Larrakeyah
At 2,027 people per km2 packed into just 1.95 km2, Larrakeyah is one of Darwin's most densely occupied suburbs, yet it carries household incomes in the 89.7th percentile nationally. That combination of high density and high earnings reflects a workforce-heavy profile: 66.9% of residents rent rather than own, 47% hold university qualifications (16.9 points above national), and the median age of 33 sits 7 years below the national figure. Public administration employs 26.8% of workers, anchoring the suburb firmly to government employment cycles. Population grew 21.7% over the past decade, driven almost entirely by overseas migration averaging 150 arrivals per year.
Population
3,943
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,372/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$429K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $429,000 based on 2025 rental data, considerably lower than capital city medians in Sydney or Melbourne. Only 22% of dwellings are separate houses, with apartments making up 66.3% of stock, so detached houses command a scarcity premium. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 17.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners account for just 15.9% and mortgage holders for 17.2%, compared to the national average where ownership rates typically exceed 30%, reflecting the dominant renter culture here. Two-bedroom dwellings form 41.9% of stock and three-bedroom 32.9%, meaning buyers seeking larger family homes face constrained supply.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $429,000 based on 2025 rental data, considerably lower than capital city medians in Sydney or Melbourne. Only 22% of dwellings are separate houses, with apartments making up 66.3% of stock, so detached houses command a scarcity premium. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 17.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners account for just 15.9% and mortgage holders for 17.2%, compared to the national average where ownership rates typically exceed 30%, reflecting the dominant renter culture here. Two-bedroom dwellings form 41.9% of stock and three-bedroom 32.9%, meaning buyers seeking larger family homes face constrained supply.
For Investors
A 66.9% renter share is among the highest you will find in any Australian suburb, giving landlords a deep and reliable tenant pool. Weekly rent runs at $395, and rent-to-income sits at 16.7%, below the stress threshold, suggesting tenants can absorb modest increases. The vacancy rate of 12.3% is elevated and warrants attention, pointing to periodic oversupply in the apartment segment which makes up 66.3% of dwellings. Net overseas migration averages 150 per year, supporting demand, while internal migration runs at negative 34 annually. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, so new supply is not an immediate concern. Population is forecast to grow from 4,731 in 2025 to around 4,997 by 2031 under the medium scenario.
Schools in Larrakeyah iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Larrakeyah Primary School
T-6 · 480 students
Demographics
The median age of 33 is 7 years below the national figure, and the working-age share is large though it declined 4.3 points over the decade. The young-resident share grew 1.2 points, consistent with continued overseas migration from younger cohorts. Overseas-born residents reach 40%, which is 18.4 points above the national average, making this one of Darwin's more internationally diverse suburbs. The top ancestry groups are English (1,141 residents), Irish (368) and Scottish (301). Nepali is the leading non-English language with 184 speakers, reflecting a significant South Asian community. University qualifications at 47% run 16.9 points above the national figure, and the SEIFA IEO decile of 9 confirms high educational and occupational advantage.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
22.0%
Houses
11.5%
Townhouse
66.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by renters at 66.9%, well above the national renter share, while outright owners at 15.9% and mortgage holders at 17.2% are both below typical national benchmarks. The stock skews heavily toward apartments at 66.3%, with separate houses at just 22% and semi-detached at 11.5%. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 41.9% and three-bedroom for 32.9%. The estimated median house price of $429,000 sits at a significant discount compared to Sydney or Melbourne equivalents. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800 and rent-to-income at 16.7% keeps housing costs manageable for tenants. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 10 indicates minimal relative disadvantage, which is the top tier nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$1,800
Rent / wk
$395
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,297
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.3%
Unoccupied
200
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.7%
Couples, no children
2,360
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration is the dominant industry at 26.8% (506 workers), a concentration that reflects proximity to Darwin CBD and NT government offices. Healthcare follows at 15.2% (287 workers) and hospitality at 11.2% (212 workers). By occupation, Professionals (617) and Managers (461) together lead the workforce, consistent with the IEO score of decile 9 for education and occupation. Unemployment sits at just 1.9% and the full-time employment rate is 74.7%, both healthy figures. Participation at 70.2% is solid. Household income ranks in the 89.7th percentile nationally despite real income growth of negative 3.1% over the decade, a decline that may reflect cost-of-living pressures in Darwin relative to wage growth.
