It’s safe to say we all want the best for our kids, and this definitely applies when it comes to getting them a good education. Property prices across Melbourne are soaring, none more so than those surrounding the best public schools in Melbourne.
The most in demand catchment areas which have seen the highest growth recently include Kunyung Primary School in Mt Eliza, Richmond Primary School, Mount Eliza North Primary School and Heidelberg Primary School. These catchments have all seen property price growth in excess of 35% in the past year.
Why are people rushing to these areas?
Many of the school zones sit in highly desirable areas, Mt Eliza for example is a suburb on the Mornington Peninsula which has seen excellent growth over the past few years. Many families have been moving away from the city during the COVID pandemic and there’s been an influx of younger families in tree and sea-change suburbs.
In our neck of the woods, Richmond is another area which is seeing a boom around the local primary school. Property prices in the Richmond Primary School catchment grew by 39.6% over the last year.
Is it just that these schools sit in a growth suburb?
This could account for some of the growth, however some individual school catchments within suburbs are increasing at a rate which is far higher than the surrounding suburb. This would tend to indicate that families are moving into specific catchments and driving prices up in their bid to be in their preferred school zone.
Mornington Peninsula is a hot spot
A range of school catchment areas along the Mornington Peninsula are seeing phenomenal growth. Such as Kunyung Primary School in Mt Eliza with a median house price of $1.93M and YoY house price growth of 45.70%.
Mt Eliza Primary, Mt Martha Primary and Sorrento Primary catchments on the Mornington Peninsula all have median house prices exceeding $1.2M.
Could the school catchment area change?
Something to consider, is that periodically school zones are redrawn. This means if you move into an area when your children are very young, bear in mind you may find yourself in a different school zone should this occur.
Our Melbourne Buyer’s Agent Antoinette Sagaria says if you are buying in an area for a specific school, then it’s important to ensure you are buying well within the school catchment zone and not on the fringes.
She also says it’s a good idea to look at schools in nearby suburbs too. If it’s going to save you 10% (or more) on your purchase price, then you can look at using those savings in other ways such as on family holidays, extracurricular activities or pop the money into a fund for university.
If you’re thinking about buying in a particular area or for a particular school, get in touch with our Best Melbourne Buyer’s Agent who can guide you through the process.
Check out the full list by Domain.com below to see the top growing school catchment areas:
| School zone | Median July 2021 | YoY |
| Kunyung Primary School | $1,930,000 | 45.70% |
| Richmond Primary School | $1,842,500 | 39.60% |
| Mount Eliza North Primary School | $1,650,000 | 37.50% |
| Heidelberg Primary School | $1,510,000 | 36.70% |
| Valkstone Primary School | $1,726,000 | 35.40% |
| Eastbourne Primary School | $660,000 | 33.30% |
| Diamond Valley College | $990,000 | 33.20% |
| Glen Waverley Primary School | $1,881,944 | 33.00% |
| Sorrento Primary School | $1,620,000 | 32.20% |
| Surrey Hills Primary School | $2,040,000 | 29.90% |
| Pakenham Lakeside Primary School | $626,500 | 29.20% |
| Dromana Primary School | $875,000 | 27.70% |
| Clayton South Primary School | $978,100 | 26.90% |
| Williamstown North Primary School | $1,525,000 | 26.80% |
| Mount Martha Primary School | $1,255,000 | 26.50% |
| Mount Eliza Secondary College | $1,453,000 | 26.30% |
| Preston Primary School | $1,100,000 | 25.70% |
| Cheltenham Primary School | $1,196,000 | 25.60% |
| St Helena Secondary College | $1,077,500 | 25.50% |
| Edgars Creek Secondary College | $595,000 | 25.30% |
| Derinya Primary School | $1,100,000 | 25.00% |
| Werribee Secondary College | $587,000 | 24.90% |
| Aldercourt Primary School | $565,000 | 23.60% |
| Beaumaris Primary School | $1,870,000 | 23.60% |
| Caulfield Junior College | $2,462,500 | 23.10% |
| Malvern Valley Primary School | $1,226,250 | 23.10% |
| Mount Erin Secondary College | $787,500 | 23.00% |
| Craigieburn Secondary College | $615,000 | 22.90% |
| Cranbourne East Secondary College | $600,000 | 22.70% |
| Glenroy West Primary School | $797,500 | 22.70% |
| Chelsea Heights Primary School | $922,000 | 21.90% |
| Mckinnon Primary School | $1,647,000 | 21.80% |
| Kingsley Park Primary School | $766,500 | 21.70% |
| Beaumaris Secondary College | $1,765,000 | 21.70% |
| Melton South Primary School | $480,000 | 21.50% |
| Moonee Ponds West Primary School | $1,457,500 | 21.50% |
| Manorvale Primary School | $525,000 | 20.80% |
| Wilandra Rise Primary School | $592,700 | 20.70% |
| Ripponlea Primary School | $2,140,000 | 20.60% |
