The most family-friendly suburbs to live in

Atom Go Tian
Senior Data Analyst
Ray White Group

As families seek the perfect balance between urban convenience and nurturing environments for their children, the definition of what makes a suburb ideal for family life continues to shift.

The notion of a family-friendly suburb is inherently subjective, encompassing a wide array of factors that can vary in importance from one family to another. Traditionally, these factors have included safety, the prevalence of parks and schools, access to family-oriented amenities, community events, proximity to healthcare facilities, low crime rates, and suitable housing options. However, the ideal mix is different for every family and it is therefore subjective. There are, of course, also household budgets to consider.

In an attempt to bring objectivity to this subjective concept, we focused on two key metrics: the proportion of the population under 14 years old, using data from StatsNZ, and house price growth over the past year. This methodology assumes that a high proportion of children indicates a suburb’s appeal to families, while strong house price growth suggests increasing desirability and potential for investment. By combining these factors, we aim to identify suburbs that are not only attracting families but also experiencing growth in demand – a potential indicator of ongoing development and improvement in family-oriented amenities.

The Gisborne region, despite its smaller overall population, leads with the highest proportion of young people: an impressive 22.25 per cent of its residents are under 14 years old. The Waikato region follows closely, with 20.20 per cent of its population in this age group.

While Auckland ranks eighth in terms of percentage, with 19.25 per cent of its population under 14, it boasts the largest absolute number of young people due to its size, with 318,843 children in this age bracket. The national average stands at 18.75 per cent, with several regions clustered around this figure.

Interestingly, Wellington falls below the national average with 17.22 per cent of its population under 14. At the other end of the spectrum, Otago has the lowest proportion of young people, with just 15.67 per cent of its residents under 14 years old.