New research commission by Well Home Loans has identified the top 20 family housing markets in Western Australia.
Secret Harbour ranked third and Madora Bay thirteenth, in the list that was topped by Geolorup in Bunbury followed by Mount Hawthorn in Perth.
According to the ranking a 'family suburb' is one that meets five key indicators:
- Median sale price between $200,000 and $1.5 million
- Owner-occupiers making up at least 70% of the local population
- Freestanding houses making up at least than 60% of the local dwellings
- Family households making up at least 60% of the local population (with a 'family household' being one with at least 2.5 people)
- A SEIFA education and occupation score of at least 6 (which puts it in the top half of the country for educational and occupational status, based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics' Index of Education and Occupation)
The suburbs are then ranked based on historical NAPLAN results for schools in the wider area.
Well Home Loans chief executive Scott Spencer said the family suburb ranking provides valuable information for families that are planning their next purchase.
"Of the 20 suburbs in this ranking, 14 are located in Perth and the other six in regional areas. The suburbs are also diverse in terms of price, ranging from affordable to expensive," he said.
"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.
"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 cautioned against relying solely on this ranking when making buying decisions.
"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," he said.