How much does it cost to live in a town where tree changes are most beneficial to health?

Mr Tjondro said the top five happiest regions in NSW were all close to greater Sydney, which had a knock-on effect on the economy and easier access to multiple universities. However, there was a difference in the rankings in the economic category, with Newcastle ranked 16th and Snowy Monaro ranked 346th.

“One of the drivers of regional migration that we’ve seen during the pandemic is the search for better rental affordability. That’s a clear finding from our research, that rental affordability tends to be poorer in urban areas and better in regional areas,” she said.

Wingecarribee real estate agent Henry Capel said buyers were attracted to the area because of its good schools and lifestyle, as well as its proximity to Sydney — it was only an hour and a half drive from Bowral.

“It still has some of that small-town feel. But all the services are here.”

Housing prices vary, with higher prices closer to Bowral and cheaper prices farther from the city centre, Capel said. An entry-level home in the “outer villages” might cost between $750,000 and $1 million, while a four-bedroom family home in Bowral might cost between $1.3 million and $1.4 million.

The area continues to attract Sydneysiders in large numbers. Mr Capel himself moved here from the city seven years ago and noted the slower pace of life, with plenty of walking trails, parks and cafes.

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In the snowy Monaro region, which ranked third for happiness and first for affordability, the alpine town of Jindabyne is a popular holiday destination in winter.

McGrath Snowy Mountains director Shannon Fergusson said Lake Jindabyne, the ski fields and lifestyle activities at the Snowy Mountains attracted people who loved sporting adventures.

“Unlike a lot of other rural or regional towns like Cooma, Jindabyne, the whole region has lifestyle activities that a lot of other areas don’t have. They don’t have mountains, they don’t have big lakes. They’re less than an hour and a half from the coast and less than an hour from Canberra,” he said.

Ferguson praised Snowy Hydro 2.0 for bringing families and investors to the area who have participated in the project. He said prices would start at $550,000 for entry-level homes and $800,000 for family homes.

“It’s a safe, clean, healthy place to live. We have virtually zero crime,” Ferguson said. “A lot of other areas don’t have that change of seasons, but here you have a definitely winter, spring, fall and summer … You don’t have a long, hot, dry (summer).”

In Newcastle, Anthony Merlo from Colliers Residential Newcastle said the health services here were first class, meaning not only were medical professionals relocating for the quality of life, but it was also a major draw for families and retirees.

Melo noted the recent influx of people into the area was due to parents of adult children moving out during lockdown.

“We did see a second wave of cases emerge … parents also sold their homes and moved to Newcastle to be closer to their grandchildren.”

Entry-level home prices start at $700,000 for a one-bedroom apartment in the Port District, while a family home in Fletcher might cost $1.2 million. However, in Meriwether, the same property might cost more than $3.5 million, Mellor said.