Best Australian suburbs to buy a house in for families

Exclusive analysis has revealed the best suburbs to buy a home across Australia if you want your children to go to a top performing school.

Find the best suburb to buy in if you have school-aged children.

Accessing quality education is front of mind for families deciding where to live amid the cost of living crisis.

According to real estate experts, choosing a suburb with a preferable school zone is one of the major determining factors when choosing where to buy in Australia.

Exclusive analysis has revealed where parents should consider buying a house for an A grade education that won’t break the bank.

News Corp has launched ‘Bang for Buck’, a unique data set that identifies high performing public schools and the most affordable property markets within their catchment area.

The formula uses the latest NAPLAN results, PropTrack’s median house price values and school catchment mapping to deliver insight into parents looking to get the best value for money.

Suburbs with affordable housing in school zones with top NAPLAN results

Below are the top suburbs for families across Australia, picked through NewsCorp’s ‘Bang for your Buck’ research based on the criteria mentioned above, scored against NAPLAN results of the close-by schools.

NEW SOUTH WALES

See which public primary and secondary schools are shaping the NSW property market due to their impressive NAPLAN results.

SEE FULL LIST OF AFFORDABLE NSW SCHOOL ZONES HERE

Sydney parents should consider heading west for an A grade education that won’t break the bank. Western Sydney, South-West Sydney and the Blue Mountains areas have dominated both the primary and secondary school top 10 bang for buck suburbs.

TOP FIVE MOST AFFORDABLE SUBURBS FOR NSW PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS

1. Richmond Public School, Richmond - Median house price = $855,000
2. Kingswood Public School, Kingswood - Median house price = $964,200
3. Quakers Hill Public School, Quakers Hill - Median house price = $1,056,900
4. Sutherland Public School, Sutherland - Median house price = $1,479,400
5. Greystanes Public School, Sutherland - Median house price = $1,234,300

TOP FIVE MOST AFFORDABLE SUBURBS FOR NSW PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1. Macquarie Fields High School - Median house price = $883,700
2. Sefton High School, Sefton - Median house price = $1,140,200
3. Parramatta High School, Parramatta - Median house price = $1,529,300
4. Canley Vale High School, Canley Vale - Median house price = $1,019,700
5. Tempe High School, Tempe - Median house price = $1,748,700

VICTORIA

See which public primary and secondary schools are shaping the Victorian property market due to their impressive NAPLAN results.

SEE FULL LIST OF AFFORDABLE VICTORIA SCHOOL ZONES HERE

According to the analysis, primary and secondary schools in Victorian areas such as Point Cook, Glen Waverley, Oakleigh South, Thomastown and Preston were ranked the most top-rated schools based on the entry-cost of buying a home in the catchment.

TOP FIVE MOST AFFORDABLE SUBURBS FOR VIC STATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS

1. Thomastown East Primary School, Thomastown - Median house price = $692,700
2. Seabrook Primary School, Seabrook - Median house price = $755,300
3. Templeton Primary School, Wantirna - Median house price = $1,181,200
4. Oakleigh South Primary School, Oakleigh South - Median house price = $1,233,700
5. Docklands Primary School, Docklands - Median house price = $533,400

TOP FIVE MOST AFFORDABLE SUBURBS FOR VIC STATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1. University High School, Parkville - Median house price = $1,169,200
2. Vermont Secondary College, Vermont - Median house price = $1,291,700
3. Princes Hill Secondary College, Princes Hill - Median house price = $1,459,400
4. Alamanda K-9 College, Point Cook - Median house prices = $891,200
5. Highvale Secondary College, Glen Waverley - Median house prices = $1,529,900

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

See which public primary and secondary schools are shaping the South Australian property market due to their impressive NAPLAN results.

SEE FULL LIST OF AFFORDABLE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL ZONES HERE

Those looking to buy a house in a quality high school zone in South Australia need look no further than Modbury Heights, with a median of $691,700.

That will get you into The Heights School, which has a NAPLAN average of 583. St Clair, in the Woodville High School zone, the city in the Adelaide High School Zone, and Modbury in the Modbury High School zone all offered the next best Bang for Buck scores.

TOP FIVE MOST AFFORDABLE SUBURBS FOR SA STATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS

1. East Marden Primary School, Campbelltown - Median house price = $873,800
2. Magill School, Magill - Median house price = $1,049,600
3. The Heights School, Modbury Heights - Median house price = $691,700
4. Linden Park Primary School, Linden Park - Median house price = $1,501,400
5. Prospect Primary School, Prospect - Median house price = $1,107,100

TOP FIVE MOST AFFORDABLE SUBURBS FOR SA STATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1. The Heights School, Modbury Heights - Median house price = $691,700
2. Woodville High School, St Clair - Median house price = $731,600
3. Adelaide High School, Adelaide - Median horse price = $991,900
4. Modbury High School, Modbury - Median house price = $722,500
5. Adelaide Botanic High School, Adelaide - Median house price = $991,900

QUEENSLAND

See which public primary and secondary schools are shaping the Queensland property market due to their impressive NAPLAN results.

SEE FULL LIST OF AFFORDABLE QUEENSLAND SCHOOL ZONES HERE

Top of the list for Queensland primary schools is Mount Tyson State School in Toowoomba, which came in with a 2023 NAPLAN average of 541.6 and a median house value of $704,600, earning it a final bang for buck score of 593.8. Three out of the top 10 state schools for performance and affordability were located in Brisbane South, including Sunnybank Hills SS and Wishart SS.

TOP FIVE MOST AFFORDABLE SUBURBS FOR QLD STATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS

1. Jamboree Height State School, Jamboree Heights - Median house price = $1,012,400
2. Sunnybank Hills State School, Sunnybank Hills - Median house price = $1,223,000
3. Wishart State School, Wishart - Median house price = $1,152,500
4. Kenmore State School, Kenmore - Median house price = $1,131,300
5. McDowall State School, McDowall - Median house price = $1,132,500

TOP FIVE MOST AFFORDABLE SUBURBS FOR QLD STATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1. Mansfield State High School, Mansfield - Median house price = $1,234,00
2. Mount Gravatt State High School, Mount Gravatt - Median house price = $1,085,600
3. Corinda State High School, Cordina - Median house price = $964,000
4. Craigslea State High School, Chermside West - Median house price = $1,036,900
5. Brisbane South State Secondary College, Dutton Park- Median house price = $1,208,500

TASMANIA

See which public primary and secondary schools are shaping the Tasmanian property market due to their impressive NAPLAN results.

SEE FULL LIST OF AFFORDABLE TASMANIAN SCHOOL ZONES HERE

Hobart home buyers will need a budget in the low $700,000s as a minimum to get a foot in the door of a top 10 rated school. In some areas, a $1m-plus budget will be required. Highly regarded West Hobart school Lansdowne Crescent Primary placed first with its $893,000 median price and a 2023 NAPLAN average of 533.4, equating to a 32.8 Bang for Buck score.*

TOP FIVE MOST AFFORDABLE SUBURBS FOR TAS STATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS

1. Strahan Primary School, Strahan - Median house price = $365,400
2. Flinders Island District High School, Whitemark - Median house price = $499,800
3. Stanley Primary School, Stanley - Median house price = $499,800
4. Bruny Island District School, Alonnah - Median house price = $538,500
5. Trevallyn Primary School, Trevallyn - Median house price = $654,900

*Please note that only primary school data was available for Tasmania.