Urban forests but NIMBY (Not In My Backyard): Evidence from tree proximity, characteristics, and house values in Sydney, Australia
Abstract
This study utilises a micro-level property sale dataset alongside detailed tree data from 2021 to 2024 in the City of Sydney, Australia, to investigate how the proximity and characteristics of public street and park trees, including their numbers, species, canopy size, height, and maturity, affect house sale prices. We find that public trees generally enhance property values, provided they are not located within 10 m of the parcel centroid. Specifically, more mature street and park trees with larger canopies and greater heights within 10–20 m increase house prices, while certain species such as Brush Box, London Plane, and Tuckeroo can reduce prices if planted too close (
Fields of Study & Subjects
Urban Green Space and Health
Wood Treatment and Properties
Housing Market and Economics
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Cities
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 173
- Pages
- 106877–106877
- Publication date
- 24 February 2026
- Language
- EN