Australia’s top 10 most livable suburbs are revealed – and number one will come as a surprise to many

Australia’s top 10 most liveable suburbs have been revealed – with a location in our most remote state taking the top spot.

The Livability Census, conducted by data analysts at Place Score, assessed Australia’s liveability based on its suburbs and states.

Perth’s inner-west suburb of Subiaco was voted the best Australian suburb to live in by locals who completed the self-report survey.

North Sydney came seventh and was one of three suburbs in NSW to make the top 10

Subiaco was praised for it connectivity to other areas, amenities, eateries and shops.

Place Score founder Kylie Legge said the results showed that inner-city environments with mixed density and established landscapes are considered the most liveable.

“New suburbs cannot compete with more than a hundred years of investment and amenities in the older suburbs,” she said.

The census collected responses from more than 50,000 residents across the country to rank their living arrangements based on 50 different characteristics.

Each area was then rated based on a “place experience” score, or PX, out of 100.

New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia overwhelmingly dominated the list of suburbs with three top 10 entries each.

Meanwhile, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory failed to make a single appearance.

Noosa Shire, near the Sunshine Coast, came in as the tenth best suburb, but Queensland itself was named the second worst state to live in.

Overall, Victoria was the best state to live in, with a PX score of 70, comparable to second place in South Australia.

Queensland scored 66 to come seventh, followed by the Northern Territory who were last on the list with a score of 63.

Queensland’s poor score was attributed to a rapidly growing population, which is impacting infrastructure as the country struggles to keep up.

A general trend on the list was that the overall livability of most areas scored slightly lower than in 2021, with many suburbs and states losing a point or so.

South Australia was named the second most livable state in The Livability Census, conducted by Place Score analysts (photo Adelaide)

Despite no South African suburbs appearing in the top 10 of the census, Lonely Planet recently named Kangaroo Island (pictured) as the second best regional location in the world

The census asked participants to rate various qualities of their living arrangements.

These ranged from the amount of open space on offer to the sense of camaraderie and connection in the neighborhood itself.

The quality of life was generally better for people over 65 than for young people.

Boomers reported the highest satisfaction with their quality of life and 92 percent reported good levels of mental health.

Those under 25 were among the least impressed with life and only 57 percent said they were mentally healthy.

Australia’s ten most populous areas had an eight percent better quality of life than the national average.

Nationally, the average livability score was 67 out of 100, one point lower than in the 2021 feedback.

Several suburbs on the list had similar PX scores, which Place Score attributed to the different needs of each community.

“That is why in some cases we will have two or even ten places with the same liveability score – these will be based on very different characteristics, as well as different priorities for improvement,” the group said.

Australia’s best suburbs to live

The Livability Census, conducted by Place Score analysts, assessed Australia’s liveability based on its suburbs and states.

Each area was then rated based on a “place experience” score, or PX, out of 100.

Australia’s best areas to live

10. Noosa, Queensland

Noosa scored a PX score of 76 out of 100, as did three other entries

9. Port Phillip, Victoria

Locals also gave Port Phillip in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs a 76 out of 100, but specific aspects of life saw Place Score above Noosa

8. Cambridge, Western Australia

Cambridge also scored a healthy 76 from locals

7. North Sydney, New South Wales

North Sydney was the best 76 out of 100 in the country

6. Vincent, Western Australia

Vincent broke the trend of 76s and scored a 77 on the PX scale

5. Surf Coast Shire, Victoria

Victoria’s Surf Coast also scored a 77 on liveability

4. Boroondara, Victoria

The Melbourne suburb almost made it into the top three, but also came in with a score of 77

3. Hunters Hill, New South Wales

Inner Sydney’s second entry scored 78 out of 100 on the PX index

2. Lane Cove, New South Wales

Lane Cove is Sydney’s most liveable suburb with a score of 79

1. Subiaco, Western Australia

None could top Perth’s trendy inner-west suburb of Subiaco, which scored a score of 81