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

Montrose sits on the leafy foothills at the edge of the Dandenong Ranges and has a village atmosphere centred on a small shopping strip and a local station on the Lilydale line. Streets are often tree-lined and sit on gentle to steep slopes, with mid-century weatherboard and brick homes alongside renovated and newer builds. It appeals to families and downsizers after a quieter, semi-rural lifestyle with ready access to bushland reserves, walking tracks and valley views while still within commuting reach of the city.

About 6,900 people live in Montrose; the median age is 41 and the typical household income is $2,088 a week (roughly $108,576 a year). The suburb is strongly family-oriented, with the two couple-family groups together representing almost nine in ten families, and homes are predominantly owner-occupied (37.7% owned outright and 53.5% owned with a mortgage, renters 8.9%). Local parks, community facilities and a council-run library in the town centre meet everyday needs, and council planning includes a draft master plan for the Montrose Recreation Reserve plus footpaths and cycleways work on Richards Road and Mt Dandenong Tourist Road.

Buying looks stretched against what local households earned at the last Census: a median house price of $960,000 is about 8.8 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, which places buying well above local incomes. Renting is relatively less extreme but still significant — a house rent of $685 a week would take about 32.8% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, a sizeable share.

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

For someone weighing Montrose as an investment, the past 12 months show house values rose a modest 2.0% while house rents edged up 1.5%. In that year the increase in house prices was larger than the rise in the rent those houses earn, so capital growth outpaced rental income on the house side.

Whether that balance suits you depends on your own goals and circumstances — for example, whether you prioritise capital growth or regular rental income.

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.