12 best suburbs in Brisbane for your family’s forever home
Where we keep coming back to, why they feel the way they do, and what it costs to live there.
Buying a forever home is not a transaction you repeat. Most people do it once, maybe twice, and the suburb you choose shapes the next twenty years far more than the house does. Schools, the walk to coffee, whether the street floods, how long the commute really takes on a wet Tuesday. None of that shows up in a median price.
These are the twelve Brisbane suburbs we return to most often for owner-occupier clients. Some are obvious. A couple are not, and those are usually where the value sits. For each one we have set out what it actually feels like to live there, what the market is doing, and the properties we have secured for clients inside it.
Every map on this page is drawn from OpenStreetMap and plots real purchases. Click any dot to see the property.
01
Bulimba 4171
Bulimba is one of the most beautiful suburbs in Brisbane, offering a vibrant and relaxed lifestyle perfect for young families in their late 20s and early 30s. It truly is the epitome of ‘good suburb living’.
Situated along the Brisbane River, Bulimba offers many waterfront properties and picturesque river views. Riverside living provides a sense of tranquillity and natural beauty many find appealing.
Houses around $2.61m, units around $1.01m, houses rent near $900 a week, 57% owner occupied.
Close to CBD, schools, Brisbane River, recreational facilities, public transport
Schools Bulimba State School, Sts Peter and Paul's School
02
Hawthorne 4171
Hawthorne is located just a few kilometres east of the Brisbane CBD, offering a relatively short commute for those working in the city.
It’s also nicely situated along the Brisbane River, which means you can find waterfront properties and enjoy beautiful river views.
Also located close to the Oxford Street precinct, Hawthorne offers a variety of cafes, restaurants, boutiques and entertainment options.
Houses around $2.42m, units around $831k, houses rent near $950 a week, 58% owner occupied.
Close to CBD, schools, Brisbane River, coffee shops, restaurants, public transport
Schools Lourdes Hill College
03
Camp Hill 4152
Camp Hill is one of Brisbane’s most convenient suburbs. It’s leafy and peaceful – a wonderful place you and your family can call home.
A growing suburb, Camp Hill features plenty of shops and amenities. It’s great for young professionals, young families and retirees alike.
Camp Hill offers a comfortable and convenient lifestyle with a range of amenities. Within or near this suburb, you can find Carindale Shopping Centre, restaurants, and entertainment.
Houses around $2.17m, units around $808k, houses rent near $795 a week, 71% owner occupied.
Close to CBD, Westfield, local schools, recreational facilities, public transport, trendy coffee shops, hospitals
Schools Camp Hill State Infants and Primary School, Whites Hill State College, St Thomas' School
04
Coorparoo 4151
Coorparoo is an awesome suburb for people of all ages, although particularly attractive to those in their 20s.
A hop, skip and a jump to the CBD, Coorparoo is teeming with cafes and restaurants. It’s a dream suburb with great character.
Coorparoo is a convenient and high-quality neighbourhood in the heart of Brisbane. It’s only about 4 kilometres south of the CBD, so it’s accessible if you work in the city.
Houses around $1.96m, units around $825k, houses rent near $780 a week, 54% owner occupied.
Close to CBD, cafes, restaurants, recreational amenities, parks, hospitals, Brisbane River
Schools Coorparoo State School, Coorparoo Secondary College, Queensland Pathways State College, Brisbane School of Distance Education
05
Tarragindi 4121
Tarragindi is often referred to as one of the best suburbs in south Brisbane. It’s close to the city, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to food and coffee, and it’s well-connected to public transport and boasts a super-friendly neighbourhood.
Tarragindi is known for its green, suburban paradise feel, family-friendly environment and community vibe.
The suburb also has some excellent schools nearby, such as Weller’s Hill State School, St Elizabeth Primary, Holland Park State High and Yeronga State High School. It’s full of young families and just a 10–15 bus ride into the city.
Houses around $1.66m, houses rent near $728 a week, 79% owner occupied.
Close to CBD, schools, cafes, restaurants, suburbia, parks, running tracks, public transport, bikeways
Schools Wellers Hill State School, St Elizabeth's School, St John Henry Newman College
06
New Farm 4005
New Farm has been heralded as the place to enjoy the good life. It’s a highly desired suburb – probably one of the most sought-after in the city’s inner north region.
New Farm is in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD, so it’s perfect if you enjoy a metropolitan lifestyle and work in the city.
Situated along the Brisbane River, New Farm has many properties with gorgeous river views. Riverside living can offer a serene environment, perfectly mixed with the excitement of the urban jungle.
Houses around $3.77m, units around $1.1m, houses rent near $1600 a week, 41% owner occupied.
Close to CBD, Brisbane River, cafes, restaurants, parks, public transport, hospitals, schools, Brisbane Airport
Schools New Farm State School, Holy Spirit School
07
Teneriffe 4005
It’s close to the airport and the city, and the community is trendy, sophisticated and modern.
