Larapinta
A 10.5% vacancy rate stands out in Larapinta, alongside 44.6% mortgaged households and a population of 2,368. The suburb's median age of 33 is 7 years below the national figure, yet its forecast trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.1 percentage points and the young share down 1.3 points. Household income sits at the 78.2nd percentile, while 70.9% of dwellings are separate houses. Its 14.5 square kilometre area and density of 163.3 people per square kilometre make it more spread out than compact Alice Springs areas such as Araluen and The Gap. Healthcare and public administration account for 27.1% and 20.1% of employment. Compared with a tightly occupied rental market, the vacancy level points to softer short-term demand, while 2.05% annual growth and internal migration support a positive medium-term outlook.
Local council: Alice Springs
Population
2,368
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,078/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Larapinta suits buyers who prioritise detached or semi-detached housing and manageable ongoing costs, although a current median house price is not available. Separate houses make up 70.9% of dwellings, compared with 29.1% semi-detached homes, and 3-bedroom properties account for 52.8%, making them the dominant format. A typical mortgage payment is $1,733 per month, while the weekly rent is $350. Mortgage costs equal 19.3% of household income and rent equals 16.8%, both below common stress thresholds. The 44.6% mortgage and 44.3% renting shares indicate a mixed tenure market, with more households still buying or paying down loans than owning outright at 10.5%.
For Buyers
Larapinta suits buyers who prioritise detached or semi-detached housing and manageable ongoing costs, although a current median house price is not available. Separate houses make up 70.9% of dwellings, compared with 29.1% semi-detached homes, and 3-bedroom properties account for 52.8%, making them the dominant format. A typical mortgage payment is $1,733 per month, while the weekly rent is $350. Mortgage costs equal 19.3% of household income and rent equals 16.8%, both below common stress thresholds. The 44.6% mortgage and 44.3% renting shares indicate a mixed tenure market, with more households still buying or paying down loans than owning outright at 10.5%.
For Investors
Larapinta has a mixed investment outlook. Weekly rent is $350 and 44.3% of households rent, creating a substantial tenant base, but the 10.5% vacancy rate is higher than in a tightly supplied rental market and may reduce near-term rental competition. Rent growth of 37.0% points to strong recent movement, although vacancy means investors should test achievable rent carefully rather than rely on past increases. No development was recorded in the last 12 months, so new supply has not recently expanded within the suburb. The forecast trend is 2.05% annually and is driven by internal migration. An active gentrification score of 57 supports longer-term demand, but the high vacancy rate calls for conservative cash-flow assumptions.
Demographics
Larapinta has a relatively young resident base, with a median age of 33, which is 7 years below the national figure. However, the wider trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 4.1 percentage points and the young share falling 1.3 points. University attainment is 28.5%, or 1.6 percentage points below the national level, while 23.1% of residents were born overseas, 1.5 points above the national figure. English ancestry is the largest reported group at 566 people, followed by Other at 342 and Irish at 181. Christianity accounts for 1,020 residents and no religion for 983, a relatively close split. Average household size is 2.7, 0.2 above the national figure, consistent with 43.7% of families being couples with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.9%
Houses
29.1%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Larapinta is weighted toward family-sized, low-rise dwellings rather than compact apartments. Separate houses represent 70.9% of stock and semi-detached homes 29.1%, while 52.8% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 20.2% have 4 or more. Tenure is divided between mortgages at 44.6% and renting at 44.3%, with only 10.5% owned outright. That pattern is more mortgage-oriented than a settled ownership market, because many households remain exposed to repayments or rent. Monthly mortgage costs are $1,733 and the rent-to-income ratio is 16.8%, compared with 19.3% for mortgages, so neither measure is flagged as stressed. Affordability is described as Stable, moving from 46.6% in 2011 to 44.7% in 2021.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,094
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.5%
Unoccupied
96
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.7%
Couples with children
30.8%
Couples, no children
22.8%
Single parent
584
