The 2023 Australian Liveability Census, conducted by data analysts at Place Score, collected more than 50,000 responses from residents nationwide to gauge the liveability of the nation’s suburbs and states.

Perth’s inner-west suburb of Subiaco emerged as the surprise leader in the rankings – taking the prestigious title of the best Australian suburb to live in. Subiaco’s appeal lies in its connectivity to other areas, a wide range of amenities, diverse dining options, numerous shops, and of course, Subiaco stadium.

Place Score founder Kylie Legge said the results emphasise that mixed-density inner-city environments with established landscapes are considered the most liveable. Older suburbs with over a century’s worth of investment and amenities tended to outshine new developments in the study.

The census assessed each area based on a score of 100 for ‘place experience’. Notably, three states overwhelmingly dominated the list of top 10 suburbs, with New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia each claiming three entries.

On the contrary, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory did not have a single suburb featured in the top rankings.

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Australia’s Top 10 most liveable suburbs:

1. Subiaco, Western Australia (score of 81)
2. Lane Cove, New South Wales (score of 79)
3. Hunters Hill, New South Wales (score of 78)
4. Boroondara, Victoria (score of 77)
5. Surf Coast Shire, Victoria (score of 77)
6. Vincent, Western Australia (score of 77)
7. North Sydney, New South Wales (score of 76)
8. Cambridge, Western Australia (score of 76)
9. Port Phillip, Victoria (score of 76)
10. Noosa, Queensland (score of 76)

While Victoria was deemed the best state to live in, sharing the top position with South Australia, Queensland found itself in seventh place. Declining liveability of many areas was a common theme. Most suburbs and states saw a slight decrease compared to the 2021 census.

Participants were asked to rate various aspects of their living situation, including open spaces, a sense of community, and belonging in their neighbourhood. There were differences in the perception of liveability among different age groups. Those over 65 reported a higher quality of life.

In contrast, younger individuals under 25 years old expressed lower levels of satisfaction and wellbeing, with only 57 per cent reporting good mental health. The census also underscored the significance of population density. Australia’s top 10 densest areas boasted eight per cent better liveability than the national average.

This story originally appeared on news.com.au. It has been reproduced here with permission.

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