Least Dense in New Zealand

Top 100 cities ranked by least dense

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities

All Countries · New Zealand

Least Dense — New Zealand

1 Witherlea F4 1/mi²

2 Springlands F4 1/mi²

3 Dairy Flat E7 1/mi²

4 Prebbleton E9 1/mi²

5 Motueka TAS 1/mi²

6 Redwoodtown F4 2/mi²

7 Marton F3 2/mi²

8 Warkworth E7 2/mi²

9 Allenton E9 2/mi²

10 Queenstown F7 2/mi²

11 Kumeu E7 2/mi²

12 Papatowai F7 2/mi²

13 Dargaville F6 2/mi²

14 Pokeno G1 2/mi²

15 Cromwell F7 2/mi²

16 Dannevirke F3 3/mi²

17 Tuakau G1 3/mi²

18 Alexandra F7 3/mi²

19 Ngaruawahia G1 4/mi²

20 Huntly G1 4/mi²

21 Omokoroa E8 5/mi²

22 Katikati E8 5/mi²

23 Whitianga G1 5/mi²

24 Hawera F9 5/mi²

25 Stratford F9 5/mi²

26 Waitara F9 5/mi²

27 Greymouth G3 5/mi²

28 Thames G1 5/mi²

29 Beachlands E7 6/mi²

30 Kaitaia F6 6/mi²

31 Waiuku E7 7/mi²

32 Solway G2 7/mi²

33 Te Puke E8 8/mi²

34 Carterton G2 10/mi²

35 Pukekohe East E7 10/mi²

36 Whakatane E8 11/mi²

37 Morrinsville G1 13/mi²

38 Raumati Beach G2 13/mi²

39 Kaiapoi E9 15/mi²

40 Otaki G2 15/mi²

41 East Gore F8 15/mi²

42 Mangapapa F1 21/mi²

43 Akina F2 21/mi²

44 Te Awamutu G1 22/mi²

45 West End F3 23/mi²

46 Raumanga F6 23/mi²

47 Raureka F2 23/mi²

48 Avalon G2 23/mi²

49 Hataitai G2 23/mi²

50 Ngaio G2 24/mi²

51 Cambridge G1 24/mi²

52 Vogeltown F9 25/mi²

53 Waterloo G2 25/mi²

54 Takaro F3 25/mi²

55 Saint Kilda F7 26/mi²

56 Homedale G2 26/mi²

57 Onerahi F6 26/mi²

58 Gore F8 27/mi²

59 Terrace End F3 28/mi²

60 Milson F3 28/mi²

61 Masterton G2 28/mi²

62 Titahi Bay G2 28/mi²

63 Mount Maunganui E8 29/mi²

64 Epuni G2 29/mi²

65 Taita G2 29/mi²

66 Island Bay G2 30/mi²

67 Mount Cook G2 31/mi²

68 Waikanae G2 32/mi²

69 Tikipunga F6 33/mi²

70 Kelvin Grove F3 33/mi²

71 Bell Block F9 33/mi²

72 Rosedale F8 34/mi²

73 Otumoetai E8 34/mi²

74 Churton Park G2 35/mi²

75 Te Hapara F1 35/mi²

76 Petone G2 35/mi²

77 Kaiti F1 35/mi²

78 Khandallah G2 36/mi²

79 Bethlehem E8 37/mi²

80 Mahora F2 37/mi²

81 Newlands G2 37/mi²

82 Awapuni F3 37/mi²

83 Cannons Creek G2 39/mi²

84 Titirangi E7 40/mi²

85 Tawa G2 40/mi²

86 Naenae G2 41/mi²

87 Newtown G2 42/mi²

88 North East Valley F7 44/mi²

89 Stokes Valley G2 45/mi²

90 Flaxmere F2 45/mi²

91 Hokowhitu F3 48/mi²

92 Johnsonville G2 51/mi²

93 Whitby G2 51/mi²

94 Upper Riccarton E9 51/mi²

95 Hornby E9 56/mi²

96 Browns Bay E7 59/mi²

97 Stoke F5 61/mi²

98 Havelock North F2 61/mi²

99 Te Aro G2 61/mi²

100 Karori G2 64/mi²

The least densely populated cities in New Zealand offer spacious living with more land per resident. Witherlea has just 1 people per square mile. These cities provide room to spread out with larger lot sizes and more open space.

Low-density cities typically feature more single-family homes with larger yards, easier parking, and less traffic congestion. They appeal to families seeking space, privacy, and access to nature without moving to a fully rural area.

While the spread-out nature of these cities means longer drives to amenities and greater reliance on personal vehicles, many residents value the trade-off for quieter neighborhoods and a more relaxed pace of life.

Did You Know?

1. In Witherlea, there are only 1 people per square mile — each resident has roughly 27,878,400 square feet of city space.
2. Low-density cities often have significantly lower housing costs due to more available land for development.
3. Many of the least dense cities are located in the western United States, where vast open spaces define the landscape.

Browse Rankings by Region

New Zealand — By Region

Auckland Bay of Plenty Canterbury Hawke's Bay Region Manawatu-Wanganui Northland Otago Taranaki Region Waikato Region Wellington Region

By Country

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Benin Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Estonia Ethiopia Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guadeloupe Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Moldova Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway Oman Pakistan Palestinian Territory Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Republic of the Congo Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The Netherlands Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe