Australia's most hipster suburbs

How to spot a hipster

If you’re unsure of what a hipster actually is, you only need to point to the Wikipedia for an apt explanation:

“[Hipsters are] broadly associated with indie and alternative music, a varied non-mainstream fashion sensibility (including vintage and thrift store-bought clothes), generally progressive political views, organic and artisanal foods, and alternative lifestyles.”

In other words, they are the hippies of the new century – destined to change the way we think about the world around us – one soy latte at a time.

Here’s a summary of the best hipster lifestyle hotspots around Australia, according to property consultants Urbis and market research guru, APM.

Sydney

Sydney took out the coveted title of having the most hipster suburbs in Australia, according to Urbis’s 2011 census data.

So what defines a hip suburb? According to Urbis’s Hip List, a hip suburb is at the “leading edge of cosmopolitan trends”, and offers an “unusually rich source of information on future consumer directions”.

Need an example? Well Sydney has nine of them:

• Camperdown
• Chippendale
• Darlinghurst
• Darlington
• Elizabeth Bay
• Forest Lodge
• Potts Point
• Redfern
• Surry Hills

Hipster suburbs can make good investments too. Maybe it is the convenience of city living, or the proximity to a cafe culture right outside your doorstep.

According to APM, over half of Camperdown’s population is aged 20-39, unmarried, and live in units. Of these units, Camperdown boasts a higher auction clearance rate than the rest of Sydney at 89.1 per cent compared to 79.1 per cent. The median unit price is $680,000 with a long-term trend of 4.6 per cent.

Melbourne

Coming up in close second was popular Melbourne, with seven suburbs making Urbis’s Hip List. These were:

• Brunswick
• Brunswick East
• Collingwood
• West Melbourne
• St Kilda
• Travancore
• Fitzroy

Wherever there’s a university, you can spot a hipster – and Collingwood is no exception. It’s also a great investment, with a long term trend of 7.8 per cent for units (trumping Yarra’s 4.6 per cent) and a median unit price of $628,000, according to APM.

And with around half the suburb’s population aged 20-39 and single, Fitzroy has long been and remains a popular hipster hotspot. In Fitzroy, auction clearance rates have slowed in the 12 months to September 2014, but units are still achieving a positive upwards trend of 4.7 per cent – higher than the total Yarra.

Canberra

Braddon and Canberra city both made the Urbis Hip List, with Braddon achieving a long term trend for unit growth at 3.6 per cent and a median unit price of $428,000.

Brisbane

Urbis rated Fortitude Valley as the hippest place to be in Queensland, and with its elegant-meets-grungy atmosphere, we couldn’t agree more.

According to APM, units have achieved a 5.2 per cent long term trend and a median price of $433,000 – outpacing the overall Brisbane unit market.

Perth

Urbis rated Highgate and Northbridge as two hip suburbs in Perth. Although, with a downturn in housing and unit prices, investors may wish to look towards neighbouring outer suburbs for a better upwards trend.

Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart

While these poor cities didn’t get a mention on Urbis’ hip list, there are some places we’d like to mention nonetheless.

Bedford Park in Adelaide, with its close proximity to Flinders University and the city central, is a top pick for young hipsters. According to APM, a third of the population are aged 20-39 and living in separate housing.

And with a long term house trend of 5.5 per cent and house auction clearance rates higher than total Mitcham at 66.7 per cent, you can enjoy the fixed gear bike lifestyle with a median house price of $410,000.

Meanwhile, Darwin city attracts miners and tourists, making it a progressive hotspot. And with a strong long term trend of 7.5 per cent and solid unit auction clearance rates, it’s certainly one to watch.

In Tasmania, hipsters can’t go past Sandy Bay. With close proximity to Hobart and the modernity of Tasmania’s university, investors can also enjoy high house auction clearance rates at 83.3 per cent and a 3.2 per cent long term trend, according to APM.

There’s a home for every hipster – and the time to chase your dream is now.