Unemployment
0.6%
Labour Force
3,165
Unemployed
20
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
74.7%
Part-time
23.4%
Participation
70.2%
Employed
2,341
Occupations
Top Industries
University
47.0%
Postgraduate
15.5%
Born Overseas
40.0%
Dwellings
1,415
Transport to Work
Active transport rates are unusually high: 16.3% of residents walk or cycle to work, well above the national average, reflecting the compact 1.95 km2 footprint and proximity to Darwin CBD. Car dependence at 71.2% is lower than many NT suburbs, and public transport use at 4.8% is modest but present. No schools are recorded inside Larrakeyah's boundary, so families rely on nearby Darwin institutions. The IRSAD decile of 9 places the suburb in the top advantage tier nationally, and the need-for-assistance rate of 1.9% (65 residents) is low. Volunteering at 20.3% of residents is above average, and housing stress is absent on both rent and mortgage measures.
Drive
71.2%
Public Transport
4.8%
Walk / Cycle
16.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.46%/yr
(+69 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 21.7% over the past decade, and annual growth currently runs at 1.46%, adding around 69 people per year. The suburb did not experience a COVID-related population dip, suggesting stable underlying demand. Overseas migration at 150 per year is the primary driver, while internal migration removes 34 residents annually, a net drain that points to Darwin's well-documented interstate outflow. The forecast medium scenario projects growth from 4,731 in 2025 to 4,997 by 2031. The gentrification score is 15 with no gentrifying trajectory, which fits a suburb already in SEIFA decile 9 on IEO. Affordability improved from 39.5% in 2011 to 30.5% in 2021, a positive trend compared to most major Australian markets where affordability worsened over the same period.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+150
Net Internal / yr
-34
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +35% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Larrakeyah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Larrakeyah a good suburb to live in?
Larrakeyah scores SEIFA IRSAD decile 9, placing it in the top national advantage tier, with household income in the 89.7th percentile. University qualifications reach 47%, which is 16.9 points above the national figure. Proximity to Darwin CBD, low housing stress at 16.7% rent-to-income, and a compact walkable layout are the main draws. The 12.3% vacancy rate in the apartment sector is worth monitoring.
What is the median house price in Larrakeyah?
The median house price is estimated at $429,000 based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $395 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,800, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.5%. Only 22% of dwellings are separate houses, so detached properties are relatively scarce compared to the 66.3% apartment share.
What schools are in Larrakeyah?
No schools are recorded inside the Larrakeyah boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Darwin suburbs. The suburb's population is highly educated, with 47% holding university qualifications, which is 16.9 points above the national average.
Is Larrakeyah safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Larrakeyah are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA IRSD decile 10, the highest national tier for low relative disadvantage. Only 1.9% of residents (65 people) need daily assistance, and the unemployment rate is just 1.9%, both consistent with a stable, low-disadvantage community.
Is Larrakeyah good for property investment?
The 66.9% renter share is one of the highest nationally, giving landlords reliable tenant demand. Weekly rent of $395 at a 16.7% rent-to-income ratio suggests tenants have capacity for modest increases. The main risk is the 12.3% vacancy rate, which signals periodic oversupply in the 66.3% apartment segment. Overseas migration of 150 per year supports long-term demand, and no new development was recorded in the past 12 months.
How is Larrakeyah's population changing?
Population grew 21.7% over the past decade and currently expands at 1.46% per year, adding about 69 residents annually. The medium forecast puts the population at 4,997 by 2031, up from 4,731 in 2025. Overseas migration averaging 150 per year is the primary driver, while internal migration runs at negative 34 annually, reflecting Darwin's broader interstate outflow pattern.
What languages are spoken in Larrakeyah?
About 40% of Larrakeyah residents were born overseas, which is 18.4 points above the national average. Nepali is the most common non-English language with 184 speakers, followed by Greek (30), Mandarin (27), Punjabi (15) and Sinhalese (15), reflecting a significant South Asian community alongside smaller East Asian and European groups.
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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