Note: while the Sydney property market is fast-moving in terms of house prices, this article contains pricing data accurate as of end of 2024.
It’s no secret that Sydney ranks as one of the most expensive cities in the world for real estate, as people are continually forced into massive mortgages in order to secure a foot on the property ladder.
With the price for a detached home across most of Sydney’s even more average suburbs now easily eclipsing $1.5 million – and in many cases, far, far more – finding a relatively affordable suburb that’s neither dangerous or in the middle of nowhere for the $1 million mark has become an increasing challenge.
This is especially true after the Coronavirus pandemic turned the world on its head, and made the price of real estate in Australia (and Sydney in particular) shoot up even more ridiculously.
As house prices have rocketed even further, as of 2024-25 options in the $1 million range have diminished further as well, and now mostly come down to picking some of the best & safest options further out from the city in regions such as Campbelltown, the Blue Mountains, the new Aerotropolis project, and the better parts around Penrith.
For reference, here are all the suburbs in the ‘Greater Sydney’ area that currently have median house prices of $1 million or less as of our most recent price update in the latter half of 2024:
Suburb | LGA | Median House Price | CrimeRank (lower = safer) | % of Housing Commission |
---|---|---|---|---|
Long Jetty | Central Coast (City) | $997,500.00 | 28 | No Data |
Hoxton Park | Liverpool (City) | $995,750.00 | 12 | 1.00% |
Spring Farm | Camden (Area) | $990,000.00 | 10 | 0.00% |
Mount Riverview | Blue Mountains (City) | $990,000.00 | 10 | 1.00% |
Narellan | Camden (Area) | $990,000.00 | 37 | 4.00% |
Girraween | Cumberland (Area) | $985,000.00 | 10 | 5.00% |
Emu Plains | Penrith (City) | $985,000.00 | 15 | 3.00% |
Bonnyrigg | Fairfield (City) | $985,000.00 | 15 | 25.00% |
Gregory Hills | Camden (Area) | $980,000.00 | 11 | No Data |
Woodpark | Cumberland (Area) | $980,000.00 | 10 | 0.00% |
Cabramatta | Fairfield (City) | $980,000.00 | 20 | 4.00% |
Winmalee | Blue Mountains (City) | $976,500.00 | 10 | 0.00% |
Blacktown | Blacktown (City) | $976,000.00 | 28 | 5.00% |
Bardia | Campbelltown (City) | $975,000.00 | 10 | No Data |
Kariong | Central Coast (City) | $974,000.00 | 15 | No Data |
Lalor Park | Blacktown (City) | $971,000.00 | 21 | 18.00% |
Windsor | Hawkesbury (City) | $965,000.00 | 63 | No Data |
Point Clare | Central Coast (City) | $965,000.00 | 10 | No Data |
Jordan Springs | Penrith (City) | $960,500.00 | 14 | No Data |
Villawood | Canterbury-Bankstown (Area) | $958,500.00 | 31 | 46.00% |
Yellow Rock | Blue Mountains (City) | $955,000.00 | 0.00% | |
Claymore | Campbelltown (City) | $955,000.00 | 31 | 87.00% |
Werrington County | Penrith (City) | $952,500.00 | 16 | 0.00% |
Springwood | Blue Mountains (City) | $950,000.00 | 11 | 0.00% |
Picton | Wollondilly (Area) | $950,000.00 | 14 | 3.00% |
Camden South | Camden (Area) | $950,000.00 | 10 | 1.00% |
Glendenning | Blacktown (City) | $950,000.00 | 12 | 4.00% |
North Richmond | Hawkesbury (City) | $950,000.00 | 18 | No Data |
Liverpool | Liverpool (City) | $950,000.00 | 43 | 8.00% |
Mount Pritchard | Fairfield (City) | $950,000.00 | 16 | 10.00% |
Lurnea | Liverpool (City) | $950,000.00 | 18 | 16.00% |
Narellan Vale | Camden (Area) | $948,250.00 | 10 | 1.00% |
Blair Athol | Campbelltown (City) | $948,000.00 | 10 | 1.00% |
Wallacia | Liverpool (City) | $942,500.00 | 14 | No Data |
Thirlmere | Wollondilly (Area) | $937,500.00 | 11 | 0.00% |
Wentworth Falls | Blue Mountains (City) | $935,000.00 | 10 | 1.00% |
Springfield | Central Coast (City) | $930,075.00 | No Data | No Data |
