Ngukurr
With a median age of 25, Ngukurr's population skews 15 years younger than the national figure, making it one of the youngest communities in the Northern Territory. The 1,088 residents live across 12.04 square kilometres at a density of 90.4 people per km2, well below NT urban norms. An average household size of 5.5 persons is 3.0 above the national average, reflecting extended family living arrangements common in remote Aboriginal communities. Every occupied dwelling in the area is rented, at 100% renter share, with weekly rent of just $90, a fraction of state and national medians. The participation rate of 25.6% and unemployment rate of 25.7% are both far outside typical Australian ranges, signalling a labour market shaped by remoteness and community services funding rather than private employment.
Population
1,088
Median Age
25.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,260/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
No median house price data is recorded for Ngukurr, which reflects the community's tenure structure: 100% of occupied dwellings are rentals, compared to around 30% nationally, with no recorded owner-occupier or mortgage segment. The dwelling stock is 75.6% separate houses and 24.4% semi-detached, so the physical housing base leans detached, similar to many regional NT communities. Bedroom distribution centres on 3-bedroom homes at 44.8% and 2-bedroom at 33.1%, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 19.6%. Weekly rent of $90 sits substantially below the NT median, and rent-to-income at 7.1% confirms housing costs are not a financial pressure relative to income. For prospective buyers, the absence of any private sales market or price history makes Ngukurr unsuitable as a standard residential purchase target.
For Buyers
No median house price data is recorded for Ngukurr, which reflects the community's tenure structure: 100% of occupied dwellings are rentals, compared to around 30% nationally, with no recorded owner-occupier or mortgage segment. The dwelling stock is 75.6% separate houses and 24.4% semi-detached, so the physical housing base leans detached, similar to many regional NT communities. Bedroom distribution centres on 3-bedroom homes at 44.8% and 2-bedroom at 33.1%, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 19.6%. Weekly rent of $90 sits substantially below the NT median, and rent-to-income at 7.1% confirms housing costs are not a financial pressure relative to income. For prospective buyers, the absence of any private sales market or price history makes Ngukurr unsuitable as a standard residential purchase target.
For Investors
The investment profile here is unlike any standard rental market. A 100% renter share, higher than any comparable capital city suburb, is set against weekly rent of just $90, well below what private investors would require for a viable yield. Vacancy sits at 14.5%, above normal thresholds, and no development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. The employment base is dominated by government-funded services including Education at 30.3% and Public Admin at 18.2%, meaning local housing demand is tied to program funding rather than market forces. With household income in the 28.1st percentile nationally and no recorded property price history, Ngukurr does not align with conventional private investment criteria, though community housing providers operate in this segment.
Schools in Ngukurr iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Ngukurr School
T-12 · 207 students
Demographics
Ngukurr's median age of 25 is 15 years below the national figure of 40, one of the sharpest contractions you will find in any Australian suburb profile. Average household size of 5.5 is 3.0 above national, consistent with multigenerational and extended family living. Overseas-born residents account for just 1.0% of the population, compared to 21.6% nationally, a gap of 20.6 percentage points. University qualifications reach 16.3%, which is 13.8 points below the national average, reflecting limited post-secondary access in remote NT. The most widely spoken language group recorded is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, with 474 speakers out of 1,088 residents, underscoring the community's First Nations character. Couples with children account for 514 of 984 recorded family units.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
75.6%
Houses
24.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure profile at Ngukurr is entirely rental, at 100%, compared to roughly 30% nationally. Weekly rent of $90 is among the lowest recorded anywhere in Australia, yet household income sitting at only the 28.1st percentile nationally means even this cost represents a meaningful share of earnings. Dwelling types split between separate houses at 75.6% and semi-detached at 24.4%, with no apartment stock recorded. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 44.8%, followed by 2-bedroom at 33.1% and 4-plus bedroom at 19.6%, suggesting the stock is sized for larger households matching the average household size of 5.5. The vacancy rate of 14.5% is elevated compared to typical Australian benchmarks, pointing to stock that exceeds occupied demand or sits in transition between tenancies.
