Fannie Bay
Nearly half the workforce in Fannie Bay holds a university degree, putting the suburb 18.2 points above the national average at 48.3%, yet the median house price sits at $469,000, well below comparable professional enclaves in southern capitals. The suburb ranks in SEIFA decile 9 for both IRSD and IRSAD, placing it in the top 10% nationally for low disadvantage, while household income sits at the 84.1st percentile. A 51.6% renter majority and a relatively high vacancy rate of 8.4% shape the housing market, driven partly by the transient nature of Darwin's government and healthcare workforce.
Population
2,875
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,213/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$469K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price in Fannie Bay is $469,000, which is significantly lower than decile 9 suburbs in eastern capitals where comparable advantage scores push well above $1 million. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Only 35.2% of dwellings are separate houses, compared to the 47.1% share in semi-detached format, so detached house buyers face limited supply. Three-bedroom homes account for 36.3% of stock and four-plus bedroom dwellings reach 23.2%. At 24.8% owning outright versus 23.7% on a mortgage, the suburb skews toward renters, with 51.6% renting, making it more of a renter-majority market than owner-occupier territory.
For Buyers
The median house price in Fannie Bay is $469,000, which is significantly lower than decile 9 suburbs in eastern capitals where comparable advantage scores push well above $1 million. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Only 35.2% of dwellings are separate houses, compared to the 47.1% share in semi-detached format, so detached house buyers face limited supply. Three-bedroom homes account for 36.3% of stock and four-plus bedroom dwellings reach 23.2%. At 24.8% owning outright versus 23.7% on a mortgage, the suburb skews toward renters, with 51.6% renting, making it more of a renter-majority market than owner-occupier territory.
For Investors
With 51.6% of residents renting, Fannie Bay offers landlords a deep tenant pool anchored in the government, healthcare and professional sectors. Weekly rent runs at $390, and against a $469,000 median that implies a gross yield approaching 4.3%, higher than most decile 9 comparable markets nationally. The vacancy rate of 8.4% is elevated above the national comfort zone, reflecting Darwin's volatile labour market where postings close quickly and professionals rotate through. Annual rent growth of 5.4% over the recent period supports income growth for existing landlords. Net overseas migration adds 77 residents annually compared to an internal outflow of 17, suggesting population is sustained by arrivals rather than interstate movers, which is typical of Darwin's public sector economy.
Schools in Fannie Bay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
SEDA College NT
10-12 · 150 students
Demographics
The median age in Fannie Bay is 39, which is 1.0 year below the national average, with an aging trajectory visible as the senior share rose 6.7 points and the working-age share fell 1.9 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 30.0%, which is 8.4 points above the national figure. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, with English (1,033), Irish (377) and Scottish (289) the top listed groups. University qualifications at 48.3% run 18.2 points above national, reflecting the suburb's concentration of professionals and managers. The 26.1% volunteering rate indicates strong civic engagement. Average household size is 2.3, which is 0.2 below national, consistent with the couples-without-children profile that makes up 34.6% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
35.2%
Houses
47.1%
Townhouse
17.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Fannie Bay's tenure profile skews sharply toward renting: 51.6% rent, 24.8% own outright and 23.7% carry a mortgage. Semi-detached dwellings dominate at 47.1%, with separate houses at only 35.2% and apartments at 17.7%. Two-bedroom homes account for 32.9% and three-bedroom for 36.3%, while four-plus bedroom homes reach 23.2%, suggesting a market with reasonable family-sized supply. The $469,000 median is estimated from 2025 rental data. Rent-to-income sits at 17.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold, meaning renters here are comfortable relative to income. Mortgage-to-income at 22.6% similarly remains manageable. The 8.4% vacancy rate is the sharpest risk signal, sitting above levels that indicate balanced rental supply.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,322
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.4%
Unoccupied
106
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.6%
Couples, no children
1,973
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration dominates the local economy at 19.9% of employed residents (256 workers), followed by healthcare at 18.0% (231 workers) and professional/technical services at 10.4% (134 workers). Education accounts for 9.8% and construction 5.7%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 531 workers and Managers follow at 293, which aligns with the decile 9 IEO score for education and occupation. The unemployment rate is 2.5%, well below the national average, and the full-time employment rate is 71.7%. Real income grew 8.2% over the decade. The SEIFA IER (economic resources) decile sits at 5, below the decile 9 IRSAD score, because the 51.6% renter share and high vacancy rate suppress aggregate household wealth measures compared to the education and income profile.