Oakhurst | Blacktown (City) | $930,000.00 | 12 | 1.00% |
Woodbine | Campbelltown (City) | $930,000.00 | 10 | 0.00% |
South Penrith | Penrith (City) | $930,000.00 | 15 | 3.00% |
Hassall Grove | Blacktown (City) | $930,000.00 | 12 | 1.00% |
Austral | Liverpool (City) | $929,000.00 | 18 | 0.00% |
Doonside | Blacktown (City) | $927,500.00 | 27 | 24.00% |
Werrington Downs | Penrith (City) | $925,000.00 | 10 | 0.00% |
Warrimoo | Blue Mountains (City) | $922,500.00 | 10 | 0.00% |
Glenfield | Campbelltown (City) | $920,000.00 | 19 | 5.00% |
Faulconbridge | Blue Mountains (City) | $920,000.00 | 10 | 0.00% |
Dean Park | Blacktown (City) | $920,000.00 | 22 | 3.00% |
Warwick Farm | Liverpool (City) | $920,000.00 | 38 | 26.00% |
Jamisontown | Penrith (City) | $919,500.00 | 21 | 3.00% |
Ropes Crossing | Blacktown (City) | $915,000.00 | 11 | 0.00% |
Cranebrook | Penrith (City) | $910,000.00 | 21 | 9.00% |
Woongarrah | Central Coast (City) | $908,750.00 | 14 | 0.00% |
Currans Hill | Camden (Area) | $902,000.00 | 10 | 2.00% |
Narara | Central Coast (City) | $900,500.00 | 13 | No Data |
St Andrews | Campbelltown (City) | $900,000.00 | 10 | 4.00% |
Ourimbah | Central Coast (City) | $900,000.00 | 18 | 2.00% |
Berkeley Vale | Central Coast (City) | $900,000.00 | 12 | 1.00% |
Colyton | Penrith (City) | $900,000.00 | 20 | 3.00% |
Minto | Campbelltown (City) | $900,000.00 | 22 | 14.00% |
Rooty Hill | Blacktown (City) | $898,000.00 | 13 | 4.00% |
Cambridge Gardens | Penrith (City) | $897,500.00 | 27 | 1.00% |
Glossodia | Hawkesbury (City) | $895,500.00 | 10 | No Data |
Tumbi Umbi | Central Coast (City) | $895,000.00 | 13 | No Data |
Carramar | Fairfield (City) | $894,000.00 | 21 | 10.00% |
Raby | Campbelltown (City) | $891,000.00 | 11 | 0.00% |
Bligh Park | Hawkesbury (City) | $888,500.00 | 15 | No Data |
Wadalba | Central Coast (City) | $887,500.00 | 19 | 1.00% |
Rosemeadow | Campbelltown (City) | $887,000.00 | 21 | 11.00% |
Plumpton | Blacktown (City) | $884,000.00 | 12 | 0.00% |
Tahmoor | Wollondilly (Area) | $882,500.00 | 16 | 4.00% |
Killarney Vale | Central Coast (City) | $880,000.00 | 14 | No Data |
Wyoming | Central Coast (City) | $880,000.00 | 18 | No Data |
Heckenberg | Liverpool (City) | $878,500.00 | 20 | 28.00% |
Hamlyn Terrace | Central Coast (City) | $878,000.00 | 18 | 0.00% |
Sadleir | Liverpool (City) | $877,500.00 | 28 | 35.00% |
Noraville | Central Coast (City) | $876,500.00 | 12 | 1.00% |
Kearns | Campbelltown (City) | $875,000.00 | 10 | 0.00% |
Penrith | Penrith (City) | $870,000.00 | 60 | 11.00% |
Mardi | Central Coast (City) | $870,000.00 | 16 | 0.00% |
Campbelltown | Campbelltown (City) | $865,000.00 | 49 | 8.00% |
Ashcroft | Liverpool (City) | $864,000.00 | 36 | 32.00% |
Ruse | Campbelltown (City) | $860,000.00 | 10 | 2.00% |
Woy Woy | Central Coast (City) | $860,000.00 | 34 | 9.00% |
Eagle Vale | Campbelltown (City) | $859,250.00 | 14 | 4.00% |
North St Marys | Penrith (City) | $856,000.00 | 44 | 19.00% |
Cambridge Park | Penrith (City) | $855,000.00 | 20 | 3.00% |
Miller | Liverpool (City) | $855,000.00 | 59 | 44.00% |
Bradbury | Campbelltown (City) | $850,000.00 | 15 | 6.00% |
Hobartville | Hawkesbury (City) | $850,000.00 | 13 | No Data |
East Gosford | Central Coast (City) | $850,000.00 | 16 | No Data |
Leumeah | Campbelltown (City) | $850,000.00 | 18 | 10.00% |
Eschol Park | Campbelltown (City) | $845,500.00 | 12 | 0.00% |
Richmond | Hawkesbury (City) | $845,000.00 | 34 | No Data |
Busby | Liverpool (City) | $845,000.00 | 26 | 28.00% |
Cartwright | Liverpool (City) | $845,000.00 | 57 | 38.00% |
Ingleburn | Campbelltown (City) | $842,500.00 | 23 | 6.00% |
Lawson | Blue Mountains (City) | $840,000.00 | 13 | 1.00% |
Bowen Mountain | Hawkesbury (City) | $838,000.00 | 10 | No Data |
Bow Bowing | Campbelltown (City) | $837,500.00 | 10 | 1.00% |
