ποΈ Northern Territory Suburbs with the Most Housing Commission
Social housing in Northern Territory encompasses dwellings managed by the state housing authority and registered community housing providers, offering affordable rental accommodation to low-income households, people experiencing disadvantage, and those with specialist needs. The 2021 Census recorded significant concentrations of social housing in specific suburbs β particularly those developed as public housing estates during the post-war decades.
The distribution of social housing across Northern Territory reflects decades of government housing policy. Some suburbs were purpose-built as welfare housing estates and continue to have very high concentrations of government-managed dwellings, while others have seen gradual transfers to community housing providers as part of housing reform programs.
This ranking is based on ABS 2021 Census Table G37 β Tenure Type and Landlord Type by Dwelling Structure β counting dwellings rented from state housing authorities and community housing providers as a percentage of all occupied private dwellings. Only suburbs with at least 100 dwellings are included.
Angurugu NT 822
Angurugu is an Indigenous community located on the western coast of Groote Eylandt, an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria approximately 650 kilometres east of Darwin and 50 kilometres offshore from Arnhem Land. With a population of around 883 people β approximately 95% of whom are Aboriginal β Angurugu is one of the three principal communities on the Groote Eylandt archipelago, alongside Umbakumba and Milyakburra. The community falls within the East Arnhem Region and was originally established as a Church Mission Society (CMS) mission site.
Numbulwar NT 822
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Milikapiti NT 822
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Ngukurr NT 852
Ngukurr is a remote Aboriginal community situated on the Roper River in the Roper Gulf region of the Northern Territory, approximately 320 kilometres south-east of Katherine and 650 kilometres from Darwin, within the Roper Gulf Regional Council area. With a population of 1,088 recorded in the 2021 Census, Ngukurr is one of the larger remote Aboriginal communities in the Territory, with approximately 93 per cent of residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The community has a very young age profile β the median age is just 25 β and average household sizes are large at 5.5 persons, reflecting multigenerational living and strong kinship networks. Social housing makes up over 80 per cent of all dwellings.
Santa Teresa NT 872
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Galiwinku NT 822
Galiwinku is a remote Aboriginal community located on Elcho Island (also known as Galiwin'ku) off the coast of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. With a population of around 2,200 at the 2021 census, it is one of the larger Indigenous communities in the Top End. The community is predominantly YolΕu people and maintains strong cultural traditions, languages, and ceremonial practices.
Lajamanu NT 852
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Gapuwiyak NT 880
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Maningrida NT 822
Maningrida is a remote Aboriginal community in the West Arnhem Regional Council area, located on the northern coast of Arnhem Land approximately 500 kilometres east of Darwin. Home to around 2,518 residents as recorded in the 2021 Census, the community is predominantly KunibΓdji and other Aboriginal peoples of Arnhem Land, with Indigenous Australians making up over 91% of the population. Sitting at 30 metres elevation and covering approximately 11 square kilometres of coastal country along the Arafura Sea, Maningrida is one of the most significant and populous Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.
Hermannsburg NT 872
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Gunbalanya NT 822
Gunbalanya (also known as Oenpelli) is a remote Aboriginal community in the West Arnhem region of the Northern Territory, situated on the eastern bank of the East Alligator River approximately 300 kilometres east of Darwin within the West Arnhem Regional Council area. With a population of 1,177, the community is overwhelmingly Indigenous β around 88 per cent of residents identify as Aboriginal, predominantly Kunwinjku people β and has a youthful demographic with a median age of just 27. The community encompasses a vast 512 square kilometre locality and operates under traditional land management and community governance structures.
Ramingining NT 822
Ramingining is a remote Aboriginal community located in central Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, approximately 500 kilometres east of Darwin. Situated in the East Arnhem Region, the community is home primarily to YolΕu people and had a population of around 872 residents at the 2016 Census. Established in the early 1970s, Ramingining became recognised as Aboriginal land following the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 and sits on the land of the Northern Land Council.
