RentRabbit is Australia’s newest provider of property information and analytics using user-generated data helping Aussie renters compare properties and be better informed.

New research commissioned by Rent Rabbit has found the top 20 Melbourne rental markets for tenants who have average salaries and want to live in good areas.

The quarterly Rent Rabbit Tenant Opportunity Report identifies the top 20 suburbs where tenants can find affordable rents in decent suburbs that are within commuting distance of the CBD.

To make sure suburbs are suitable for families, only house markets are considered – unit markets are excluded. To further ensure markets are tenant-friendly, suburbs are excluded if their SA3 is more than 100km from the CBD and their SEIFA score is lower than 4.

That leaves a small list of Melbourne suburbs. To establish a top 20 ranking, these suburbs are then ranked based on weekly rental rates (from lowest to highest).

All the suburbs had a median weekly rent of $410 or below, while most were located within 40km of the CBD.

Rent Rabbit co-founder Ben Pretty said life is tough right now for tenants on average incomes.

“Vacancy rates are low in many parts of Melbourne and landlords are responding by jacking up rental rates,” he said.

“I really feel for tenants who are being forced out of their homes and suburbs, especially when they have kids who are forced to change schools.

“The Rent Rabbit Tenant Opportunity Report aims to help everyday tenants identify rental markets that are affordable, while also being livable and commutable. That way, they can focus on raising their families and building their lives, without having to worry about whether they can afford to pay their bills.”

Top 20 ranking

* ‘Distance to Melbourne’ is not the average distance of the suburb to Melbourne but the average distance of the suburb’s ‘SA3’ (a technical term the Australian Bureau of Statistics uses to define a cluster of suburbs) to Melbourne.

Key stats on the top 20 suburbs

1. The house market of Hoppers Crossing

2. The house market of Wyndham Vale

3. The house market of Derrimut

4. The house market of Pakenham

5. The house market of Tarneit

6. The house market of Epping

7. The house market of Mill Park

8. The house market of Sunbury

9. The house market of Truganina

10. The house market of Mickleham

11. The house market of Craigieburn

12. The house market of Mernda

13. The house market of Narre Warren

14. The house market of Bacchus Marsh

15. The house market of Reservoir

16. The house market of Cranbourne West

17. The house market of Belmont

18. The house market of Point Cook

19. The house market of Keilor Downs

20. The house market of Endeavour Hills