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

Metford is a quiet residential suburb of Maitland in the Hunter region, with established streets and pockets of newer housing. Housing is predominantly low-rise and low-density, from older single-storey cottages to more recent brick family homes, and the suburb is edged by the Hunter River precinct and recreational green space. It attracts families and commuters who favour a suburban lifestyle with local shops, parks and community facilities close at hand; couple families with children are 37.5% of households and, together with couple families without children, make up about three-quarters of all families. Around 61.5% of homes are owner-occupied.

Metford has a station on the Hunter Line with standard commuter facilities and good road links to Maitland and Newcastle. Planned transport improvements include better access to local stations, upgraded rail crossings with a proposed multi-modal link to Raymond Terrace Road, road upgrades near Metford Road and improved active travel connections including a cycleway to the Maitland Hospital precinct. Maitland Christian School has proposed expanding its Metford campus, and there is a new playground at Metford Recreation Reserve. Whether Metford suits you depends on what you are after in a suburb.

At a median house price of $865,000, buying in Metford works out to about 11.2 times a typical local household's annual income as recorded at the last Census, which sits well above local incomes on those figures.

On the rental side, a house at $600 a week would take about 40.4% of that weekly household income, a large share, while a unit at $440 a week would take about 29.7%, a moderate share. Whether those costs feel expensive depends 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 Metford recorded a large rise in house values, up 16.4%. Unit rents also increased, by 4.8% over the same period, so this year the suburb showed stronger capital growth on the house side than the modest rise in unit rental income.

If capital growth is your priority, the house figure is the one that stands out; if rental income matters more, look at the unit rent movement. Whether that balance suits your goals and circumstances is for you to weigh up.

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.