Wurrumiyanga NT 822
Wurrumiyanga (also known as Nguiu) is the principal community on Bathurst Island, part of the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory, administered by the Tiwi Islands Regional Council. Located approximately 80 kilometres north of Darwin across the Clarence Strait, the community is accessible by ferry or light aircraft and has no road connection to the mainland. With a population of 1,421, around 85 per cent of residents identify as Aboriginal, predominantly Tiwi people, making it one of the most significant Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. Average household size of 3.5 persons and very low median income levels reflect the challenges of remote community living.
Wadeye NT 822
Wadeye (pronounced WOD-ay-Ι) is one of the Northern Territory's largest Indigenous communities, located approximately 394 kilometres south-west of Darwin in the West Daly Region. Formerly known as Port Keats, the community was originally established as a Roman Catholic mission in 1935 and was renamed Wadeye in 1978 when control passed to the local Kardu Numida Council. At the 2021 Census, Wadeye had a population of 1,924 people, making it one of the biggest Aboriginal communities in the NT. The township sits at a low elevation near the Daly River basin in tropical savanna country.
Yuendumu NT 872
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Milingimbi NT 822
Milingimbi, also known by its YolΕu name Yurrwi, is a remote Aboriginal island community located in the Crocodile Islands group off the Arnhem Land coast of the Northern Territory, approximately 500 kilometres east of Darwin within the East Arnhem Regional Council area. With a population of 1,097 according to the 2021 Census, the community is overwhelmingly YolΕu, with over 93 per cent identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander β one of the highest proportions of any community in Australia. Housing density is high, with an average household size of 5.7 persons, and the community is classified as remote under national accessibility frameworks.
Yirrkala NT 880
Yirrkala is a Yolngu Aboriginal community located on the Gove Peninsula in North-East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, approximately 700 kilometres east of Darwin and 15 kilometres from the mining town of Nhulunbuy. With a population of around 657 residents, Yirrkala is one of the most culturally significant Indigenous communities in Australia, having been established as a mission in the 1930s and later becoming central to the landmark Yirrkala Church Panels and the first petition by Aboriginal Australians to the Australian Parliament in 1963.
Borroloola NT 854
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Sandover NT 872
Sandover is a vast remote locality in the Northern Territory, covering approximately 18,880 square kilometres of semi-arid and arid landscape in the southern NT, some 1,133 kilometres south of Darwin. Established as an official locality in April 2007, it straddles the boundaries of the Barkly Region and Central Desert Region local government areas, and is home to a small population of around 634 people (2016 Census) living across remote communities in one of Australia's most sparsely settled areas.
West Arnhem NT 822
West Arnhem is a vast locality in the Northern Territory covering approximately 30,875 square kilometres of Arnhem Land, one of Australia's largest Aboriginal freehold land areas. At the 2021 Census the locality recorded a population of 785 people, making it one of the most sparsely populated areas in the country at roughly 0.025 people per square kilometre. The region is governed through the West Arnhem Regional Council, headquartered at Jabiru, and encompasses important Indigenous communities including Gunbalanya (Oenpelli). It lies on the traditional Country of numerous Bininj and Yolngu clans whose cultural connection to this land spans tens of thousands of years.
East Arnhem NT 822
East Arnhem is a vast remote region in the Northern Territory's north-east, encompassing approximately 30,594 square kilometres of traditional YolΕu Aboriginal land. With a population of around 1,194, the region is home to nine distinct Indigenous communities including Galiwin'ku, Yirrkala, and Milingimbi. The area is characterised by pristine wilderness, rich Indigenous culture, and limited infrastructure, accessible primarily via the 685-kilometre Central Arnhem Road from the Stuart Highway.
Stuart NT 870
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
The Narrows NT 820
The Narrows is a compact inner suburb of Darwin, Northern Territory, located approximately 4 kilometres from the Darwin CBD between Ludmilla Creek and Sadgrove Creek β the narrow land feature from which it takes its name. It is the traditional country of the Larrakia people and appeared on some of Darwin's earliest plans. With a population of around 632, it is a predominantly residential suburb within the City of Darwin local government area.
