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

Brunswick is an inner-northern Melbourne suburb centred on the long Sydney Road retail strip, with an eclectic mix of cafes, multicultural eateries, independent shops and live music venues. Tree-lined streets of Victorian terraces sit alongside newer apartment pockets, and the area attracts students, creatives, families and long-standing migrant communities. The population is 24,896 and the median age is 34, and housing is almost evenly split between owner-occupiers (51.0%) and renters (49.1%), so you’ll find a mix of settled households and more transient residents.

Day-to-day life is shaped by Sydney Road, Princes Park and the Merri Creek corridor with walking and cycling trails, sports grounds and community events, plus good public transport including the Upfield train line. Significant infrastructure work is under way on the Upfield line with level crossing removals, new elevated stations, an upgraded bike path and extra open space beneath the rail; construction will bring temporary impacts such as partial park closures and some train interruptions. Council projects include activity centre upgrades and a new urban park at 260 Sydney Road, alongside local redevelopments such as Fleming Park and a public housing renewal site at 351 Barkly Street. Whether that mix suits you depends on what you want from a suburb.

Housing costs in Brunswick 3056 sit unevenly against what local households earned at the last Census. A house rent of $795 a week would be about 37.9% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, a sizeable share, while a unit rent of $580 a week is about 27.7% of that income, a moderate share. On the buying side, the median house price of $1,140,000 is roughly 10.5 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, which is well above local incomes, and the median unit price of $520,000 is about 4.8 times a local year's household income, somewhat above local incomes. Whether that feels expensive will depend 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.

Over the past 12 months in Brunswick the picture is one of very small moves in prices but noticeably stronger rent growth. Median house values edged up 0.2% and unit values rose 1.5%, while house rents increased 6.0% and unit rents jumped 10.5%.

Put another way, rental income was the stronger performer this year: unit rents recorded a strong rise (10.5%) and house rents a solid rise (6.0%), whereas capital growth on both houses and units was only marginal. Whether that balance suits your investment objectives depends on your 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.