Question 1

Is Macleod a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Macleod is an established, leafy north-eastern suburb with a village feel centred on its train station on the Hurstbridge line. Streets mix mid-century weatherboard and brick homes on generous blocks with pockets of newer infill, so the area attracts families, professionals and students with La Trobe University nearby. A compact shopping strip, local cafés, sports reserves and parkland with walking trails make day-to-day life convenient, and regular trains and arterial roads keep the suburb quietly residential but well connected. Homes are predominantly owner-occupied, with about three in four dwellings held by their occupants, and families form the bulk of households.

The Ruthven Street level crossing is scheduled to be removed by a project that will build a rail bridge and add a walking and cycling path along Ellesmere Parade. Construction will temporarily use Macleod Park oval, which is to be upgraded afterwards along with additional recreation space at Macleod College oval; there is also a state funding commitment matched by Banyule Council for a Macleod Park pavilion upgrade, though works are currently stalled while underground electricity cables are relocated. Upgrading Macleod Station is not in scope for this project.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Macleod?

Accepted Answer

Buying a house in Macleod sits well above what local households earned at the last Census. With a median house price of $1,065,000, that is about 10.4 times a typical local household's annual income at the last Census (weekly household income $1,966 × 52 = $102,232). Renting looks easier by comparison: a house rent of $630 a week would take about 32.0% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, a sizeable share, while a unit at $323 a week would take about 16.4%, a more modest share. On these figures, renting, especially a unit, appears the more manageable route compared with buying.

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

Question 3

Is Macleod a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Over the past 12 months Macleod has shown a clear split between houses and units. House values climbed 10.5% over the year, a strong rise, while house rents rose 5.4%, a solid increase, so capital growth outpaced rental growth on the house side. By contrast, unit values fell 2.8% over the year, a moderate decline, while unit rents increased 7.7%, a notable rise, meaning unit rents moved faster than unit prices and the two went in opposite directions.

If capital growth is your priority, the house figures are the most relevant; if rental income matters more, the unit rent movement is the number to watch. Whether that makes Macleod a suitable investment for you 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.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$1.06M	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	10.5%	-2.8%
Sold Past 3 months	23	9
Median days on market Past 12 months	30	33
Average rent Past 12 months	$630	$323
Change in rent Past 12 months	5.4%	7.7%

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