The Australian school catchment zones which have had the most capital growth.
A Belconnen school catchment zone has outpaced Canberra’s annual house price growth at more than three times the rate.
Domain’s Annual School Zones Report published on Tuesday shows house prices have jumped 18.8 per cent in the Miles Franklin Primary School catchment zone in the 12 months to October 2016.
In contrast, house prices across the ACT rose by 5 per cent over the 2016 year.
Amaroo School topped Canberra’s secondary school catchment zones for growth, with house prices jumping 10.8 per cent over the same period to October.
The report overlaid school catchment areas with property market data to determine the top 10 primary and secondary government school zones for price growth in each capital city.
However, schools are one of a number of factors that can influence property prices.
Domain and Allhomes chief data scientist Nicola Powell said the report provided a new perspective on house price growth in Canberra, with many parents prioritising schools when choosing where to buy.
“While large variations across suburbs in capital cities is normal, and many factors influence price growth in a given area, this data does suggest a relationship between high price growth and school catchment zones,” she said.
“We know from anecdotal feedback from both agents and parents that a desirable school zone can influence prices by up to 10 to 15 per cent.”
The Miles Franklin Primary School zone, which covers parts of Evatt, had a median house price of $577,500 as of October, well below Canberra’s median of $684,395, recorded in December.
“It is surprising to see such big figures [in the report], particularly Miles Franklin Primary School at nearly 20 per cent growth,” Dr Powell said.
“Belconnen is the affordable heartland of the ACT. It’s more affordable for families buying property in that region.”
Dr Powell said Evatt was a tightly-held suburb, with few properties on the market.
Yarralumla Primary School’s catchment area, which covers Yarralumla and parts of Deakin, recorded the second-highest house price growth among the territory’s primary school zones.
Dr Powell said it was important not to overlook other factors affecting price growth in Yarralumla, given the suburb’s growth over 2016, including a new ACT auction record with the sale of 12 Hunter Street for $5,475,000 in November.
However, she said the varying locations of the school catchments in the report highlighted the influence schools had on property prices in the ACT.
Of Canberra’s secondary school catchment zones, Amaroo School’s 10.8 per cent house price growth was followed by Stromlo High School at 9.2 per cent.
Primary schools
Miles Franklin Primary School: 18.8 per cent
Yarralumla Primary School: 16.1 per cent
Arawang Primary School: 14.6 per cent
Gold Creek School: 14. 5 per cent
Torrens Primary School: 13.2 per cent
Secondary schools
Amaroo School: 10.8 per cent
Stromlo High School: 9.2 per cent
Kaleen High School: 8.7 per cent
Dickson College: 7.8 per cent
Gungahlin College: 6.7 per cent