Marrara
At a median house price of $443,000 and household incomes at the 73.3rd percentile nationally, Marrara sits in a comfortable middle ground for Darwin's northern corridor. The suburb's most striking characteristic is its apartment-dominant stock: 46.1% of dwellings are apartments against just 40.8% separate houses, which is unusual for a low-density NT suburb with only 1,323 residents across 3.08 square kilometres. The population has been contracting, down 8.7% over 10 years, while the median age of 45 runs 5 years above the national figure. These dynamics place Marrara in the established, aging, slow-growth category compared to most Darwin-area suburbs.
Population
1,323
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,953/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$443K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $443,000 median house price makes Marrara more affordable than many capital-city equivalents, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $370, giving context for buy-vs-rent decisions. The stock leans toward apartments at 46.1%, with separate houses at 40.8%, so buyers seeking a detached home compete for a minority of the available stock. Bedroom distribution is relatively even: 38.9% of dwellings have 2 bedrooms, 24.1% have 3 bedrooms and 24.9% have 4 or more, which offers genuine choice across family sizes. Outright owners (34.0%) and renters (34.8%) almost match mortgage holders (31.1%), indicating a settled owner-occupier base alongside a sizeable rental market.
For Buyers
The $443,000 median house price makes Marrara more affordable than many capital-city equivalents, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $370, giving context for buy-vs-rent decisions. The stock leans toward apartments at 46.1%, with separate houses at 40.8%, so buyers seeking a detached home compete for a minority of the available stock. Bedroom distribution is relatively even: 38.9% of dwellings have 2 bedrooms, 24.1% have 3 bedrooms and 24.9% have 4 or more, which offers genuine choice across family sizes. Outright owners (34.0%) and renters (34.8%) almost match mortgage holders (31.1%), indicating a settled owner-occupier base alongside a sizeable rental market.
For Investors
A 34.8% renter share provides a steady tenant pool, and weekly rent of $370 yields a reasonable return against the $443,000 median. The vacancy rate is 4.8%, slightly elevated compared to a healthy 2-3% benchmark, suggesting mild oversupply in the rental segment. Net internal migration averages minus 76 residents per year, partially offset by overseas migration adding 58 annually. Population is forecast to decline from around 4,729 in 2025 toward 4,534 by 2031 under the medium scenario, which limits the demand-driven growth case. Rent grew 9.4% over the measured period, showing price power despite population headwinds. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, consistent with an established area where new supply is minimal.
Schools in Marrara iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
NT Christian College
11-12 · 93 students
Marrara Christian College
T-10 · 289 students
Demographics
The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, and the trajectory is firmly aging: the senior share rose 6.9 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 3.4 points. Overseas-born residents account for 27.9% of the population, 6.3 percentage points above the national average, driven primarily by ongoing overseas migration as the primary population driver. Ancestry is led by English (395), Irish (126) and Scottish (123), reflecting an Anglo-Celtic majority. University qualifications reach 29.6%, which is 0.5 percentage points below the national rate, suggesting an average education profile. Average household size is 2.2, slightly below the national figure of 2.5. Volunteering is notable at 21.8% of residents, above the national average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
40.8%
Houses
1.1%
Townhouse
46.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Marrara's tenure structure is roughly a three-way split: 34.0% own outright, 31.1% carry a mortgage and 34.8% rent. The near-equal weight of outright owners and renters points to long-held properties alongside a functional rental market rather than a purely transient population. Apartments dominate at 46.1%, with separate houses at 40.8% and semi-detached at 1.1%. The 2-bedroom segment leads at 38.9%, followed by 4-plus (24.9%) and 3-bedroom (24.1%). Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,036 against household income at the 73.3rd percentile nationally produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.1%, well below the 30% stress level. Rent-to-income sits at 18.9%, also comfortable. The housing stress indicators are both green, making Marrara more manageable financially than many comparable suburbs.
