Hop on a train to the end of the line and you'll find cheaper properties, right? Well, not necessarily, according to recent Domain Group house price data, crunched to look at median house prices across Melbourne's suburban train network.
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The data showed the train line with the highest average median house price was Glen Waverley at $2,046,666, followed by the Sandringham line at $1,698,300.
At the other end of the scale, the Regional Rail Link (counted as far as Wyndham Vale) had the lowest average median, coming in at $599,875. The Melton line also proved less expensive, with an average median of $662,626.
Though in most cases a longer commute will get you more bang for your buck, certain outlying stations and suburbs had higher medians.
On the Hurstbridge line, house prices tracked steadily down until Greensborough, which had a median of $756,000. They headed back up at Montmorency and Eltham, with medians of $850,000 and $876,250 respectively.
- How does your station stack up? See the full list below
Morrison Kleeman Eltham director Peter Kleeman said Eltham and Montmorency had a higher number of larger properties, as well as a leafy outlook, which pushed the median up.
"Properties are hitting the million dollar mark quite a lot lately," Mr Kleeman said. "It's a hidden gem - it's the gateway to the Yarra Valley."
To the west, the coastal terminus of Williamstown had a median of $1,385,000, well above suburbs on the same line closer to the city.
Williams Real Estate director Michael Harvey said the lifestyle and the fact that there were three train stations in the suburb, were big selling points.
"We've got a beach here, recreation, parkland and the waterfront," Mr Harvey said. "You really can catch a train from anywhere in Williamstown."
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Though neighbouring Newport and Yarraville were nipping at the heels of Williamstown, with medians near the $1 million mark, Mr Harvey said they were still more affordable - despite being closer to the city.
"People are saying, 'if we can't quite afford to buy in Williamstown, we will take that second option of sister suburb Newport', which is not dissimilar to Yarraville," he said.
Domain Group chief data scientist Nicola Powell said though there was not a direct correlation between train lines and house prices, it was interesting to look at how prices could fluctuate between stations.
She said cases of stations further from the city attracting higher prices showed that it was not just distance from the CBD that determined property prices.
"It highlights the fact that there's other factors that influence our lifestyle; being close to shops, being close to parks, all of these things factor into house-price growth," Dr Powell said.
The data also revealed the inner-city suburbs of Collingwood and Richmond had lower medians than the next stops along the line.
Just three stops from the city in Collingwood, the median house price was $1,125,000, significantly lower than suburbs six stations further along the line, including Fairfield at $1.39 million and Eaglemont at $1.93 million.
Biggin Scott Richmond director Andrew Crotty said it came down to the size of houses available in each area.
"There's probably bigger houses out in Northcote and so forth whereas Collingwood has a selection of smaller houses," Mr Crotty said.
He said properties close to Hoddle Street and the freeway also pulled the median down, but that there were still a lot of desirable streets in the area close to parkland and the Yarra.
"It's often been the forgotten suburb," he said. "If you don't mind living in an upward manner, you can get a good quality of life close to the city."
On some lines, getting off one station later could save you up to $397,000 - for example staying on the train until Pascoe Vale rather than alighting at Strathmore.
Despite a small distance between the train stations on the Craigieburn line, Strathmore's median was $1.15 million compared to Pascoe Vale's $752,500.
Nelson Alexander Pascoe Vale agent Joe Russo said the two suburbs sat either side of CityLink, affecting prices in the areas.
He also said Strathmore is a more established suburb - similar to Essendon, Brunswick and Coburg.
"Pascoe Vale has always been lagging behind," he said.
Other stops with prices jumps of over $350,000 include Altona and Laverton on the Werribee line, East Malvern and Mount Waverley on the Glen Waverley line and Blackburn and Nunawading on the Belgrave line.
How do your line and station compare?
Click your line: Alamein | Belgrave | Cranbourne | Craigieburn | Frankston | Glen Waverley | Hurstbridge | Lilydale | Melton | Pakenham | Regional Rail Link | Sandringham | South Morang | Sunbury | Upfield | Werribee | Williamstown
Richmond: $1.26 million
Burnley: $1.21 million
Hawthorn: $2.02 million
Auburn (Hawthorn East): $1.971 million
Camberwell: $2.108 million
Burwood: $1.265 million
Ashburton: $1.675 million
Richmond: $1.26 million
Burnley: $1.21 million
Hawthorn: $2.02 million
Auburn (Hawthorn East): $1.971 million
Camberwell: $2.108 million
Canterbury: $2.83 million
Surrey Hills: $1.85 million
