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

Como sits on the southern bank of the Swan River, with leafy streets and easy access to the foreshore. Housing mixes interwar cottages and mid-century brick homes with pockets of newer riverside apartments. The local strip along Canning Highway and the Canning Bridge precinct provides shops, cafes and public transport links, and riverside parks with walking and cycle paths are nearby, while the city is a short drive away.

With a population of 14,786 and a median age of 38, Como is a suburb where couple households are common, both without and with children, and owner-occupation is more frequent than renting. That mix, together with the riverside parks and transport connections, makes Como a practical choice for families, professionals and retirees. Whether it suits you depends on what you want from a suburb; there are no significant new infrastructure projects reported at present.

On the figures, buying in Como 6152 sits well above what a typical local household earned at the last Census. The median house price of $1,365,000 works out to about 14.8 times a typical local annual household income as recorded at the last Census, while the median unit price of $837,261 is about 9.0 times that annual income — both multiples are well above local incomes at the last Census.

Renting is less stretched than buying but still significant against the same income benchmark: $800 a week for a house would be about 44.9% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, and $650 a week for a unit about 36.5% of that weekly income. Which of these measures matters most depends on whether you're looking to rent or buy and on your own 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 the clearest pattern is strong value growth, especially for units. In Como median unit values climbed 19.0% while median house values rose 11.6%. Rents also increased, with unit rents up 8.3% and house rents up 6.7%.

For someone weighing Como as an investment, the value figures speak to capital growth over the year while the rent figures reflect changes in rental income. Units were the stronger performer this year on both counts — their value rise was substantially larger than houses and their rents edged up a little faster. Whether that balance fits your plans 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.