Brinkin
Household income in Brinkin sits at the 87.4th percentile nationally, yet the median house price of $386,000 remains well below the national average, creating an unusual affordability gap that benefits buyers already here. The suburb scores decile 8 on both IRSAD and IRSD, placing it firmly in the top third of Australian suburbs by advantage. University qualifications reach 57.0% of residents, which is 26.9 percentage points above the national figure, driven by a workforce concentrated in healthcare, education and public administration. At 1.42 km2 with 1,117 residents, Brinkin is a compact, professionally oriented suburb where 46.7% of people were born overseas.
Population
1,117
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,274/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$386K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $386,000 is estimated from rental data as of 2025, and sits well below the national median for comparable professional suburbs, giving buyers access to a high-income area without premium prices. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,593, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Semi-detached dwellings are the dominant housing type at 46.0% of stock, followed by separate houses at 42.7% and apartments at just 11.3%. Bedroom composition leans toward two-bedroom (47.4%) and four-plus bedroom (30.9%) homes, with three-bedroom at 18.7%, so the market suits both couples and larger families. At 35.1% outright ownership and 22.0% with mortgages, most owner-occupiers here carry little or no debt.
For Buyers
The median house price of $386,000 is estimated from rental data as of 2025, and sits well below the national median for comparable professional suburbs, giving buyers access to a high-income area without premium prices. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,593, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Semi-detached dwellings are the dominant housing type at 46.0% of stock, followed by separate houses at 42.7% and apartments at just 11.3%. Bedroom composition leans toward two-bedroom (47.4%) and four-plus bedroom (30.9%) homes, with three-bedroom at 18.7%, so the market suits both couples and larger families. At 35.1% outright ownership and 22.0% with mortgages, most owner-occupiers here carry little or no debt.
For Investors
Renters make up 42.9% of households, a strong tenant base well above the national average, with weekly rent at $360. The vacancy rate of 6.9% is elevated compared to typical national levels, which signals some softness in rental demand and warrants attention before purchasing. Net internal migration runs at minus 176 residents per year in the broader SA2, offset by overseas migration of 139 annually, so the population base is maintained by international arrivals rather than interstate interest. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, indicating no new supply pressure from construction competing for tenants. The rent-to-income ratio sits at just 15.8%, meaning tenants here are not under financial stress, which supports consistent rental payment histories.
Demographics
The median age of 34 is 6.0 years below the national figure, making Brinkin markedly younger than the national average. University qualifications at 57.0% are 26.9 percentage points above national, one of the highest concentrations in the Northern Territory. Overseas-born residents account for 46.7% of the population, which is 25.1 percentage points above the national share, reflecting an internationally recruited professional workforce. The top ancestry groups are English (232), Irish (88) and Scottish (85), alongside a significant Chinese community (93 residents). The main non-English languages spoken at home are Greek (35), Malayalam (23), Mandarin (19) and Nepali (19), consistent with a skilled migrant intake. Couples with children (354 families) outnumber couples without children (199 families) substantially.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
42.7%
Houses
46.0%
Townhouse
11.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split across outright owners (35.1%), mortgage holders (22.0%) and renters (42.9%), with renters forming the single largest group. Semi-detached homes at 46.0% are the most common stock type, followed by separate houses at 42.7%, giving the suburb a more attached character than the national norm. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 47.4%, well ahead of four-plus bedroom at 30.9% and three-bedroom at 18.7%, reflecting the younger median age of 34 and smaller average household size of 2.5. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.2% and rent-to-income of 15.8% are both well below stress thresholds, compared to many higher-cost capital city suburbs. The $386,000 median price, estimated from 2025 rental data, places Brinkin at a significant discount to higher-income suburbs in eastern states with comparable SEIFA decile 8 profiles.
