Affordable city suburbs where a property can cost less than the national median value

The small proportion of affordable suburbs in Australia’s priciest capitals makes it difficult for first-home buyers to get on the property ladder, but buyers in some cities have much better chances.

The national median house value is currently $792,000, but only 35% of city suburbs have a median price below this figure.

Based on the PropTrack median house value, some cities are more affordable than others.

Darwin had the highest proportion of affordable suburbs, with 90% of suburbs having with a median house value of less than $792,000.

Hobart (70%) and Perth (64%) also have plenty of affordable suburbs, but with half as many active listings in Perth as there were five years ago, there are fewer properties on the market to choose from.

Capital cities with the most affordable suburbs - houses

Capital city

% of affordable* suburbs

Median house value

Greater Darwin

91%

 $545,000

Greater Hobart

70%

 $654,000

Greater Perth

64%

 $663,000

Greater Adelaide

53%

 $718,000

Greater Brisbane

39%

 $853,000

Greater Melbourne

31%

 $833,000

Australian Capital Territory

13%

 $884,000

Greater Sydney

8%

 $1,195,000

*Proportion of suburbs with a median house value less than the national median. Using the median automated valuation with mid / high confidence level. Source: PropTrack.

Unsurprisingly, only 8% of suburbs in Sydney — Australia's most expensive city — have a median house price below $792,000.

The median house value in Sydney is $1,195,000, and to find a house below the national median, buyers have to look at least 30km from the CBD to the Central Coast, Blacktown, or the outer west and Blue Mountains.

The Central Coast is one of the few regions of Greater Sydney where buyers can find a house valued below the national median. Picture: Getty


The second least affordable city in Australia is Canberra, where only 13% of suburbs have a median value below the national median.

The median house value in Canberra is $885,000 and the nation's capital has overtaken Melbourne as Australia's second most expensive city.

Most affordable suburbs for houses

Suburb

State

City

Median house value

Gagebrook

TAS

Greater Hobart

$356,000

Moulden

NT

Greater Darwin

$364,000

Russell Island

QLD

Greater Brisbane

$366,000

Herdsmans Cove

TAS

Greater Hobart

$378,000

Elizabeth North

SA

Greater Adelaide

$380,000

Gray

NT

Greater Darwin

$391,000

Gawler West

SA

Greater Adelaide

$392,000

Davoren Park

SA

Greater Adelaide

$399,000

Bridgewater

TAS

Greater Hobart

$408,000

Macleay Island

QLD

Greater Brisbane

$409,000

Using the median automated valuation with mid / high confidence level. Source: PropTrack.

Nationally, the cheapest capital city suburb is Gagebrook, in Hobart, where the median house price is $356,000.

Herdsmans Cove and Bridgewater also make it into the top 10 cheapest city suburbs for houses.

These suburbs are all within a 30-minute drive from Hobart CBD.

Gagebrook in Hobart is Australia's cheapest capital city suburb, with a median value of $356,000. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold


Suburbs in Darwin, Brisbane, and Adelaide also made it onto the top 10 list, with Moulden in Darwin taking the second spot with a median of $364,000.

However, there are still suburbs in the more expensive cities where buyers can find an affordable house, such as Treagear in Sydney, Melton in Melbourne, and Belconnen in Canberra.

Top 3 affordable capital city suburbs per state - houses

State

Suburb

Capital city

Median house value

NSW

Tregear

Greater Sydney

$655,000

NSW

San Remo

Greater Sydney

$663,000

NSW

Warragamba

Greater Sydney

$664,000

VIC

Melton

Greater Melbourne

$467,000

VIC

Melton South

Greater Melbourne

$489,000

VIC

Bangholme

Greater Melbourne

$495,000

QLD

Russell Island

Greater Brisbane

$366,000

QLD

Macleay Island

Greater Brisbane

$409,000

QLD

Toogoolawah

Greater Brisbane

$417,000

SA

Elizabeth North

Greater Adelaide

$380,000

SA

Gawler West

Greater Adelaide

$392,000

SA

Davoren Park

Greater Adelaide

$399,000

WA

Medina

Greater Perth

$410,000

WA

Koongamia

Greater Perth

$415,000

WA

Mandurah

Greater Perth

$422,000

TAS

Gagebrook

Greater Hobart

$356,000

TAS

Herdsmans Cove

Greater Hobart

$378,000

TAS

Bridgewater

Greater Hobart

$408,000

NT

Moulden

Greater Darwin

$364,000

NT

Gray

Greater Darwin

$391,000

NT

Woodroffe

Greater Darwin

$417,000

ACT

Belconnen

Australian Capital Territory

$624,000

ACT

Charnwood

Australian Capital Territory

$701,000

ACT

Phillip

Australian Capital Territory

$725,000

Using the median automated valuation with mid / high confidence level. Source: PropTrack.