Tennant Creek NT 860
Tennant Creek is a remote outback town and service hub in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory, situated on the Stuart Highway approximately 990 kilometres south of Darwin and 510 kilometres north of Alice Springs, within the Barkly Regional Council area. With a population of 3,080 and a median age of 33, the town has a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of 1,714 residents β more than half the total β reflecting its deep connection to Warumungu Country. Household incomes are modest at a median of $1,677 per week, consistent with the challenges facing many remote NT communities.
Batchelor NT 845
Batchelor is a small township located 98 kilometres south of Darwin in the Northern Territory, positioned just off the Stuart Highway within the Litchfield local government area. With a population of around 396 residents, it is perhaps best known as the primary gateway to Litchfield National Park, one of the Top End's most spectacular natural destinations. The town has an interesting history as a support base built during the construction of the Rum Jungle uranium mine in the 1950s, and later as a training facility during World War II. Today it retains a quiet, community-focused character shaped by its unique tropical environment.
Ciccone NT 870
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Hugh NT 872
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Moulden NT 830
Moulden is a residential suburb of Palmerston, a planned satellite city of Darwin, located approximately 25 kilometres south-east of the Darwin CBD by road within the City of Palmerston local government area. Established in the 1980s as Palmerston expanded rapidly to accommodate Darwin's growing population, Moulden covers 1.75 square kilometres at a low tropical elevation. The suburb sits on the traditional Country of the Larrakia people, and has a population of 3,053 with a young median age of 33. The median household income of approximately $78,800 annually reflects its working-class to mid-income character, typical of outer Palmerston suburbs.
Malak NT 812
Malak is a northern suburb of Darwin, located approximately 12 kilometres from the CBD within the City of Darwin. Named after the Malak Aboriginal people from the Daly River area, the suburb was under construction when Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin in late 1974. With a population of around 3,000, Malak is a residential area spanning 1.8 square kilometres. Historically it had a significant proportion of social housing, though this has decreased substantially over the decades from 29% in 1991 to around 11% by 2011, reflecting the suburb's ongoing transformation.
Sadadeen NT 870
Sadadeen is a residential suburb of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, situated at the base of the MacDonnell Ranges at an elevation of 582 metres. With a population of around 2,300, it is one of the eastern suburbs of Alice Springs, located approximately 3 kilometres from the town centre. The area features an arid desert climate with hot summers and cool winters, and its landscape is characterised by red earth and rocky ranges.
Gray NT 830
Gray is a residential suburb within the City of Palmerston, approximately 22 kilometres south of Darwin's CBD in Australia's Northern Territory. With a population of 3,142 and a median age of 34, Gray reflects Palmerston's character as a growing satellite city developed from the 1980s, attracting younger families and a diverse workforce. The suburb covers a compact 1.5 square kilometres on flat tropical terrain and has a notably multicultural community, including a significant Indigenous population (around 21% of residents) alongside Filipino, South-East Asian, and Pacific Islander communities.
Coconut Grove NT 810
Coconut Grove is a northern suburb of Darwin located 8.7 km from the CBD in the City of Darwin. With a population of 2,892 and a median age of 35, it is one of Darwin's more youthful and culturally diverse suburbs. Established in 1962, the suburb is named for the grove of coconut palms along its coastal fringe on the Timor Sea. It is the traditional country of the Larrakia people.
Larapinta NT 875
Larapinta is a residential suburb of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, located approximately 5 kilometres south-west of the town centre. With a population of around 2,370 (2021 Census) and a median age of 33, it is one of the newer suburban developments in Alice Springs. The suburb has a diverse community including a significant Indigenous population (approximately 30%) alongside families attracted by government and service-sector employment in the region.
Katherine South NT 850
Katherine South is an urban locality in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory, situated approximately 320 kilometres south of Darwin along the Stuart Highway. With a population of around 1,495 people (2016 census), it forms part of the broader Katherine township, one of the Territory's most significant inland centres. The suburb sits at an elevation of 105 metres on the traditional lands of the Jawoyn and Dagoman peoples, and has a diverse demographic mix including a significant Indigenous population.
