Herbert
A 16.1% vacancy rate stands out in Herbert, even though household income sits at the 95.9th percentile nationally. The suburb's 1,610 residents live at a low density of 45.1 people per sq km, while annual growth is only 0.14%, so the local picture is affluent on household earnings but slow-moving in population terms. Compared with Howard Springs, Herbert is more spread out and strongly detached-house based, with 98.8% of dwellings separate houses. That combination suits buyers seeking space, but it can also mean fewer nearby services and a thinner resale pool than denser parts of the Darwin region.
Local council: Litchfield
Population
1,610
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,765/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Herbert suits buyers who prioritise a detached home and room for a family rather than apartment living. Separate houses account for 98.8% of occupied dwellings, while 3-bedroom and 4-plus-bedroom homes each represent 38.1%, giving larger households practical choice. A mortgage repayment figure of $2,323 a month equals 19.4% of household income, suggesting manageable reported repayments for many households, although no current median house price is available for a clean market comparison. Weekly rent is $460, so renting first can test the commute and services before purchase. Compared with compact Darwin neighbourhoods, land and car dependence are likely to matter more than apartment convenience.
For Buyers
Herbert suits buyers who prioritise a detached home and room for a family rather than apartment living. Separate houses account for 98.8% of occupied dwellings, while 3-bedroom and 4-plus-bedroom homes each represent 38.1%, giving larger households practical choice. A mortgage repayment figure of $2,323 a month equals 19.4% of household income, suggesting manageable reported repayments for many households, although no current median house price is available for a clean market comparison. Weekly rent is $460, so renting first can test the commute and services before purchase. Compared with compact Darwin neighbourhoods, land and car dependence are likely to matter more than apartment convenience.
For Investors
Investor conditions are mixed. Rents sit at $460 a week, while vacancy is elevated at 16.1%, which can lengthen letting periods and weaken short-term income certainty compared with tighter rental markets. Only 12.0% of households rent, so the tenant pool is smaller than in many established urban suburbs, and 69.4% hold a mortgage, pointing to a predominantly owner-occupier market. There were 0 development approvals or samples in the past 12 months, limiting immediate new-supply pressure but also signalling little visible project activity. With forecast migration described as Balanced and annual growth at 0.14%, Herbert looks better suited to patient, yield-sensitive investors than rapid capital-growth strategies.
Demographics
Herbert's median age is 38, which is 2 years below the national comparison, but the area's trajectory is aging: the senior share has risen 8.5 percentage points while the young share fell 4.8 points. University attainment is 14.2%, or 15.9 percentage points below the national level, and only 12.1% of residents were born overseas, 9.5 points below nationally. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry counts are 649, 168 and 160 respectively, reinforcing an Anglo-leaning profile. Households average 3.0 people, 0.5 above the national comparison, with couples with children making up 53.4% of families. Compared with more migrant-heavy Darwin suburbs, Herbert is less culturally mixed and more family-oriented.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.8%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Herbert's housing stock is unusually concentrated in separate houses, at 98.8%, with apartment share not recorded. The largest bedroom groups are 3-bedroom and 4-plus-bedroom homes, both at 38.1%, which supports families but gives downsizers and singles fewer formats than in denser suburbs. Tenure is mortgage-led: 69.4% are paying off a home, compared with 17.8% owned outright and 12.0% rented. Mortgage costs equal 19.4% of household income, while rent equals 16.6%, so reported housing stress is not flagged. Compared with Howard Springs and other low-density Darwin fringe areas, Herbert's 16.1% vacancy rate is the sharper issue for pricing and resale confidence, especially because no median house price is available.
Mortgage / mo
$2,323
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$460
Census 2021
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,268
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.1%
Unoccupied
97
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
53.4%
Couples with children
36.3%
Couples, no children
10.1%
Single parent
427
Total families
Economy & Employment
Herbert combines a high-income household profile with a practical, government-linked employment base. Public administration is the largest industry at 16.7% with 101 workers, followed by construction at 15.9% and 96, education at 10.6% and 64, healthcare at 8.8% and 53, and mining at 8.1% and 49. Trades lead occupations with 201 people, ahead of clerical and administrative roles at 150 and professionals at 128. Labour-force participation is 74.6%, full-time employment is 70.4%, and unemployment is 2.7%, supporting household stability. Household income ranks at the 95.9th percentile, higher than the national midpoint, although the IRSAD decile is 1, an unusual contrast between earnings and area-level disadvantage indicators.
Unemployment
2.7%
Labour Force
917
Unemployed
25
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.4%
Part-time
22.9%
Participation
74.6%
Employed
892
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.2%
Postgraduate
2.4%
Born Overseas
12.1%
Dwellings
506
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented. About 88.0% of commuters drive, compared with only 0.9% using public transport and 1.3% walking or cycling, so access to work, shopping and services depends heavily on vehicle ownership. Herbert covers 35.69 sq km at 45.1 people per sq km, creating a spacious setting but also longer trip patterns than denser Darwin suburbs. Work-from-home participation is 4.9%, while volunteering reaches 15.0%, offering some local connection beyond commuting. Socioeconomic conditions are mixed: household income ranks at the 95.9th percentile, yet IRSAD sits in decile 1 and IRSD in decile 1, both below the national middle. Compared with compact urban areas, Herbert trades walkability for space and privacy.
Drive
88.0%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
4.9%
Growth Outlook
Herbert is a slow-growth, aging market rather than an expansion hotspot. The forecast annual trend is 0.14%, and population change across the wider area is 0.7% over 10 years, while migration is classified as Balanced. The shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share is up 8.5 percentage points, the young share is down 4.8 points, and the working-age share is down 3.2 points. Rents have grown 25.7%, but affordability is labelled Stable, moving from 49.3 in 2011 to 47.6 in 2021. Gentrification is Not gentrifying, with a score of 0, so investors should not rely on a near-term transformation story. Compared with faster-growing Darwin fringe locations, Herbert's appeal rests more on stability and established housing than momentum.
Population trend: Litchfield council area
Herbert sits in the Litchfield council area. These are the council area's residents, not Herbert's.
Residents 2025
24,849
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.5%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Herbert compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Herbert a good suburb to live in?
Herbert can suit households wanting detached housing, space and a car-based lifestyle. The suburb has 98.8% separate houses, 88.0% car commuting and a median age of 38, but a 16.1% vacancy rate and limited public transport may not suit everyone.
What is the median house price in Herbert?
A current median house price is not available for Herbert, so buyers should compare recent comparable sales rather than rely on a single suburb benchmark. A mortgage repayment figure of $2,323 per month and a 98.8% separate-house share make property type and borrowing capacity especially important.
What schools are in Herbert?
Families should confirm schools and enrolment zones for the exact address, because local access can vary across Herbert's 35.69 sq km area. Public transport accounts for only 0.9% of commuting, so school travel and daily drop-offs are likely to require a car.
Is Herbert safe?
Check current NT Police information and visit at different times before deciding. Herbert's low density of 45.1 people per sq km and 88.0% car-based commuting indicate a dispersed setting, so practical safety impressions may vary between roads, homes and activity areas.
Is Herbert good for property investment?
Herbert may suit patient investors focused on established detached housing, but the 16.1% vacancy rate creates letting risk. Rent is $460 a week, only 12.0% of households rent, and annual growth is 0.14%, so the profile is less compelling for investors seeking rapid capital growth.
How is Herbert's population changing?
Herbert is ageing slowly rather than expanding quickly. Population change across the wider area is 0.7% over 10 years, the annual trend is 0.14%, and the senior share has increased 8.5 percentage points while the young share has fallen 4.8 points.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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