Melba vs Charnwood

Charnwood (median $715,000) is roughly 23% cheaper to buy into than Melba ($928,000).

Buying in Melba or Charnwood?

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Melba and Charnwood side by side

MeasureMelbaCharnwood
Price and market
Median house$928,000$715,000
Median unit$633,750$316,800
Renting
House rent$420/wk$420/wk
Unit rent$400/wk$380/wk
Owner occupied78.0%67.0%
Renter occupied21.0%31.0%
Schools
Schools nearby2020
Average ICSEA10531053
Lifestyle and people
Walk score844
Transit score10070
Bike score100100
Population3,3833,055
Median age3835
Climate
Annual rainfall668 mm668 mm
Mean max, January29.4°C29.4°C

Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.

Which suits whom

Charnwood scores higher on walkability (8/100 vs 44/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. Melba skews owner-occupied (78%), Charnwood runs more rental-dense (67% owner).

For buyers
Charnwood is the lower entry point at $715,000 median, 23% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Charnwood offers the higher gross rental yield (3.05% vs 2.35%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
School and household data is too similar between the two to call a winner on family fit. Check the individual profiles for street-level school catchments.

Melba vs Charnwood: common questions

Is Melba or Charnwood cheaper to buy in?

Charnwood has the lower median house price at $715,000, roughly 23% below Melba ($928,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Which is more walkable, Melba or Charnwood?

Charnwood scores 44/100 on walkability vs 8/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.

Which suburb has higher rental yield, Melba or Charnwood?

Gross rental yield on houses is 3.05% in Charnwood vs 2.35% in Melba. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.