To be considered a 'family suburb', five key indicators needed to be met.
These indicators included:
- It has a median sale price between $200,000 and $1.5 million
- Owner-occupiers make up at least 70% of the population
- 60% of houses are freestanding
- At least 60% of households are families
- It has a SEIFA education and occupation score of at least six
Having a score of at least six puts the suburb in the top half of the country for 'educational and occupational status' according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
After this criteria was met, suburbs were ranked based on historical NAPLAN results for schools in the wider area.
Scott Spencer, CEO of Well Home Loans, said this list provides valuable information for families planning their next purchase.
"Families want to live in suburbs that have lots of other families to socialise with, a high share of owner-occupiers to provide stability, and good schools to educate their children," Mr Spencer said.
"They also want to buy into suburbs that are likely to enjoy reasonable capital growth over the long-term, even if it’s not necessarily market-beating growth."
Mr Spencer said the top 20 suburbs picked are 'generally affordable' as 14 have a median house price of less than $1 million.
"They’re also quite diverse – there are 13 metro and seven regional markets, spread across seven of the eight states and territories," he said.
"While this ranking is really helpful, it’s not the only thing to consider when buying a home. You and your family should do your research and seek professional advice."
Top 20 'family suburbs' to move with your kids
Below are the top 20 suburbs picked through Well Home Loans' research based on the five criteria mentioned, scored against NAPLAN results of the close-by schools.
1. Horningsea Park (Sydney, NSW)
The median sale price in this suburb is $853,000 with an 80% owner occupier population; 99% freestanding house share; 92% family household share; and SEIFA education score of six.
The average household weekly income is $2,084.
2. Marlow Lagoon (Darwin, NT)
The median house price in Marlow Lagoon is $700,000. The population is 86% owner-occupied; 97% freestanding houses; 90% family households; and has a weekly average income of $3,125.
This suburb has a SEIFA education score of nine.
3. Blair Athol (Sydney, NSW)
The median sale price is $893,000 with an average weekly household income of $2,206; 82% owner occupier population; 98% freestanding house share; 91% family household share; and a SEIFA education score of six.
4. New Lambton Heights (Newcastle, NSW)
The median sale price in this suburb is $972,000. Owner occupiers make up 88% of the population; 98% of houses are freestanding; and 85% are inhabited by families.
New Lambton Heights has a SEIFA education score of 10 and an average household weekly income of $2,295.
5. Dingley Village (Melbourne, VIC)
The median sale price is $1,030,000 with a 90% share of owner occupiers; 81% of dwellings are freestanding; and there's a 78% share of family households.
The SEIFA education score in this suburb is seven, and the average weekly household income is $1,595.
6. Gelorup (Bunbury, WA)
The median house price is $550,000 with an average household weekly income of $2,033.
The suburb is made up of 94% owner occupiers, 100% freestanding houses, and 88% family households. The SEIFA education score is seven.
7. Tascott (Central Coast, NSW)
The median sale price in Tascott is $880,000 with an 80% share of owner-occupied households; 95% share of freestanding houses; and 73% share of family households.
The average household weekly income is $1,580 and the SEIFA education score is eight.
8. Glenmore Park (Sydney, NSW)
The median house price in Glenmore Park is $885,000 with an average household weekly income of $2,213.
Owner occupiers make up 78% of the population; 91% of houses are freestanding; and 89% of households are families. The SEIFA education score for this suburb is seven.
9. Mount Hawthorn (Perth, WA)
The median sale price is $979,000 with a population made up of 73% owner occupiers; 80% freestanding houses; and 73% family households.
The average household weekly income is $2,344 and the SEIFA education score for this suburb is 10.
10. Harkaway (Melbourne, VIC)
The media house price in Harkaway is $1,060,000 with a population of 95% owner occupiers; 99% freestanding houses; and 85% families.
The SEIFA education score is nine and the average weekly income is $2,133.
11. Mysterton (Townsville, QLD)
The median house price is $415,000 with an average weekly household income of $1,680.
The suburb has 73% owner-occupied households; 85% freestanding houses; and 74% family households. It has a SEIFA education score of nine.
12. One Tree Hill (Adelaide, SA)
The median sale price in this suburb is $752,000 with an average household weekly income of $1,948.
Owner occupiers make up 94% of the population; 97% of houses are freestanding; and 87% are family households. The SEIFA education score for One Tree Hill is seven.
13. Vale Park (Adelaide, SA)
With a slightly higher house price than One Tree Hill ($863,500), this suburb is made up of 79% owner occupiers; 81% freestanding houses; and 73% families.
It has a SEIFA education score of 10 and an average weekly income of $1,475.
14. The Basin (Melbourne, VIC)
The median sale price in The Basin is $803,000 with an average weekly income of $1,680.
The owner occupier share of the suburb is 88%; freestanding houses make up 93% of the population; and 78% of the population is families. It has a SEIFA education score of six.
15. Bulleen (Melbourne, VIC)
The median house price in Bulleen is $1.3 million with an average weekly household income of $1,501.
Freestanding houses make up 81% of the suburb; 80% of houses are owner-occupied; and 77% are made up of families. It's SEIFA education score is eight.
16. Bentleigh East (Melbourne, VIC)
Another suburb over $1 million, the median house price in Bentleigh East is just over $1.4 million.
The suburb is 77% owner-occupied; 72% freestanding houses; 77% families; and has a SEIFA education score of nine. The average household weekly income is $1,735.
17. Mount Lofty (Toowoomba, QLD)
The median sale price is $535,000 with an average household weekly income of $1,685.
Owner occupiers make up 74% of the population; 90% of houses are freestanding; 71% of households are families; and it has a SEIFA education score of 10.
18. Speewah (Cairns, QLD)
The median house price is $649,999 with an 89% owner occupier population; 97% freestanding houses; 78% family households; and average weekly income of $,1271. It has a SEIFA education score of six.
19. Bonogin (Gold Coast Hinterland, QLD)
The median sale price in Bonogin is $1,090,000 with an average weekly household income of $2,198.
The owner-occupied share of the population is 92%; freestanding houses make up 99% of the suburb; 91% are family households; and it has a SEIFA education score of eight.
20. Hackett (Canberra, ACT)
The median house price in Hackett is $1.25 million with an average weekly household income of $2,134.
Owner occupiers make up 73% of the population; 75% of houses are freestanding; 69% of households are families; and it has a SEIFA education score of 10.
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Ready, Set, Buy!
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