Gunbalanya
With 98.4% of residents renting and a median age of 27, Gunbalanya is one of the most tenure-uniform and youngest communities in the Northern Territory. The average household holds 4.6 people, which is 2.1 above the national figure, reflecting the extended family structures common to Aboriginal communities. Weekly rent sits at just $70, far below any comparable national benchmark, because housing is predominantly government and community-managed. Household income falls in the 29.2nd percentile nationally, and the labour force participation rate of 30.4% signals a community where economic life is structured differently than in metropolitan Australia. Public administration and education together account for nearly half of all local employment, positioning the community as service-dependent rather than market-driven.
Population
1,177
Median Age
27.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,277/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Gunbalanya has no recorded median house price in the dataset, which reflects the community land tenure model where most dwellings are not privately purchased or sold. The renting rate of 98.4% is the dominant tenure form, compared to the national owner-occupier majority. Weekly rent is $70, well below state and national averages, because most housing is publicly or community-managed. Separate houses make up 91.1% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 7.5% and apartments at just 1.4%. The most common bedroom configuration is 3 bedrooms at 62.6%, consistent with the large average household size of 4.6 people. Only 1.6% of dwellings are owned outright, which is far lower than the national figure, and private mortgage finance does not apply to the mainstream housing stock here.
For Buyers
Gunbalanya has no recorded median house price in the dataset, which reflects the community land tenure model where most dwellings are not privately purchased or sold. The renting rate of 98.4% is the dominant tenure form, compared to the national owner-occupier majority. Weekly rent is $70, well below state and national averages, because most housing is publicly or community-managed. Separate houses make up 91.1% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 7.5% and apartments at just 1.4%. The most common bedroom configuration is 3 bedrooms at 62.6%, consistent with the large average household size of 4.6 people. Only 1.6% of dwellings are owned outright, which is far lower than the national figure, and private mortgage finance does not apply to the mainstream housing stock here.
For Investors
Private investment in Gunbalanya is structurally limited because land tenure is predominantly community-managed, meaning conventional freehold purchase is not available. The 98.4% renting rate and $70 weekly rent reflect a government and community housing system rather than a private rental market, so standard yield calculations do not apply. Vacancy stands at 14.2%, above typical national thresholds, suggesting underutilisation or availability of managed stock. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, compared to active markets where hundreds of applications are common. The household income percentile of 29.2 nationally and a 22.5% unemployment rate signal that demand drivers for private investment are different in character from mainstream suburban markets. Investors considering any activity in this area should consult NT land council requirements.
Schools in Gunbalanya iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Gunbalanya School
T-12 · 231 students
Demographics
The median age of 27 sits 13.0 years below the national figure, making Gunbalanya one of the youngest communities in Australia. The Indigenous language group is the largest single language category, with 454 residents recording an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language, which accounts for a significant portion of the 1,177 population. Overseas-born residents are only 2.8%, which is 18.8 percentage points below the national proportion, reflecting the locally rooted, non-migrant character of the community. University qualifications reach 13.3%, which is 16.8 points below the national average, consistent with remote access barriers to higher education. Couples with children form the most common household type at 547 families, and the average household size of 4.6 is 2.1 above national, pointing to multigenerational or extended family living arrangements.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.1%
Houses
7.5%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses dominate the housing stock at 91.1%, well above the national proportion for this dwelling type. The overwhelming majority, 98.4%, of residents rent rather than own, compared to the national owner-occupier majority, because the land is community-managed and not traded on the open market. Weekly rent is $70, reflecting government and community-set rents rather than market pricing, and rent-to-income sits at just 5.5%, meaning housing cost stress is essentially absent despite low incomes. Only 1.6% of dwellings are owned outright and mortgage data is not applicable. Three-bedroom dwellings are the most common at 62.6%, followed by 2-bedroom at 26.1%, matching the extended family household profile where average household size is 4.6 people. Vacancy stands at 14.2%, above national norms, suggesting some managed stock sits unoccupied.