Katherine East NT 850
Katherine East is a residential suburb of Katherine, a major regional town in the Northern Territory located approximately 320 kilometres southeast of Darwin. With a population of around 3,060, it is one of the larger suburbs within the Katherine township. The area sits at an elevation of 115 metres on the eastern side of the Katherine River and features a tropical savanna climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.
Karama NT 812
Karama is an established residential suburb in Darwin's northern suburbs, located 14 kilometres from the CBD. With a population of around 4,800, this 1980s-era suburb sits between McMillans Road and Vanderlin Drive. The community is notably diverse and includes a significant proportion of public housing residentsβabout 17% compared to the national average of 4%.
Ludmilla NT 820
Ludmilla is an established inner-Darwin suburb located approximately 4 kilometres south-west of Darwin's CBD, within the City of Darwin local government area. With a population of around 1,667 residents and a land area of just under 4 square kilometres, it is a compact urban neighbourhood bordered by the Stuart Highway to the east and adjoining suburbs including Fannie Bay, Parap, and the Botanic Gardens precinct. The suburb has a mix of government housing and private residences, reflecting Darwin's historically strong public sector workforce.
Woodroffe NT 830
Woodroffe is a residential suburb of Palmerston, located approximately 2 kilometres from Palmerston City and 25 kilometres south-east of Darwin CBD, within the City of Palmerston local government area. With a population of 3,175 and a median age of 33 years, the suburb has a young, active demographic reflective of Palmerston's planned growth in the 1980s. The suburb covers 1.6 square kilometres on the flat tropical landscape of the Top End, with a median household income of around $1,891 per week. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents make up approximately 18.5% of the population, alongside a notably diverse multicultural community.
Berrimah NT 828
Berrimah is an inner eastern suburb of Darwin, Northern Territory, situated approximately 12 kilometres east of the Darwin CBD along the Stuart Highway corridor. With a population of around 1,200 people, the suburb is predominantly known as an industrial and light-commercial precinct, housing distribution centres, trade businesses, and government facilities including the former Berrimah Prison site. It falls under the City of Darwin local government area and borders the residential suburb of Marrara and the Darwin International Airport precinct.
Ilparpa NT 873
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Jabiru NT 886
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Katherine NT 850
Katherine is an urban locality and major regional service town in the Northern Territory, situated approximately 320 kilometres south of Darwin within the Katherine Town Council area. With a population of 1,254 at the 2021 Census, the town serves as a vital hub for the surrounding region, including stations, remote communities, and the tourism industry. The median age is 34 and the population is notably diverse, with around 21% identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Kilgariff NT 873
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Adelaide River NT 846
Adelaide River is a small rural township in the Northern Territory, situated approximately 113 kilometres south of Darwin along the Stuart Highway within the Coomalie Shire. With a population of around 317 at the 2021 Census, the town serves as a service stop for travellers and the surrounding pastoral region. The area experiences a tropical climate with a pronounced wet and dry season, and sits within a lush savanna landscape.
Wanguri NT 810
Wanguri is a leafy northern suburb of Darwin, located approximately 14 kilometres from the CBD within the City of Darwin municipality. Established in 1972, it was one of Darwin's pre-Cyclone Tracy suburbs, rebuilt after the devastating 1974 cyclone. With a population of around 1,800, Wanguri is a compact residential suburb of just 1 square kilometre. The suburb is named after a clan of the Dangu Aboriginal people from east Arnhem Land, and its streets are mostly named after early Greek residents of Darwin.
The Gap NT 870
The Gap is a suburban locality within Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, situated approximately 3 kilometres south of Alice Springs town centre within the Alice Springs Town Council area. The suburb takes its name from Heavitree Gap β a natural pass through the MacDonnell Ranges through which the Todd River flows β and had a population of 1,945 at the 2021 Census. With a median age of 34 and notable cultural diversity including a significant Aboriginal community comprising around 16% of residents, The Gap reflects the multicultural character of Alice Springs.
Gillen NT 870
Gillen is a residential suburb in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, located approximately 2 km south-west of the town centre at an elevation of 578 metres. With a population of around 4,470 and a median age of 33, it is one of Alice Springs' larger and more diverse suburbs. The area is named after Francis James Gillen, a renowned anthropologist who studied Central Australian Aboriginal culture.
