Find your home in Whangārei

Moving to a new city is a huge step, and ﬁnding a home is a big part of that.

Do you rent, buy or build? And which part of the city is best for you and your whānau?

Whangārei is a large district with amazing options for living rurally, in the city or by the coast or harbour - and the best thing is that the average commute is around 15 minutes to town.

If you’re keen to build, you’ll ﬁnd more aﬀordable subdivisions both in the city and out of town, with sections available now for under $300,000.

Learn more from current Whangārei residents who have recently found new homes in Whangārei.

Interesting facts about Whangārei

House prices are 20% below the national average

500 homes forecast to be built every year until 2050

20 minute average commute time

40 minute flight to Auckland airport

2 hour drive to Auckland

100+ gorgeous beaches and coves

9+ local produce, food, art and craft markets

85 fitness clubs and yoga studios

150+ cafes and restaurants

Fastest growing age group is 25 to 35 year olds

Population of 100,500 (one of NZ's fastest growing districts).

An infographic image showing interesting facts about Whangārei and why it is good to buy a new home in Whangārei.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average house price in Whangārei, and how does this compare to other parts of New Zealand?

The average house price in Whangārei is nearly $200k less than the country's average.

The average price you'll pay for a home in Whangārei is $739k compared to the New Zealand average of $888k, the Auckland average of $1.26m one reason why Whangārei is popular with ﬁrst home buyers!

If you’re looking for options to rent while you wait to buy or build, keep an eye on rental listings on TradeMe, OneRoof, or RealEstate.co.nz as well as contact local agents or agencies directly.

The average weekly rent in Whangārei is 5% lower than the national average.

What is the best way to get in touch with real estate agents or agencies in Whangārei?

We recommend checking listings on TradeMe, OneRoof, or RealEstate.co.nz and contacting agents or agencies that have listings in the area you are interested in.

TradeMe has a great help section for buyers looking for their ﬁrst home.

If you are buying sight unseen from further aﬁeld, we suggest contacting local real estate agents who can provide on-the-ground information.

The free Northland Property Guide is also a great place to look for local residential listings and real estate agents.

It's available for free online, or hard copies can be picked up from many real estate agencies in town.

What is the forecast population growth for Whangārei in the next 30 years?

Whangārei has a population of approximately 100,000 and this is forecast to grow by 45,000 over the next 30 years.

It is expected this growth will come from development and expansion in key industries such as marine, tourism, construction and digital technologies, along with longstanding primary industries - agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture.

Are there any new homes being built for ﬁrst home buyers in Whangārei?

Subdivisions and residential property developments under construction across the Whangārei District include:

Kōtātā Heights in Morningside
The Landing in One Tree Point
Marsden Cove in One Tree Point
Parklands Estate in Te Kamo
The James in Te Kamo
Redwood Green in Glenbervie.

We recommend keeping an eye on local property publications and listings, as well as talking directly to building companies and real estate agents if you’re looking for a house and land package.

Are homes more aﬀordable in the city, rural areas or coastal communities such as Whangārei Heads and Waipū?

As in any district, house prices can vary signiﬁcantly between suburbs.

In 2023, houses in central Whangārei had a median sales price of $810k.

Waipū's median house price was $1.01m, and Whangārei Heads was $735k.

The district oﬀers great options depending on your lifestyle choices, so we recommend deciding if you’d prefer to live in the city, in rural communities or a coastal town before you start looking for property.

There are a wide range of properties - including size and value - in all areas of the district.

What are the most aﬀordable neighbourhoods or suburbs for ﬁrst home buyers in Whangārei?

You can ﬁnd aﬀordable homes in most suburbs of Whangārei, with a range of older properties and modern new builds in most areas.

Choose whether you’d like to live in the city, or in a rural or coastal area ﬁrst and then start looking for properties in your price range.

Within Whangārei city, Tikipunga, Morningside, Otaika and Horahora are popular suburbs for ﬁrst home buyers, and there are plenty of great options outside the city too.

You can often ﬁnd an aﬀordable 1960s weatherboard home or a former state home on a decent size section in these suburbs.

Raise your family in Whangārei

Learn more from current Whangārei residents who have recently moved their families to Whangārei.