Suburb Deep Dives · 29 October 2026 · 7 min read
Sunbury (VIC 3046) in Focus 2026: Is It a Good Investment? R-Score 88/100, 3.7% Yield & Best Streets
Is Sunbury (VIC 3046) a good suburb to invest in 2026? Our September 2026 quantitative audit scores Sunbury at 88/100 (Ranked #1,913 of 15,286 suburbs), with a $750,000 median house price (+8.7% 12m), $530/wk rent (3.7% yield), and 522 top-tier streets scoring 75–100/100.
Market Classification: High-Supply Growth Corridor (Street Selection Critical) · R-Score: 88/100 (National Rank #1,913 of 15,286) · Street Average: 68/100 across 932 streets.
On the surface, Sunbury attracts heavy buyer attention because of its $750,000 entry point and modern housing stock. However, council-wide building approvals in Hume are running at 3.8% of existing stock. In high-supply corridors like this, buying a generic new-build on the fringe exposes you to years of competing stage releases. The only way to outperform the Sunbury median is to buy established homes on tightly held, 75–100 scored owner-occupier streets where land is already built out.

“I’d treat the 5% vacancy rate and negative $350 weekly cash flow as the more useful warning signs than the 8.7% annual price rise. In Sunbury, street selection matters, so I’d compare owner-occupier concentration and rental performance closely before paying a premium for a particular pocket.”
Below is our full September 2026 quantitative and street-level breakdown for Sunbury (VIC 3046), combining 36 months of settled price and rental history from our Aurora research warehouse, council-level supply and employment data for Hume (VIC), and block-by-block ABS 2021 Census SA1 tenure and yield rankings across 22,841 residential addresses.
1. Sunbury (VIC) 3-Year Market Trajectory & 27-Indicator R-Score (September 2026)
Over the past 12 months, Sunbury’s median house price moved +8.7% (from $690,000 to $750,000), bringing its 3-year cumulative price movement to -9.3% (from $827,000 three years ago). On the rental side, median weekly asking rents moved -1.9% over the past year to $530/wk (+19.4% over 36 months), equating to a 3.7% gross rental yield. Compared with 12 months ago—when Sunbury carried an R-Score of 84/100—its current composite R-Score of 88/100 represents a +4-point shift in underlying market pressure.
| Indicator / R-Score Pillar | Sunbury (VIC) Current | 12-Month / 36-Month Context |
|---|---|---|
| Composite Suburb R-Score | 88 / 100 | Ranked #1,913 of 15,286 suburbs (was 84/100 12m ago) |
| Median House Price | $750,000 | 12m change: +8.7% · 36m change: -9.3% |
| Median Weekly Rent & Gross Yield | $530/wk (3.7%) | 12m rent change: -1.9% · 36m rent change: +19.4% |
| Rental Vacancy & Days on Market | 5% vacancy | Median selling time: 32 days on market (1.5% vacancy is the tight-market line) |
| Pillar 1: Buyer Demand | 34 / 100 | Measures days-on-market compression, vendor discounting & sales velocity |
| Pillar 2: Supply & Ownership | 36 / 100 | Measures stock on market, building approvals vs stock & owner-occupier share |
| Pillar 3: Price Momentum | 78 / 100 | Measures short/medium-term price velocity vs Hume & VIC |
| Pillar 4: Yield Pressure | 48 / 100 | Measures gross rental yield, rent trajectory & vacancy compression |
2. The “Two-Speed Suburb” Test: Best & Worst Streets in Sunbury (VIC)
Why do two 4-bedroom houses in Sunbury achieve completely different bank valuations and tenant quality? Because suburb medians blend every pocket together. When we map all 22,841 addresses across 932 streets in Sunbury through G-NAF to their ABS 2021 Census SA1 blocks, the suburb splits into three distinct tiers:
- Strong Street Profile (Score 75–100): 522 streets (73% of scored streets) pass both ABS Census tenure tests (owner-occupiers >65% and public housing ≤5%) plus at least one—or both—of the Sunbury rent and yield benchmarks.