Mortgage / mo
$1,593
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,093
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.9%
Unoccupied
27
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.4%
Couples, no children
753
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local employment base at 29.7% (154 workers), roughly double the national sector share, followed by Education at 13.9% (72) and Public Administration at 13.7% (71). Professional/Tech and Hospitality round out the top five at 7.9% and 6.9% respectively. By occupation, Professionals (201) are the largest group, ahead of Community and Personal services (102) and Clerical/Admin (79), consistent with the university qualification rate of 57.0% and decile 8 IEO score for education and occupational status. Unemployment is low at 3.4%, with a full-time employment rate of 61.7% among those working, and a participation rate of 66.7%. Real incomes contracted 4.4% in real terms over the decade despite high absolute levels, a trend worth noting compared to comparable professional suburbs in other states.
Unemployment
2.9%
Labour Force
2,142
Unemployed
62
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.7%
Part-time
34.9%
Participation
66.7%
Employed
598
Occupations
Top Industries
University
57.0%
Postgraduate
20.2%
Born Overseas
46.7%
Dwellings
363
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 80.2% using a car to commute, well above the national average for suburban areas, though 8.4% walk or cycle and 4.8% use public transport. No schools are recorded within Brinkin's 1.42 km2 boundary, so families rely on schools in adjacent Darwin suburbs. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD, the socioeconomic index of advantage and disadvantage, placing it in the upper third nationally. Housing stress is absent: rent-to-income at 15.8% and mortgage-to-income at 16.2% are both comfortably below the 30% threshold that defines stress. Volunteering runs at 22.0% of the population and only 3.5% (36 residents) require daily assistance. Crime statistics are not available at this granularity for Brinkin, though the decile 8 IRSD score suggests relatively low disadvantage compared to the national distribution.
Drive
80.2%
Public Transport
4.8%
Walk / Cycle
8.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.23%/yr
(+8 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth in the broader SA2 runs at 0.23% annually, adding about 8 people per year, and medium forecasts project growth from 3,522 in 2025 to 3,685 by 2031. The population remains below the pre-COVID level of 3,748, having dipped 4.3% and recovered only to minus 0.9% of that baseline, so full recovery has not yet occurred. Net internal migration removes an average of 176 residents per year, offset by overseas arrivals of 139 annually, meaning the population depends on continued international recruitment. The gentrification score of 27 registers early signs rather than active transformation, because the suburb already sits at decile 8 advantage with limited upward price pressure. The young adult share fell 1.7 percentage points over the decade while the senior share rose 4.6 points, signaling a gradual aging trajectory despite the below-national median age of 34.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+139
Net Internal / yr
-176
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -176/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Brinkin compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brinkin a good suburb to live in?
Brinkin scores decile 8 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the upper third for socioeconomic advantage, with household income at the 87.4th percentile. University qualifications reach 57.0%, which is 26.9 points above the national figure. The main trade-offs are a 6.9% vacancy rate and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Brinkin?
The median house price is $386,000, estimated from rental data as of 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,593, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 16.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $360 with a rent-to-income ratio of 15.8%.
What schools are in Brinkin?
No schools are recorded within Brinkin's 1.42 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in nearby Darwin suburbs. Locally, 57.0% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 26.9 percentage points above the national average, reflecting a highly educated resident population.
Is Brinkin safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Brinkin in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative socioeconomic disadvantage, placing it in the upper third nationally, and only 3.5% of the 1,117 residents require daily assistance.
Is Brinkin good for property investment?
Renters make up 42.9% of households, providing a solid tenant base, but the 6.9% vacancy rate is elevated compared to typical investment benchmarks. Rent is $360 per week against a $386,000 median, giving a gross yield near 4.9%. Zero development applications in the past 12 months means no near-term supply competition.
How is Brinkin's population changing?
The broader SA2 population is growing at 0.23% per year, adding about 8 residents annually, with medium forecasts of 3,685 by 2031. However, net internal migration removes 176 residents per year, offset by 139 overseas arrivals annually. The population has not yet recovered to its pre-COVID level of 3,748.
What languages are spoken in Brinkin?
About 46.7% of residents were born overseas, which is 25.1 percentage points above the national share. The most common non-English languages spoken at home are Greek (35 speakers), Malayalam (23), Mandarin (19) and Nepali (19), reflecting a skilled migrant workforce recruited internationally.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Brinkin on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map