Poverty and living standards in Greater Darwin, Australia: official figures
The median weekly rent paid by households in Greater Darwin was $385 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), 14th lowest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: Greater Darwin, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
What is the average mortgage repayment in Greater Darwin?
The median monthly mortgage repayment in Greater Darwin was $2,100 at the 2021 Census (the national median was $1,863), 5th highest of 31 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Greater Darwin have no income?
7.3% of residents of Greater Darwin had nil or negative personal income at the 2021 Census, joint 11th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many renters in Greater Darwin are in rental stress?
19.5% of renting households in Greater Darwin paid more than 30% of their income in rent at the 2021 Census (a common measure of rental stress), 2nd lowest of 26 areas, below the national figure (32.2%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Greater Darwin are in mortgage stress?
11.5% of households with a mortgage in Greater Darwin paid more than 30% of their income in repayments at the 2021 Census (mortgage stress), below the national figure (14.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Greater Darwin are on a low income?
14.7% of residents of Greater Darwin had a personal income of $1 to $499 a week at the 2021 Census, below the national figure (23.3%); 9.6% of households had an equivalised income of $1 to $499 a week, below the national figure (15.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Greater Darwin?
An estimated 1,990 people were homeless on census night 2021 in Greater Darwin, which is 130 per 10,000 residents (5th highest of 26 areas; Australia 48 per 10,000).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Greater Darwin are overcrowded?
5.8% of occupied homes in Greater Darwin needed at least one more bedroom for the people living there at the 2021 Census (Australia 3.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Greater Darwin compares with other cities in Australia
Median weekly rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Greater Darwin ranks 18 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Median weekly rent, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Wollongong | $390 |
| 16 | Greater Melbourne | $390 |
| 17 | Hobart | $390 |
| 18 | Greater Darwin | $385 |
| 19 | Greater Brisbane | $380 |
| 20 | Darwin | $380 |
| 21 | Newcastle-Maitland | $375 |
Renting households paying over 30% of income in rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Greater Darwin ranks 25 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Renting households paying over 30% of income in rent, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Greater Perth | 29.9% |
| 21 | Brisbane | 29.1% |
| 22 | Perth | 28.7% |
| 23 | Townsville | 25.4% |
| 24 | Canberra | 23.0% |
| 25 | Greater Darwin | 19.5% |
| 26 | Darwin | 18.4% |
Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Greater Darwin ranks 21 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Darwin | 7.4% |
| 19 | Greater Hobart | 7.4% |
| 20 | Toowoomba | 7.3% |
| 21 | Greater Darwin | 7.3% |
| 22 | Townsville | 7.1% |
| 23 | Geelong | 7.1% |
| 24 | Canberra | 7.0% |
More on Greater Darwin: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Greater Capital City Statistical Areas and Australia (ASGS Edition 3), all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bf78744b9729…)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Local Government Areas (ASGS Edition 3), 18 city councils, all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 788eca55906d…)
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