There are more affordable options for those looking for a unit.

With a national median unit value of $624,000, half of metro suburbs sit below this price.

Capital cities with the most affordable suburbs - units

Capital city

% of affordable suburbs

Median house value

Greater Darwin

100%

$374,000

Greater Adelaide

92%

$519,000

Greater Perth

84%

$470,000

Greater Hobart

84%

$508,000

Greater Brisbane

71%

$573,000

Australian Capital Territory

57%

$600,000

Greater Melbourne

51%

$596,000

Greater Sydney

20%

$745,000

*Proportion of suburbs with a median unit value less than the national median. Using the median automated valuation with mid / high confidence level. Source: PropTrack.

Every Darwin suburb has a median unit value below that national median, making it the most affordable capital city for unit buyers.

Adelaide has 92% of suburbs with affordable unit values, with Perth and Hobart joint third with 84%.

Unit values are below the nationwide median in 100% of Darwin suburbs. Picture: Getty


Sydney is also the least affordable city for units, with only 20% of suburbs below the national median.

Most affordable suburbs for units

Suburb

State

Capital city

Median house value

QoQ_change

Gray

NT

Greater Darwin

$252,715

-2.6%

Orelia

WA

Greater Perth

$255,541

15.9%

Karama

NT

Greater Darwin

$267,233

2.2%

Kooralbyn

QLD

Greater Brisbane

$272,421

8.1%

Bakewell

NT

Greater Darwin

$277,853

-4.7%

Driver

NT

Greater Darwin

$278,910

-2.0%

Logan Central

QLD

Greater Brisbane

$288,157

6.3%

Caulfield East

VIC

Greater Melbourne

$305,562

-0.4%

Woodridge

QLD

Greater Brisbane

$309,140

8.4%

Glendalough

WA

Greater Perth

$314,351

6.6%

*Proportion of suburbs with a median unit value less than the national median. Using the median automated valuation with mid / high confidence level. Source: PropTrack.

Gray, in Darwin, takes the top spot for the most affordable suburb, with a median unit price of $253,000.

KaramaBakewell, and Driver, also in Darwin, all have median unit prices below $270,000, making them some of the most affordable suburbs in the country.

Perth and Brisbane also have several suburbs that make the top 10 list, including Oriela, and Glendalough, in Perth, and KooralbynLogan Central, and Woodridge, in Brisbane.

2/2 Tattenham Street, Caulfield East, Vic 3145

Caulfield East is Melbourne's cheapest suburb for units, and eighth cheapest in Australia. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold


Caulfield East, in Melbourne, also makes it onto the list with a median unit price of $306,000.

In Sydney, Carramar is the cheapest suburb for units, and in Canberra, Hawker is the most affordable.

Top 3 affordable capital city suburbs per state - units

State

Suburb

Capital city

Median house value

NSW

Carramar

Greater Sydney

$395,647

NSW

Lakemba

Greater Sydney

$402,982

NSW

Wiley Park

Greater Sydney

$410,368

VIC

Caulfield East

Greater Melbourne

$305,562

VIC

Travancore

Greater Melbourne

$326,998

VIC

Albion

Greater Melbourne

$338,295

QLD

Kooralbyn

Greater Brisbane

$272,421

QLD

Logan Central

Greater Brisbane

$288,157

QLD

Woodridge

Greater Brisbane

$309,140

SA

Salisbury

Greater Adelaide

$378,308

SA

Brooklyn Park

Greater Adelaide

$378,377

SA

Kilburn

Greater Adelaide

$385,329

WA

Orelia

Greater Perth

$255,541

WA

Glendalough

Greater Perth

$314,351

WA

Shoalwater

Greater Perth

$317,913

TAS

Glenorchy

Greater Hobart

$433,571

TAS

Claremont

Greater Hobart

$437,178

TAS

Moonah

Greater Hobart

$445,234

NT

Gray

Greater Darwin

$252,715

NT

Karama

Greater Darwin

$267,233

NT

Bakewell

Greater Darwin

$277,853

ACT

Hawker

Australian Capital Territory

$388,820

ACT

Chifley

Australian Capital Territory

$421,787

ACT

Lyons

Australian Capital Territory

$442,232

Using the median automated valuation with mid / high confidence level. Source: PropTrack.

Knowing where to look for affordable properties in your city can help you find a place to live within your budget.

Originally published at https://www.realestate.com.au/insights/affordable-city-suburbs-where-a-property-can-cost-less-than-the-national-median-value/