Wurrumiyanga
Among the most affordable housing markets in the Northern Territory, Wurrumiyanga records a median house price of $115,000 and weekly rent of just $80, yet household income sits at the 2.3rd percentile nationally, meaning housing costs remain a significant proportion of local earnings. A population of 1,421 lives at a median age of 32, which is 8 years below the national figure. The suburb is almost entirely renter-occupied at 89.7%, far above the national average, with only 8.1% owning outright. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are spoken by 565 residents, shaping the community's distinct cultural character. An unemployment rate of 31.1% reflects the remote service-dependent economy, where Education and Public Administration together account for more than half of all local jobs.
Population
1,421
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$715/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$115K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $115,000, the estimated median house price is well below the NT state median and among the lowest in Australia, making entry-level purchase costs unusually accessible in dollar terms. However, with household income in the 2.3rd percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio still reaches 19.6%, indicating the cost of borrowing is meaningful relative to local wages. Separate houses dominate at 83.5% of the dwelling stock, with apartments at 11.1% and semi-detached at 5.4%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 41.8%, followed by 2-bedroom at 25.4% and 4-plus bedroom at 23.2%. The 10.2% vacancy rate is above typical levels, suggesting available stock rather than competition among buyers, and fewer than 2.2% of residents currently hold a mortgage.
For Buyers
At $115,000, the estimated median house price is well below the NT state median and among the lowest in Australia, making entry-level purchase costs unusually accessible in dollar terms. However, with household income in the 2.3rd percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio still reaches 19.6%, indicating the cost of borrowing is meaningful relative to local wages. Separate houses dominate at 83.5% of the dwelling stock, with apartments at 11.1% and semi-detached at 5.4%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 41.8%, followed by 2-bedroom at 25.4% and 4-plus bedroom at 23.2%. The 10.2% vacancy rate is above typical levels, suggesting available stock rather than competition among buyers, and fewer than 2.2% of residents currently hold a mortgage.
For Investors
The rental market is the defining feature for investors: 89.7% of residents rent, compared to the national average of roughly 32%, creating one of the highest renter shares in Australia. Weekly rent is $80, very low in absolute terms, which constrains gross yield even against the $115,000 median house price. The 10.2% vacancy rate is elevated, pointing to persistent oversupply relative to tenants with capacity to pay. No development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, indicating no new supply pressure. Labour force participation stands at only 32.2%, which limits the pool of working renters. An average household size of 3.5, which is 1.0 above the national figure, and a 94% resident retention rate suggest stable occupancy patterns rather than high turnover, which may partially offset yield limitations.
Schools in Wurrumiyanga iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic Primary School
T-6 · 167 students
Demographics
The median age of 32 is 8 years below the national figure, pointing to a younger-than-average population. Average household size reaches 3.5, which is 1.0 above the national average, consistent with the high share of couples with children and larger family units. Overseas-born residents account for only 2.7% of the population, which is 18.9 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a locally-born community with deep roots. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are spoken by 565 residents, the dominant non-English language group. University qualifications are held by 19.9% of residents, which is 10.2 points below the national figure. The low turnover rate of 6% and 94% of residents staying in the same address over the period underline the stability of the community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.5%
Houses
5.4%
Townhouse
11.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses make up 83.5% of the dwelling stock, well above the national average, giving the suburb a predominantly low-density residential character across its 10.07 square kilometres. Only 8.1% of households own their home outright and 2.2% hold a mortgage, while 89.7% rent, a renter share that far exceeds any mainland capital city suburb. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 41.8% of homes, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 23.2% and 2-bedroom at 25.4%. The estimated median house price of $115,000 is based on 2025 rental data and represents a significant discount compared to broader NT medians. Rent-to-income at 11.2% is below the 30% stress threshold, meaning renters on average are not in housing stress, though absolute incomes are at the 2.3rd percentile nationally. The 10.2% vacancy rate is above average, suggesting supply exceeds active demand at current price points.
Mortgage / mo
$607
Rent / wk
$80
HH Size
3.5
Personal Income / wk
$227
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.2%
Unoccupied
41
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
11.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.5%
Couples, no children
1,194
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy is anchored in public sector services: Education employs 35.4% of workers, Public Administration 18.5%, and Healthcare 14.6%, together accounting for more than 68% of all local employment. Retail and Administration each add 6.9%. By occupation, Professionals lead with 75 workers, followed by Community and Personal Service (56), Managers (33), Labourers (30) and Clerical/Administrative staff (28). The unemployment rate of 31.1% is well above the national average, and the participation rate of 32.2% is very low, with 644 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment accounts for 55.6% of those who are employed. Weekly personal income averages $227 and household income $715, both placing the suburb in the lowest income deciles nationally at the 2.3rd percentile.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.6%
Part-time
13.3%
Participation
32.2%
Employed
250
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.9%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
2.7%
Dwellings
352
Transport to Work
Transport patterns are distinctive: 64.3% of residents walk or cycle to work, the highest active transport share among comparable NT suburbs, while only 25.7% commute by car. This likely reflects the compact, community-scale layout of Wurrumiyanga on the Tiwi Islands rather than public transit infrastructure. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset. Crime data is not available for this location. The 5.8% of residents requiring daily assistance is below the national benchmark, and volunteering engagement stands at 7.4%. The rent-to-income ratio of 11.2% is below the 30% stress threshold, keeping housing costs manageable for renters relative to their incomes, though household income remains at the 2.3rd percentile nationally.
Drive
25.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
64.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wurrumiyanga compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wurrumiyanga a good suburb to live in?
Wurrumiyanga suits residents tied to the Tiwi Islands community, with a stable 94% retention rate and low rent-to-income of 11.2%. Household income is at the 2.3rd percentile nationally, and unemployment runs at 31.1%, so economic opportunity is limited. The suburb's character is shaped by 565 Aboriginal language speakers and a young median age of 32.
What is the median house price in Wurrumiyanga?
The estimated median house price is $115,000 based on 2025 rental data, which is well below the NT state median. Weekly rent averages $80 and monthly mortgage repayments are estimated at $607, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.6%.
What schools are in Wurrumiyanga?
No schools are recorded within the Wurrumiyanga suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb's workforce shows Education as the largest employer at 35.4% of workers, suggesting schooling infrastructure exists nearby or within associated community facilities. University qualifications are held by 19.9% of residents.
Is Wurrumiyanga safe?
Specific crime rate data is not available for Wurrumiyanga. As a contextual indicator, rent stress is absent with a rent-to-income ratio of 11.2%, only 5.8% of residents require daily assistance, and the community has a 94% residential stability rate, suggesting a settled environment.
Is Wurrumiyanga good for property investment?
The 89.7% renter share is far above the national average, but weekly rent of $80 against a $115,000 median price implies a gross yield of around 3.6%, modest for a remote market. The 10.2% vacancy rate and 31.1% unemployment rate add risk. No development applications were lodged in the past 12 months.
How is Wurrumiyanga's population changing?
Formal population forecasts are not available for this suburb. The current population is 1,421 with a very low 6% turnover rate, meaning 94% of residents stayed at the same address over the reference period. The median age of 32 is 8 years below the national figure, suggesting a younger demographic base.
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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