The top 10 primary and secondary school catchment zones across Australia all reported house price growth of more than 25% year-on-year, reveals a new report by Domain. We’re sure if you already own a home in one of these areas, you’re patting yourself on the back for choosing so wisely.
When it comes to the greatest house price growth, Perth ranked first in both primary and secondary school catchment zones, recording the greatest house price growth, up 35.6% and 32.7%, respectively. The national overview shows Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney schools zones also ranked in the top 10 list.
Domain’s senior research analyst Dr Nicola Powell says the boundary of public school catchment zones has a huge influence on property decisions.
“And the data suggests certain ones can have a positive effect on house prices,” Powell said. “School zone price growth performance varied enormously, with neighbouring catchments providing very different outcomes for homeowners.”
Top 10 primary school catchment zones
| School | State | Median | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Como Primary School | WA | $901,750 | +35.6%▲ |
| Dudley Park Primary School | WA | $276,000 | +30.8%▲ |
| Bald Hills State School | QLD | $675,000 | +29.2%▲ |
| Newport Public School | NSW | $2,000,000 | +29%▲ |
| Wynnum West State School | QLD | $547,500 | +28.8%▲ |
| Rainworth State School | QLD | $1,150,000 | +27.8%▲ |
| Elwood Primary School | VIC | $1,730,000 | +27.2%▲ |
| Ipswich Central State School | QLD | $365,000 | +27%▲ |
| Avalon Public School | NSW | $2,562,500 | +26.5%▲ |
| Cannon Hill State School | QLD | $755,000 | +25.8%▲ |
School catchment zones have long been an important factor in deciding where to purchase a home. 2020 has heightened this importance, according to Domain’s report, as with flexible working arrangements now becoming the norm for many, additional pressure will be placed on home values – particularly in desirable regional and outer suburban locations. For families with younger children, this is particularly important as many families enjoy spending this time with their children (before they’re swept up into the “big-person” world of high school and the many extra-curricular activities they can do).
Top 10 secondary schools catchment zones
| School | State | Median | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armadale Senior High School | WA | $325,000 | +32.7%▲ |
| Epping Boys High School | NSW | $1,565,000 | +32.3%▲ |
| Colo High School | NSW | $600,000 | +31.9%▲ |
| Applecross Senior High School | WA | $1,030,000 | +28.9%▲ |
| Willoughby Girls High School | NSW | $3,115,000 | +28.6%▲ |
| Staughton College | VIC | $480,000 | +28%▲ |
| Ryde Secondary College | NSW | $1,530,000 | +27.5%▲ |
| Rosebud Secondary College | VIC | $796,000 | +27.4%▲ |
| Belconnen High School | ACT | $707,600 | +26.4%▲ |
| Albert Park College | VIC | $1,695,000 | +25.6%▲ |
Domain sorted the school catchment zones based on the annual house price growth in each school catchment. It then calculates annual house price growth by comparing the median sale price of all houses sold in a school catchment zone from November 2019 through to October 2020 to the median sale price from November 2018 to October 2019 using APM data.
When it comes to education, the Domain School Zones Report notes it is not implying that any school is a “top-performing” school. The rankings is not a list of top-performing schools based on NAPLAN or testing results, rather top growth zones for housing.
“Parents should do their own research when deciding which schools to consider,” Powell said.
A full list of the school zones report for each capital city across Australia, can be accessed here.
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