Ambarvale | Campbelltown (City) | $831,000.00 | 26 | 18.00% |
Hazelbrook | Blue Mountains (City) | $830,000.00 | 11 | 1.00% |
South Windsor | Hawkesbury (City) | $830,000.00 | 25 | No Data |
Gwandalan | Central Coast (City) | $825,000.00 | 19 | 0.00% |
Summerland Point | Central Coast (City) | $825,000.00 | 13 | 0.00% |
Vineyard | Hawkesbury (City) | $825,000.00 | 37 | 1.00% |
Dharruk | Blacktown (City) | $822,500.00 | 30 | 11.00% |
Blackheath | Blue Mountains (City) | $820,000.00 | 10 | No Data |
St Helens Park | Campbelltown (City) | $818,500.00 | 15 | 3.00% |
Buxton | Wingecarribee (Area) | $812,500.00 | 10 | 0.00% |
Toukley | Central Coast (City) | $805,000.00 | 35 | 4.00% |
Katoomba | Blue Mountains (City) | $801,500.00 | 32 | No Data |
Woodford | Blue Mountains (City) | $800,000.00 | 10 | 0.00% |
Buff Point | Central Coast (City) | $800,000.00 | 10 | 2.00% |
Emerton | Blacktown (City) | $800,000.00 | 55 | 25.00% |
Macquarie Fields | Campbelltown (City) | $798,500.00 | 27 | 24.00% |
Shalvey | Blacktown (City) | $790,000.00 | 46 | 36.00% |
Hebersham | Blacktown (City) | $772,500.00 | 24 | 17.00% |
Willmot | Blacktown (City) | $772,500.00 | 39 | 35.00% |
Wyongah | Central Coast (City) | $767,500.00 | 13 | 0.00% |
Blackett | Blacktown (City) | $760,000.00 | 36 | 27.00% |
Lake Haven | Central Coast (City) | $760,000.00 | 45 | 9.00% |
Whalan | Blacktown (City) | $760,000.00 | 35 | 33.00% |
North Gosford | Central Coast (City) | $757,500.00 | 19 | No Data |
St Marys | Penrith (City) | $755,000.00 | 44 | 8.00% |
Mount Druitt | Blacktown (City) | $754,500.00 | 41 | 2.00% |
Chain Valley Bay | Central Coast (City) | $750,500.00 | 10 | 0.00% |
Kanwal | Central Coast (City) | $750,000.00 | 26 | 4.00% |
Charmhaven | Central Coast (City) | $750,000.00 | 31 | 1.00% |
Tregear | Blacktown (City) | $750,000.00 | 48 | 38.00% |
Bidwill | Blacktown (City) | $748,250.00 | 50 | 65.00% |
Lake Munmorah | Central Coast (City) | $745,000.00 | 15 | 0.00% |
Kingswood | Penrith (City) | $741,500.00 | 11.00% | |
Budgewoi | Central Coast (City) | $737,500.00 | 25 | 2.00% |
Blue Haven | Central Coast (City) | $730,000.00 | 18 | 2.00% |
Lethbridge Park | Blacktown (City) | $725,000.00 | 53 | 33.00% |
Watanobbi | Central Coast (City) | $721,000.00 | 30 | 15.00% |
Airds | Campbelltown (City) | $720,000.00 | 47 | 87.00% |
Werrington | Penrith (City) | $710,000.00 | 27 | 6.00% |
Oxley Park | Penrith (City) | $705,000.00 | 17 | 6.00% |
Gorokan | Central Coast (City) | $705,000.00 | 21 | 3.00% |
Wyong | Central Coast (City) | $700,000.00 | 75 | 14.00% |
Mannering Park | Central Coast (City) | $696,000.00 | 21 | 2.00% |
Halekulani | Central Coast (City) | $686,000.00 | 10 | 0.00% |
San Remo | Central Coast (City) | $680,000.00 | 39 | 1.00% |
Note that some of these are so far away they can barely qualify as “Sydney” in realistic terms; in truth the total number is even lower than that.
All that said, these are our picks for the best of the bunch accounting for important factors such as commute time to the city, safety, amenities, greenery and more.
10. Woodpark, Western Suburbs
Median price: $980,000.00
Even if you’re a long-time Sydneysider, odds are you’ve probably never even heard of Woodpark before; and unless you grew up in the immediate area or are an utterly niche foodie, why would you?
The suburb is relatively tiny, home to only just over 1,000 people in total, and has little to nothing in the way of drawcard attractions to make people want to ever visit from elsewhere. And you know what that does? It A) allows a place that sits in a relatively decent spot (as far as Sydney’s increasingly-sprawling geography goes) to remain fairly undervalued, and B) keeps it free of both noise and crime – which raise its floor as a place to live.
