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

Rutherford sits on the low-lying plains near the Hunter River and has a practical, suburban character of low-set brick and weatherboard houses alongside newer family homes and some semi-rural blocks on the fringes. The community of 13,091 people has a median age of 35 and a median household income of $1,475 a week (about $76,700 a year). Residents tend to be families and local workers who value backyard space, parks and sporting grounds.

Everyday shopping strips, schools and community facilities are close to hand, and main roads and bus routes connect Rutherford to nearby regional centres and the Hunter Valley, making it a convenient base between town and country. The local public school’s library has been upgraded, several medical centres operate in the suburb, and the nearby Maitland Hospital at Metford has opened and received additional funding for car parking. Planning material also identifies highway duplication, bus-priority lanes, cycling links and servicing upgrades to support growth. Whether Rutherford suits you depends on what you want from a suburb.

A median house price of $785,000 in Rutherford works out to about 10.2 times a typical local household's annual income at the last Census, which places buying a house well above what households earned then. On the rental side, the average house rent of $625 a week would take about 42.4% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, a large share, while the average unit rent of $480 a week would take about 32.5%, a sizeable share. Renting a unit is less stretched than renting a house, though both take a significant portion of local incomes; whether that feels expensive depends 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 in Rutherford, median house values rose 9.1% while house rents increased 4.2%. Units moved differently: median unit values fell slightly, down 1.3%, while unit rents climbed 7.9%.

Put simply, the house side delivered stronger capital growth this year, whereas the unit market showed a slight decline in value alongside a solid rise in rental income. If capital growth is your priority the house numbers are the relevant ones; if rental income matters more the 7.9% rise in unit rents is the figure that speaks to that. Whether that makes Rutherford the right 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.