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

Heathmont is an established eastern Melbourne suburb in the City of Maroondah, centred on a compact village shopping strip and a local train station. Its leafy, mostly low-rise streets of brick and weatherboard houses with well kept gardens, together with pockets of newer townhouses, make it popular with families, professionals and downsizers. Life is relaxed and suburban, with parkland and walking and cycling trails along the creek corridor, neighbourhood sporting ovals and community clubs, a handful of cafés and shops, and regular public transport links to nearby commercial centres.

The suburb is home to 9,933 people, with a median age of 41 and a typical household income of $2,140 a week, roughly $111,280 a year. Couples dominate the family mix and most homes are owner occupied, 81.8% versus 18.2% rented. Local transport and town centre upgrades are under way, including Canterbury Road works, bus-stop and traffic improvements, a new pedestrian link to the shops and schools, and recent upgrades at local sporting clubs. Whether Heathmont suits you will depend on the kind of suburban setting you want.

Buying a house in Heathmont sits well above what local households earned at the last Census: a median house price of $1,040,000 is about 9.3 times a typical local annual household income. Renting looks less stretched by comparison, with a house rent of $655 a week taking about 30.7% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, a sizeable share, while a unit rent of $570 a week would take roughly 26.6%, a moderate share. Which measure matters most will depend on whether you plan to rent or buy.

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

Units have been the clearer mover in Heathmont over the past 12 months: unit values rose a solid 9.8% and unit rents increased 9.6%. House values rose a more modest 3.6%, while house rents only edged up 0.8%.

For someone weighing Heathmont up as an investment, the figures show units delivered stronger capital growth and stronger rental-income movement this year, while houses recorded gentler gains on both fronts. Whether that mix fits your objectives depends on your circumstances and what you're looking for from an investment.

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.