Woodpark is a tidy, quiet and well-kept little pocket of unassuming suburbia with minimal through-traffic whose streetscape consists almost entirely of detached houses – some fibro, some brick – that have stood the test of time, wrapped up in an environment of largely leafy roads and well-kept nature strips.
While prices for larger houses are getting up there in recent times and often eclipse the $1-million mark, smaller and/or older homes still pop up for sale that fall under that price barrier.
Even if you’re a long-time Sydneysider, odds are you’ve probably never even heard of Woodpark before.
This remains a relative pocket of peace and safety amidst a host of noisier, busier and more dangerous suburbs which surround it.
Typically one of the main reasons people have never heard of suburbs like this is that they don’t have a train station of which to recognise the name of, and Woodpark is no exception in this regard; while that might be seen as a negative in terms of connectivity, the suburb sees frequent bus services that connect through to the Parramatta & Liverpool CBD’s, with a bus trip to Parramatta taking around 15-20 minutes.
Further shopping at Wentworthville is also not that far a drive away, as is access to the M4 for travelling further afield. For those who work in the Sydney CBD, the journey by public transport involves a bus + train connection combo at Parramatta that’s mildly annoying but still doable and can be done in roughly an hour should you time your connections right.
Within Woodpark itself, despite its tiny size it’s still got a quaint little boutique store strip that lies across the road from its namesake Woodpark Reserve, that offers a convenience store, cafe, quality Italian bakery, and a little local kiwi takeaway that does some gun fish and chips.
Woodpark is also statistically highly safe and experiences little crime spillover from suburbs such as Merrylands (one of the benefits of anonymity), which makes it something of a rarity in the area among neighbourhoods close to Parramatta.
“Underrated” is a bit of a cliche term thrown around a lot when it comes to discussing suburbs, but there’s not really more of an appropriate word to use to describe this hidden little cluster of still-reasonably-affordable goodness.
9. Werrington Downs, Western Suburbs
Median price: $925,000.00
A compact, tidy little concentrated neighbourhood of residential housing in Sydney’s far-west, Werrington Downs is another of the ‘good pockets’ located within proximity to some dodgier areas (cough, Kingswood) that gets somewhat unfairly dragged down in reputation by perception of the general area of this part of Sydney.
This is something of a shame, as small suburbs like this often fly under the radar as a result, when in reality they offer all the standard benefits of a quiet residential streetscape for far better prices than you’re likely to get elsewhere due to this ‘reputational contagion’ issue.
Werrington Downs offers this typical mix of suburban calm, access to family-friendly amenities, and decent connectivity, making it a balanced option for those wanting a bit of space without breaking the bank too much and still staying well under our $1 million housing threshold in most cases.
The streetscape here is tidy and quieter than some of its neighboring suburbs, with block sizes that will feel downright generous compared to most of Sydney’s newer estates. Lots in the 550-650 square metre range are fairly common and can still be found for well under $1 million, making it a good option for families or first home buyers wanting a bit more room.
Layout-wise, the suburb itself wraps around the main greenspace of Jim Anderson Park, which was recently upgraded and now features plenty of new play equipment for kids, alongside enclosed fencing for added safety. It’s also not uncommon to spot emus or kangaroos in the nearby reserves, adding a bit of a unique touch to the area.
It’s not uncommon to spot emus or kangaroos in the nearby reserves, adding a bit of a unique touch to the area.
For shopping and other everyday needs, the little Werrington County Shopping Village offers some staple amenities such as groceries, newsagent, chemist, fast food etc. just around the corner, while bigger shops and retail at Penrith sit just under a 10 minute drive away.
Connectivity-wise, while Werrington Downs itself doesn’t have a train station, it’s a 5-10 minute drive to Werrington Station, which is then again just under an hour train ride into the Sydney CBD; the suburb will also be situated around a 20 minute drive from the new Western Sydney Airport once it opens for some extra travel convenience, but as a bonus is also not expected to be impacted from flight path noise based on current mapping.
It’s also not far away (around a 7 minute drive) from the M4, so hopping on the highway is fairly easy should you so choose to deal with a drive-based commute.
Essentially, the key takeaway to not missing out on suburbs like this is to not let the negative image of some suburbs nearby sully your opinion, given crime typically does not spill over from these areas into quieter and safer residential spots like this.
Werrington Downs in fact rates far lower in terms of crime than even some of the more ritzier, “brand-name” suburbs closer to the city in which you’d be paying nearly triple the price for an equivalent house, while still not being TOO far away from the CBD to make a city commute entirely unrealistic.
8. Woodbine, Western Suburbs
Median price: $930,000.00
Another suburb that suffers somewhat from reputational proximity to a neighbouring one with some social and crime issues, when in itself is actually substantially pleasant, Woodbine remains decently affordable relative to the quality of life it offers.
