Alawa

Alawa is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Alawa's population was 2,078 as of the 2021 Census. By May 2026, it had increased to around 2,267, reflecting a growth of 189 people (9.1%) since the Census. This increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,267 reported by the ABS in June 2025 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,828 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Alawa's growth rate of 9.1% since the Census positions it close to the national average of 9.3%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary population growth in the area.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch applies growth rates by age cohort to each area, as provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Considering these projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of national statistical areas is expected for Alawa. By 2041, the area is projected to grow by 209 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 9.2% over the 16-year period, based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

The level of residential development activity in Alawa is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Alawa has seen minimal dwelling approvals in recent years. Over the past five financial years (FY21-FY25), a total of 4 homes were approved. As of now, there have been no dwelling approvals recorded in FY26. The average number of new residents per year per dwelling constructed over these five years is 0.8.

This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and allowing for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new dwellings is $305,000. In FY26, there have been commercial approvals totalling $118,000, indicating a predominantly residential focus in Alawa's development activity compared to Greater Darwin. Alawa records significantly lower building activity than the regional average (80.0% below). This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. This is also below national averages, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent building activity consists solely of detached dwellings, preserving Alawa's suburban nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers.

Alawa has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 0thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects likely to affect this region. Notable ones are Royal Darwin Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit and CSSD Upgrade, Casuarina Square Redevelopment, CDU - Centre for Better Health Futures, and Social Housing Accelerator Payment (SHAP) - Greater Darwin / Nightcliff. Below is a list of those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Alawa has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Alawa has an educated workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.6% as of December 2025, showing a 1.1% employment growth over the past year. As of that date, 1,154 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was higher than Greater Darwin's at 3.1%, and workforce participation was lower at 68.2%.

According to Census responses, only 4.6% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors among residents are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and accommodation & food. Health care & social assistance is particularly notable with employment levels at 1.2 times the regional average. Conversely, public administration & safety shows lower representation at 14.6% compared to the regional average of 19.5%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.1%, labour force increased by 1.2%, resulting in a slight increase in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Darwin experienced employment growth of 1.3% during the same period with a marginal drop in unemployment rate. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May-25 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Alawa's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The Alawa SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $55,769 and an average of $65,564 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This was just below the national average, contrasting with Greater Darwin's median income of $66,956 and average income of $77,199. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.41% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $61,017 (median) and $71,734 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Alawa cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. Distribution data shows 34.8% of the population (788 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 36.7% in the same category. Housing accounts for 13.8% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 74th percentile for disposable income and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Alawa is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Alawa, as evaluated at the latest Census, was 88.0% houses and 12.0% other dwellings. In comparison, Darwin metro had 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Alawa was 23.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.4% and rented dwellings at 36.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Alawa was $1,777, lower than the Darwin metro average of $2,100. The median weekly rent in Alawa was $340, compared to $385 in Darwin metro. Nationally, Alawa's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Alawa features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 76.0% of all households, including 33.6% couples with children, 26.2% couples without children, and 13.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 24.0%, with lone person households at 17.4% and group households making up 7.1%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Darwin average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Alawa aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rates are notably high at 35.7%, surpassing both the Northern Territory average of 27.3% and the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 20.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.5%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 30.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 10.3% while certificates make up 20.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 35.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.1% in primary education, 8.2% in tertiary education, and 6.8% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Alawa has 14 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 29 different routes, offering a total of 2,162 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents averaging 150 meters from the nearest stop. Alawa is mainly residential, and most commuters travel outward. Cars are the primary mode of transport at 85%, with cycling at 4%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 4.6% of residents work from home, which might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 308 trips daily, translating to about 154 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Alawa is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Alawa exhibits superior health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are low for both young and elderly residents.

Private health cover is present in approximately 52% of the total population (~1,176 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area but higher than Greater Darwin at 57.8%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (5.7%) and asthma (5.6%), with 76.5% of residents reporting no medical ailments, comparable to Greater Darwin's 77.1%. Residents under 65 have better-than-average health outcomes. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 12.8% (289 people), compared to Greater Darwin's 11.0%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Alawa is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Alawa has a high level of cultural diversity, with 38.1% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 41.5% born overseas. The predominant religion in Alawa is Christianity, comprising 38.2% of the population. Buddhism, however, is more prevalent in Alawa at 5.3%, compared to 3.3% across Greater Darwin.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (19.6%), Other (17.3%), and Australian (17.2%), which is lower than the regional average of 22.6%. Notably, Filipino (4.8%) and Greek (4.1%) populations in Alawa are higher compared to Greater Darwin's 3.8% and 2.3%, respectively. New Zealanders also have a higher representation at 1.2% compared to the regional average of 0.6%.

Alawa's population is younger than the national pattern

At 35 years, Alawa's median age is comparable to Greater Darwin's average of 34 and marginally lower than Australia's national average of 38. Relative to Greater Darwin, Alawa has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (15.7%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (13.6%). According to post-2021 Census data, the age group of 35-44 has increased from 15.5% to 18.0%, while the 5-14 cohort has risen from 13.8% to 15.7%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has declined from 17.3% to 13.6%, and the 65-74 group has dropped from 8.6% to 6.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Alawa's age profile will evolve significantly. The 45-54 cohort is projected to grow by 31%, adding 90 residents to reach 381. Meanwhile, the numbers in the 65-74 age range are expected to fall by 19%.