Humpty Doo
Household incomes in the 90.7th percentile nationally sit alongside a $479,000 median house price, making Humpty Doo one of the more affordable high-income suburbs in Australia. Spread across 71.65 km2 on Darwin's rural fringe, this low-density community of 4,313 people averages just 60 residents per km2. Almost all dwellings (96.2%) are separate houses on land, and 59.4% of households carry a mortgage, which is the defining tenure pattern. Vacancy at 14.1% is elevated compared to the national average, pointing to a landlord market where tenants have options. The SEIFA profile reveals an unusual split: decile 9 on economic resources but decile 4 on education and occupation, because incomes here come from blue-collar and public sector trades rather than university-led professions.
Population
4,313
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,401/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$479K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $479,000 the median house price sits well below Darwin City's levels, and mortgage repayments average $2,206 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability holds because household incomes average $2,401 per week, ranking in the 90.7th percentile nationally. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.2%, with 4-plus bedroom homes the most common layout (36.8%) followed by 3-bedroom (38.4%). Only 0.4% of dwellings are apartments, so buyers get land with virtually every purchase. Outright owners at 24.2% are a meaningful share, suggesting established families who have paid down debt while staying in the area for the long term.
For Buyers
At $479,000 the median house price sits well below Darwin City's levels, and mortgage repayments average $2,206 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability holds because household incomes average $2,401 per week, ranking in the 90.7th percentile nationally. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.2%, with 4-plus bedroom homes the most common layout (36.8%) followed by 3-bedroom (38.4%). Only 0.4% of dwellings are apartments, so buyers get land with virtually every purchase. Outright owners at 24.2% are a meaningful share, suggesting established families who have paid down debt while staying in the area for the long term.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $400 against a $479,000 median gives a gross yield around 4.3%, higher than most capital city markets. The caveat is a 14.1% vacancy rate, which is well above a healthy 3-4% level and signals that rental supply outruns demand. Only 16.3% of households rent, the lowest tenure segment, so the tenant pool is narrow relative to dwelling count. Net internal migration runs at plus 56 people per year and overseas migration adds 33, providing a steady but modest demand base. Rent grew 14.3% over the measured period, indicating that despite high vacancy, asking rents have moved upward. For investors, yield arithmetic is positive but the vacancy risk warrants careful property selection, particularly avoiding oversupplied pockets.
Schools in Humpty Doo iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School
T-6 · 107 students
Taminmin College
7-12 · 1049 students
Humpty Doo Primary School
T-6 · 362 students
Demographics
The median age of 39 sits 1.0 year below the national figure, and the population skews slightly male at 52.7%. Overseas-born residents are 14.5% of the population, which is 7.1 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born community with English (1,593), Irish (466) and Scottish (425) ancestries dominant. University qualifications at 15.1% run 15 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a workforce concentrated in trades, public administration and construction rather than knowledge professions. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above the national figure, shaped by families with children: couples with children (1,554 families) outnumber couples without children (873). Volunteering at 17.2% of residents indicates active community participation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.2%
Houses
3.2%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupiers dominate tenure: 24.2% own outright and 59.4% are on a mortgage, leaving only 16.3% renting. This mortgage-belt profile is consistent with the income data, as household earnings at the 90.7th percentile nationally support higher debt service. Virtually all dwellings (96.2%) are separate houses, with semi-detached at 3.2% and apartments almost absent at 0.4%. Bedrooms skew large: 36.8% have 4 or more bedrooms and 38.4% have 3 bedrooms, so the median home is a 3-4 bedroom house on land. The median house price of $479,000 is estimated from 2025 rent data, and monthly mortgage payments average $2,206. Rent-to-income at 16.7% is below the 25-30% stress benchmark, meaning the rental market is affordable for those who choose to rent rather than buy.
