Top 10 Suburbs with Best Schools in VIC 2025

Key Findings

Victoria's school landscape is one of Australia's most competitive. With over 530 schools tracked by AU Guide's VIC school rankings, identifying the suburbs that combine top-tier education with liveable neighbourhoods is a perennial challenge for families. This 2025 data report ranks the top 10 Victorian suburbs by the AU Guide Score of their best-performing school, then layers in property prices, safety data, demographics, and transport accessibility to provide a complete picture.

The findings are striking. The top 10 best-school suburbs span from Melbourne's inner core to outer-southeast growth corridors approximately 45 km away. Selective government schools — MacRobertson Girls', Melbourne High, Nossal High, and John Monash Science — account for four of the 10 top spots, all scoring above 95.0 on the AU Guide scoring method. Independent schools fill five places, led by Haileybury College (97.0) in Keysborough. The sole Catholic representative is St Kevin's College in Toorak at rank 10 (94.5).

Demographically, every suburb on this list has a Chinese-ancestry share above the VIC average of 4.3% (ABS Census 2021). Melbourne CBD leads at 30.5%, followed by Mount Waverley (26.7%) and Burwood (25.0%). This correlation between Chinese-ancestry concentration and elite school proximity reflects a well-documented tendency: families frequently prioritise school quality when choosing where to live.

Data Overview

The table below summarises each suburb's best school, its AU Guide Score, median property prices (Domain, 2025), crime rate (Crime Statistics Agency Victoria, year ending September 2025), and Chinese-ancestry share (ABS Census 2021). All prices are rounded to the nearest $100K and prefixed with "approx." to reflect market variability. School scores are based on 2025 VCE results assessed using AU Guide's scoring method.

Sources: AU Guide School Rankings (2025 VCE data), Domain median prices (2025), Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (year ending Sep 2025), ABS Census 2021. Melbourne CBD has no reliable house median due to limited sales volume. All prices rounded to nearest $100K.

In-Depth Analysis

Education: Selective vs Independent

The four selective-entry government schools on this list — MacRobertson Girls' High School, Nossal High School, Melbourne High School, and John Monash Science School — are tuition-free and admit students through competitive entrance exams. MacRobertson leads Victoria with a VCE median study score of 37 and an extraordinary 34.7% of students achieving study scores of 40 or above. Nossal High mirrors that median of 37 with 32.4% at 40+. Both are Year 9-12 schools with focused senior-secondary environments (1,196 and 826 students respectively).

Melbourne High School, a boys-only selective school in South Yarra, enrols 1,392 students from Year 9-12 and posts a median of 36 with 29.9% at 40+. John Monash Science School in Clayton, a specialist STEM school for Year 10-12 with just 654 students, records a median of 35 with 22.0% at 40+.

Among the five independent schools, Haileybury College in Keysborough stands out. Despite being a large Prep-12 college with 4,849 students, it achieves a VCE median of 36 and 31.2% scoring 40+, earning a 97.0 AU Guide Score — the highest among all independent schools in Victoria. Huntingtower School in Mount Waverley is the smallest independent on the list (752 students) but punches above its weight with a median of 36 and 27.7% at 40+.

Note: Rankings based on 2025 VCE results and AU Guide composite scoring. See AU Guide VCE scoring methodology for full details on score calculation.

The sole Catholic school on the list, St Kevin's College in Toorak (2,116 students, boys-only, Prep-12), rounds out the top 10 with a 94.5 score, a VCE median of 35, and 23.6% at 40+. Camberwell Girls Grammar School in Canterbury (761 students, girls-only) scores 95.5 with a strong median of 36 and 27.5% at 40+, making it the highest-rated girls' independent school on this list after MacRobertson.

Property: From $500K to $4.2M

Property prices across these 10 suburbs span a wide range, offering genuine entry points for different budgets. At the most affordable end, Melbourne CBD units sit at approx. $500K (house data is unavailable due to the suburb's apartment-dominated market). South Yarra units are approx. $600K, while Keysborough and Berwick both have units at approx. $700K and houses at approx. $900K — comfortably below Melbourne's median house price of approximately $1.05M.

The middle tier includes Clayton (houses approx. $1.2M, units approx. $700K), Burwood (houses approx. $1.6M, units approx. $800K), Mount Waverley (houses approx. $1.6M, units approx. $1.1M), and South Yarra (houses approx. $1.6M). These suburbs sit around 50-55% above Melbourne's overall median house price.

At the premium end, Kew houses are at approx. $2.7M, Toorak at approx. $3.4M, and Canterbury leads at approx. $4.2M — approximately four times Melbourne's median. These inner-east blue-chip suburbs command premiums for established gardens, heritage streetscapes, and proximity to multiple elite schools.