Braitling NT 870
Braitling is a residential suburb of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, situated on the traditional Country of the Arrernte people. With a population of around 3,160, it is one of Alice Springs' larger suburbs, located on the western side of town at an elevation of 596 metres. Named after Bill and Doreen Braitling, who established Mount Doreen Station in 1930, the suburb has a diverse community reflecting the multicultural character of Central Australia.
Bellamack NT 832
Bellamack is a modern residential suburb in the City of Palmerston, located approximately 27 kilometres southeast of the Darwin CBD in the Northern Territory. Established in 2010, it is one of Palmerston's newest suburbs with a population of around 2,500 residents. The suburb features contemporary housing developments and attracts young families and professionals working in the greater Darwin area. Its tropical climate and planned streetscapes give Bellamack a neat, community-oriented character.
Driver NT 830
Driver is a suburban locality within the City of Palmerston in the Greater Darwin region of the Northern Territory. Established as part of Palmerston's planned expansion, it sits at an elevation of 28 metres with a population of approximately 2,747 as of the 2021 Census. The suburb has a diverse demographic profile, with residents of Australian, Filipino, Nepalese, and Indigenous backgrounds reflecting the multicultural character of the Darwin satellite city. The median household income of around 03,000 per year aligns with the broader Palmerston area's relatively high wages, reflecting the Territory's elevated cost-of-living allowances.
Parap NT 820
Parap is a vibrant inner suburb of Darwin, located just 3.7 km from the CBD in the City of Darwin. With a population of around 2,800 and a predominantly 30-39 age demographic, it attracts young professionals and families. The suburb has moderate owner-occupancy (36%) with significant rental investment, and residents typically earn above-average incomes working in professional occupations.
Millner NT 810
Millner is a compact residential suburb in Darwin's inner northern area, located approximately 6 kilometres north of the Darwin CBD within the Darwin (City) local government area. With a population of 2,576 according to the 2021 Census, it is a notably diverse community β reflecting Darwin's character as one of Australia's most multicultural cities, with significant Filipino, Nepalese, Indian, and Greek-ancestry communities. The median age of 36 is typical of Darwin's younger demographic, and households earn a median of $1,817 per week, broadly in line with the wider Top End.
Knuckey Lagoon NT 828
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Jingili NT 810
Jingili is a residential suburb in Darwin's northern corridor, situated approximately 11.6 kilometres from the Darwin CBD within the City of Darwin local government area. With a population of 1,841, the suburb is a well-established family-friendly community that grew during the 1970s. It sits on the traditional country of the Larrakia people, and around 12% of residents identify as Indigenous Australian. Household incomes are above the Darwin median, reflecting a relatively settled and employed resident base.
Anula NT 812
Anula is a well-established residential suburb located 13 kilometres north-east of Darwin CBD in the Northern Territory. With a population of around 2,385, it sits within the City of Darwin local government area. The suburb covers just 1.3 square kilometres and features a relatively dense, family-oriented layout with tree-lined streets named after notable Territorians.
Yulara NT 872
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Wagaman NT 810
Wagaman is a suburban residential locality in Darwin's northern suburbs, situated approximately 9 kilometres north of the Darwin CBD within the City of Darwin local government area. With a population of around 2,023, it is a compact suburb covering under 1 square kilometre, characterised by single and double-storey residential homes typical of Darwin's tropical housing style. The suburb reflects Darwin's multicultural character, with a notable Greek-Australian community presence alongside a diverse mix of residents from Australian and international backgrounds.
Wulagi NT 812
Wulagi is a residential suburb in the City of Darwin, located approximately 8 kilometres north of Darwin CBD within Greater Darwin. With a population of 2,510 and a median age of 36 as of the 2021 Census, Wulagi is a moderately young, multicultural community reflecting Darwin's characteristically diverse population. The suburb covers just over 1.26 square kilometres at low elevation, with a mix of houses, townhouses, and public housing typical of Darwin's northern residential corridor.