In this part of Campbelltown, there’s a general reputation that ‘on the east side of the highway is better’, which statistically does hold true in terms of raw crime rate… with some exceptions. More accurately, the statement should really be “try and avoid the houso-heavy suburbs in this area” which – as politically incorrect as it might be – does generally ensure a safer and more pleasant environment.
Woodbine is one such suburb, with a low-crime environment that’s home to well tree-lined streets and roomy roads in its streetscape, with largely brick-and-tile homes filling out its housing inventory available to choose from in the sub-$1 million price range. It It provides a quiet backdrop to live in while having amenities on its doorstep in the likes of Lumeah just outside the suburb’s entrance.
This general quiet exists despite the fact Woodbine lies right next to the Hume highway, as the highway’s barriers do a good job of keeping road noise subdued, and the residential streets of Woodbine themselves otherwise don’t receive much through-traffic outside of the occasional nighttime hoon.
The suburb’s also home to plenty of parkland & reserves for its size, highlighted by its signature new-ish skate park at the suburb’s entrance.
While traffic within Woodbine itself is fine, getting out of the suburb and to the city sucks as to be expected; however, you can simply take the train from Leumeah Station (just a couple of minutes around the corner) instead. Lumeah through to Central is just over a 50 minute train ride in the mornings.
Amenity-wise, Woodbine is home to its own cute little old-timey Neighbourhood Store for basic needs and some decent little takeaway, while multiple bigger fast food chains sit on the suburb’s fringe with Campbelltown Road. Campbelltown proper (and Campbelltown Mall et al) meanwhile is less than 10 minutes away
The suburb’s also home to plenty of parkland & reserves for its size, highlighted by its signature new-ish skate park at the suburb’s entrance with associated pump track, that’s ideal for both skating and BMX which many kids will love. It’s also generally easy to walk to a nearby park from most residential streets given their relative abundance, although it can be a little hilly and unwalkable on the whole in terms of topography.
In all, Woodbine remains one of the better overall suburbs in the Campbelltown pocket, and offers a decent amount of house for the price – especially given they’re not typically run-down older fibro builds in dire need of renovation like in some of the other suburbs on this list, or in even worse suburbs that don’t make the grade.
7. Austral, Western Suburbs
Median price: $958,888.00
For those after something a bit more new and shiny, Austral is a suburb in Sydney’s southwest that’s pretty poised for significant growth as part of the greater Leppington area/Aerotropolis expansion that’s taking shape for the new Western Sydney Airport. With billions of government dollars allocated to infrastructure projects over the next few years, including roads, schools, and amenities, the suburb is set to benefit from this long-term investment even though it’s not quite fully there yet.
While this rapid development is going to bring along some short-term disruptions like construction noise and traffic delays, the “short-term pain for long-term gain” argument is still quite strong here, making Austral a likely winner in the future for those willing to stomach the occasional headache for the time being.
At the moment, Austral feels a little light on amenities, with few local shopping or dining options outside its older Town Centre & a couple of IGA’s for grocery purposes. However, it already boasts a respectable number of schools, catering well to the uptick of younger families moving into the area.
The streetscape is fairly typical of these standard, newer Sydney suburbs, with tidy but somewhat generic housing developments, on narrow/slim blocks of land. That said, “new and generic” can be a positive for those seeking safer streets and modern homes at a more affordable price point compared some of the other options in this similar sub-$1 mill price range.
The suburb is set to benefit from long-term government investment even though it’s not quite fully there yet.
Transport-wise, while Austral lacks its own train station, it’s just a short drive to nearby Leppington Station, where you can hop on express services to the city (takes about 1 hour through to Central). And then, once it’s opened & operating, proximity to new airport itself will also obviously be handy both for transportation & employment purposes given it’s about a 15 minute drive to the airport proper and likely to be a bit of a hub for engineering & logistics work once it’s functional. Austral’s also fortunately in a location where airport/plane noise should not be a factor, given the airports’ runway orientations.
As with most suburbs out this way, avoiding a driving commute is recommended if possible for CBD workers due to your pick of the combo of traffic & tolls; as a result it’s best to either stick to public transport, or aim for a job somewhere around the Liverpool or Campbelltown hubs in order to make life less of a pain.
Overall, Austral is a fair bit different to most of the other entries on this list that otherwise have more established centres either within their borders or nearby. It’s more of a “blank slate” where you may be confined to doing more basic stuff in or around your home for a while until development fills out the surrounds a bit better, and then you’ll likely end up in a better position than other options listed given it’s (slightly) more centrally located than pretty much all of the other choices anyway.
And you’re still getting a functional, largely-safe environment that’s family oriented with which you can grow alongside the suburb itself as time goes by – which is certainly not bad for the price by Sydney standards.
6. Blair Athol, South West
Median price: $948,000.00
Small in size but decent on convenience, Blair Athol is a compact, tucked-away suburb located just behind Campbelltown’s central warehousing area in the south-west. It’s a peaceful and safe pocket of largely residential streets wrapped around a business park that offers the convenience of being close to Campbelltown without as much of the drama or noise.