Safety: Crime Rate Comparison

Crime rates vary significantly across the 10 suburbs. The VIC statewide average is 6,810 incidents per 100,000 residents (CSA, year ending September 2025). Six suburbs record rates below this average:

• Canterbury — 2,885 per 100K (58% below VIC average)
• Mount Waverley — 4,714 per 100K (31% below)
• Keysborough — 4,930 per 100K (28% below)
• Berwick — 5,008 per 100K (26% below)
• Burwood — 5,414 per 100K (21% below)
• Kew — 5,563 per 100K (18% below)

Toorak (5,820) sits just below the state average. Three suburbs are above average: Clayton (10,407), South Yarra (12,206), and Melbourne CBD (33,958). Melbourne CBD's exceptionally high figure is typical for a capital-city core — offences are counted against a relatively small resident base of 54,941 while the daytime population of workers, students, shoppers, and visitors is many times larger. For families living in residential pockets of the CBD, the day-to-day safety experience is typically better than the headline rate suggests.

Demographics: Chinese-Ancestry Communities

All 10 suburbs have Chinese-ancestry populations above the VIC average of 4.3% (ABS Census 2021). The concentration is highest in Melbourne CBD (30.5%), Mount Waverley (26.7%), Burwood (25.0%), and Clayton (24.6%). These suburbs form part of Melbourne's well-known eastern and south-eastern Chinese-Australian corridor, which also includes neighbouring areas like Glen Waverley and Box Hill.

Canterbury (19.9%), Keysborough (19.0%), Kew (16.2%), Toorak (11.1%), and South Yarra (10.3%) fill the middle range — all still at least double the state average. Even the lowest on this list, Berwick at 6.0%, is 40% above the state average.

This demographic pattern reflects a long-standing preference among Chinese-Australian families for suburbs with strong school reputations, good transport links, and established community infrastructure including language schools, cultural centres, and Asian grocery retailers.

Regional Comparison

The 10 suburbs naturally cluster into three geographic zones: inner city (within approximately 10 km of the CBD), middle ring (approximately 10-25 km), and outer southeast (approximately 35-45 km). The table below compares these zones across key metrics.

Sources: Domain median prices 2025 (rounded to nearest $100K), CSA Victoria crime statistics (year ending Sep 2025, per 100K residents), ABS Census 2021 population data, PTV transit times. 10-year house price growth from Domain historical data. All distances approximate.

Inner City Zone (Melbourne, South Yarra, Toorak, Kew): Excellent CBD connectivity — South Yarra is just 12 minutes by transit, Toorak 30 minutes. Melbourne and South Yarra host the two highest-scoring selective schools (99.3 and 96.2). The trade-off is elevated crime rates in Melbourne CBD and South Yarra, and premium pricing in Toorak (approx. $3.4M) and Kew (approx. $2.7M). Kew is the only suburb in this zone without a train station.

Middle Ring (Canterbury, Burwood, Mount Waverley, Clayton): This zone delivers the strongest overall package for families. Crime rates are low (Canterbury at 2,885, Mount Waverley at 4,714, Burwood at 5,414), Chinese-ancestry communities are strong (19.9-26.7%), and schools score 95.5-96.1. Canterbury commands the highest prices on the entire list (approx. $4.2M for houses) but also offers the lowest crime rate. Clayton provides the most affordable house in this zone at approx. $1.2M with a train station, though its crime rate of 10,407 is above average.

Outer Southeast (Keysborough, Berwick): The best value proposition. Both suburbs have houses at approx. $900K — approximately 14% below Melbourne's median — while hosting schools scoring 96.4 and 97.0 respectively. Crime rates are well below average. The trade-off is commute time: Keysborough has no train station (approximately 75 minutes by transit), while Berwick has a station but still takes approximately 91 minutes. Keysborough's 10-year growth of 104% is the highest on the list, suggesting strong demand in this corridor.

What This Means for Families

Budget Under $1M: Keysborough and Berwick

Families seeking houses near top schools for under $1M should focus on Keysborough and Berwick. Both suburbs have houses at approx. $900K and units at approx. $700K. Keysborough is home to Haileybury College (97.0) — the second-highest-scoring school on this entire list — while Berwick hosts Nossal High School (96.4), a selective-entry school with free tuition. Berwick also has a train station, making it the better option for families reliant on public transport. Both suburbs have crime rates well below the VIC average.

Budget $1M-$2M: Clayton, Burwood, Mount Waverley, South Yarra

The $1M-$2M bracket opens up four suburbs. Clayton is the most affordable (houses approx. $1.2M) and is adjacent to Monash University, with John Monash Science School on its doorstep. Burwood and Mount Waverley are both at approx. $1.6M for houses, positioned in Melbourne's popular eastern corridor with Chinese-ancestry populations above 25%. South Yarra units at approx. $600K are an inner-city alternative with Melbourne High School nearby, though families wanting a house will need approx. $1.6M.