One of the oldest suburbs in Brisbane, Teneriffe blends a rich history with modern architecture. The result is a unique, charming riverside community that’s highly attractive to young couples and those seeking a vibrant place to live.
Located within minutes of the CBD, Teneriffe offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle. It offers some incredible views of the water, too.
Houses around $4.25m, units around $1.17m, houses rent near $1263 a week, 43% owner occupied.
Close to CBD, Brisbane River, cafes, restaurants, parks, public transport, hospitals, schools, Brisbane Airport
08
Clayfield 4011
Anyone looking for a lively environment that’s close to everything that the city offers would do well buying their forever home in Brisbane.
The fantastic thing about Clayfield is that it’s close – but not too close – to everything you need. Delightful restaurants and first-rate schools are nearby, and there are plenty of houses with amazing views.
Clayfield is close to Toombul Shopping Centre, 15 minutes from the CBD and also 15 minutes from Shornecliffe Pier – perfect if you want to go fishing.
Houses around $2.05m, units around $796k, houses rent near $850 a week, 54% owner occupied.
Close to CBD, cafes, restaurants, parks, public transport, hospitals, schools, Brisbane Airport
Schools Eagle Junction State School, St Agatha's Primary School, St Rita's College, Clayfield College
09
Ascot 4007
Ascot is one of the most prestigious suburbs in Brisbane. Close to the CBD, the airport, the river and more, it’s a vibrant community that every resident loves.
Ascot has an abundance of beautiful, well-maintained properties, tree-lined streets and a sense of affluence that appeals to those seeking an upscale lifestyle.
It’s a short commute to the CBD – perfect if you work in the city. Close to schools, parks and public transport, Ascot is the ideal place to raise a family and live a quiet life.
Houses around $3.16m, units around $880k, houses rent near $1400 a week, 56% owner occupied.
Close to CBD, cafes, Brisbane River, restaurants, parks, public transport, hospitals, schools, Brisbane Airport, Eagle Farm Racecourse
Schools Ascot State School, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School
10
Ashgrove 4060
Ashgrove, located northwest of the city, offers a comfortable and family-friendly lifestyle with a range of amenities. Undoubtedly, it’s one of the best suburbs in Brisbane to start a family and buy a forever home.
Ashgrove is the perfect combination of leafy suburbia and metropolitan lifestyle. Its detached single-dwelling houses have become known as the unique ‘Ashgrovian’ Queenslander style.
It’s rich with heritage listings, boasting old buildings such as those housing Oakleigh State School and Ashgrove State School.
Houses around $2.13m, units around $895k, houses rent near $790 a week, 71% owner occupied.
Close to CBD, schools, cafes, restaurants, exercise trails, pubs, healthy living, parks, recreational facilities
Schools Ashgrove State School, Oakleigh State School, St Finbarr's School, Marist College Ashgrove
11
Paddington 4064
Paddington is a one-of-a-kind community blending the colonial history and vibrant modern lifestyle of Brisbane.
Paddington is packed with character-filled streets, boutiques and cafes and offers a wide range of dining options. It’s a haven for people who appreciate art, culture and a lively atmosphere.
What’s more, Paddington is only a stone’s throw away from the CBD, so it’s close to shops, parks and everything that makes up a wonderful atmosphere for a forever home.
Houses around $2.45m, units around $880k, houses rent near $875 a week, 54% owner occupied.
Close to CBD, shops, cafes, restaurants, parks, Brisbane River, recreational facilities, public transport
Schools Petrie Terrace State School
12
Holland Park 4121
Holland Park is where buyers priced out of Camp Hill and Coorparoo look next, and it rewards them. The streets are wide, the blocks are generous, and the ridge gives a lot of the suburb a view its neighbours charge twice as much for.
It is close enough to the city to keep a commute short and far enough out that a family can buy a house with a lawn rather than a courtyard.
Houses around $1.46m, units around $790k, houses rent near $730 a week, 63% owner occupied.
Schools Seville Road State School, Holland Park State School, Cavendish Road State High School, St Joachim's School
Common questions
Which of these twelve is the most affordable?
Holland Park, where houses sit around $1.46m. Teneriffe is the dearest at about $4.25m.
Which suits a family best?
Tarragindi has the strongest owner-occupier base of the twelve at 79%, which usually means settled neighbours, quieter streets and a deeper school catchment.
Are any of these really unit markets?
Teneriffe and New Farm trade far more units than houses. Both still hold houses, and Teneriffe holds some of the most expensive in Brisbane, but a house brief in either needs patience and a buyers agent watching for off-market stock.
How current are these figures?
House prices are drawn from the most recent sales published for each suburb, and each suburb states its own window. Household and owner-occupier figures are 2021 census.
Do you buy in all twelve?
Yes. Every map on this page plots properties we have secured in that suburb, and each one links through to its own page.
Which of these is right for you?
Twelve suburbs, one budget, and a lot of streets that look the same on a map and feel nothing alike in person. That is the part we do.
Book a discovery callPrices from Domain, captured September 2026. Household figures, ABS 2021 Census. Maps © OpenStreetMap contributors.