Its proximity to Campbelltown Station – pretty much just around the corner & less than a 5 minute drive away, or even walkable – offers easy access to Sydney’s CBD for those who need to commute, with a train ride to Central Station taking around 55 minutes (which is about as good as you’re going to get in this price range).
The streets here are what you’d hope for in a peaceful residential suburb: quiet, boring, and safe. In this part of Sydney, “boring” remains a good thing – if there’s no reason for people to wander your street unless they live there, it means crime typically keeps to a minimum, and modern-day Blair Athol ranks low on the crime ratings despite there being some higher-crime suburbs not too far away, as they’re largely separated off by the Hume Highway.
In this part of Sydney, “boring” remains a good thing.
The suburb’s streetscape has a tendency towards larger, double-storey homes, which means you’re often getting quite a lot of house for the price, while the streets themselves are usually well-kept, with tidy nature strips and the like.
Blair Athol also benefits from its proximity to Campbelltown’s industrial and retail zones. Large warehouse-style stores like Bunnings, Officeworks, and specialty pet stores are all here, while Campbelltown Mall provides options for everyday shopping. Its self-contained business and industrial park within Blair Athol also offers local employment opportunities, as does the business-heavy strip surrounding it, reducing the need for long commutes to the Sydney CBD if you’re able to get a job here (or in the likes of Minto or Campbelltown itself).
The suburb also boasts a pretty solid array of greenery for its size with prominent community parks and reserves, highlighted by the large Harvey Brown Reserve which offers both plenty of space, gym equipment and a decent walking track that grants a nice view over Campbelltown city and the surrounding hills and residential areas.
The other major selling points for living here are going to be proximity to the University of Western Sydney, TAFE and other such educational options, which makes it handy either for older parents with uni-age kids, or students themselves looking to sharehouse, as well as easy access to Campbelltown Hospital both for medical & employment purposes.
One of the only real downsides to Blair Athol is its size means there’s simply not that many houses available, although the suburb continues to see an increase in subdivision for duplexes, townhouses and other shared block style housing.
5. Springwood, Blue Mountains
Median price: $975,000.00
Perhaps more than any other region of Sydney, the Blue Mountains and its fringes went from what could once have been seen as relatively undervalued before the Covid-19 pandemic, to swiftly catching up with the rest of the city in terms of house prices to the point where they’re mostly a “bargain” no more.
As many people decided they wanted a ‘tree change’ and to enjoy both roomier houses and more greenery – as well as the work-from-home trend picking up – ‘the Mountains’ became a pretty obvious choice for doing exactly that, and as a result many of the suburbs (especially those with train connectivity) now sit well and truly above the $1 million range.
While its price has also climbed along with the rest, Springwood remains one of the few remaining towns near the ‘bottom’ of the mountains and aren’t ridiculously further deep in the range that still offers a shot at a detached house under the $1 mill mark while still offering a decent array of amenities – for families in particular.
As with many of the towns in the region, Springwood provides more of an old-time, community feel than many of the more modern, hyper-developed options for suburbs elsewhere on this list, with bigger blocks, roomier streets, more mature tree cover, and typically older fibro-and-brick type housing builds as opposed to new ultra-slick and more generic developments in some cheaper suburbs close to Sydney’s CBD.
As with many of the towns in the region, Springwood provides more of an old-time, community feel.
As always, one of the benefits of buying an older home remains “survivorship bias” – if it’s still standing and in decent condition after all this time, it’s a good sign of the build quality, whereas some of the newer ‘popup’ modern Sydney suburbs with their rapid housing construction have yet to prove they can offer this.
Springwood’s got that typical cosy mountains feel, with many of the houses equipped with fireplace/chimney combos (which you’d be able to take advantage of given the climate in the region), as well as a quaint little main street with surprisingly decent amenities and a bevy of cafes and dining that punches above its weight given the suburb’s relatively small size.
Golf + sports clubs round out some of its man-made offerings, but it’s also the general appeal of the mountains in general that provides benefits in and of itself, with the expected wide array of bush and nature walks on offer for those who appreciate nature, while the bigger block sizes also make it a positive for people with dogs as well.
It’s also something of a hotbed for educational facilities, as Springwood boasts a solid array of schools and daycare facilities for a suburb of its size (both primary & highschool). The suburb, as with the rest of the mountains townships, is obviously not much of a nightlife hotspot & lacks bigger box retail, which means you’ll have to make the trip into Penrith for larger-scale shopping needs (around a 20 minute drive, or 30 mins on the train).
Of course, making the sacrifice of living this distance from the city would be painful for CBD workers were it not for connectivity, and Springwood benefits by sitting on the Blue Mountains line, which on the express is about a 1hr 20 minute trip into Central. And (also of course) that’s even less of a factor if you instead work in somewhere like Penrith itself.
