Your guide to Brisbane’s most popular suburbs
Your guide to Brisbane’s most popular suburbs
Emma Norris - 2 Jul, 2021
For those seeking a sunshine-soaked lifestyle with a realistic price tag, there’s no better place to be than Brisbane. Queensland’s capital offers an unbeatable quality of life at a price that is friendly to most budgets.
Not only that, but Brisbane has emerged as the surprising underdog of the Australian property market in recent years. While it remains affordable, it has bounced back quickly from COVID-19 to hit record high property prices in 2021 — and further growth is expected in the near future.
But, what are the best suburbs to buy a home in Brisbane? To help you determine where you want to be, we’ve put together a handy guide to Brisbane’s most popular suburbs in terms of price, investment potential, liveability and more.
Which suburb is best to live in Brisbane?
The question ‘what are the good suburbs in Brisbane?’ is a tough one to answer, as it’s subjective and depends on what you’re looking for. However, there are certain suburbs that stand out in terms of price growth, safety, education, transport, infrastructure and proximity to the coast. Some of these suburbs, you may not have ever even heard of!
Here are some of the up-and-coming Brisbane suburbs that should be on your radar.
Taringa
Located 6 km from the CBD, Taringa is a Brisbane suburb that has a little bit of everything. Despite being so close to the city, it’s a quiet, leafy oasis. While it has a multigenerational community, it’s particularly popular with families and young people. Being in close proximity to a university, it boasts plenty of entertainment options, such as a restaurant, cafes and sporting fields. It has a median house price of $1 million.
Tarragindi
Comprised of just eight streets, Tarragindi is a quiet, family-friendly suburb in South Brisbane. While it has enough great infrastructure to feel self- contained, it’s also easily accessible to the CBD via Pacific Motorway or by bus at the Holland Park Busway. Here, you’ll find a mix of older Queenslander houses and modern properties, for a median price of $863,000.
Holland Park
If you want easy access to the CBD at an affordable price, you can’t go past Holland Park. This Southern suburb is located just 6 km from the city, but at $826,000, it has a lower median price than many of the other areas of this list. Being an older suburb, it’s made up of mainly post-World War II wooden homes that may require some work. But, there’s plenty of lifestyle potential here, with an abundance of cafes, bars, and restaurants on your doorstep.
Keperra
With a median property price of $570,000, this northwest suburb arguably offers some of the best value in Brisbane. It offers an endearing, low-key feel and a sense of community spirit. With a new train station planned to connect this outskirts area to the CBD, interest and demand in this area has gone through the roof recently.
Stafford
This Northern suburb is one of Brisbane’s most popular areas to invest in. It has been undergoing significant development in recent years, transforming this sleepy suburb into a strong lifestyle area. With a cluster of shops, restaurants, hospitals and schools, it offers everything you need — mostly within walking distance. No wonder it’s such a high-demand area! Here, the median property price is a respectable $670,000.
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Ashgrove
This northwest suburb truly offers the best of both worlds. While it’s located only 4 km from the city, it offers a friendly, neighbourhood feel. With many larger houses with sizeable backyards, Ashgrove is a popular choice with families who want some room. Naturally, the convenience will cost you, with a median property price of $1,105,000 in this area.
Cannon Hill
One of Brisbane’s best emerging suburbs, Cannon Hill has seen significant growth in recent years. Despite being under 5 km from the CBD, it has a comparatively affordable median price of $812,000. Here, there’s a meeting of old and new, with historic houses nestled between modern shopping centres.
Chermside West
For those who want both convenience and serenity, Chermside West is an ideal choice. It’s close enough to shopping centres, cafes and other amenities, but much quieter than the neighbouring Chermside. With a median property price of $637,500, it’s a great place to nab a bargain.
Wavell Heights
Demand has skyrocketed in this area recently, due to great infrastructure and convenience. It’s located just a few minutes away from Chermside Shopping Centre and only a 10-minute drive from the CBD and airport. Here, the average home will set you back $762,000.
Mansfield
This southwest suburb is currently one of Brisbane’s most sought-after postcodes. Not only does it offer great infrastructure, but it’s proximity to the expanding Mt. Gravatt positions it for great long-term growth. The average median property price in Mansfield is $727,500.
What are the median house prices in Brisbane?
Brisbane is often thought of as not one property market, but a series of mini markets divided by geographical location. So, if you’re thinking of buying in Brisbane, it can be helpful to also look at the average property price by region.
Median house prices in Brisbane city
The inner city is one of the most expensive and popular suburbs to buy property in Brisbane. As of June last year, the median house price was $905,000 and had experienced a quarterly increase of 0.56%, compared to unit prices which fell by 2.05%.
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Median house prices in Brisbane’s East
Brisbane’s East boasts the lowest average house prices in Brisbane. In June 2019, the median house price was $550,000. Both houses and units have seen a modest decline in prices over the last year.
Median house prices in Brisbane’s North
Brisbane’s Northern suburbs saw some significant drops in both house and apartment prices last year. While a house will set you back around $605,000, it has some of Brisbane’s cheapest apartments with a median of $371,000.
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Median house prices in Brisbane’s South
House prices in Brisbane’s Southern suburbs linger somewhere around the middle, with a median of $665,000. Meanwhile, unit prices are considered to be some of Brisbane’s most affordable, with the average price of $396,000 sitting just above the Northern suburbs.
Median house prices in Brisbane’s West
Interestingly, in the complete reverse of cities like Sydney, Brisbane’s Western suburbs are home to some of the city’s most expensive real estate. The median house price as of June 2019 was $703,322, putting it just behind the inner-city suburbs. Meanwhile, units in the area have a median price of $438,500.
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What are the best suburbs for families in Brisbane?