Mortgage / mo
$0
Rent / wk
$70
HH Size
4.6
Personal Income / wk
$276
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.2%
Unoccupied
37
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
5.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
14.6%
Couples, no children
1,021
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration is the dominant industry at 33.3% of local employment, followed by education at 15.8% and healthcare at 12.5%. Together these three government-funded sectors account for more than 60% of recorded employment, which is far higher than national averages and signals a service-delivery economy. Arts and cultural activities employ 10.0%, reflecting the significance of Indigenous cultural industries in the region. The unemployment rate of 22.5% is well above the national level, and the labour force participation rate of 30.4% is substantially lower than national benchmarks, partly because the working-age population engages in community, cultural and land-management activities that sit outside formal employment categories. Professionals (84 workers) are the largest occupational group, reflecting teachers, health workers and public administrators posted to the community. Personal weekly income averages $276, placing the suburb in the lower income bands nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
77.3%
Part-time
0.2%
Participation
30.4%
Employed
207
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.3%
Postgraduate
2.5%
Born Overseas
2.8%
Dwellings
214
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling account for 57.9% of the journey-to-work mode, the dominant form of movement and far above the national average, reflecting the compact community footprint across 511.79 square kilometres of land area. Car driving is recorded for 23.3% of workers. No schools are recorded within the dataset for Gunbalanya, though educational provision is a key local industry at 15.8% of employment, suggesting school infrastructure exists but is not captured in the dataset's school listing. Crime statistics are not available for this community in the current data. Only 2.7% of residents need assistance with daily living, which is 29 people from a population of 1,177. The volunteering rate is 6.2%, reflecting community service activity. The rent-to-income ratio of 5.5% means housing costs place no stress on residents relative to income, which is a significant practical advantage compared to national benchmarks.
Drive
23.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
57.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Gunbalanya compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gunbalanya a good suburb to live in?
Gunbalanya is a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory with a population of 1,177 and a median age of 27, which is 13 years below the national figure. Housing is predominantly government-managed, rent is $70 per week, and 86.6% of residents have lived at the same address for 5 or more years, indicating a deeply stable and community-oriented place.
What is the median house price in Gunbalanya?
No median house price is recorded for Gunbalanya because land is community-managed and not traded on the open private market. The 98.4% renting rate and $70 weekly rent reflect government and community-set housing rather than commercial prices. Conventional freehold purchase is not available in this community.
What schools are in Gunbalanya?
No schools are listed in the current dataset for Gunbalanya, though education employs 15.8% of the local workforce, the second-largest industry sector. This suggests educational facilities exist and serve the community of 1,177 residents but are not captured in the dataset's school registry.
Is Gunbalanya safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Gunbalanya in the current dataset. As contextual indicators, only 2.7% of residents (29 people) need daily assistance, and the community has a 86.6% residential stability rate, meaning most residents have remained in place for 5 or more years. These factors suggest a settled community, though remote area conditions differ from metropolitan benchmarks.
Is Gunbalanya good for property investment?
Gunbalanya is not suited to conventional property investment. Land is community-managed under NT land council arrangements, meaning freehold purchase is not available, no median sale price is recorded, and development applications in the past 12 months total zero. The 98.4% renting rate and $70 weekly rent reflect a government housing system, not a private rental market.
How is Gunbalanya's population changing?
Population growth forecasts are not available for Gunbalanya in the current dataset. The population stands at 1,177 with a median age of 27, which is 13 years below the national figure. Residential stability is very high at 86.6% of residents remaining at the same address over 5 years, compared to a national turnover rate of 13.4%, indicating minimal population churn.
What industries employ people in Gunbalanya?
Public administration is the largest employer at 33.3% of local jobs, followed by education at 15.8% and healthcare at 12.5%. Arts and cultural activities account for 10.0%, reflecting Indigenous cultural industries. Together, government-funded sectors employ more than 60% of workers, far above national proportions, with an overall unemployment rate of 22.5%.
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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