Stuart Park
At 1.65 km2 with 4,101 residents, Stuart Park packs an unusually high-income, transient population into a compact Darwin fringe. Household incomes sit in the 87.5th percentile nationally, yet 58.3% of dwellings are rented and 40.3% of residents relocated in the previous year. These two facts explain each other: the suburb draws professionals and government workers on short-term postings who earn well but do not settle. University qualifications reach 43.3%, which is 13.2 points above the national figure. The IRSAD decile of 8 and IRSD decile of 9 place it in the upper advantage tier nationally, though the IER decile of 4 reflects low home ownership rather than low incomes.
Population
4,101
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,278/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$453K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price is $453,000, derived from the weekly rent of $400 using a capitalisation approach for 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,980, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.1%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the NT premium over southern capitals. Detached houses make up only 24.9% of dwellings, compared to apartments at 48.8% and semi-detached at 26.1%, so buyers seeking a separate house compete for scarce stock. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 40.7% and two-bedroom at 39.4%. Only 14.9% of dwellings are owned outright compared to 26.8% on a mortgage, reflecting high resident turnover rather than long-held owner-occupier wealth. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.1% is lower than many comparable inner-city suburbs nationally.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price is $453,000, derived from the weekly rent of $400 using a capitalisation approach for 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,980, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.1%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the NT premium over southern capitals. Detached houses make up only 24.9% of dwellings, compared to apartments at 48.8% and semi-detached at 26.1%, so buyers seeking a separate house compete for scarce stock. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 40.7% and two-bedroom at 39.4%. Only 14.9% of dwellings are owned outright compared to 26.8% on a mortgage, reflecting high resident turnover rather than long-held owner-occupier wealth. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.1% is lower than many comparable inner-city suburbs nationally.
For Investors
A 58.3% renter share is the defining investor signal: demand for rental accommodation is structurally high because the suburb attracts government and healthcare professionals who rotate through Darwin. Weekly rent sits at $400 and the vacancy rate is 11.5%, elevated relative to most Australian suburbs, so investors should price in holding costs during gaps. Overseas migration averages a net positive 174 residents per year, which is the primary population driver and a source of ongoing rental demand. Internal migration runs at net negative 132 per year, confirming the transient character. Development activity was zero applications in the past 12 months, meaning little new supply is coming, which partially offsets the high vacancy. The gross yield on the $453,000 median at $400 weekly rent implies approximately 4.6%, higher than most eastern-seaboard inner suburbs.
Schools in Stuart Park iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Stuart Park Primary School
T-6 · 492 students
Demographics
The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, reflecting the dominance of young professionals and early-career workers. Overseas-born residents account for 40.8% of the population, which is 19.2 percentage points above the national average, among the highest rates for a Darwin suburb. English ancestry leads at 1,148, followed by Irish (422) and Scottish (337), with a significant non-English language community: Nepali speakers number 107, Greek 44 and Mandarin 34, consistent with the international occupational migrant profile. Hinduism is the second religion at 279 residents, behind Christianity at 1,363. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national figure, and 36.2% of families are couples without children, a pattern common in early-career professional suburbs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
24.9%
Houses
26.1%
Townhouse
48.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Stuart Park's housing stock is apartment-dominant: 48.8% of dwellings are apartments, 26.1% semi-detached and only 24.9% separate houses. This compares to the national average where separate houses are the majority of stock. Tenure is renter-majority at 58.3%, with 26.8% on a mortgage and just 14.9% owned outright. Three-bedroom (40.7%) and two-bedroom (39.4%) dwellings account for most of the stock, reflecting the professional household profile. The estimated median house price of $453,000 sits against a rent-to-income ratio of 17.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold, meaning renters at the median income face manageable housing costs. The vacancy rate of 11.5% is above typical Darwin levels, suggesting the apartment segment in particular carries surplus supply relative to current demand.
Mortgage / mo
$1,980
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,237
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.5%
Unoccupied
210
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.2%
Couples, no children
2,630
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public Administration is the largest industry at 19.0% of workers (376 people), followed closely by Healthcare at 15.9% (313) and Professional/Technical Services at 10.0% (197). Hospitality accounts for 9.7% (192) and Education 7.8% (154), reflecting Darwin's role as a regional service hub. By occupation, Professionals lead at 650 workers and Managers follow at 415, which aligns with the IRSAD decile 8 advantage score. Unemployment is 2.8%, well below the national rate, and the full-time employment rate is 74.8% with a 72.5% participation rate. Real incomes grew 1.4% over the decade. The SEIFA anomaly is instructive: the IEO decile of 8 (education and occupation advantage) and IER decile of only 4 (economic resources) reflect a workforce that earns well but holds little property wealth, because most high earners are renters.
Unemployment
1.5%
Labour Force
3,239
Unemployed
48
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
74.8%
Part-time
22.4%
Participation
72.5%
Employed
2,491
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.3%
Postgraduate
14.5%
Born Overseas
40.8%
Dwellings
1,600
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 80.0%, which is typical of Darwin's low-density urban fabric. Walking and cycling accounts for 6.6% of commuters, above many regional cities, reflecting the suburb's proximity to Darwin CBD. Public transport is low at 4.0%, consistent with Darwin's limited network. Crime data is not available for Stuart Park specifically. As an indirect measure, the suburb scores IRSD decile 9 nationally, meaning it ranks in the top 10% for low disadvantage. Volunteering runs at 19.4% of residents, above the typical Australian rate. The need-for-assistance rate is 2.2% (84 people), low relative to the population, which is consistent with the young median age of 34. Rent stress does not apply at the median: rent-to-income sits at 17.6%, comfortably below the 30% benchmark.
Drive
80.0%
Public Transport
4.0%
Walk / Cycle
6.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.96%/yr
(+45 people/yr)
EstablishedStuart Park grew 9.4% over the past decade and is forecasting continued expansion: the medium scenario projects the population rising from 4,101 in 2025 to approximately 4,915 by 2031, an annual rate of around 0.96% or 45 persons per year. Overseas migration is the sole positive driver at a net positive 174 per year, while internal migration removes 132 per year on average, confirming that the suburb's gains depend entirely on international arrivals. The gentrification score of 17 places it as not gentrifying, consistent with a suburb already holding upper-advantage SEIFA deciles. Affordability improved from 44.4% in 2011 to 32.3% in 2021, a meaningful shift that makes the suburb more accessible to incoming residents than a decade ago.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+174
Net Internal / yr
-132
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +14% since 2011, Net internal outflow -132/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Stuart Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stuart Park a good suburb to live in?
Stuart Park ranks in IRSAD decile 8 and IRSD decile 9 nationally, placing it in the upper advantage tier. Household incomes sit in the 87.5th percentile nationally and unemployment is low at 2.8%. The main trade-offs are a high rental vacancy rate of 11.5% and a transient population where 40.3% moved in the past year.
What is the median house price in Stuart Park?
The estimated median house price is $453,000 for 2025, derived from the weekly rent of $400. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,980, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.1%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb is apartment-dominant, with only 24.9% of dwellings being separate houses.
What schools are in Stuart Park?
No schools are recorded within the Stuart Park boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Darwin suburbs. Despite this, residents are highly educated: 43.3% hold university qualifications, which is 13.2 percentage points above the national figure, reflecting the suburb's professional workforce.
Is Stuart Park safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Stuart Park in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 9 nationally, placing it in the top 10% for low disadvantage, and only 2.2% of its 4,101 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage setting.
Is Stuart Park good for property investment?
A 58.3% renter share provides a large tenant base, and the gross yield on the $453,000 median at $400 weekly rent is approximately 4.6%, above most eastern-seaboard inner suburbs. The vacancy rate of 11.5% is the key risk, requiring investors to budget for gaps. Overseas migration of net positive 174 per year supports ongoing demand.
How is Stuart Park's population changing?
The population grew 9.4% over the past decade and is forecast to reach approximately 4,915 by 2031 at around 0.96% annual growth. Overseas migration adds a net 174 residents per year, which is the only positive driver, while internal migration removes 132 per year, reflecting the suburb's transient professional character.
What languages are spoken in Stuart Park?
About 40.8% of residents were born overseas, which is 19.2 percentage points above the national average. The most common non-English languages are Nepali (107 speakers), Greek (44) and Mandarin (34), reflecting the international professional migrant profile that distinguishes Stuart Park from most Australian suburbs.
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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