Compare the extra cost of buying a property inside a sought-after public school catchment against paying private school fees over the schooling years, so you can weigh whether the zone premium is worth it for your family. The calculator shows a cumulative cost comparison across the primary and secondary school period.

Why does the zone premium matter financially?

Buying in a sought-after public school catchment usually means paying more for an otherwise comparable house. That higher price flows into a bigger loan, more interest over the loan term, higher stamp duty and a larger deposit. The premium is the extra cost of choosing the in-zone address over a comparable out-of-zone one.

Do school zones change?

Yes. State education departments redraw catchment maps and Priority Enrolment Areas as populations shift and new schools open. A property in zone today may not be in zone the year your child enrols. Confirm the boundary with the state school finder close to settlement and again before enrolment.

What is not modelled in this comparison?

The calculator compares two financial paths only. It does not factor in selective-entry school admission (which is exam-based, not address-based), distance and travel time, after-school care logistics, extracurricular and uniform costs, sibling preference rules, or future capital growth differences between the two suburbs. Treat the result as one input among several.

Where does the median data come from?

Curated catchment medians draw on Domain editorial suburb reports, REA / PropTrack market insights and ABS Residential Property Price Indexes. The list is a starter set for the autocomplete, not a complete catchment database. You can free-form any suburb and override the median with a property-specific price.

Why use 4% private school fee inflation?

Long-run fee growth tracked by the Independent Schools Council of Australia and Edstart cost-of-education reports averages around 4% per year, well above the 2.5% CPI midpoint. You can change the rate above if your school history points to a different number.

Is this financial advice?

No. This is general information based on the inputs you entered, not personal financial advice. See the disclaimer for the full statement, and speak to a licensed adviser before making a property or schooling decision based on it.