If you’re after a completely different vibe than most of the other more affordable suburbs on this list – one that also comes along with a highly safe, low-crime environment and more of a laid-back sense of community – then Springwood provides a viable alternative for those who prefer things a little more peaceful (as long as that’s your thing).
4. Warrimoo, Blue Mountains
Median price: $922,500.00
Another of these classic little lower Blue Mountains suburbs that blends laid-back village vibes with a generous dose of natural charm, Warrimoo has much in common with Springwood mentioned above, however it’s even slightly more scaled-back and serene. It’s quiet – apart from the sounds of birdlife, naturally – and is largely home to the kind of friendly, considerate neighbors you’d expect from this part of Sydney and who actively seek this kind of retreat-esque lifestyle.
And again, as with the rest of this region compared to choices on list list closer to the city, one of Warrimoo’s biggest selling points is the land size on offer for the price. Here, you’re looking at a chance at 700+ square metre blocks for well under $1 million; a relative luxury compared to the barely-bigger-than-apartment style blocks in many newer subdivisions closer to the city.
Warrimoo consists of plenty of beautiful older homes that can go for over the $1 mill mark, however there’s also those with renovation opportunities and often a fair few available established houses that have already been renovated within this price range, depending on how much legwork/reno effort you’re willing to put in.
One of Warrimoo’s biggest selling points is the land size on offer for the price.
As with most of the villages in this area, the suburb is highly safe, with a low crime rate accompanying the serenity. There’s all the ample greenery on offer you’d expect thanks to multiple parks, ovals, tennis courts, and several bushwalks and walking trails nearby. It also has two schools (one public and one private), making it suitable for families, although not exactly teeming with other entertainment options for the kids.
The downside to this is that Warrimoo is almost completely lacking in amenities other than a few quaint storefronts & a tasty little Italian joint – you’ll have to drive down the road to Blaxland or up to the aforementioned Springwood for grocery shopping & extra dining needs.
Getting elsewhere isn’t too bad despite the relative isolation given its train line connectivity; Warrimoo’s train station is easily within walking distance from most properties, then connects on through to the CBD in just under 1hr 20 minutes, or around 50 minutes into Parramatta, or you can simply drive to Penrith in about 10-15 minutes for all the more major retail offerings if/when you need them.
Of course, living here as with anywhere else in ‘the Mountains’ takes the kind of person who is going to be happy residing in an environment that isn’t exactly lively, and Warrimoo takes this to the next level. It’s also for those who are prepared to sacrifice any kind of regular beachgoing in Sydney given its distance from the coast… but that can also be offset by the increased ease of access to places like Katoomba & all the natural beauty of the Blue Mountains themselves.
3. St Andrews, Western Suburbs
Median price: $910,000.00
Another suburb in the greater Campbelltown ‘pocket’ of Sydney’s south-west, St Andrews is little-known but provides many of the other similar benefits of the suburb’s we’ve picked in this area as well, other than just purely reasonable house prices.
Sandwiched between the Hume highway and Campbelltown Road, St Andrews offers a peaceful and family-friendly environment without being too isolated from nearby connectivity hubs. It’s “shielded” from some of the rougher and more housing-commission-heavy suburbs in its nearby vicinity and is largely safe and tranquil, with crime rates that are, for example, less than half that of neighbouring Minto.
Amenity-wise, St Andrews offers a great selection (over 10) of schools and preschools nearby that make it able to cater to families with kids of all ages, while also offering a handy little self-contained shopping centre with an IGA and some other smaller stores so that you can grab basic groceries or enjoy a bite to eat without needing to venture into Minto.
And on those occasions that you do, Minto Marketplace/Mall is only a few minutes’ drive away which covers all other staple retail essentials.
St Andrews offers a peaceful and family-friendly environment without being too isolated from nearby connectivity hubs.
For commuters, St Andrews delivers pretty solid connectivity, which is what we expect from all suburbs that make this list. Drivers can easily hop onto the M31 or M5 highways, while those taking public transport are just a short drive from Minto train station, which offers a less-than-50-minute ride into Central Station during peak.
St Andrews also offers a pretty pleasant streetscape within its residential streets, which are mostly populated by single-and-double storey detached homes; there’s not much in the way of denser living options here. Greenery-wise, the suburb is dotted with parks and reserves, providing plenty of solid outdoor spaces for recreation, with most of the suburb’s “clusters” of residential dwellings having at least one signature park or greenspace within easy walking distance.
Similar to other residential-heavy suburbs in this range, there’s not much going on here in terms of entertainment, but all of that is available fairly nearby, which serves to keep the streets of the suburb itself quieter anyway. And given all the other positives, that’s a relatively small sacrifice to make.
2. Girraween, Western Suburbs
Median price: $943,000.00
One of the few remaining suburbs that lies within this price range which still boasts a relatively central location geographically for Sydney along with a low crime rate, Girraween makes reaching multiple of Sydney’s key hubs for work & shopping far easier than some of the other suburbs elsewhere on this list.
