Wagaman
With 46.4% of residents born overseas, nearly twice the national average, Wagaman reads less like a typical Darwin suburb and more like a transit point for skilled migrants. The median age of 35 sits 5 years below the national figure, yet the population has shrunk by 3.9% over the past decade, down from 2,187 to about 2,100 today. Household income ranks at the 78.3rd percentile nationally, which is relatively high for a suburb with a median house price of just $401,000. These two facts together explain the suburb's affordable-professional identity: qualified workers living well below their means in a small, low-rise pocket of Darwin.
Population
2,023
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,083/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$401K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $401,000, the median house price sits well below Darwin's broader market and far below the national median, making Wagaman one of the more accessible entry points for buyers in the NT. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 20.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold given household incomes at the 78.3rd percentile nationally. Detached houses make up 80.6% of stock, which is the dominant type by a wide margin, with semi-detached homes at 17.3% and apartments at just 2%. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 50.6% of all homes, with 4-plus bedroom properties at 27.4%, so larger family configurations are well represented. The average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 higher than the national figure, consistent with that family-oriented stock.
For Buyers
At $401,000, the median house price sits well below Darwin's broader market and far below the national median, making Wagaman one of the more accessible entry points for buyers in the NT. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 20.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold given household incomes at the 78.3rd percentile nationally. Detached houses make up 80.6% of stock, which is the dominant type by a wide margin, with semi-detached homes at 17.3% and apartments at just 2%. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 50.6% of all homes, with 4-plus bedroom properties at 27.4%, so larger family configurations are well represented. The average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 higher than the national figure, consistent with that family-oriented stock.
For Investors
Wagaman's 42.1% renter share is well above the national average, creating a broad tenant base, and weekly rent averages $340. Against the $401,000 median that implies a gross yield near 4.4%, above typical inner-city benchmarks. The 6.2% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants attention, as it signals more competition among landlords than the renter proportion alone would suggest. Migration patterns are mixed: net overseas migration adds roughly 63 residents a year but internal migration removes around 80, producing a small net annual population decline of about 12 persons. Rent growth ran at 3.0% over the measured period. Zero development applications in the past 12 months means no near-term supply pressure from new builds, which provides some protection for existing rental stock.
Schools in Wagaman iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Wagaman Primary School
T-6 · 213 students
Demographics
The overseas-born share of 46.4% sits 24.8 percentage points above the national figure, the dominant demographic characteristic of Wagaman. Top ancestries include English (367), Greek (214), Chinese (183) and Filipino (181), and Greek is the most spoken non-English language at home with 107 speakers, followed by Nepali (56) and Mandarin (30). University qualifications reach 38.1%, which is 8 percentage points above the national average, reflecting the skilled-migrant profile. The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national median, and the senior share has increased 4.4 points over the decade, so the population is aging gradually from a younger base. Average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 above national, and 44.7% of families are couples with children, compared to couples without children at 20.7%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.6%
Houses
17.3%
Townhouse
2.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure leans toward renters: 42.1% rent, 35.2% hold mortgages and 22.7% own outright, meaning fewer than a quarter of households are fully mortgage-free. That 22.7% outright ownership rate is lower than typical established suburbs, suggesting Wagaman has not yet accumulated the long-held, debt-free stock common in older inner areas. The stock is strongly detached-house oriented at 80.6%, with semi-detached at 17.3% and apartments at just 2%, so buyers seeking a house rather than an apartment face much broader choice here than in denser suburbs. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.6% and 4-plus bedroom at 27.4%, together covering nearly 78% of all dwellings. Rent-to-income sits at 16.3% and mortgage-to-income at 20.2%, both comfortably below stress thresholds, which explains why the suburb retains residents despite the population trend.
