Tennant Creek
With 71.7% of residents renting and a median house price of just $229,000, Tennant Creek sits at the affordable end of the national housing spectrum, yet scores decile 1 on both IRSD and IRSAD, placing it among the most disadvantaged suburbs in Australia. The population of 3,080 spans a median age of 33, which is 7 years below the national figure, and 346 residents speak an Australian Indigenous language. Healthcare and public administration dominate employment, accounting for over 53% of local jobs, reflecting the town's role as a regional service hub in the NT. Household income lands at the 58.3rd percentile nationally, above average but offset by a 9.3% unemployment rate and a 47.9% labour force participation rate.
Population
3,080
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,677/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$229K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a median house price of $229,000, Tennant Creek is far more affordable than most Australian markets, with monthly mortgage repayments around $1,114 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 15.3%, below the national stress threshold of 30%. Separate houses dominate the stock at 80.6%, giving buyers genuine detached-housing options rather than apartment compromises. Three-bedroom homes account for 52.2% of dwellings. However, only 14.9% of residents carry a mortgage, reflecting the low owner-occupier activity in a town where 71.7% rent, which is well above the national average. A 16.7% vacancy rate signals looser demand than supply, which may support buyer negotiating leverage but also points to uncertain resale liquidity.
For Buyers
At a median house price of $229,000, Tennant Creek is far more affordable than most Australian markets, with monthly mortgage repayments around $1,114 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 15.3%, below the national stress threshold of 30%. Separate houses dominate the stock at 80.6%, giving buyers genuine detached-housing options rather than apartment compromises. Three-bedroom homes account for 52.2% of dwellings. However, only 14.9% of residents carry a mortgage, reflecting the low owner-occupier activity in a town where 71.7% rent, which is well above the national average. A 16.7% vacancy rate signals looser demand than supply, which may support buyer negotiating leverage but also points to uncertain resale liquidity.
For Investors
A 71.7% renter share is one of the highest found anywhere in Australia, giving landlords a wide tenant pool, and weekly rent of $180 against a $229,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, considerably higher than most capital-city markets. However, the 16.7% vacancy rate is a significant caution signal. Net internal migration runs at negative 44 per year, meaning more people leave than arrive from elsewhere in Australia, and population growth over the decade was just 0.7%. Overseas migration adds 34 residents annually, partially offsetting the outflow. With a gentrification score of 13 and a stage of not gentrifying, rental yield is the primary investment case here, not capital growth.
Schools in Tennant Creek iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Tennant Creek High School
7-12 · 142 students
Tennant Creek Primary School
T-6 · 309 students
Demographics
The median age of 33 is 7.0 years below the national average, giving Tennant Creek a notably younger population profile than most Australian suburbs. Overseas-born residents make up 16.5%, which is 5.1 points below the national figure, while 346 residents speak an Australian Indigenous language, one of the strongest Indigenous language presences in the country. English-ancestry residents number 452, the largest ancestry group. University qualifications reach 25.7%, which is 4.4 points below national, and average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national. The volunteer rate is 14.4% and 4.9% of residents, around 132 people, need daily assistance.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.6%
Houses
11.5%
Townhouse
5.6%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is heavily tilted toward renting, with 71.7% of residents renting compared to the national average, while only 13.4% own outright and 14.9% carry a mortgage. Separate houses represent 80.6% of dwellings, semi-detached 11.5% and apartments 5.6%. The three-bedroom home is the dominant configuration at 52.2%, followed by two-bedroom at 19.7%. Weekly rent of $180 sits well below state and national medians, translating to a rent-to-income ratio of just 10.7%, among the most affordable rental loads in Australia. The 16.7% vacancy rate is elevated, suggesting the town has more housing capacity than current demand fills, which historically correlates with weaker price support.
Mortgage / mo
$1,114
Rent / wk
$180
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$671
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.7%
Unoccupied
189
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
10.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.7%
Couples, no children
2,133
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 30.0% (228 workers), followed by public administration at 23.8% (181 workers), reflecting Tennant Creek's role as a regional government and health service centre. Education accounts for 13.0% and construction 8.0%. By occupation, community and personal service workers (265) and professionals (250) are the two largest groups, consistent with a public-service-driven town. The unemployment rate of 9.3% is above national averages, and the labour force participation rate of 47.9% is low, with 928 residents not in the labour force. Personal weekly income of $671 and family weekly income of $1,433 place household income at the 58.3rd percentile nationally, above median despite the high unemployment figure.
Unemployment
5.6%
Labour Force
1,958
Unemployed
109
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
81.8%
Part-time
8.9%
Participation
47.9%
Employed
1,043
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.7%
Postgraduate
7.6%
Born Overseas
16.5%
Dwellings
940
Transport to Work
Active transport is comparatively high, with 18.3% of residents walking or cycling to work, which is above the national average for a regional town, because of the compact 42 km2 footprint and flat terrain. Car dependence reads 71.1%. No schools are recorded in the dataset for Tennant Creek, though the town functions as an NT regional centre with associated educational infrastructure. Crime statistics are not available in this dataset. The IRSAD decile of 1 places Tennant Creek among the most disadvantaged suburbs nationally on combined advantage and disadvantage measures, while the IEO decile of 4 reflects moderate educational and occupational disadvantage. Housing stress is low, with rent-to-income at 10.7% and mortgage-to-income at 15.3%.
Drive
71.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
18.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.47%/yr
(+17 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth is 0.47%, adding roughly 17 people per year, and the 10-year change was 0.7%, classifying Tennant Creek as a slow-growth established town. The medium forecast projects growth from 3,588 in 2026 to 3,674 by 2031, a modest rise. Internal migration is the structural drag, with a net annual outflow of 44 residents, partially offset by 34 overseas arrivals per year. Real incomes declined 13.5% over the decade in inflation-adjusted terms, and the gentrification score of 13 indicates the suburb is not gentrifying. Rent grew 20.0% over the period despite flat population, pointing to supply-side tightening in the rental market rather than demand expansion.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+34
Net Internal / yr
-44
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Tennant Creek compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tennant Creek a good suburb to live in?
Tennant Creek functions as a regional hub in the NT with accessible housing and low rent-to-income ratios of 10.7%. However, it scores decile 1 on IRSAD, placing it among the most disadvantaged suburbs nationally, and the unemployment rate is 9.3%. It suits those drawn to regional service work, affordable living, or proximity to central Australian country.
What is the median house price in Tennant Creek?
The median house price is approximately $229,000, well below most Australian markets. Weekly rent averages $180 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,114, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 15.3%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Tennant Creek?
No schools are recorded in this dataset within the Tennant Creek suburb boundary. The town serves as a regional NT centre and educational facilities exist in the broader area. The local university qualification rate is 25.7%, which is 4.4 points below the national average.
Is Tennant Creek safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available in this dataset for Tennant Creek. The suburb scores decile 1 on IRSD, indicating it ranks among the most disadvantaged areas nationally on relative disadvantage measures, which can correlate with higher crime rates in comparable towns. Local research is recommended before making decisions based on safety.
Is Tennant Creek good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $180 against a $229,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, which is higher than most capital-city markets. However, the 16.7% vacancy rate is elevated and net internal migration is negative at minus 44 per year, suggesting thin demand. Investment returns depend on rental yield rather than capital growth, as the gentrification score is just 13.
How is Tennant Creek's population changing?
Population grew just 0.7% over 10 years and the annual rate is 0.47%, adding about 17 people per year. The medium forecast projects the population rising from 3,588 in 2026 to 3,674 by 2031. Internal migration averages a net outflow of 44 per year, offset partially by overseas arrivals of 34 annually.
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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