Mortgage / mo
$0
Rent / wk
$90
HH Size
5.5
Personal Income / wk
$230
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.5%
Unoccupied
28
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
7.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
12.8%
Couples, no children
984
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy is almost entirely government-funded. Education is the largest industry sector at 30.3% of employed residents, followed by Public Administration at 18.2%, Other Services at 16.2%, and Healthcare at 13.1%, with Arts rounding out the top five at 8.1%. By occupation, Professionals account for 46 workers and Community/Personal service roles 41, together making up the core workforce. The unemployment rate of 25.7% is dramatically higher than the national rate, and the participation rate of 25.6% means most working-age residents are not in the labour force, with 534 recorded as not participating. Personal weekly income of $230 and household income of $521 per week sit far below national medians, placing Ngukurr in the 28.1st percentile for household income nationally. These figures reflect a community where formal wage employment is concentrated in services and government programs.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.3%
Part-time
11.0%
Participation
25.6%
Employed
150
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.3%
Postgraduate
1.5%
Born Overseas
1.0%
Dwellings
160
Transport to Work
Transport patterns at Ngukurr diverge sharply from the national average: 54.2% of residents walk or cycle to work, compared to under 5% nationally, and only 28.9% drive, well below the national car dependency rate. Public transport use sits at 2.1%, reflecting limited formal services in this remote location. No schools are recorded in the suburb dataset, though community education services exist given Education employs 30.3% of local workers. Crime rate data is not available for Ngukurr at this geographic level. The need-assistance rate is 3.1%, covering 32 residents who require daily help, a figure that aligns with the relatively young median age of 25. Volunteering is recorded at 3.3%, lower than the national average, and household income in the 28.1st percentile nationally signals limited discretionary capacity across the community.
Drive
28.9%
Public Transport
2.1%
Walk / Cycle
54.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ngukurr compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ngukurr a good suburb to live in?
Ngukurr is a remote Aboriginal community of 1,088 residents in the NT with a median age of 25, which is 15 years below the national figure. Housing costs are low at $90 per week rent, and 89.3% of residents stayed at the same address year-on-year, indicating a stable community. Remoteness means limited services, and household income sits in the 28.1st percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Ngukurr?
No median house price is recorded for Ngukurr because 100% of occupied dwellings are rentals, with no private sales market. Weekly rent is $90, well below NT and national medians. Rent-to-income sits at just 7.1%, meaning housing costs are low relative to local incomes despite those incomes being in the 28.1st percentile nationally.
What schools are in Ngukurr?
No schools are recorded in the suburb dataset for Ngukurr. However, Education is the largest employment sector locally at 30.3% of employed residents, suggesting community education services operate in the area. Families should verify current schooling options directly with NT Department of Education for up-to-date enrolment information.
Is Ngukurr safe?
Crime rate data is not available for Ngukurr at suburb level in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, 3.1% of residents (32 people) require daily assistance, consistent with the young median age of 25. Remoteness and limited policing resources in small NT communities are factors to consider, and current conditions should be verified through NT Police or local council.
Is Ngukurr good for property investment?
Standard property investment metrics do not apply here. There is no recorded private sales market, weekly rent is $90, and vacancy sits at 14.5%. The housing stock is entirely community-managed rental, and household income is in the 28.1st percentile nationally. There were 0 development applications in the past 12 months. Community housing organisations rather than private investors operate in this market.
How is Ngukurr's population changing?
Detailed ABS population growth forecasts are not available for Ngukurr at suburb level. The current population is 1,088, and the mobility data shows 89.3% of residents remained at the same address in the year before census, pointing to low turnover rather than rapid growth or decline. The average household size of 5.5 is 3.0 above the national average, indicating continued density in existing dwellings.
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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