual income at the last Census (median weekly household income $2,416, which is $125,632 a year). Renting looks different: the average house rent of $1,223 a week would take about 50.6% of that weekly household income, a large share, while the average unit rent of $695 a week would take about 28.8%, a moderate share. On these figures, buying a house sits well above what local households earned at the last Census, and renting—especially a unit—appears comparatively more manageable.

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

The past 12 months in Black Rock show a clear split between prices and rental income. House rents climbed 11.2% and unit rents rose 10.3% — both strong increases — while median house values edged down 0.9% and median unit values increased 1.7%, a slight gain. That means rental income has been the stronger performer this year compared with capital growth, and which of those outcomes matters to you depends on your own goals and circumstances.

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.