Budget $2M+: Kew, Toorak, Canterbury

For families with larger budgets, these three inner-east suburbs offer the leafiest streets, lowest crime rates, and proximity to Melbourne's prestige school belt. Kew (approx. $2.7M houses) hosts Methodist Ladies' College (95.1). Toorak (approx. $3.4M) has St Kevin's College (94.5). Canterbury (approx. $4.2M) combines Camberwell Girls Grammar (95.5) with the lowest crime rate of any suburb on this list. All three are within approximately 14 km of the CBD with good transport options.

Selective School Strategy

Four of the top 10 schools are selective-entry government schools with no tuition fees. Families who secure a place at MacRobertson (Melbourne CBD), Melbourne High (South Yarra), Nossal (Berwick), or John Monash Science (Clayton) gain access to some of Victoria's best education outcomes without private-school fees — potentially saving $150,000-$300,000 over a secondary education. Note that students do not need to live in the suburb where the school is located, as selective schools draw from across the state. However, living nearby reduces commute stress, particularly for Year 12 students managing heavy study loads.

FAQ

What is the AU Guide Score and how is it calculated?

The AU Guide Score is a composite rating out of 100 that evaluates Victorian schools based on 2025 VCE results, including median study scores, the percentage of students achieving 40+ in at least one subject, and academic percentile rankings relative to all VIC schools. A score above 90 places a school in approximately the top 5% statewide. Full methodology details are available on the AU Guide VCE scoring methodology page.

Do I need to live in the suburb to attend these schools?

It depends on the school type. Victoria's four selective-entry government schools (MacRobertson Girls' High, Melbourne High, Nossal High, John Monash Science) accept students from anywhere in Victoria based on entrance-exam results — there is no catchment zone. Independent and Catholic schools also accept students regardless of address, though proximity is a practical consideration for daily commutes. Government non-selective schools typically have designated neighbourhood boundaries.

Why does Melbourne CBD have such a high crime rate?

Melbourne CBD records 33,958 incidents per 100,000 residents, but this figure is heavily inflated by the mismatch between its resident population (54,941) and its much larger daytime population of workers, students, shoppers, and visitors. Many recorded offences involve non-residents passing through. The CBD's retail, entertainment, and transport hubs naturally generate more reported incidents. For families living in residential pockets of the CBD, the day-to-day safety experience is typically better than the headline rate suggests.

Which suburbs offer the best value for families on a budget?

Keysborough (houses approx. $900K, Haileybury College scoring 97.0) and Berwick (houses approx. $900K, Nossal High School scoring 96.4) offer the strongest combination of school quality and affordability. Both are priced approximately 14% below Melbourne's median house price of approximately $1.05M while hosting schools that rank in Victoria's top 5. Clayton (houses approx. $1.2M, John Monash Science School scoring 95.6) is another strong option for budget-conscious families.

How reliable is the Chinese-ancestry percentage data?

Chinese-ancestry percentages are sourced from the ABS Census 2021, the most recent national census available. These figures reflect self-reported ancestry and may undercount individuals who chose not to state their ancestry. The next census (2026) will provide updated figures. Despite these limitations, the 2021 data remains the most authoritative source for suburb-level demographic breakdowns in Australia.

Are there good public schools in these suburbs beyond the selective ones?

Yes. Many of these suburbs also have well-regarded government schools that do not require entrance exams. For example, Mount Waverley Secondary College, Canterbury Girls' Secondary College, and Kew High School all serve their local communities with solid academic results. However, this report focuses specifically on the highest-scoring school in each suburb based on 2025 VCE data. Families can explore full school lists for any suburb on the AU Guide VIC school rankings page.

What is the difference between selective, independent, and Catholic schools?

Selective schools are government-funded schools that admit students based on academic merit through entrance exams — they charge no tuition fees. Independent schools are privately funded and charge annual fees typically ranging from $20,000 to over $40,000 per year depending on the school and year level. Catholic schools are also privately operated but usually have lower fees than independent schools, often in the $10,000-$20,000 range. All three types appear on this list and are assessed using the same AU Guide scoring methodology based on VCE outcomes.

Data Sources

• AU Guide VIC School Rankings — 2025 VCE results, AU Guide composite scoring
• AU Guide VCE Scoring Methodology — Score calculation details
• Domain — 2025 suburb median house and unit prices, 10-year price growth
• Crime Statistics Agency Victoria — Recorded offences, year ending September 2025
• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) — Census 2021, population and Chinese-ancestry data
• Public Transport Victoria (PTV) — Transit times and train station data