- Mid / Mixed Street Profile (Score 50–74): 114 streets pass the core owner-occupier and public-housing thresholds but sit below the suburb median on weekly rent or yield.
- Weaker / Caution Street Profile (Score 0–25): 82 streets fail one or both census tenure thresholds—meaning either owner-occupation sits at or below 65% or state/community public housing exceeds 5% on those specific SA1 blocks.
Top 5 Highest-Scoring Streets in Sunbury (VIC)
These streets sit in SA1 census blocks with high homeowner pride of ownership, minimal social housing concentration, and strong block-level rents (inspect all 932 streets in Sunbury):
| Top Street in Sunbury | Street Score | Addresses | Owner-Occupiers | Public Housing | SA1 Rent & Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Longacre Avenue | 100/100 | 39 | 99% | 0% | $605/wk (5.8%) |
| #2 Sheaf Street | 100/100 | 24 | 99% | 0% | $605/wk (5.8%) |
| #3 Retallick Street | 100/100 | 16 | 97% | 0% | $602/wk (5.7%) |
| #4 Berrydale Road | 100/100 | 15 | 95% | 0% | $520/wk (4.3%) |
| #5 Cobblestone Lane | 100/100 | 11 | 95% | 0% | $520/wk (4.3%) |
Streets Where Block-Level Tenure Trails the Sunbury Average
By contrast, the streets below run through SA1 census blocks that fail one or more of our tenure or rental tests. A lower Street Score is not a judgement of any individual house, but it highlights where higher renter turnover or public housing concentration exists within Sunbury:
| Caution Street Sample | Street Score | Addresses | Owner-Occupiers | Public Housing | SA1 Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timins Street | 0/100 | 69 | 44% | 10.3% | $433/wk |
| Rainbow Court | 0/100 | 24 | 44% | 10.3% | $433/wk |
| Mcdougall Road | 0/100 | 102 | 55% | 9.1% | $460/wk |
3. Economic & Supply Drivers in Hume Council (Victoria)
Sunbury sits within the Hume Local Government Area, which has a residential population of approximately 278,885 (+10.4% population movement over the past 3 years) and 67,404 total dwellings. Three council-level fundamentals shape Sunbury’s medium-term outlook:
- Local Employment Diversity (ABS Census): The largest employment sectors across Hume are Transport, Postal and Warehousing (20%), Manufacturing (16%), Retail Trade (9%), Construction (8%). Multi-sector employment reduces reliance on any single employer or commodity cycle.
- New Building Approvals vs. Existing Stock: Over the latest 12-month financial year, Hume approved 3.8% new dwelling stock (~3,044.37 dwellings). Because new approvals exceed 1.8% of stock, investors in Sunbury must avoid generic greenfield house-and-land pockets and stick to established, built-out streets.
- Tracked Infrastructure Pipeline: Hume currently has $8.3 billion in tracked major infrastructure projects (placing it in the 83th percentile of Australian councils).
4. Worked Cashflow, Deposit & 80% LVR Stress-Test for Sunbury (September 2026)
What does it actually cost to acquire and hold a typical house in Sunbury at today’s median price of $750,000 and median rent of $530/wk? Below is the baseline 80% Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR) model we use to stress-test serviceability before shortlisting a property:
| Cashflow & Capital Item | Sunbury Worked Figure | Assumptions & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price (Suburb Median) | $750,000 | Settled house median as of September 2026 |
| 20% Deposit + Est. Stamp Duty & Costs | $186,000 | $150,000 deposit (80% LVR) + ~$36,000 stamp duty, legal & inspection allowance (can be funded via usable home equity) |
| 80% LVR Loan Amount | $600,000 | Standard no-LMI investor loan threshold |
| Gross Annual Rental Income | $27,560/yr ($530/wk) | 3.7% gross rental yield before vacancies and expenses |
| Est. Annual Interest + Operating Costs | $45,750/yr | Assumes 6.25% interest-only ($37,500/yr) + ~1.1% for council rates, insurance & property management ($8,250/yr) |
| Pre-Tax Weekly Cashflow Position | -$350/wk top-up | Before tax deductions / depreciation (confirm post-tax position with your accountant) |
5. Who Should Buy in Sunbury—And 3 Rules Before You Make an Offer
Strong Buyer Activity Meets an Active New-Build Pipeline. Based on our September 2026 data, Sunbury is best suited to equity-backed homeowners and portfolio builders seeking a balanced entry price ($750,000) and 3.7% rental yield in VIC.