From great schools to lush parks and easy access to the rest of Queensland’s natural wonders, Brisbane has a lot to offer families. But, where’s the best place to base yourself if you’re raising a family? While it depends what you’re looking for, there are a few suburbs in Brisbane that are considered the most family-friendly.
If you’ve ever wondered if East Brisbane is a good suburb for families, you’d be right! The area is known for being safe and friendly, with lots of great amenities for kids. The middle-ring suburb of Wakerley is one of the top 5 suburbs most popular for homebuyers with families, thanks to its wide open spaces, community feel and high density of school in the area.
Other popular areas in Brisbane for families include the, hill-lined streets of Paddington, the village-like suburb of Holland Park near the CBD and the riverside suburb of Indooroopilly.
What are the best suburbs to invest in Brisbane?
If you’re looking to invest, the question of ‘where is the best place to buy in Brisbane’ becomes quite a different one to ‘there is the best place to live?’ While it’s important to factor in demand in the area due to liveability, it’s also key to weigh it up against capital growth and rental returns. Here are some of the suburbs in Brisbane considered some of the best to buy an investment property.
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Bridgeman Downs
Located around 14 kms North-West of the Brisbane CBD, Bridgeman Downs was once known for its large, acreage properties. However, it’s become more accessible in recent years and holds promise for investors due to its increasing rents, falling vacancies and a rising population. The median house price here is $785,000.
Carina Heights
This little enclave in the South has become popular for investors seeking doer- uppers and rebuilds. It’s also a popular option for first-home buyers due to its affordability, as well as its access to great amenities. The median house price is $667,500, compared to $900,000 in Camp Hill just one suburb over. So, it’s safe to say you’re getting a great bargain!
Everton Park
Thanks to its newly opened Everton’s Park Plaza Lane, this suburb is quickly becoming the foodie hub of the North. Despite having a dining scene to rival the CBD, this up and coming suburb has an average house price of only $605,000, which is sure to skyrocket in years to come.
Ferny Grove
While this suburb might be located 13 km from the Brisbane CBD, but it’s in hot demand – with a 23% increase in views per home listing on realestate.com.au. It’s growing appeal could be due to its lush parklands and access to schools and public transport. Currently, the median house price is $620,000, making it accessible for many investors and first-time buyers.
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What are the cheapest suburbs in Brisbane?
If you’re looking for an affordable place to buy a property, you can’t go past Brisbane.
Data from Domain shows every single one of the top 10 most affordable suburbs within the Greater Brisbane area has a median house price under $450,000. Here, mortgage repayments can cost you as little as $250 per week.
For those on a particularly tight budget, it might be wise to set your sights on the Northern suburb of Keperra. Topping the list as Brisbane’s cheapest suburb, houses here have a median price of $565,650. This is closely followed by Tingalpa in the Eastern suburb, where the median price is $570,000. But, if you want to take advantage of the savings, you’ll have to get in quick — prices here have skyrocketed by 14% over the last year.
What is Brisbane’s richest suburb?
While you may not typically associate Brisbane with exorbitant luxury, the city still has its affluent areas. Currently, the most expensive place to buy a home in Brisbane is the inner-city suburb of Teneriffe. With houses being few and far between in this area, you can expect to pay a pretty penny to live spaciously the city. Here, the median house price is $2,390,000, which is well above Brisbane’s average of $593,232.
Brisbane’s second richest suburb is New Farm. This riverside suburb, which is known for its picturesque parks, has a median house price of $1.867 million. Units are also on the expensive side here, with the median price being $640,000. That said, it can pay for investors to extend their budget a little further, as New Farm has the highest average rent in Brisbane.
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What is the safest suburb in Brisbane?
Brisbane is overall considered a safe city and is often described as feeling like a big country town. However, like any city, there are certain suburbs that are safer than others.
- 4170 Morningside, Cannon Hill, Norman Park and Seven Hills
- 4106 Rocklea
- 4111 Nathan
- 4117 Berrinba
- 4051 Alderley, Grange, Newmarket, Wilston, Enoggera & Gaythorne
- 4066 Toowong and Auchenflower
- 4123 Rochedale and Rochedale South
- 4008 Pinkenba
According to data from Queensland police, there are eight Brisbane suburbs that have had zero claims of home theft, vandalism and malicious damage. Among this list is the prestigious suburb of Auchenflower, which has low density levels and high levels of security. Also on the list of Brisbane’s safest suburbs are the Eastern suburbs of Morningside, Cannon Hill, Normal Park and Seven Hills, which have very few reported incidents.
Where should I not live in Brisbane?
While crime rates are relatively low in Brisbane, it still has its areas that are best avoided if safety is a top priority. An analysis of police data shows that the top two suburbs for crime are Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane. Interestingly, these are both inner-city suburbs, indicating that the higher crime rates may be due to nightlife and area density. Bowen Hills, Newstead, Herston and Mayne are also areas in Brisbane that have higher than average levels of reported crime.
How much does a house cost in Brisbane?
If you’re thinking about buying a home in Brisbane, you’ll be glad to know that it’s more affordable than most other capital cities. The current median price for a house in the Greater Brisbane area is $593,232. However, it’s important to note that this is the highest it has ever been, with the city experiencing a 5.9% increase in house prices over the last 12 months. So, if you’ve been considering getting a foot on the Brisbane property ladder, now may be the time to take the leap.
That said, with the Brisbane property market being so competitive right now, you may need some guidance through the process. By working with one of eChoice’s mortgage experts, you can compare hundreds of home loan products and ensure you’re getting the best possible deal.
Words by Emma Norris
On the lookout for your first home in Brisbane? Or maybe an investment property? With access to 100’s of mortgage products from over 25 different lenders, eChoice brokers have the resources to help you find the perfect home loan to suit your needs. Best of all? We do all the paperwork!