Johnston NT 832
Johnston is a modern residential suburb within the City of Palmerston, located approximately 22 kilometres south of Darwin CBD in the Greater Darwin region of the Northern Territory. With a population of 2,386, the suburb has grown significantly since 2016 when it recorded 2,027 residents, reflecting Palmerstonβs broader expansion as Darwinβs fastest-growing satellite city. The community is notably young and diverse, with a median age of just 28, a high proportion of families, and residents born across the Philippines, India, and Southeast Asia contributing to a multicultural character.
Moil NT 810
Moil is an established suburban locality situated approximately 12 kilometres south of Darwin CBD, within the City of Darwin in the Northern Territory. Covering around 1 square kilometre, the suburb had a 2021 Census population of 2,000 residents, with a median age of 37 and median household income of $2,033 per week. Moil is part of Darwin's middle ring of suburbs and is characterised by a notably diverse, multicultural community β with significant Filipino, Greek, and Indigenous Australian populations β reflecting Darwin's broader cosmopolitan character.
Alawa NT 810
Alawa is an established residential suburb in the City of Darwin, situated approximately 8 kilometres north of the Darwin CBD in the Greater Darwin region of the Northern Territory. With a population of around 2,078 and a median age of 35, Alawa has a relatively youthful community profile, attracting young families, public servants, and defence-related workers who value its proximity to both the city and Darwin's northern services corridor. The suburb features a mix of low-set tropical housing styles typical of Darwin's northern suburbs, with generous block sizes and established gardens adapted to the tropical climate.
The Gardens NT 820
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Tiwi NT 810
Tiwi is an established northern suburb of Darwin, located approximately 14 kilometres from the Darwin CBD within the City of Darwin local government area. Established in 1974, the suburb has a population of around 2,500 and sits in Darwin's northern growth corridor, bordered by Lee Point to the north. It features a mix of housing from modest family homes to Defence-related residences, reflecting Darwin's significant military presence. The suburb's name shares its origins with the nearby Tiwi Islands, the homeland of the Tiwi people.
Lyons NT 810
Lyons is a suburban residential neighbourhood in northern Darwin, Northern Territory, located approximately 12km from Darwin's CBD. With a population of around 2,305 (2021 census) and a young median age of 20-39, the suburb reflects Darwin's transient workforce population. The area has a high rental occupancy rate (69%), typical of Darwin's defence and government worker demographics.
Fannie Bay NT 820
Fannie Bay is an inner Darwin suburb about 4 km from the CBD, known for its coastal setting and established residential streets. The 2021 population in the dataset is 2,875, reflecting a stable inner-urban demographic with a mix of families and professionals. The suburb includes notable landmarks such as Fannie Bay Gaol, Fannie Bay Racecourse and nearby East Point reserve precincts. Its character is leafy, low-rise and strongly tied to Darwin's waterfront lifestyle.
Nhulunbuy NT 880
Nhulunbuy is a remote regional town on the Gove Peninsula in north-east Arnhem Land, one of the Northern Territory's most isolated urban centres. The 2021 Census population in the dataset is 3,350, with a diverse mix of Aboriginal communities, long-term residents and workers tied to regional services and industry. Originally established around bauxite mining and port infrastructure, it now functions as a broader service hub for the surrounding region. The town has a distinctive tropical-coastal and remote-community character on Aboriginal-owned land.
East Side NT 870
East Side is a residential suburb of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia, situated on the traditional Country of the Arrernte people. With a population of approximately 2,919 (2016 census), it is one of the larger residential suburbs in Alice Springs and is located east of the town centre. The suburb sits at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges and features a diverse community including long-term residents, professionals, and Indigenous Australians.
Tindal NT 853
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Araluen NT 870
Araluen is a well-established residential suburb of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, located approximately 4 kilometres south of the town centre at an elevation of 593 metres. Home to around 2,670 residents, the suburb takes its name from the Araluen Cultural Precinct, a significant arts and heritage complex on its northern edge. The community is diverse, reflecting Alice Springs' unique outback demographics with a notable mix of Indigenous Australians, government workers, and tourism industry employees.
