When Anglo families ask “where should we buy in Israel?”, the honest answer is that there’s no single best answer — but there’s a fairly small shortlist of neighbourhoods where English-speaking olim and diaspora buyers actually concentrate. These are the places with established Anglo communities, English-friendly schools, the synagogues you’d recognise from home, and resale liquidity if your plans ever change.
This guide walks through ten of those neighbourhoods across five cities, what each one is actually like to live in, and how to think about choosing between them. If you’re earlier in the process and still deciding whether to buy at all, start with our foreign buyers guide and come back here.
Quick comparison
| Neighbourhood | City | Best for | Anglo density | Price (4-room) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baka | Jerusalem | Walkable urban-village families | Very high | ₪3.5–5M |
| German Colony | Jerusalem | Café-culture, secular-friendly | High | ₪4.5–7M |
| Rehavia | Jerusalem | Central living, academic feel | Moderate | ₪3–5M |
| Old Katamon | Jerusalem | Quiet residential, dati-leumi | High | ₪3–4.5M |
| Ir Yamim | Netanya | Modern seafront family living | Very high | ₪3–4.5M |
| Ramat Poleg | Netanya | Established Anglo families | High | ₪2.5–4M |
| Agamim | Netanya | Value + community + new builds | Moderate | ₪2.2–3.2M |
| North Ra’anana | Ra’anana | Schools, suburban Anglo classic | Very high | ₪3.5–5.5M |
| Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef | Beit Shemesh | Religious-Anglo communities | Very high | ₪2–3M |
| Buchman | Modi’in | Modern religious-Zionist family | High | ₪2.8–4M |
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is the historic centre of Anglo-Israel. South Jerusalem in particular — Baka, the German Colony, Old Katamon, and Rehavia just to the north — has been called the “Anglo triangle” for good reason. These four neighbourhoods together hold the largest English-speaking community in the country.
Baka
Baka is many Anglo families’ first choice and remains one of Jerusalem’s most consistently in-demand neighbourhoods. The combination of pre-1948 stone houses, modern renovated apartments, dati-leumi character, and a genuinely walkable feel keeps demand far ahead of supply. The Anglo community is large, organised, and woven into daily life — multiple shuls, English-friendly schools, neighbourhood WhatsApp groups for everything from gemach to shiurim. Restaurants, cafes, and shops along Derech Beit Lechem mean you rarely need to leave for daily needs. Resale liquidity is among the best in the city.
German Colony
The German Colony is Baka’s slightly more secular, slightly more upscale neighbour. Emek Refaim is the spine — wall-to-wall cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and steady weekend foot traffic. Attracts established Anglo families, returning diaspora buyers, and a meaningful French and South African contingent. Renovated 4-room apartments routinely cross ₪5M; stone-house garden apartments can list north of ₪7M. Best fit for buyers who prioritise café-culture living, secular-friendly atmosphere, and proximity to downtown.
Browse properties in German Colony →
Rehavia
Older Jerusalem — a central, quietly elegant neighbourhood with academic and intellectual roots going back to the 1920s. Mid-century buildings with high ceilings and thick stone walls; many need updating but offer space and architectural character that newer construction can’t replicate. The Anglo presence is more academic and professional than family-oriented. Best fit for buyers who prioritise central location and pre-state Jerusalem character over modern amenities.
Browse properties in Rehavia →
Old Katamon
Old Katamon sits between Baka and Rehavia and offers the best of both — quieter than Rehavia, slightly more affordable than the German Colony, with a stronger dati-leumi character than either. Tree-lined streets, low-rise buildings, family-friendly parks, and long-established Anglo shuls. A steady choice for families who want Baka’s vibe at a slight discount. New construction is rare but renovations are constant.
Browse properties in Old Katamon →
Netanya
Netanya has emerged over the last 15 years as Israel’s other major Anglo centre — different from Jerusalem in almost every way, and increasingly the choice for families who want modern construction, sea air, and a coastal lifestyle without Tel Aviv prices.
Ir Yamim
Netanya’s flagship modern family neighbourhood, built on the southern coast over the last 20 years. A planned mix of residential towers, ground-level commercial, the Ir Yamim Mall, and direct access to one of the cleanest beach strips in the country. Anglo density is among the highest in Israel — by some estimates, one in three families on certain streets is English-speaking. Schools, shuls, restaurants, and community infrastructure cater explicitly to olim families. Property prices are firmly upper-middle for Netanya but well below comparable apartments in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
Browse properties in Ir Yamim →
Ramat Poleg
Ir Yamim’s older, more established cousin — mid-2000s mid-rise apartments that became one of the first major Anglo footholds in Netanya. The community is settled and deeply integrated with Ir Yamim through shared schools and shuls. Property values are slightly below Ir Yamim because the buildings are older, but apartment sizes are generous. A common path is to start in Ramat Poleg and trade up to Ir Yamim as the family grows.
Browse properties in Ramat Poleg →
Agamim
Netanya’s newer-build value option — grown rapidly over the last decade, offering more apartment per shekel than Ir Yamim or Ramat Poleg. The Anglo presence is meaningful but still maturing. For first-time buyers, younger families, or anyone who prioritises new construction over maximum Anglo density, Agamim is worth serious consideration. Early buyers benefit from the appreciation curve as community amenities catch up.
Ra’anana
Ra’anana is the original Anglo suburb — the city most North American olim associated with “where the English-speakers live” before Netanya grew. It retains a more established, polished feel and a single neighbourhood remains the focus of Anglo demand.