Mortgage / mo
$2,206
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,080
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.1%
Unoccupied
224
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.8%
Couples, no children
3,383
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration leads the local employment base at 17.5% (254 workers), followed by Construction at 15.1% (219) and Education at 10.1% (147). Healthcare employs 9.2% (134). This public-sector and trades concentration explains the anomaly in SEIFA scores: decile 9 on economic resources (IER) because incomes and dwelling ownership are high, but decile 4 on IEO because university-credentialed occupations are underrepresented. The full-time employment rate is 72.9% of those employed, and unemployment sits at 4.2% against a participation rate of 63.3%. Real income grew 5.5% over the decade. Clerical and admin workers (354) and professionals (316) lead occupational counts, with managers (292) close behind.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
5,750
Unemployed
127
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.9%
Part-time
22.9%
Participation
63.3%
Employed
2,074
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.1%
Postgraduate
3.0%
Born Overseas
14.5%
Dwellings
1,354
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme: 91.3% of residents drive to work and only 1.1% use public transport, which reflects the rural fringe setting and lack of transit infrastructure compared to inner Darwin. Walking and cycling cover 1.8% of trips. The IRSAD decile of 7 indicates moderate-to-good advantage, above average nationally but not in the top tier. The IEO decile of 4 confirms that the area ranks below national average on education and occupation prestige despite strong income. Mortgage stress is absent at a 21.2% mortgage-to-income ratio, and rent stress is likewise low at 16.7%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on schools in neighbouring areas. Only 4.0% of residents (157 people) require daily assistance, consistent with the relatively young working-age population.
Drive
91.3%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.09%/yr
(+104 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 7.5% over the decade to reach 4,313, and the current annual rate of 1.09% adds roughly 104 people each year. The SA2-level forecast extends the population from 9,513 in 2025 toward 10,153 by 2031 under a medium trend scenario. Migration is balanced, with net internal migration contributing plus 56 residents per year and overseas migration adding 33, which is lower than many high-growth NT suburbs. The gentrification score is 12 (not gentrifying), meaning the suburb has no strong signals of demographic transition. The aging trajectory is notable: the senior share rose 5.0 points and the young share declined 3.2 points over the decade, a pattern common to established outer suburbs nationally. Affordability improved from 39.7% in 2011 to 34.9% in 2021, a positive signal that real income growth of 5.5% outpaced price growth.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+33
Net Internal / yr
+56
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +15% since 2011, Net internal migration +56/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Humpty Doo compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Humpty Doo a good suburb to live in?
Humpty Doo offers affordable housing at a $479,000 median with household incomes in the 90.7th percentile nationally. Mortgage-to-income sits at 21.2%, well below stress levels. The trade-off is near-total car dependence (91.3% drive) and SEIFA IEO decile 4, meaning education and employment prestige rank below national average.
What is the median house price in Humpty Doo?
The median house price is approximately $479,000, estimated from 2025 rent data. Weekly rent averages $400 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,206. At a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, housing costs remain affordable relative to the local income base.
What schools are in Humpty Doo?
No schools are recorded inside the Humpty Doo suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring areas. The local population has a university qualification rate of 15.1%, which is 15 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a trades and public-sector workforce profile.
Is Humpty Doo safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Humpty Doo in this dataset. As a broader indicator, the suburb scores IRSAD decile 7, above the national median on relative advantage, and only 4.0% of residents (157 people) require daily assistance, consistent with a stable, working-age community.
Is Humpty Doo good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $400 against a $479,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.3%, higher than most capital city markets. However, vacancy sits at a high 14.1%, well above the 3-4% healthy threshold, meaning tenant demand is not keeping pace with rental supply. Net migration of plus 89 per year provides gradual demand support.
How is Humpty Doo's population changing?
Population grew 7.5% over the decade to 4,313 residents, with annual growth now running at 1.09% (roughly 104 people per year). Migration is balanced, with net internal migration at plus 56 per year and overseas migration at plus 33. The population skews toward an aging trajectory, with the senior share rising 5.0 points over the decade.
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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