Mortgage / mo
$2,036
Rent / wk
$370
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,137
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.8%
Unoccupied
27
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.1%
Couples, no children
930
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration dominates Marrara's employment base at 19.9% of workers (92 people), followed by Healthcare at 14.5% (67) and Education at 12.7% (59). Construction accounts for 8.4% and Professional/Tech services 6.7%, rounding out a public-sector-heavy profile typical of Darwin's northern suburbs. By occupation, Professionals lead (143), closely followed by Clerical/Admin workers (127) and Managers (121), indicating a white-collar concentration that sits below the top income tiers nationally. The SEIFA IRSAD decile is 4, meaning Marrara ranks in the lower half nationally for relative advantage and disadvantage. The IEO decile of 5 places educational and occupational advantage at the national median. Real incomes declined 8.3% over the decade, a notable erosion that tracks the broader NT economic softness.
Unemployment
8.2%
Labour Force
2,562
Unemployed
210
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
75.1%
Part-time
20.6%
Participation
60.6%
Employed
650
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.6%
Postgraduate
9.7%
Born Overseas
27.9%
Dwellings
532
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 87.7% of residents drive to work, compared with only 1.1% using public transport and 3.2% who walk or cycle, which reflects Darwin's limited transit infrastructure. No schools are recorded within Marrara's 3.08 square kilometre boundary, so families rely on institutions in adjoining suburbs. Crime data is not available at the suburb level. The IRSAD decile of 4 places Marrara in the lower-middle tier nationally for relative advantage, below the state capital average. Housing stress is low on both measures: rent-to-income at 18.9% and mortgage-to-income at 24.1% both remain well under the 30% threshold. Just 3.1% of residents (38 people) need daily assistance, a relatively low figure given the older-than-national median age of 45.
Drive
87.7%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.47%/yr
(-22 people/yr)
EstablishedMarrara's population fell 8.7% over 10 years, and the annual contraction rate runs at minus 0.47%, or roughly minus 22 people per year. The medium forecast shows the SA2 population declining from 4,729 in 2025 to 4,534 by 2031, a further 4.1% reduction. Internal migration is the main drag at minus 76 net residents per year, while overseas migration partially offsets losses at plus 58. The suburb scores 0 on the gentrification index and is classified as not gentrifying, consistent with stable affordability: the rent-to-income ratio held near 37-38% between 2011 and 2021 compared to many markets that deteriorated sharply. Affordability has been stable rather than eroding, which is a structural positive even in a shrinking population context.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+58
Net Internal / yr
-76
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Marrara compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marrara a good suburb to live in?
Marrara suits residents who value affordability and low housing stress. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.1% and rent-to-income is 18.9%, both below the 30% stress threshold. Household incomes sit at the 73.3rd percentile nationally. The main trade-offs are high car dependence (87.7% drive to work) and a declining population trend of minus 0.47% per year.
What is the median house price in Marrara?
The median house price in Marrara is $443,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $370 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $2,036, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.1%, comfortably below the stress threshold.
What schools are in Marrara?
No schools are recorded within Marrara's 3.08 square kilometre boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Darwin suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 29.6%, close to the national average.
Is Marrara safe?
Suburb-level crime data is not available for Marrara in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the IRSAD decile of 4 places the suburb in the lower-middle tier nationally for relative advantage. Only 3.1% of residents (38 people) require daily assistance, suggesting moderate social stability.
Is Marrara good for property investment?
Marrara has a 34.8% renter share and weekly rent of $370 against a $443,000 median, indicating a modest gross yield. The 4.8% vacancy rate is slightly above the healthy 2-3% range. Population is forecast to decline toward 4,534 by 2031, which limits demand-driven price growth. Rent grew 9.4% over the recent period, providing some income upside.
How is Marrara's population changing?
The population fell 8.7% over 10 years and the annual decline runs at minus 0.47%, around minus 22 people per year. Internal migration removes a net 76 residents per year while overseas migration adds 58. Medium forecasts project a further decline from 4,729 in 2025 to 4,534 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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