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Larapinta's largest employment industry, accounting for 27.1% of workers or 209 people, followed by public administration at 20.1% and 155 people. Education contributes 14.7% and 113 people, while construction has 6.8% and retail 5.1%. This public, health and education mix helps explain why household income reaches the 78.2nd percentile, above the national midpoint. Labour-force participation is 69.3%, unemployment is 4.7%, and 73.4% of employed residents work full time. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 264 people, followed by community and personal service workers at 215, clerical and administrative workers at 169, and trades at 148. Compared with a lower-income labour market, these figures indicate a relatively stable employment base, although the suburb remains dependent on institutional and service sectors.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
1,226
Unemployed
58
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
73.4%
Part-time
20.5%
Participation
69.3%
Employed
1,168
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.5%
Postgraduate
8.4%
Born Overseas
23.1%
Dwellings
815
Transport to Work
Larapinta is strongly car dependent. About 85.1% of residents drive to work, compared with 1.1% using public transport, while 3.6% walk or cycle and 1.4% work from home. Its 14.5 square kilometre footprint and density of 163.3 people per square kilometre create a more spread-out setting than compact central Alice Springs areas. Families should check school enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. No suburb-level crime rate is available, so Larapinta cannot be ranked as safer or less safe than nearby areas on crime alone. Socioeconomic indicators are mixed: IRSAD is in decile 6, above the national midpoint, IEO is decile 7, while IER is decile 4 and IRSD is decile 5. That spread suggests educational opportunity is stronger than some measures of economic resources.
Drive
85.1%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
3.6%
Work from Home
1.4%
Growth Outlook
Larapinta's established forecast points to annual growth of 2.05%, with internal migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 34.1% over 10 years, stronger than a flat-growth trajectory. The forecast also labels the suburb's gentrification stage Active, with a score of 57, while another shift measure records Early signs at 34. These signals suggest demand is changing, but the aging trajectory adds an important counterweight: the senior share has increased 4.1 percentage points and the young share has declined 1.3 points. Rent growth of 37.0% indicates pressure has built in the housing market, even though affordability is described as Stable. Growth is therefore likely to be shaped by incoming households, rising rents and gradual demographic aging rather than a single development surge.
Population trend: Alice Springs council area
Larapinta sits in the Alice Springs council area. These are the council area's residents, not Larapinta's.
Residents 2025
30,875
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.3%
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 Larapinta compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Larapinta a good suburb to live in?
Larapinta may suit households wanting mostly separate homes, with 70.9% of dwellings detached and 52.8% containing 3 bedrooms. Its median age of 33 is 7 years below national, and household income ranks at the 78.2nd percentile. Car dependence is high at 85.1%, so lifestyle suitability depends on access to a vehicle.
What is the median house price in Larapinta?
A current median house price is not available for Larapinta, so a reliable dollar comparison with Araluen or The Gap cannot be made. The suburb's weekly rent is $350, vacancy is 10.5%, and 70.9% of dwellings are separate houses. These figures provide a clearer guide to current housing conditions than an unsupported price estimate.
What schools are in Larapinta?
No named schools are identified within Larapinta. Families should confirm the nearest school and enrolment zone for each address, as boundaries can extend across suburbs. With 85.1% of residents driving and only 1.1% using public transport, school travel is likely to rely more on private vehicles than buses.
Is Larapinta safe?
Larapinta cannot be ranked as safer or less safe than nearby suburbs because a suburb-level crime rate is not available. Street-level checks remain important, particularly in a suburb with 10.5% vacancy and 28.2% annual household turnover. Residents should review current local conditions and inspect the exact property location before deciding.
Is Larapinta good for property investment?
Larapinta has both supportive and cautionary signals. Rent is $350 per week and 44.3% of households rent, while forecast growth is 2.05% annually and driven by internal migration. However, vacancy is 10.5%, higher than a tightly supplied market, so investors should use conservative occupancy and rent assumptions.
How is Larapinta's population changing?
The wider area records 34.1% population change over 10 years, with forecast growth of 2.05% annually driven by internal migration. The direction is also aging: the senior share is up 4.1 percentage points and the young share is down 1.3 points. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 57, indicating changing demand.
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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