Gunn
Household income at the 92.1st percentile nationally makes Gunn one of Darwin's most affluent outer suburbs, yet its IRSAD sits at decile 2, flagging pockets of relative disadvantage within that income profile. At 1.45 sq km, the suburb holds 2,564 residents at a density of 1,772 per sq km, almost entirely in separate houses (97.9% of dwellings). The median age of 31 is 9 years below the national figure, reflecting a workforce dominated by public-sector and defence-linked employment. A 9.1% vacancy rate and 41.5% renter share add liquidity to the rental market, while a population that grew 22% over the decade keeps demand ticking.
Population
2,564
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,485/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$495K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $495,000 positions Gunn below the Darwin metro average for established house-and-land suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,950 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most capital-city equivalents. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 97.9%, with just 1.4% semi-detached and 0.7% apartments. Bedroom composition skews large: 52.2% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 46.6% have 4 or more, so buyers typically acquire family-sized homes. At 13.4% outright ownership versus 45.0% on mortgages, Gunn reads as a mortgage-belt suburb populated by working families in the accumulation phase rather than retirees.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $495,000 positions Gunn below the Darwin metro average for established house-and-land suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,950 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most capital-city equivalents. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 97.9%, with just 1.4% semi-detached and 0.7% apartments. Bedroom composition skews large: 52.2% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 46.6% have 4 or more, so buyers typically acquire family-sized homes. At 13.4% outright ownership versus 45.0% on mortgages, Gunn reads as a mortgage-belt suburb populated by working families in the accumulation phase rather than retirees.
For Investors
A 41.5% renter share and weekly rent of $480 underpin consistent tenant demand, with rent growing 15.4% over the measured period. Against the $495,000 median that implies a gross yield around 5%, well above the national average for established houses. However, the 9.1% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants monitoring, suggesting supply exceeds near-term demand at current rent levels. Net internal migration runs at minus 164 residents per year, partly offset by overseas migration of positive 77 per year. Population grew 22% over the decade and annual growth of 0.98% continues, adding roughly 110 residents a year and supporting medium-term occupier demand across the forecast horizon to 2031.
Demographics
The median age of 31 sits 9 years below the national figure, making Gunn one of the younger established suburbs in the NT. The aging trajectory signals a gradual shift: the senior share rose 4.5 points over the decade while the working-age share edged down 1.1 points, though the suburb remains substantially younger than the national average. Overseas-born residents account for 21.9%, broadly in line with the national level. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic led by English (865), Irish (260) and Scottish (242). Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, consistent with the couples-with-children profile: 1,093 family units are couples with children versus 419 couples without. Volunteering runs at 14.8% and only 3.8% of residents need daily assistance.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.9%
Houses
1.4%
Townhouse
0.7%
Apartment
Tenure
The 97.9% separate-house rate is unusually high compared with most Australian suburbs and reflects deliberate lot-and-house planning in this Darwin outer suburb. Tenure splits to 45.0% on mortgages, 41.5% renting and 13.4% owning outright, so both owner-occupiers and tenants coexist in roughly equal measure. Bedroom sizes are large: 52.2% three-bedroom and 46.6% four-plus, with two-bedroom dwellings at just 1.2%. The estimated median of $495,000 carries monthly repayments of $1,950, below stress at 18.1% of household income. Weekly rent of $480 represents a rent-to-income ratio of 19.3%, comfortable for tenants. A 9.1% vacancy rate is above typical Darwin norms and suggests some softness in the rental segment at current pricing.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$480
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,201
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.1%
Unoccupied
85
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.9%
Couples, no children
2,109
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public Administration is the dominant industry at 22.6% of workers (200 people), consistent with Darwin's government and defence employment base. Healthcare follows at 14.1% (125 workers) and Education at 10.3% (91), with Construction representing 10.0% (89). By occupation, Clerical and Admin lead with 253 workers, followed by Community and Personal services (248) and Professionals (221), reflecting the public-sector character. The unemployment rate is low at 2.6% against a participation rate of 73.8%. Full-time employment runs at 74.3%, higher than the national average. SEIFA tells a mixed story: IRSD decile 3 and IRSAD decile 2 flag disadvantage on relative measures, while household income at the 92.1st percentile reflects strong earnings from government and professional roles.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
5,591
Unemployed
124
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
74.3%
Part-time
23.1%
Participation
73.8%
Employed
1,402
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.2%
Postgraduate
4.5%
Born Overseas
21.9%
Dwellings
855
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 88.1% of workers driving, with only 2.9% using public transport and 1.5% walking or cycling, typical for a low-density Darwin outer suburb. No schools are recorded within Gunn's boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. The IRSAD decile of 2 places Gunn in the lower advantage tier nationally, lower than income figures alone would suggest, reflecting inequality within the suburb. The IER score of 972 (decile 4) indicates moderate economic resources. Mortgage stress is absent at 18.1% of income and rent stress is absent at 19.3%, meaning most households can service their housing costs. Need-for-assistance rate is 3.8% (92 residents), moderate for a young suburb. Turnover is meaningful at 36.3% of residents having moved in the previous 5 years.
Drive
88.1%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.98%/yr
(+110 people/yr)
EstablishedGunn's population grew 22% over the decade, reaching 2,564 residents in recent data. Annual growth continues at 0.98% (roughly 110 additional people per year), and medium forecasts project the broader catchment reaching 12,026 by 2031. The primary migration driver is overseas arrivals, with net overseas migration at positive 77 per year. Internal migration runs at minus 164 annually, meaning the suburb loses more residents to other parts of Australia than it gains, a pattern common across NT. Gentrification score sits at 15 with stage classified as not gentrifying. Real income growth of minus 2.3% over the period combined with stable affordability (40.0% in 2021 versus 41.7% in 2011) indicates purchasing power has not materially expanded, so growth is population-driven rather than wealth-led.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+77
Net Internal / yr
-164
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +21% since 2011, Net internal outflow -164/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Gunn compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gunn a good suburb to live in?
Gunn suits working families with government or professional employment. Household income sits at the 92.1st percentile nationally, mortgage stress is low at 18.1% of income and the median age is 31, 9 years below national. The trade-off is low IRSAD (decile 2), limited public transport at 2.9% of commuters and no recorded schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Gunn?
The estimated median house price is $495,000 based on 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent runs at $480.
What schools are in Gunn?
No schools are recorded within Gunn's 1.45 sq km boundary in this dataset. Families in the suburb rely on schools in neighbouring Darwin outer suburbs. University qualifications are held by 23.2% of residents, below the national rate by 6.9 points.
Is Gunn safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Gunn are not available in this dataset. As contextual indicators, the suburb scores IRSAD decile 2, placing it in the lower advantage tier nationally, and 3.8% of residents need daily assistance. Income is strong at the 92.1st percentile, which typically correlates with lower property crime exposure.
Is Gunn good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $480 against a $495,000 median implies a gross yield near 5%, above the national average for detached houses. Rent grew 15.4% over the measured period. The 9.1% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants due diligence. Annual population growth of 0.98% adds roughly 110 residents per year, supporting medium-term demand.
How is Gunn's population changing?
Gunn grew 22% over the decade and now has 2,564 residents. Annual growth runs at 0.98%, adding about 110 people per year. Net internal migration is negative at minus 164 per year, offset by overseas arrivals. Medium forecasts project the broader catchment reaching 12,026 by 2031.
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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