The surprising property market winners of the past year all offer something that much of the country does not.
The regions of each state where house prices have gone up quickest in the past year are all united by one common theme: affordability.
PropTrack data shows the regions that recorded the fastest growth in median house prices were much more affordable than other areas in the state, especially the capitals.
Buyers seeking value and long‑term growth have pushed prices sharply higher in these regions, making them the standout growth markets within their states.
The rapid prices rises reflects a surge in demand from buyers increasingly drawn to areas where homes are still within reach.
Top regions in each state for house price growth
| State | Region (SA4) | Median house value (AVM) | 12-month change ($) | 12-month change (%) |
| NSW | New England and North West | $514,000 | $65,000 | 15.3% |
| QLD | Ipswich | $913,000 | $147,000 | 18.7% |
| VIC | Ballarat | $600,000 | $59,000 | 10.1% |
| WA | Mandurah | $883,000 | $154,000 | 21.2% |
| SA | Adelaide - North | $839,000 | $114,000 | 16.1% |
| TAS | Launceston and North East | $605,000 | $73,000 | 12.7% |
| NT | Darwin | $598,000 | $103,000 | 16.4% |
The data tracks movements in the median house value in each SA4 region to reveal the part of each state that has the most rapidly rising housing market.
An SA4 region a geographical area defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), which is usually larger than a local government area (LGA) and has a population of between 100,000 and 500,000 people. SA4 regions may vary in size from one part of a capital city to a less densely-populated corner of a state.
REA Group senior economist Eleanor Creagh said the strongest performing regions in each state had three factors in common: relative affordability, resilient demand and tight supply.
“Buyers continue to gravitate toward markets where they can get more house for their money, particularly in regions within commuting distance of major employment hubs or with lifestyle appeal,” she said.
“Where listings are limited, as they are in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin, that demand translates quickly into stronger price growth.”
“In places like Ipswich, Ballarat, Mandurah and Adelaide’s north, strong growth reflects buyers seeking relatively affordable family housing within reach of major employment hubs.”
New England and North West, NSW
This vast area in northern NSW has emerged as the state’s quiet achiever, recording double‑digit growth from a far more affordable price point than coastal and metropolitan markets.
The broad region, which includes the larger regional cities of Tamworth and Armidale as well as smaller towns such as Gunnedah and Inverell, has a median house value just above $500,000.
Smaller towns in the New England region of NSW such as Inverell have median house prices below $500,000. Picture: Getty
Real estate agent and PRD Tamworth principal Mark Sleiman said supply of new housing in the area wasn’t keeping up with strong demand, including from both investors and treechangers moving from the capitals.
“Tamworth is fast becoming the regional hub for northern NSW,” he said.
“We have a mix of construction, healthcare, agriculture and industrial jobs here in Tamworth, which makes us the go-to for employment in the area.”
Investors have been competing for affordable propertiers in Tamworth, helping push prices higher. Picture: Getty
Properties in Tamworth under $700,000 had strong interest from investors, Mr Sleiman said, while owner-occupiers dominated higher price brackets.
“All price points are popular at the moment, but anything from entry level up to $1 million is moving very fast.”
An undersupply of properties was likely to keep prices elevated, he said.
“We’ve got plenty of land but we haven't got plenty of finished assets, so therefore we expect to see continued growth in our marketplace.”
Tamworth was one of just seven locations to receive a double nomination by a panel of property experts in this year’s realestate.com.au Hot 100, with a shortage of supply tipped to drive "double-digit rates of house price growth" in the year ahead.
Ipswich, QLD
Ipswich has cemented its status as one of the most competitive housing markets within Queensland, especially among first-home buyers and investors.
It’s one of the most affordable markets within commuting distance of Brisbane, and has been swamped with strong demand from buyers seeking entry-level properties.
Tight rental conditions have also increased investor interest, while rising rents have encouraged more first-home buyers to enter the market.
This four-bedroom house in the inner Ipswich suburb of Newtown recently sold for $900,000. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
The region has a median house value of $913,000 – a figure that has risen by 18.7% in the past year, equating to $147,000, according to PropTrack data.
Despite prices rising by more than 20% in popular suburbs such as North Booval and Newtown, homes remain much more affordable than much of Brisbane.
Major projects such as the Ipswich Motorway upgrade and the Ipswich Hospital expansion have also been tailwinds, cutting travel times and boosting jobs.
