They say the grass is always greener, and for the growing number of Aussies making the move out of capital cities this might just be a few kilometres outside of them.
CoreLogic has analysed regional population and migration data for 2016-17, helping to paint a picture of where people who are migrating away from capital cities are moving to.
According to CoreLogic Head Researcher, Cameron Kusher, the data shows that overall “a significant number of those people that moved away from a capital city over the past financial year moved to an area adjacent to the capital city”.
“Some of these are coastal/lifestyle markets while also being locations where housing is more affordable.
“The reality is the reasons for moving to these locations likely vary somewhat from one in which the residents are seeking more affordable housing or one in which residents are looking for a sea change/treechange,” said Mr Kusher.
Top 10 regions for people leaving Sydney
Region of Arrival
State
Number of Arrivals
Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
NSW
5,502
Illawarra
NSW
5,301
Australian Capital Territory
ACT
5,219
Gold Coast
QLD
5,179
Mid North Coast
NSW
4,484
Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
NSW
4,435
Hunter Valley exc. Newcastle
NSW
3,997
Central West
NSW
3,647
Melbourne – Inner
VIC
3,511
Melbourne – West
VIC
3,098
Top 10 regions for people leaving Melbourne
Region of Arrival
State
Number of Arrivals
Latrobe – Gippsland
VIC
7,259
Geelong
VIC
6,894
Hume
VIC
3,824
Bendigo
VIC
3,375
Ballarat
VIC
3,368
Gold Coast
QLD
2,475
Australian Capital Territory
ACT
2,454
Shepparton
VIC
2,128
North West
VIC
1,755
Sunshine Coast
QLD
1,524
Top 10 regions for people leaving Brisbane
Region of Arrival
State
Number of Arrivals
Gold Coast
QLD
8,834
Sunshine Coast
QLD
6,687
Wide Bay
QLD
4,100
Toowoomba
QLD
2,324
Central Queensland
QLD
2,244
Melbourne – Inner
VIC
2,216
Darling Downs – Maranoa
QLD
1,998
Townsville
QLD
1,949
Richmond – Tweed
NSW
1,882
Australian Capital Territory
ACT
1,739
Top 10 regions for people leaving Adelaide
Region of Arrival
State
Number of Arrivals
South Australia – South East
SA
3,741
Barossa – Yorke – Mid North
SA
2,427
Melbourne – Inner
VIC
1,481
Melbourne – West
VIC
1,212
South Australia – Outback
SA
1,176
Australian Capital Territory
ACT
968
Melbourne – South East
VIC
929
Darwin
NT
850
Gold Coast
QLD
750
Sydney – Parramatta
NSW
570
Top 10 regions for people leaving Perth
Region of Arrival
State
Number of Arrivals
Bunbury
WA
4,403
Western Australia – Wheat Belt
WA
3,904
Western Australia – Outback (North)
WA
3,130
Western Australia – Outback (South)
WA
2,649
Melbourne – Inner
VIC
2,357
Melbourne – West
VIC
1,440
Darwin
NT
1,173
Melbourne – South East
VIC
1,065
Gold Coast
QLD
975
Australian Capital Territory
ACT
923
Top 10 regions for people leaving Hobart
Region of Arrival
State
Number of Arrivals
South East
TAS
1,007
Launceston and North East
TAS
477
Melbourne – Inner
VIC
356
West and North West
TAS
344
Melbourne – West
VIC
237
Gold Coast
QLD
237
Melbourne – South East
VIC
177
Australian Capital Territory
ACT
161
Sunshine Coast
QLD
127
Melbourne – North East
VIC
109
Top 10 regions for people leaving Darwin
Region of Arrival
State
Number of Arrivals
Northern Territory – Outback
NT
948
Townsville
QLD
467
Gold Coast
QLD
413
Cairns
QLD
410
Melbourne – West
VIC
398
Perth – South West
WA
379
Sunshine Coast
QLD
351
Australian Capital Territory
ACT
344
Ipswich
QLD
330
Adelaide – North
SA
321
Top 10 regions for people leaving Canberra
Region of Arrival
State
Number of Arrivals
Capital Region
NSW
3,273
Melbourne – Inner
VIC
837
Sydney – City and Inner South
NSW
615
Sydney – North Sydney and Hornsby
NSW
583
Melbourne – West
VIC
556
Gold Coast
QLD
492
Sydney – Inner South West
NSW
436
Sydney – Parramatta
NSW
420
Sydney – Eastern Suburbs
NSW
414
Sydney – Inner West
NSW
405
Disclaimer
This article is over two years old, last updated on May 14, 2018.
While RateCity makes best efforts to update every important article regularly,
the information in this piece may not be as relevant as it once was. Alternatively,
please consider checking recent home loans articles.
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This article was reviewed by Property & Personal Finance Writer Nick Bendel before it was published as part of RateCity's Fact Check process.
Alex Ritchie
Personal Finance Editor
Alex Ritchie was a Personal Finance Writer and Editor at RateCity, and has been writing about Australian finance for over six years. Her expertise and passion covers loans, credit, superannuation, and closing the gender pay gap, and she aims to help young Aussies to overcome their financial apathy. Alongside RateCity, Alex has been published in numerous publications, including Australia's Money Magazine, Business Insider, Lifehacker Australia, and in health via NPS MedicineWise.
Alex Ritchie was a Personal Finance Writer and Editor at RateCity, and has been writing about Australian finance for over six years. Her expertise and passion covers loans, credit, superannuation, and closing the gender pay gap, and she aims to help young Aussies to overcome their financial apathy. Alongside RateCity, Alex has been published in numerous publications, including Australia's Money Magazine, Business Insider, Lifehacker Australia, and in health via NPS MedicineWise.
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