The 6 best Australian suburbs for young professionals to live in

If you’re a young professional looking to rent or buy a new home, we’ve compiled a list of the six best neighbourhoods you should be considering based on our informative suburb reviews.  

What are the best suburbs to include in your search?

Depending on whether you’re a socialising night owl or a morning gym junkie, we’ve made it easy to suss out what areas would suit you best. To simplify your choice, we’ve generated six short suburb profiles based on the suburb’s overall vibe, average 2-bedroom rental price, typical house type and things to do.  

1. Newtown, NSW

Newtown has a cool village-like, bohemian atmosphere and a great sense of community. If you’re into nightlife, the arts and exercising outdoors this could be the ideal spot for you. Keep in mind renting an apartment in Newtown might be the way to go if you’re on a tight budget.

Vibe: Chilled, bohemian and creative.

Average 2-bedroom rent: $660 p/w.

Typical house types: Charming terrace houses and apartments.

Things to do: Great for public parks, the weekly market, affordable eating out, live music, nightlife, socialising and shopping.

Now available to rent:  65 Albert Street, Newtown, NSW

2. Paddington, NSW

A great area for singles and young couples, Paddington is a lively, bustling metropolis. Featuring pretty tree lined streets, cool pubs, clusters of boutique shops and cafes, you’ll find a surprise around every corner.

Vibe: Trendy and stylish.

Average 2-bedroom rent: $825 p/w.

Typical house types: Beautifully renovated Victorian terrace houses.

Things to do: Close proximity to the beach, parks, cafes, pubs, fashion boutiques, weekly markets and cycling paths.

Now available to rent:  9 Liverpool Street, Paddington, NSW

3. Elwood, VIC

If you love the beach and desire peace and quiet at home, but want to stay close to the city, you should check out some listings in Elwood. If staying active is a high priority to you Elwood has fantastic bike paths, walking trails, lush parkland to explore and of course the beach is close by.

Vibe: Calm, warm and friendly.

Average 2-bedroom rent: $550 p/w.

Typical house types: Modern apartment buildings and deco apartments.

Things to do: Cafes, restaurants, canal side bike paths, organic supermarkets, farmer’s market, the beach and parkland.

Now available to rent:  4/9 Robert Street, Elwood, VIC

4. Richmond, VIC

If you love your footy, live entertainment and socialising, Richmond may be the right fit for you. Here you’re walking distance to Melbourne’s entertainment precinct and there are always live gigs on at local pubs and music venues.

Vibe: Fun, vibrant and social.

Average 2-bedroom rent: $560 p/w.

Typical house types: Converted warehouse apartments, modern apartment buildings and terrace houses.

Things to do: Live music, sporting events, bowling, brunch, night life, galleries, microbreweries, pubs, bars, eating out, cinemas, parks, shopping centres and factory outlets.

Now available to rent:  608/633 Church Street, Richmond, VIC

5.  New Farm, QLD

This visually stunning ‘European village’ style area features beautiful historic circa homes, leafy tree lined streets, stunning parks and gardens all with the serene backdrop of the Brisbane River. New Farm ticks all the boxes, it is ideal for young professionals who work hard and play hard.

Vibe: Cosmopolitan, quirky and active.

Average 2-bedroom rent: $490 p/w.

Typical house types: Circa houses, modern apartments and units.

Things to do: Bike tracks, river and valley walking trails, parks, eating out, bars, clubs, cafes, nightlife, art galleries, book stores, art house cinemas, a Farmer’s Market, riverside theatre, spas and gyms.

Now available to rent:  70 Sydney Street, New Farm, QLD

6. Brompton, SA

This up-and-coming neighbourhood is a great spot for young professionals wanting an affordable place to live where they can unwind and enjoy the finer things in life. A foodies haven, there is no shortage of fantastic restaurants and cafes to visit in Brompton.

Vibe: Bohemian and peaceful.

Average 2-bedroom rent: $350 p/w.

Typical house types: New houses and townhouses.

Things to do: Parks, restaurants, galleries, shopping centres, pubs and cafes.

Now available to rent:  21 Third Street, Brompton, SA

To determine if a suburb will suit your lifestyle, budget, interests and transportation needs we recommend spending the day in the area, checking out housing availability/rental prices on Homely and chatting with the locals before making a commitment.

If you enjoyed this article you may also like the 10 best places for foodies to live in Melbourne, Australia’s most dog-friendly suburbs and Brisbane’s 10 most walkable suburbs.

If you have another suburb in mind head to our Suburb Reviews to see what the locals have to say.

Happy house hunting!