North Ra’anana
The textbook Anglo-suburb experience in Israeli form: quiet residential streets, generous green space, excellent English-friendly schools, dense synagogue infrastructure across denominations, and well-functioning local government that olim from suburban New York or London immediately recognise. More expensive per square metre than Netanya’s modern equivalents, but commands the premium through its schools, mature community, and easy Tel Aviv commute (15–20 minutes by car off-peak). Best fit for families with school-age children and professionals working in the Sharon corridor.
Browse properties in Ra’anana →
Modi’in
Israel’s flagship planned city — entirely built since the 1990s, designed around orderly residential layout, full amenities at neighbourhood level, and equal access to both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Has attracted a strong Anglo religious-Zionist demographic.
Buchman
Modi’in’s most Anglo-concentrated neighbourhood — planned, family-oriented, with a strong dati-leumi character and the kind of community density that emerges quickly in planned environments. New construction dominates; apartments come with parking, elevators, balconies, and central A/C. Appeals to Anglo families who want the Ra’anana lifestyle with a more religious community character, or who want central-Israel access without choosing Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
Browse properties in Modi’in →
Beit Shemesh
Beit Shemesh has grown enormously over the past 20 years and now contains some of Israel’s largest Anglo communities, particularly on the religious end of the spectrum. Roughly 30 minutes from Jerusalem by train.
Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef
The most established Anglo neighbourhood in Beit Shemesh and one of the largest English-speaking religious communities in Israel — predominantly dati-leumi and Yeshivish, with extensive shul, school, and youth infrastructure. Property prices are meaningfully below Jerusalem and Ra’anana for comparable apartment sizes, which has been a major driver of Anglo aliyah to the city. Best fit for religious families who prioritise community density, and for buyers seeking more apartment per shekel without leaving the central Israel orbit.
Browse properties in Beit Shemesh →
How to choose between them
The neighbourhoods above are all good answers — picking the right one comes down to a few key decisions:
- Lifestyle: urban-walkable, suburban-quiet, or beach-modern? Baka and Old Katamon are walkable urban-village. North Ra’anana and Buchman are classic suburb. Ir Yamim and Ramat Poleg are beach-modern. Pick the lifestyle first.
- Religious-community fit: RBS Alef and Buchman lean religious-Zionist. Baka and Old Katamon are dati-leumi with a traditional and secular contingent. The German Colony is more secular-friendly. North Ra’anana and Ir Yamim are mixed.
- Commute target: Tel Aviv → Ra’anana, Modi’in, Netanya. Jerusalem → Baka, Katamon, Rehavia, RBS Alef. Remote → anywhere.
- Schools: North Ra’anana, Buchman, and south Jerusalem all have multiple English-friendly options. Ir Yamim’s schools are strong and improving. RBS Alef has the deepest religious-school infrastructure in the country.
- Budget: Use the comparison table above as your starting point. Budget alone shouldn’t decide the city, but it should prune the neighbourhood list within whichever city wins on lifestyle.
Frequently asked questions
Where do most American olim buy in Israel?
The largest concentrations are in south Jerusalem (Baka, Katamon, German Colony, Talbiye), Netanya (Ir Yamim, Ramat Poleg), Ra’anana (North Ra’anana), Beit Shemesh (RBS Alef), and Modi’in (Buchman). Smaller but meaningful Anglo communities exist in Efrat, Tel Aviv, and Karmiel.
Which neighbourhoods have the best schools for English-speaking children?
Baka and Old Katamon have multiple Anglo-friendly elementary schools and yeshiva options. North Ra’anana has long-established English-friendly schools. Ir Yamim and Ramat Poleg share several Anglo-oriented schools. RBS Alef has the deepest religious-school network in the country, including high schools that draw students from across Israel.
Is Netanya or Ra’anana better for Anglo families?
It depends on what you optimise for. Ra’anana offers a more established Anglo community with excellent schools and mature infrastructure, at a higher price. Netanya offers modern construction, sea-air lifestyle, larger apartments per shekel, and a fast-growing community. Many families choose Netanya for lifestyle and value, and Ra’anana for schools and community continuity.
Are these neighbourhoods good investments?
Generally yes, but for different reasons. South Jerusalem (Baka, German Colony) has scarcity-driven appreciation. Ir Yamim and modern Netanya have growth-curve appreciation as the area matures. North Ra’anana and Buchman have steady appreciation tied to school and community quality. RBS Alef has the lowest entry price and strong growth potential as Beit Shemesh expands.
Can foreign buyers purchase in any of these neighbourhoods?
Yes — Israel places no restrictions on foreign buyers in any of these areas. Foreign buyers pay a higher purchase tax tier than Israeli residents, which should be factored into your budget. See our foreign buyers guide for the full process and tax breakdown.
How do I budget for one of these neighbourhoods?
Start with the price-tier ranges in the comparison table above. Add 8–10% for transaction costs (purchase tax, legal, broker, mortgage setup). For most foreign buyers, an Israeli mortgage covering 30–50% of the purchase price keeps cash deployment manageable. Try our Israeli mortgage calculator to model different scenarios.
How long does it typically take to find the right neighbourhood?
Most foreign buyers spend 2–3 trips to Israel narrowing down the city, then one longer trip walking neighbourhoods at street level. The city decision is the hard one; once lifestyle preferences are clear, the neighbourhood usually picks itself within a couple of days of in-person visits.
Bottom line
Ten neighbourhoods, five cities, one underlying truth: the Anglo-Israel housing market is small enough that you can realistically know it well. The difference between a great choice and a regrettable one usually comes down to honest matching of lifestyle, religious community, schools, and budget — not to finding some hidden gem. Walk a few of these in person, talk to families who’ve made the choice, and the right answer tends to become obvious quickly.
Want help narrowing down? Browse our current listings in Jerusalem, Netanya, Ra’anana, or Modi’in — or contact us and we’ll send you a curated shortlist that fits your family profile and budget.
