Skip to content
Ask Matty
Menu

Moving to New Zealand: comparing towns and cities

How New Zealand's 67 council areas compare on population, household income, rent for new tenancies and climate, from public data, with the official rules on renting and schools. This is not immigration advice: visa questions are for Immigration New Zealand.

Towns and cities side by side

All 67 councils, largest first. Click a heading to sort. A dash means the figure is not available.
CouncilPopulation (2023 Census)Median household income (2023)New-tenancy rent, a week (April–June 2026)Rain a yearMean temperature
Auckland1,656,486$116,800$7001,030 mm15.9°C
Christchurch City391,383$90,600$568840 mm11.6°C
Wellington City202,689$134,500$611870 mm13.0°C
Hamilton City174,741$96,500$5751,110 mm14.4°C
Tauranga City152,844$95,400$6941,140 mm15.4°C
Dunedin City128,901$80,500—690 mm10.6°C
Lower Hutt City107,562$110,100$597900 mm12.7°C
Whangarei District96,678$81,900$5841,040 mm16.2°C
Palmerston North City87,090$90,600$572950 mm12.3°C
New Plymouth District87,000$86,400$5611,260 mm13.8°C
Waikato District85,968$113,200—1,080 mm14.7°C
Hastings District85,965$93,400$620860 mm14.0°C
Selwyn District78,144$122,100—870 mm11.3°C
Rotorua District74,058$87,700$5711,060 mm13.3°C
Far North District71,430$65,500—1,090 mm16.3°C
Waimakariri District66,246$91,200—870 mm11.4°C
Napier City64,695$83,400$620850 mm14.1°C
Porirua City59,445$124,000$691910 mm12.6°C
Waipa District58,686$102,900—1,080 mm13.4°C
Tasman District57,807$80,400—1,110 mm11.3°C
Western Bay of Plenty District56,184$88,600—1,100 mm14.4°C
Kapiti Coast District55,914$85,200$617910 mm12.6°C
Invercargill City55,599$80,900—1,250 mm10.9°C
Nelson City52,584$81,800$590990 mm10.2°C
Gisborne District51,135$81,000—1,090 mm13.9°C
Marlborough District49,431$81,700—820 mm11.1°C
Queenstown-Lakes District47,808$125,600$8001,310 mm5.8°C
Whanganui District47,619$63,600$514970 mm13.7°C
Timaru District47,547$76,900—680 mm10.9°C
Upper Hutt City45,759$110,300$602910 mm12.6°C
Taupo District40,296$86,700$649970 mm11.4°C
Whakatane District37,149$83,000—1,070 mm14.1°C
Matamata-Piako District37,098$86,200—1,090 mm14.0°C
Horowhenua District36,693$63,700—990 mm13.4°C
Ashburton District34,746$85,800—750 mm11.3°C
Manawatu District32,415$90,100$543940 mm12.0°C
Thames-Coromandel District31,995$58,900$5791,030 mm15.6°C
Southland District31,833$85,400—1,390 mm9.3°C
South Taranaki District29,025$75,700—1,150 mm13.2°C
Masterton District27,678$77,400$520930 mm12.1°C
Kaipara District25,899$65,800—990 mm16.3°C
South Waikato District25,044$77,300$5371,070 mm13.2°C
Central Otago District24,306$86,700$682970 mm6.8°C
Waitaki District23,472$68,900—680 mm10.0°C
Hauraki District21,318$66,000—1,090 mm14.5°C
Tararua District18,660$68,700$487930 mm12.0°C
Clutha District18,315$76,500—780 mm9.8°C
Rangitikei District15,663$73,500—950 mm11.5°C
Central Hawke's Bay District15,480$80,800—960 mm13.2°C
Grey District14,043$70,100—1,940 mm11.0°C
Hurunui District13,608$77,400—1,120 mm9.5°C
Ruapehu District13,095$66,000—1,050 mm11.1°C
Gore District12,711$75,200—1,180 mm9.3°C
South Wairarapa District11,811$93,000—920 mm12.2°C
Buller District10,446$51,800—1,760 mm10.5°C
Ōtorohanga District10,410$85,400—1,100 mm13.8°C
Stratford District10,149$75,500$5601,140 mm12.9°C
Carterton District10,107$79,700—930 mm11.9°C
Ōpōtiki District10,089$66,900—1,120 mm13.5°C
Waitomo District9,585$73,300—1,130 mm13.4°C
Westland District8,901$71,500—1,900 mm9.5°C
Wairoa District8,826$67,200—960 mm13.9°C
Waimate District8,121$67,800$425630 mm11.0°C
Kawerau District7,539$61,900$5501,080 mm14.4°C
Mackenzie District5,115$81,700$3931,120 mm6.9°C
Kaikoura District4,215$66,800$550740 mm12.0°C
Chatham Islands Territory612$93,100———

Population and income are for the council area at the 2023 Census (Stats NZ). Rent is the average of its suburbs' median rents for new tenancies (MBIE bond data), weighted by their number of property titles, and shown only when suburbs holding at least half the council's titles have a figure. Climate is the 2001–2020 average for the wider area (NASA POWER, about 50 km grid), weighted the same way.

Choosing where to live

Immigration New Zealand notes that where people settle often depends on their job or study, that a similar property costs more in the inner city than in the suburbs, and that houses here do not normally have central heating. In the southern hemisphere, north-facing homes get the most sun. Each council page on this site lists its suburbs side by side, and each suburb page shows rents, schools, the 2023 Census and the land where the data exists.

Renting

The rent figures on this site come from MBIE's record of the bonds lodged for new tenancies: they are agreed rents, not asking rents. MBIE notes its bond data is provisional while it moves to a new system.

Schools

Living inside a school's zone entitles a child to enrol there; some schools have no zone. You can apply to a school outside your zone, but children living in its zone get first preference. Education Counts shows which schools an address is zoned for. Where the data exists, each suburb page here lists the schools inside it and the nearest secondary school.

Buying

Generally, only residents and citizens can buy homes in New Zealand, with some exceptions; Settled.govt.nz links to the LINZ homebuyer eligibility tool. See also cross-lease explained and LIM reports.

Questions

Can I buy a house when I move to New Zealand?

Generally, only residents and citizens can buy homes in New Zealand, with some exceptions. Settled.govt.nz links to the LINZ homebuyer eligibility tool. Visa questions are for Immigration New Zealand.

How much bond can a landlord charge?

Up to 4 weeks' rent as a general bond, and no more than 2 weeks' rent in advance. Letting fees have been banned since 12 December 2018.

How do school zones work?

If you live inside a school's zone, you are entitled to enrol there. You can apply to a school outside your zone, but children living in its zone get first preference. Education Counts shows which schools you are zoned for.

Official sources

Checked on 1 October 2026. Rules change: the linked pages are the authority, and this page is general information, not legal, building or immigration advice.

More guides