Mont Albert: $1,937,500
Box Hill: $1.48 million
Blackburn: $1.369 million
Nunawading: $978,000
Mitcham: $980,000
Ringwood: $849,975
Heathmont: $877,500
Bayswater: $550,000
Boronia: $690,000
Ferntree Gully: $715,000
Upper Ferntree Gully: $669,000
Upwey: $660,000
Tecoma: $705,000
Belgrave: $600,000
Richmond: $1.26 million
South Yarra: $1.755 million
Toorak: $4.45 million
Armadale: $2.103 million
Malvern: $2,417,500
Caulfield: $1.633 million
Carnegie: $1,377,500
Murrumbeena: $1.332 million
Hughesdale: $1.337 million
Oakleigh: $1.15 million
Huntingdale: $1.1 million
Clayton: $1.12 million
Westall (Clayton South): $772,000
Springvale: $730,000
Noble Park: $608,000
Dandenong: $505,000
Lynbrook: $587,500
Merinda Park (Cranbourne North): $471,000
Cranbourne: $500,000
North Melbourne: $1.167 million
Kensington: $985,000
Newmarket (Flemington): $1.034 million
Ascot Vale: $1,123,100
Moonee Ponds: $1.23 million
Essendon: $1.25 million
Strathmore: $1.15 million
Pascoe Vale: $752,500
Oak Park: $765,000
Glenroy: $614,000
Jacana: $514,500
Broadmeadows: $490,000
Coolaroo: $470,000
Roxburgh Park: $490,000
Craigieburn: $485,000
Richmond: $1.26 million
South Yarra: $1.755 million
Toorak: $4.45 million
Armadale: $2.103 million
Malvern: $2,417,500
Caulfield: $1.633 million
Glen Huntly: $1.18 million
Ormond: $1.505 million
McKinnon: $1.56 million
Bentleigh: $1,377,500
Moorabbin: $1.018 million
Highett: $1.23 million
Cheltenham: $1.54 million
Mentone: $960,000
Parkdale: $1.2 million
Mordialloc: $1.045 million
Aspendale: $1.05 million
Edithvale: $975,000
Chelsea: $830,750
Bonbeach: $825,000
Carrum: $765,000
Kananook (Seaford): $650,750
Frankston: $555,000
Richmond: $1.26 million
Burnley: $1.21 million
Heyington (Toorak): $4.45 million
Kooyong: $2,762,500
Tooronga (Malvern): $2,417,500
Glen Iris: $1.95 million
East Malvern: $1.72 million
Mount Waverley: $1.35 million
Glen Waverley: $1.3 million
Jolimont (East Melbourne): $3,655,000
Richmond: $1.26 million
Collingwood: $1,125,000
Victoria Park (Abbotsford): $1,270,500
Clifton Hill: $1.295 million
Westgarth/Dennis (Northcote): $1.311 million
Fairfield: $1.39 million
Alphington: $1,530,700
Ivanhoe: $1.4 million
Eaglemont: $1.93 million
Heidelberg: $1,156,129
Rosanna: $1.135 million
Macleod: $916,500
Watsonia: $775,000
Greensborough: $756,000
Montmorency: $850,000
Eltham: $876,250
Diamond Creek: $730,000
Wattle Glen: $683,000
Hurstbridge: $707,500
Richmond: $1.26 million
Burnley: $1.21 million
Hawthorn: $2.02 million
Auburn (Hawthorn East): $1.971 million
Camberwell: $2.108 million
Canterbury: $2.83 million
Surrey Hills: $1.85 million
Mont Albert: $1,937,500
Box Hill: $1.48 million
Blackburn: $1.369 million
Nunawading: $978,000
Mitcham: $980,000
Ringwood: $849,975
Ringwood East: $850,000
Croydon: $730,000
Mooroolbark: $695,500
Lilydale: $695,000
North Melbourne: $1.167 million
Footscray: $849,000
Sunshine: $730,000
Ardeer: $577,500
Deer Park: $507,000
Caroline Springs: $571,000
Rockbank: $555,000
Melton: $344,000
Richmond: $1.26 million
South Yarra: $1.755 million
Toorak: $4.45 million
Armadale: $2.103 million
Malvern: $2,417,500
Caulfield: $1.633 million
Carnegie: $1,377,500
Murrumbeena: $1.332 million
Hughesdale: $1.337 million
Oakleigh: $1.15 million
Huntingdale: $1.1 million
Clayton: $1.12 million
Westall (Clayton South): $772,000
Springvale: $730,000
Noble Park: $608,000
Dandenong: $505,000
Hallam: $540,000
Narre Warren: $565,000
Berwick: $641,000
Beaconsfield: $646,000
Officer: $495,000
Pakenham: $467,250
Footscray: $849,750
Sunshine: $730,000
Ardeer: $577,500
Deer Park: $507,000
Tarneit: $500,000
Wyndham Vale: $435,000
Richmond: $1.26 million
South Yarra: $1.755 million
Prahran: $1,522,500
Windsor: $1,502,500
Balaclava: $1.111 million
Ripponlea: Insufficient data
Elsternwick: $1,874,500
Gardenvale: $1.66 million
Brighton: $2.65 million
Hampton: $1.89 million
Sandringham: $1,757,500
Jolimont (East Melbourne): $3,655,000
West + North Richmond (Richmond): $1.26 million
Collingwood: $1,125,000
Victoria Park (Abbotsford): $1,270,500
Clifton Hill: $1.295 million
Rushall (Fitzroy North): $1.441 million
Northcote: $1.311 million
Thornbury: $1.11 million
Preston: $914,500
Reservoir: $725,000
Thomastown: $612,250
Lalor: $582,250
Epping: $540,000
South Morang: $575,500
North Melbourne: $1.167 million
Footscray: $849,750
West Footscray: $872,000
Sunshine: $730,000
Albion: $660,000
St Albans: $582,000
Sydenham: $520,500
Diggers Rest: $441,000
Sunbury: $455,000
North Melbourne: $1.167 million
Royal Park (Parkville): $1,743,750
Brunswick: $1.1 million
Coburg: $928,000
Batman + Merlynston (Coburg North): $765,000
Fawkner: $650,000
Gowrie (Glenroy): $614,000
Upfield (Campbellfield): $474,167
North Melbourne: $1.167 million
South Kensington (Kensington): $985,000
Footscray: $849,750
Seddon: $970,000
Yarraville: $1,016,250
Spotswood: $944,250
Newport: $1 million
Seaholme: $1.09 milion
Altona: $855,000
Laverton: $497,000
Williams Landing: $612,000
Hoppers Crossing: $485,000
Werribee: $450,000
North Melbourne: $1.167 million
South Kensington (Kensington): $985,000
Footscray: $849,750
Seddon: $970,000
Yarraville: $1,016,250
Spotswood: $944,250
Newport: $1 million
Williamstown: $1.385 million
Average median: $1,039,656