Buxton vs Merimbula

Houses cost about the same in both suburbs: the median house price is $950K in Buxton and $950K in Merimbula.

For units, Buxton sits at a median of $675K against $540K in Merimbula, which makes Merimbula the more affordable unit market and Buxton the pricier one.

Gross rental yield on houses is effectively level, at 3.50% in Buxton and 3.45% in Merimbula, so neither suburb has a cash flow edge on houses.

Over the past year house prices moved +11.8% in Buxton and +3.3% in Merimbula, so recent momentum favours Buxton, although both suburbs recorded growth.

Looking back three years, Buxton houses are +25.5% and Merimbula houses +5.0%, so Buxton has compounded faster than Merimbula over the longer window.

Rental vacancy is 1.5% in Buxton and 1.9% in Merimbula, so landlords in Buxton face less competition for tenants. Anything under 2% is generally read as a tight market where tenants compete for homes.

Merimbula is the bigger suburb, with a population of 3,821 against 2,071, larger than Buxton; a larger suburb usually means a deeper pool of buyers and tenants.

In short: Buxton for recent price momentum, Buxton for the tighter rental market. Which matters more depends on whether the investor is buying for cash flow, capital growth or affordability.