Survey shows that Queensland is best place in Australia to raise children - NEWS.com.au

LOVING LIFESTYLE: Tony and Tabitha Lloyd-Jones enjoy Toowoomba with kids Harriet, Lily, Sam, Izzie and Ollie. Picture: Cathy Finch Source: The Courier-Mail

QUEENSLAND is the most family-friendly state, scoring six of the top 20 places to live, a survey has found.

The Suncorp Bank Family Friendly Index released today lists six Queensland cities in the top 20 national rankings - more than any other state.

But while Brisbane misses the mark, scraping in at 24th on a list of 30, Toowoomba comes up roses at number three. It is also the employment capital of Australia.

Thanks to a low crime rate, less crowded schools and lower than average housing cost, Launceston is the best place to raise a family, with Canberra runner-up.

Bundaberg, Mackay, Townsville, Rockhampton and the Sunshine Coast are all in the top 20.

Half of the top 10 are state or territory capitals.

The cities were ranked according to unemployment, crime rates, broadband in the home, schools, childcare, volunteer work, house prices, access to health services and disposable income.

Suncorp Bank executive manager Craig Fenwick said "the larger, stressful, crowded urban jungles and under-serviced eastern seaboard capitals were being upstaged by regional cities".

"The results reveal for the first time that many regional cities have a better balance of job opportunities, housing affordability, income, school sizes, health services, broadband access and lower crime rates," Mr Fenwick said.

"This is the ideal mix for families when it comes to some of the fundamentals, and they're certainly showing up our international hubs like Sydney and Melbourne, which fall short on many of these measures."

Melbourne was 14th and Sydney 23rd.

Coffs Harbour was last of the 30 locations considered in the rankings.

Working mum Tabitha Lloyd-Jones, who lives in Toowoomba with husband Tony and five children, was not surprised by the findings.

"Regional areas are definitely better places for families to live," she said.

"We love the lifestyle here. I am a teacher and my husband is an electrician so when we are not working family time is very important.

"I don't have to deal with the traffic jams and queues of big urban centres, the schools are fantastic, housing more affordable and the lifestyle is very outdoors.

"We love to go climbing as a family at Table Top Mountain or go to Crows Nest Falls.

"Picnics in the park are very common and we think the weather is perfect. So no, I'm not surprised that Toowoomba beats Brisbane in this report."

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio said he was proud of the region's third-place ranking but the family friendly label was no secret to the locals.

"Our strong and stable economy, affordable housing, beautiful parks and gardens, as well as remarkable education and health facilities make Toowoomba the ideal place to raise a family," he said.

"Add to that mix the prime agricultural land in this region and its potential to play a major part in the State Government's plan to double food production in Queensland by 2040; as well as the employment and economic growth provided by the Surat Basin Energy Corridor and it's not hard to work out why we've received this title."