Mortgage / mo
$1,820
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$864
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
42
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.7%
Couples, no children
1,570
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs 23.5% of Wagaman workers (149 people), the largest single sector by a considerable margin, followed by Public Administration at 15.3% (97) and Hospitality at 8.3% (53). Construction at 8.0% and Retail at 7.9% round out the top five. By occupation, Professionals lead at 170 workers, closely followed by Community and Personal service workers at 160 and Clerical/Admin at 142. The full-time employment rate is 68.6%, broadly in line with national figures, but the unemployment rate of 6.2% is above average. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 3 places Wagaman in the lower third nationally for relative socioeconomic disadvantage, which sits at odds with the 78.3rd-percentile household income, that divergence partly reflects the rental-heavy tenure and lower outright ownership rates rather than low wages.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
1,184
Unemployed
41
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.6%
Part-time
25.2%
Participation
62.4%
Employed
942
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.1%
Postgraduate
12.2%
Born Overseas
46.4%
Dwellings
640
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 78.9% driving to work, with only 4.5% using public transport, which is lower than the national average. Walking and cycling account for 6.7% of commutes, above many comparable suburbs. No schools are recorded within Wagaman's 0.84 km2 boundary, so families depend on institutions in surrounding Darwin suburbs. The suburb scores IRSAD decile 4 and IRSD decile 3 nationally, placing it in the lower-middle range for advantage, though this is partly offset by the 78.3rd-percentile household income. Rent-to-income at 16.3% means tenants are not under housing cost pressure by national standards. The need-assistance rate is 5.1% (96 people), broadly average, and the volunteering rate of 14.8% indicates moderate community participation.
Drive
78.9%
Public Transport
4.5%
Walk / Cycle
6.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.57%/yr
(-12 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has fallen 3.9% over the past decade, from 2,187 pre-COVID to roughly 2,100 today. The annual trend is a decline of about 12 persons or 0.57% per year, and medium forecasts project the population reaching approximately 2,040 by 2031. The COVID dip was 3.5% but recovery has stalled, with current population 0.2% below the COVID trough. Net internal migration runs at negative 80 per year while overseas migration adds 63, so the suburb depends entirely on overseas arrivals to slow population loss. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the young-adult share down 3 points over the decade and the senior share up 4.4 points. The gentrification score is 0 and no gentrification signals are present, meaning price appreciation here is unlikely to be driven by neighbourhood upgrading.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+63
Net Internal / yr
-80
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wagaman compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wagaman a good suburb to live in?
Wagaman offers affordable housing, with a $401,000 median and mortgage-to-income of 20.2%, well below the 30% stress level. Household income sits at the 78.3rd percentile nationally, and the suburb has a professionally qualified, internationally diverse population. The main trade-offs are a 6.2% vacancy rate, declining population of around 2,100, and limited public transport at 4.5% usage.
What is the median house price in Wagaman?
The median house price in Wagaman is $401,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 20.2%, below the stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $340, implying a gross rental yield near 4.4% against the median price.
What schools are in Wagaman?
No schools are recorded within Wagaman's 0.84 km2 boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Darwin suburbs. Despite this, 38.1% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 8 percentage points above the national average, reflecting the suburb's skilled and educated population.
Is Wagaman safe?
Specific crime statistics for Wagaman are not available in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the IRSD decile of 3 places the suburb in the lower third nationally for relative socioeconomic disadvantage, which can correlate with higher crime rates in some contexts. The NT has generally higher crime rates than other states, so checking NT Police local area data is advisable.
Is Wagaman good for property investment?
The 42.1% renter share and $340 weekly rent suggest a gross yield near 4.4% against the $401,000 median, above many capital city benchmarks. However, the 6.2% vacancy rate is elevated, and population is declining at roughly 12 persons per year. Net internal migration is negative 80 annually, offset only partially by overseas migration of 63, so demand growth is limited.
How is Wagaman's population changing?
Wagaman's population has declined 3.9% over the past decade, from 2,187 to around 2,100. The annual decline runs at 0.57% or about 12 persons per year. Medium forecasts project the population at approximately 2,040 by 2031. Net internal migration of negative 80 per year is partially offset by overseas arrivals of 63 annually, leaving a small net loss.
What languages are spoken in Wagaman?
With 46.4% of residents born overseas, 24.8 percentage points above the national figure, Wagaman has strong multilingual character. Greek is the most spoken non-English language at home with 107 speakers, followed by Nepali (56) and Mandarin (30). Top ancestries include Greek (214), Chinese (183) and Filipino (181) alongside English (367).
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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