Cossack NT 850
Cossack is a rural suburb of Katherine in the Northern Territory, located approximately 14 kilometres from the town centre. With a population of around 1,300 residents and a median age of 39, the suburb has a balanced demographic. The area was officially defined as a suburb in 2007, taking its name from Russian Cossack emigrants who settled the area to farm peanuts after fleeing civil war. The landscape consists mostly of rural landholdings mixed with smaller farms and residences.
Leanyer NT 812
Leanyer is a well-established residential suburb located approximately 12 kilometres north of Darwin CBD in the Northern Territory. With a population of around 4,580, it is a family-friendly suburb within the City of Darwin local government area. The suburb features a mix of single-storey homes on generous blocks, reflecting the tropical character of Top End living.
Farrar NT 830
Farrar is a modern outer suburb of Palmerston, located approximately 21 km south-east of Darwin CBD within the City of Palmerston local government area. Established in the 1990s, the suburb has grown steadily to a population of around 1,650 (2021 census), attracting young families and defence personnel based at the nearby RAAF Base Darwin and Robertson Barracks. The suburb is bounded to the north and east by the Stuart Highway corridor, with a predominantly residential character of detached houses on generous blocks. Farrar sits on the tropical Top End landscape, experiencing a distinct wet and dry season climate.
Larrakeyah NT 820
Larrakeyah is a prestigious inner suburb of Darwin located just 2 kilometres south of the CBD, within the City of Darwin. With a population of approximately 3,900, it is one of Darwinβs most established and sought-after residential areas. The suburb occupies about 2 square kilometres of peninsula land at just 13 metres elevation, with significant waterfront along Lameroo Beach and the Darwin Waterfront precinct. Larrakeyah is home to the Larrakeyah Defence Precinct and has a notable male-skewed population reflecting its military presence.
Nakara NT 810
Nakara is a compact residential suburb in Darwin's northern suburbs, situated approximately 9 kilometres north of the Darwin CBD within the Darwin (City) council area. With a population of 1,906 according to the 2021 Census, the suburb is notably multicultural, with significant communities of Chinese, Indian, Filipino, and Greek heritage alongside Anglo-Australian residents. The median household income of $2,424 per week is above average for the Northern Territory, and the suburb's young median age of 36 reflects its appeal to working families and professionals.
Coolalinga NT 835
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Bakewell NT 832
Bakewell is a modern suburban locality within the City of Palmerston, approximately 20 kilometres south of Darwin CBD in the Greater Darwin region. With a population of 3,091 and a youthful median age of 32, the suburb reflects Palmerston's character as a planned satellite city with a diverse and growing community. The area features a notable multicultural population β including a significant Filipino community β as well as 419 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents, and households with a median weekly income of $1,955.
Rosebery NT 832
Rosebery is a modern residential suburb within the City of Palmerston, approximately 22 kilometres south of Darwin CBD in the Northern Territory. With a population of 4,127, it is one of Palmerston's established family suburbs, developed progressively from the late 1990s and 2000s to accommodate Darwin's growth. The median age of 30 is among the youngest of any Australian suburb, reflecting a community of young families and working-age adults β a common characteristic of Palmerston's newer residential areas. Median household income of $2,397 per week sits above the national average.
Mount Johns NT 874
Mount Johns is a residential suburb of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, located in the eastern part of the town near the MacDonnell Ranges. The suburb takes its name from a prominent rocky hill that forms a distinctive landmark in the local landscape. With a population of around 550 residents, Mount Johns is a moderately sized suburb offering a mix of housing types including units and standalone homes. It sits within the Town of Alice Springs and reflects the unique lifestyle of Australia's Red Centre.
Rapid Creek NT 810
Rapid Creek is a vibrant inner-northern suburb of Darwin, located 11 kilometres from the CBD on the traditional country of the Larrakia people. Home to around 3,300 residents with a notably high median income, this established suburb sits where its namesake creek meets Darwin Harbour. The area features leafy streets, monsoon-season tropical character, and strong community spirit.
