Question 1

Is Watson a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Watson is an established inner-north Canberra suburb of tree-lined streets, mid-century detached homes and pockets of newer townhouses and renovations. It has a steady, lived-in feel with older character houses alongside contemporary infill, calm streets, green reserves, local parks and sporting ovals. Day-to-day life is practical, with regular bus connections, convenient access to the Dickson shopping and dining strip for cafés and supermarkets, and easy reach of the city’s employment precincts and major arterial routes.

About 6,727 people live in Watson, with a median age of 34 and a median household income of $2,414 a week (roughly $125,500 a year). The suburb is weighted towards couple families, and most homes are owner-occupied rather than rented. Major local projects are under way, including a government health precinct with youth mental health and alcohol-and-other-drug treatment facilities and a community-controlled residential rehabilitation service, plus neighbourhood renewal that has added the Maliyan neighbourhood park and plans for new dwellings. That mix tends to suit families and professionals who value quiet streets, parks and easy access to shops and public transport.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Watson?

Accepted Answer

On these figures, housing in Watson looks different depending on whether you buy or rent. The median house price of $1,030,000 works out to about 8.2 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, which is a high multiple and puts house buying well above what people locally earned at the last Census. The median unit price of $458,000 is about 3.7 times a local year's household income, which sits at the more affordable end against local incomes. Rents are $690 a week for houses (about 28.6% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census) and $520 a week for units (about 21.5%), both moderate shares of income.

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 Watson a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Over the past 12 months the figures for Watson show a split between price and rent movements. House values rose 5.3%, a solid increase, while house rents fell slightly, down 0.7%. Unit values edged up 0.4% and unit rents rose 4.0%.

Put simply, the house side delivered the stronger capital growth this year, while units were the better performer for rental income. Which of those outcomes matters most will depend on whether you are targeting capital growth or rental returns and on your own 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	$1.03M	$458K
Change in value Past 12 months	5.3%	0.4%
Sold Past 3 months	40	16
Median days on market Past 12 months	44	56
Average rent Past 12 months	$690	$520
Change in rent Past 12 months	-0.7%	4.0%

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