Moving - what area?

I am moving from the country and want to know whether the areas I am looking at are trashy areas or good for familys? We are quiet people, normal family who just want serenity and a good high school. We are looking at Maryland, Wallsend, Sandgate, Elmore Vale etc as we can't afford lambton/Kotara or Adamstown areas. We are looking at real estate in our budget, but are they cheap nice homes because the area is bad or going backwards?? We don't want to pay $600000 for a 2 bedroom run down home and no yard.