Ballarat, VIC
Ballarat is one of the most affordable regional markets close to Melbourne, even after a 10.1% lift in values in the past year, with its $600,000 median house price appealing to buyers priced out of the capital or looking for an alternative to the outer suburbs.
Real estate agent and Buxton Ballarat director Peter Burley said its affordability had made it a target for interstate investors recently.
This three-bedroom house on a 1818sqm block in Learmonth, just outside of Ballarat, recently sold for $630,000. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
“Buyers agents working out of Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney are looking to invest in Ballarat,” he said.
“Ballarat is still extremely affordable yet connected to the Melbourne metropolitan area in just under an hour.”
Suburbs such as Sebastopol, Wendouree and Golden Point have recorded high levels of buyer enquiry recently, PropTrack data shows.
With affordable options ranging from older cottages ripe for renovation to newly developed houses, and a diversified local economy, steady growth is expected to continue, Mr Burley said.
The Bendigo region has also been attracting strong investor interest, with median house prices up 7.2% in the past 12 months, a jump of around $50,000 compared to a year earlier - though some suburbs have seen prices jump as much as 20%.
Mandurah, WA
Mandurah is the hottest housing market in Western Australia, and the entire country.
Its rapid growth has resulted from a combination of affordability and lifestyle appeal, attracting buyers priced out of more expensive coastal suburbs in Perth.
While the 21.2% increase in home values in Mandurah was quickest in the nation, it was only slightly ahead of the rest of Perth, where values rose by 18-21%, depending on the region.
Western Australia’s housing shortage, construction slowdown and population surge have amplified price growth across the state, particularly in affordable hotspots and sought-after coastal pockets.
Real estate agent and Acton Bell Property Mandurah director Miles Walton said most buyers in the area were owner-occupiers prioritising lifestyle and affordability over being closer to the city.
Mandurah, about 70km south of the Perth CBD, has claimed the title of the fastest growing property market in the nation. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
“We're seeing a huge amount of relocations from the east coast,” he said. “You’ve got everything from waterfront apartments to acreage properties within 7km of the town centre.”
“We’re seeing a lot of people sell up holiday properties in Busselton, Margaret River and Dunsborough in the southwest and purchase lifestyle or holiday properties here in Mandurah because of the commute.”
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The uplift in values in the region in recent years had given many homeowners the equity to upgrade, but a tight supply of properties for sale had kept prices elevated.
“There's far fewer properties than what can meet demand,” Mr Walton said. “I see sustained growth and I think the future holds a great opportunity for first-home buyers and owner occupiers.”
Adelaide - North, SA
The northern suburbs of Adelaide have long been the city’s most affordable housing market, but lately it’s also been the state’s hottest.
The region’s median value has risen by 16.1% to $839,000 in the past year, but many of the region’s fastest-growing suburbs have median house prices around the $600,000 mark, including Elizabeth Park, Davoren Park and Smithfield.
This three-bedroom home on a 1263sqm corner block in Salisbury in Adelaide's north recently sold for $1.25 million. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
Sustained buying from first-home buyers and investors priced out of Adelaide’s more expensive suburbs has kept prices in the city's north on an upward trajectory, with values more than doubling in the past five years in many affordable suburbs.
Launceston and North East, TAS
Tasmania’s north has led price rises in the past year, with values up 12.7% in the Launceston and North East region, closely followed by an 11.4% climb in the West and North West.
Launceston is more affordable than Hobart, but prices have grown faster. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
These markets have experienced a growth in population as more Australians relocate for a cooler climate and more relaxed pace of life.
Affordability is a major drawcard – the $605,000 median house price in the Launceston and North West region is less than half that of Brisbane and Sydney. It’s also about $174,000 cheaper than the median price in Hobart.
Darwin, NT
While the Northern Territory is divided into just two SA4 regions, Darwin is the clear house price leader, with values surging 16.4% while the rest of the territory remained flat.
The city's recent investor-led house price resurgence has broadened, with owner-occupiers now competing for properties amid a tight supply of homes for sale.
An investor-driven boom in Darwin has pushed prices to new highs. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
Investment in the resources, infrastructure and defence sectors is expected to underpin Darwin's employment and population growth.
"Darwin has been rebounding from a lower base, after a period of underperformance, so improved demand and very low levels of stock on market are translating in strong price growth," Ms Creagh said.
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