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

Broadmeadows is a practical, working suburb in Melbourne's north centred on its town centre and Broadmeadows station on the Craigieburn line. Streets mix post-war brick and weatherboard houses, pockets of public housing and more recent townhouse and apartment infill alongside light industrial areas and business parks. Residents use nearby major roads and public transport for commuting, and the suburb contains parks, sporting fields and community services that support families and multicultural communities. It suits people who need solid transport links, local amenities and convenient access to employment on the northern urban fringe.

About 12,524 people live in Broadmeadows; the median age is 32 and the median household income is $1,151 a week. Families are prominent — couple families with children make up 46.8% and, together with couple families without children (25.2%), account for roughly 72.0% of families. Slightly more homes are rented (51.0%) than owner-occupied (49.0%). The suburb is also the focus of coordinated planning and upgrades, including precinct planning, a proposed station redevelopment, new social housing construction at Banksia Gardens, campus investment for Bendigo Kangan Institute, Meadowlink active-transport works and a reactivated town hall, all shaping local housing, transport, jobs and public spaces.

Housing costs in Broadmeadows sit high against what a typical local household earned at the last Census. On these figures, renting a house at $500 a week would take about 43.4% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, and a unit at $470 a week would take about 40.8% — both are a large share of income. Buying looks further stretched: the median house price of $650,000 is about 10.9 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, and the median unit price of $502,500 is about 8.4 times that annual income, which places purchase prices 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.

Over the past 12 months Broadmeadows saw stronger movement in values than in rents. House values climbed 10.3%, a strong rise, while unit values increased 6.1%, a solid gain. By contrast, house rents edged up 1.4% and unit rents rose a modest 2.2%.

For someone weighing Broadmeadows up as an investment, the value figures reflect capital growth over the year and the rent figures reflect rental income; on these numbers capital growth — particularly for houses — has been the stronger performer. Whether that pattern fits your goals and circumstances is for you to judge.

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.