Families hoping to buy a home near New Zealand’s top public schools are paying premiums of up to 89 per cent, new figures from realestate.co.nz show.
The data, drawn from more than 100,000 listings between October 2023 and September 2025, reveals that being “in zone” for a leading school can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to a property’s asking price.
Auckland’s education postcode divide
Auckland’s Epsom Girls’ Grammar School recorded the biggest difference, with in-zone homes listed for an average of NZD $2,451,406 (AUD $2,257,000).
Properties outside the catchment averaged NZD $1,291,619 (AUD $1,189,000) — an 89.7 per cent premium.
Nearby Auckland Grammar showed a similar pattern, with homes inside the boundary selling for an average of NZD $534,705 (AUD $492,000) more than comparable properties just outside it.
realestate.co.nz spokesperson Vanessa Williams said the findings underline how competitive the market is for sought-after school zones.
“For many families, being in the right zone isn’t just a preference – it’s a priority,” she said.
“You can be in zone on one side of the street but not the other, and that distinction is clearly reflected in property prices.”
Christchurch’s million-dollar catchments
Christchurch’s school zones are also proving valuable, with properties in zone for both Christchurch Girls’ and Christchurch Boys’ High Schools averaging NZD $1,181,760 (AUD $1,087,000).
That compares with NZD $647,886 (AUD $596,000) and NZD $694,408 (AUD $638,000) for homes just beyond the catchment, which is premiums of 82.4 and 70.9 per cent respectively.
Ms Williams said the figures show that school zones in Christchurch are a major driver of long-term property value.
Mixed results in Hamilton and Wellington
In Hamilton, the biggest gap was found near Hillcrest High School, where in-zone homes averaged NZD $1,176,556 (AUD $1,081,000) compared with NZD $755,102 (AUD $694,000) out of zone; a 50 per cent difference.
However, there was little change in average prices for homes zoned for Hamilton Girls’ and Hamilton Boys’ High Schools.
Wellington showed a more varied picture. Onslow College topped the capital’s list, with in-zone homes averaging NZD $997,348 (AUD $916,000) – 20 per cent more than those outside the zone (NZD $812,560 / AUD $747,000).
But Wellington College and Newlands College saw the opposite trend:
- Wellington College: NZD $935,645 (AUD $859,000) in zone vs NZD $946,911 (AUD $868,000) out of zone
- Newlands College: NZD $916,448 (AUD $841,000) in zone vs NZD $938,035 (AUD $860,000) out of zone
Ms Williams said the data shows that while school zones often push prices higher, local dynamics can differ sharply.
“In some areas, the premium is significant. In others, it’s minimal or even reversed,” she said.
“It’s a reminder that buyers and sellers need to understand their local market, not just the postcode, but the school zone too.”
The findings reinforce the strong link between education and real estate, and for families chasing top schools, that extra postcode digit can come with a six-figure price tag.
