Aussie homeowners are sitting on a goldmines, making more money from their properties than their superannuation funds, new research shows.
Finder analysis of SuperRatings data revealed the country’s super fund performances with a few surprises on the list.
It comes as Finder research showed 23 per cent of Aussies – equivalent to 4.6 million people – admit they don’t have enough money in their super fund or other investments to get by in retirement.
The average 10-year performance across all super funds is 5.7 per cent a year, according to the data, which measures 113 publicly released super fund products.
On a state level, Hobart was the top performer at 6.9 per cent – 1.2 per high higher than the national average, followed by Adelaide (6.7 per cent), Brisbane (5.9 per cent), Canberra (4.9 per cent), Sydney (4.5 per cent), Melbourne (3.8 per cent), and Perth (3.2 per cent).
However, the federal government’s First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) could help boost savings and help first-home buyers get their foot on the property latter sooner – yet many are still aware of the scheme and how it could benefit them.
If eligible, buyers can withdraw up to $50,000 of voluntary super contributions plus associated earnings to put towards a home deposit
Here’s a closer look at some of Australia’s key states and how Super returns compares to property prices.
VICTORIA
A growing number of young Melbourne homebuyers are using a little-known super hack to beat the city’s property market – but hundreds of thousands are still missing out.
Finder analysis of SuperRatings data revealed 190 Melbourne suburbs where house prices failed to keep pace with the 5.7 per cent average annual return delivered by super funds over the past decade.
These include affordable homes in Docklands, Carlton, Parkville, St Kilda West and Cranbourne South.
Other suburbs were houses outperform superannuation include Cobblebank, Aintree, Mickleham, Fraser Rise, Bonnie Brook and Wollert.
And for the 16,500 young Victorians who have used the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) to boost their savings and cut the tax hit on their interest gains, the stronger growth has helped them keep up with or exceed property price rises.
Despite the state’s market entrants accounting for almost 45 per cent of the 27,000 Australians who withdrew a combined $370m in voluntary contributions to help buy their home, according to latest Australian Taxation Office figures, experts have warned it is still underused.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that across the 2018-2024 financial years covered by the scheme, there were more than 231,000 new loans to first-home buyers in the state — meaning almost 93 per cent missed out.
10 year annual compound growth rate in median sales price (12 months). Source: Finder
QUEENSLAND
According to Finder, homeowners in 166 suburbs across Brisbane recorded bigger annual returns on their homes than the country’s average super fund return, although the data does not take into account the ongoing costs of home ownership.
When comparing property returns, house values in Chandler, in the city’s east, had the highest 10 year annual compound growth rate in median sale price at 11.8 per cent, following by Roberston (10.9 per cent) and Anstead (10.6 per cent).
Around the state, Beechmere, in Moreton Bay, recorded more than double at 19.2 per cent.
On the Sunshine Coast, Shelly Beach reined supreme with 13.4 per cent, while on the Gold Coast Surfers Paradise was king with 12.9 per cent.
The highest super fund return in Australia hit 8.79 per cent.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
According to Finder.com.au analysis, 488 suburbs and towns outperformed the average superannuation fund.
Adelaide’s northern suburbs dominated the list of suburbs outperforming super returns, with the two leaders being Elizabeth North and Unley Park houses.
Both of these have increased by 12.4 per cent over the past 10 years, significantly outperforming even the top performing growth fund.
Growth funds returned as much as 8.79 per cent per year over the decade, balanced funds delivered returns of up to 7.84 per cent while conservative funds returned as much as 5.98 per cent per annum.
Other star performers include Elizabeth South, Elizabeth Downs, Davoren Park, Elizabeth Grove, Smithfield Plains and Roxby Downs in regional SA.
Finder analysis of Super Ratings Data on the top 10 ‘Growth’ super funds with the highest 10-year performance returns, as of March 2025 compared to the 10 year annual compound growth rate in median sales price (12 months).
NEW SOUTH WALES
NSW homeowners in over 200 suburbs could be building retirement wealth faster than their super fund, new research reveals.
Australian Retirement Trust’s super savings high growth fund had the highest returns, with a 8.79 per cent annual 10 year return, yet there were over 200 suburbs in NSW that out performed that.
Houses in Millfield, Lockhart, Brunswick Heads and Clareville were among the top performers, growing by an average of 11-16 per cent annually over the past 10 years.
The average 10-year performance across all super funds is 5.7 per cent a year, according to Finder, while Sydney’s 10 year annual compound property growth rate was 6.4 per cent.
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