Unemployment
1.2%
Labour Force
2,477
Unemployed
30
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
71.7%
Part-time
25.8%
Participation
64.5%
Employed
1,539
Occupations
Top Industries
University
48.3%
Postgraduate
15.2%
Born Overseas
30.0%
Dwellings
1,152
Transport to Work
Car travel dominates at 84.7% of commuters, which is above the national average given Darwin's limited public transport network, with public transport at just 2.4%. Walking and cycling account for 6.0%, a notable share for a tropical city. Fannie Bay ranks in decile 9 on IRSAD nationally, indicating very low disadvantage. The rent-to-income ratio of 17.6% keeps rental cost comfortable for the majority who rent. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby institutions. The need-for-assistance rate is 3.2%, which is low and consistent with the suburb's younger, professional demographic. Volunteering at 26.1% is above the national average, reflecting the public-sector and community-service employment base that characterises Darwin suburbs at this socioeconomic level.
Drive
84.7%
Public Transport
2.4%
Walk / Cycle
6.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.74%/yr
(+30 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation in Fannie Bay grew 10.7% over the decade and the annual trend shows 30 persons added per year, a 0.74% growth rate. Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 population reaching around 4,147 by 2031, up from the 2025 estimate of 4,037. Overseas migration is the primary driver, with a net annual gain of 77 arrivals versus an internal outflow of 17, a pattern typical of Darwin's government-posting economy. The gentrification score of 20 places the suburb at early signs stage, with signals including population growth of over 15% since 2011. Affordability improved materially, with the housing-cost-to-income ratio falling from 37.6% in 2011 to 29.8% in 2021, suggesting real income growth outpaced price increases over the period. The 33.7% annual turnover rate reflects a mobile population rather than deep community roots.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+77
Net Internal / yr
-17
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +15% since 2011, Accelerating: 3% → 11%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Fannie Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fannie Bay a good suburb to live in?
Fannie Bay ranks in SEIFA decile 9 nationally on both IRSD and IRSAD, placing it in the top 10% for low disadvantage. Household income sits at the 84.1st percentile nationally and university qualifications reach 48.3%, which is 18.2 points above the national figure. The main trade-offs are an 8.4% vacancy rate and limited public transport at 2.4%.
What is the median house price in Fannie Bay?
The median house price is $469,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $390 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Fannie Bay?
No schools are recorded inside the Fannie Bay suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Darwin suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 48.3% holding university qualifications, which is 18.2 points above the national figure.
Is Fannie Bay safe?
Detailed suburb-level crime data is not available for Fannie Bay in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb scores in SEIFA decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the second-highest tier nationally, and only 3.2% of residents (84 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage profile.
Is Fannie Bay good for property investment?
The 51.6% renter majority and $390 weekly rent against a $469,000 median imply a gross yield near 4.3%, above most decile 9 comparable suburbs nationally. Annual rent growth of 5.4% supports income. The 8.4% vacancy rate is the key risk, sitting above balanced market levels and reflecting Darwin's rotating public-sector workforce.
How is Fannie Bay's population changing?
Population grew 10.7% over the decade with annual additions of around 30 persons, a 0.74% growth rate. Overseas migration adds a net 77 residents annually, while internal migration shows a small outflow of 17. Medium forecasts project the SA2 population reaching 4,147 by 2031, up from 4,037 in 2025.
What languages are spoken in Fannie Bay?
About 30.0% of residents were born overseas, which is 8.4 points above the national figure. English dominates, with Nepali (28 speakers), Greek (24), Mandarin (15), German (14) and Bengali (13) the most common non-English languages, reflecting Darwin's multicultural professional workforce.
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.
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