- Never Buy Blind on the Suburb Median: In Sunbury, 82 streets score below 50/100 on our census tenure and yield tests. Always run the exact street through the Sunbury Street Score Hub and target the 522 streets scoring 75–100/100.
- Check Lot-Level Overlays (Flood, Bushfire, Slope & Easements): Even on a 100/100 streetlike Longacre Avenue, individual lots can carry overland flow paths, steep gradients, or sewer easements that restrict granny-flat additions or spike insurance premiums.
- Price Against Street-Matched Settled Comparables: Do not let a selling agent justify an asking price on a 25/100 street using comparable sales from a 100/100 street. Compare settled sales within the same SA1 Street Score band.
If there's a specific street you're weighing up right now, check its Street Score first — it's free, takes ten seconds, and tells you whether that street is pulling the suburb average up or riding on it.
Market data & R-Scores for locations in this article
Drill Down Into the Markets Mentioned Above
Inspect live monthly R-Scores, median prices, rental yields, and street-by-street scores for the cities and council areas referenced in this article:
Frequently asked questions
Is Sunbury (VIC 3046) a good suburb for property investment in 2026?
As of September 2026, Sunbury (VIC 3046) scores 88/100 on the 27-indicator Ripehouse R-Score (ranked #1,913 of 15,286 Australian suburbs). It is classified as a High-Supply Growth Corridor (Street Selection Critical) with a median house price of $750,000, median rent of $530/wk (3.7% gross yield), and vacancy rate of 5%.
How have house prices and rents performed in Sunbury over the past 1 to 3 years?
Over the past 12 months, Sunbury’s median house price moved +8.7% to $750,000, and -9.3% over the past 36 months. Median weekly asking rents moved -1.9% over the past year to $530/wk (3.7% gross yield).
What are the highest and lowest scoring streets in Sunbury, VIC?
Across 932 streets (22,841 addresses) in Sunbury, 522 streets score 75 to 100 on the Ripehouse Street Score, led by Longacre Avenue (100/100, 99% owner-occupied), Sheaf Street (100/100, 99% owner-occupied), Retallick Street (100/100, 97% owner-occupied). Meanwhile, 82 streets score below 50 due to lower owner-occupation or public housing concentration above 5%.
How much deposit and weekly cashflow is needed to buy a median house in Sunbury?
At Sunbury’s median house price of $750,000, an 80% LVR purchase ($600,000 loan) requires approximately $186,000 in cash or usable home equity ($150,000 deposit plus around $36,000 for stamp duty and acquisition costs). At $530/wk rent and a 6.25% interest-only benchmark, estimated pre-tax cashflow is -$350/wk before tax deductions.
What is the housing supply pipeline and economic profile of Hume Council?
Sunbury is located in the Hume (VIC) Local Government Area (population around 278,885, +10.4% 3yr growth). Annual building approvals sit at 3.8% of existing dwelling stock. Tracked major infrastructure spend is $8.3B. Top employment sectors are Transport, Postal and Warehousing (20%), Manufacturing (16%), Retail Trade (9%).
General information only. It does not take your objectives, financial situation or needs into account, and nothing here is legal, financial, taxation or investment advice specific to your circumstances.
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