Nightcliff NT 810
Nightcliff is a popular coastal suburb in the northern suburbs of Darwin, located 8 kilometres from the CBD on the traditional country of the Larrakia people. With a population of 3,884, it features a mix of elevated tropical homes and apartment complexes with sea views over the Timor Sea. The suburb has a relaxed, multicultural character with a slightly younger demographic attracted by the beachside lifestyle.
Brinkin NT 810
Brinkin is a quiet residential suburb of Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory, located approximately 12 kilometres north of Darwin's central business district within the City of Darwin council area. Established in 1984, the suburb covers just 1.4 square kilometres and has a population of 1,117, reflecting a compact, well-established neighbourhood. With a median household income of $2,274 per week β well above the national average β Brinkin attracts professionals and public sector workers, many of whom are drawn to Darwin's employment opportunities.
Darwin City NT 800
Darwin City is the central business district and urban core of Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory. Located on a peninsula overlooking Darwin Harbour, the suburb has a population of around 7,150 residents. Darwin City is a vibrant, multicultural hub known for its tropical climate, with distinct wet and dry seasons shaping daily life.
Alyangula NT 885
Alyangula is a remote mining township located on Groote Eylandt, a large island in the Gulf of Carpentaria approximately 650 kilometres east of Darwin in the Northern Territory. The town was purpose-built by GEMCO (Groote Eylandt Mining Company, a South32 subsidiary) to house workers at one of the world's largest manganese ore mines. With a population of around 751 people recorded in the 2021 Census, Alyangula is a compact, self-contained community almost exclusively made up of GEMCO employees and their families, with a predominantly non-Indigenous population.
Muirhead NT 810
Muirhead is a modern northern suburb of Darwin in the Northern Territory, located approximately 15.8 km from the Darwin CBD. Established in 2008 and subdivided from 2011, it sits on the traditional Country of the Larrakia people near the shores of Buffalo Creek. The suburb had a population of 3,689 at the 2021 census, with a notably young median age of 29. Muirhead is named in commemoration of James Muirhead, a former Administrator of the Northern Territory and judge of the Supreme Court.
Berry Springs NT 838
A suburb in NT with a significant social housing presence.
Zuccoli NT 832
Zuccoli is one of Darwin's newest master-planned suburbs, located 22 kilometres southeast of the CBD in the City of Palmerston. With a rapidly growing population exceeding 4,100 residents, it sits on the outer edge of Palmerston's urban expansion. The suburb features modern housing estates with contemporary designs, attracting young families and first-home buyers seeking affordable entry into the Darwin property market.
Stuart Park NT 820
Stuart Park is a compact inner-city suburb of Darwin, situated approximately 3 kilometres north-west of the Darwin CBD within the City of Darwin local government area. With a population of 4,101, the suburb skews young β the median age is just 34 β and attracts a diverse mix of professionals, university students, and recently arrived migrants, reflected in the fact that more than a third of residents were born overseas. Median household income sits at around $2,278 per week, well above the national average, underpinning a predominantly apartment and townhouse housing stock.
Marrara NT 812
Marrara is an established northern suburb of Darwin, situated approximately 11.5 kilometres from the Darwin CBD within the City of Darwin local government area. The suburb sits on the traditional Country of the Larrakia people and has a population of 1,323 across a compact area of approximately 4.56 square kilometres. The median household income of $1,953 per week reflects Darwin's generally elevated wages driven by the Territory's government and defence sectors, and the median age of 45 points to a settled, established residential community.
Humpty Doo NT 836
Humpty Doo is a well-established semi-rural suburb in the Litchfield Municipality of the Northern Territory, located approximately 40 kilometres south-east of Darwin along the Arnhem Highway. Home to around 4,313 residents, it is the largest community in the Litchfield Shire and serves as a local service hub for the surrounding rural residential properties and farming land. The suburb is characterised by generous block sizes, lush tropical vegetation, and a distinctly laid-back Top End lifestyle.
π Methodology
Rankings are based on the proportion of dwellings classified as social housing (state housing authority + community housing provider) in the ABS Census 2021, Table G37 β Tenure Type by Dwelling Structure. Only suburbs in NT with at least 100 occupied private dwellings were included to ensure statistical reliability.