As a result, this obviously makes it a highly viable choice for commuters heading to Parramatta or Blacktown – two of Sydney’s big employment hubs – but it also keeps a CBD commute reasonable, with Pendle Hill station just a stone’s throw away and a 35-minute train ride into Central on offer; far more reasonable than some of the other 1+ hour commute times you’d have to deal with elsewhere when aiming to spend $1 million or less.
Its proximity to the A44 means you can also easily hop on the highway should you so choose, but as usual this is not recommended due to Sydney’s signature traffic congestion issues; if possible, you might as well just kick back and zone out on a morning train ride instead.
Its location makes it a highly viable choice for commuters heading to Parramatta or Blacktown – two of Sydney’s big employment hubs.
Girraween has a strong Indian demographic in its community, which as usual means a combination of good cuisine availability and generally low crime rates, and an inherent attraction to good (selective, in this case) schools nearby. Streetscape-wise, half of the suburb is mostly large warehousing on its western portion & the rest mostly low-density residential or semi-detached (there’s relatively little apartment housing on offer), with decently-wide roads with on-street parking and solid house block sizes.
While it’s seen an uptick in villas & townhouse construction in recent years, its residential streets are still mostly more established than some of the other newer, generic suburbs on this list due to it being less of a “new” suburb.
Shopping in and around Girraween is available either locally over at Pendle Hill, or bigger options at neighbouring Seven Hills or further afield at the likes of Parramatta Westfield for bigger-box retail. One random side benefit of its warehouse-centric nature is the ability to get things like chicken direct from the factory outlets here, which are both fresher and better value.
Girraween also offers pretty decent park coverage throughout, highlighted by the larger Girraween Park, which comes with multiple sports fields, amenities kiosk & a childrens’ playground.
For those looking to live about as close to the centre of Sydney as possible for this price range, as well as have more immediate access to all the amenities & increased entertainment options that provides, there are few better remaining choices than Girraween given its combination of location, price, safety and greenery – and how much longer it will qualify for this list given the continued rise in prices remains to be seen.
1. Kearns, South West
Median price: $875,000.00
One for those on a stricter budget, Kearns delivers even moreso than the rest of the entries on this list – this is not only statistically one of the safest options for a suburb in the South West (Campbelltown) region, but also one of the cheaper ones as well.
As we’ve seen, some of the other satellite suburbs in the area may have a less-than-stellar reputation, but Kearns is another burgeoning village with plenty of space and affordable housing to choose from.
If you’re looking to discard the tiny 2-bedroom shoeboxes of Sydney’s more central suburbs and get a larger multi-bedroom home for the same price, this is a part of the greater Sydney region in which you won’t have to sacrifice your personal security to do so.
While it’s not the most connected suburb in the world – you’ll largely be car-dependent here, particularly if you need to access Sydney city on a regular basis – there are still train options in neighbouring suburbs such as Minto not too far away.
While some of the other satellite suburbs in the area may have a less-than-stellar reputation, Kearns is a burgeoning, safe, village.
The highway is just a few minutes drive off as well; expect around a 50 minute commute into the city on the M5 from Kearns (or slightly less should you be lucky with traffic). Local roads are also far more driveable and less congested on a daily basis than suburbs closer to the city as well.
The suburb itself is well-equipped with multiple parks, reserves and playgrounds for the kids or animals, and while it’s not exactly a hotspot for dining it does come equipped with its own IGA for daily needs, as well as the token bottle shop, local bakery, newsagent and the like in its little local Kearns Shopping Centre. Meanwhile other shops, schools, parks, swimming pool and library are all within easy reach as well.
And the token access to the bigger, oft-mentioned Campbelltown Mall – quite well-equipped for retail, as we’ve also covered elsewhere – is also only a sub-15-minute drive away.
Kearns not only repeats many of the positives we’ve covered in other suburbs of the region we’ve highlighted elsewhere, but does so for the best price of them all… meaning you may be able to add that extra bedroom you’ve been wanting as an actual realistic inclusion for your house hunting adventure.
Honourable mentions: Camden South, Spring Farm
1 Comment
Boris
Just a review on Chester Hill as a place of ever regrettably my 5 year stay in it…
The vast number of lebanese car racers (as well as just noisy shit-boxes) kill many a quiet night. If you have brains and need to think, forget it in Chester Hill. A lot of your neighbours have sports cars for their brains. They know NOTHING but how to blow their cars at night. They have nothing in life but their vehicles. Single brain celled mob infested this area and there is no escape but moving out. You’d think it’s them who need to change locations to take their noise with you but there is no legal poison against them. They are human trash. Full stop. Avoid living in Chester Hill, Guildford, Greenacre, Punchbowl. These suburbs are no-no if you consider yourself a real human as opposed to these short-worded animals.