Charles

Charles has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Charles's population was around 4,701 as of February 2026. This reflected an increase of 486 people (11.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,215 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,696 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 2 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 281 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Charles's growth of 11.5% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%), along with the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 53.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years post-2032, AreaSearch is applying 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. Moving forward with demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is expected. The area is expected to expand by 522 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 11.0% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Charles, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Charles recorded approximately 9 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 45 homes. As of FY26, 0 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.7 new residents per year per dwelling were constructed between FY21 and FY25. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, offering buyers more options while supporting population growth.

The average value of new homes being built is $599,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY26, there have been $46.8 million in commercial approvals, reflecting strong local business investment. Compared to the Rest of NT, Charles shows moderately higher construction activity, 14.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. However, development activity is below the national average, suggesting an established area with potential planning limitations.

New development consists predominantly of standalone homes (88.0%) and townhouses or apartments (12.0%), maintaining the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 2608 people, reflecting a quiet development environment. According to AreaSearch quarterly estimates, Charles is projected to gain 517 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Charles has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 20thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 18 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include the Alice Springs Hospital Emergency Department Redevelopment, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia, Alice Springs Flood Mitigation Project, and Madigan Street (Braitling) Infill Subdivision. The following list details projects most relevant to the area.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The labour market in Charles demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Charles has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. As of September 2025, there are 3,174 residents in work and the unemployment rate is 2.8% lower than Rest of NT's rate of 5.9%.

Workforce participation stands at 88.6%, significantly higher than Rest of NT's 70.4%. According to Census responses, only 4.1% of residents work from home. Employment concentration lies in health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and construction. The area specializes in professional & technical services with an employment share twice the regional level.

However, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 1.1%, compared to the regional average of 5.0%. There are 1.9 workers for every resident, indicating Charles functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.4% and employment declined by 1.1%, reducing unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. By contrast, Rest of NT saw a marginal increase in unemployment despite similar declines in labour force and employment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Charles's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Charles SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $61,881 and an average of $69,389. Nationally, this is slightly above average. The Rest of NT had a median income of $53,572 and an average of $63,776. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Charles SA2 would be approximately $67,104 (median) and $75,245 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data indicates individual earnings in the area stand out at the 84th percentile nationally ($1,073 weekly). Income brackets show that 33.8% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 (1,588 individuals), reflecting patterns seen in the region where 33.6% occupy this range. After housing costs, residents retain 92.4% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Charles, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 73.5% houses and 26.6% other dwellings. In Non-Metro NT, this was 75.6% houses and 24.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Charles was 17.4%, with dwellings either mortgaged (38.6%) or rented (44.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $0, compared to Non-Metro NT's average of $1,733 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Charles was $350, while Non-Metro NT recorded $150 and the national figure was $375.

Charles features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 68.3% of all households, including 27.9% couples with children, 24.9% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.7%, with lone person households at 27.1% and group households comprising 4.9%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NT average of 3.1.

Educational outcomes in Charles fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate of 27.0%, higher than the SA4 region average of 20.1% and the Rest of NT's 20.1%, indicates its emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 35.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.3%) and certificates (26.0%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.7% currently enrolled in formal education: 11.6% in primary, 8.4% in secondary, and 4.4% in tertiary education.

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

Charles has 29 active public transport stops, serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by eight different routes, offering 470 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically living 224 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 85%, with walking and cycling accounting for 6% and 4% respectively. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 4.1% of residents work from home, which could be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 67 trips per day across all routes, equating to around 16 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Charles is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Charles faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is at approximately 54% of the total population (~2,533 people), leading the average SA2 area rate of 51.6%. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (6.8%) and asthma (6.7%). A total of 73.8% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to Rest of NT's 78.4%. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. The area has 10.0% of residents aged 65 and over (471 people), higher than Rest of NT's 8.3%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Charles was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Charles was found to have a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 21.1% of its population born overseas and 22.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in Charles is Christianity, making up 44.7% of the population. However, the most significant overrepresentation was seen in the 'Other' category, comprising 1.9% of the population compared to 5.2% across the rest of Northern Territory (NT).

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups represented in Charles are English at 20.6%, Australian at 20.3%, and Australian Aboriginal at 20.2%. The English and Australian figures are substantially higher than their respective regional averages of 14.3% and 14.9%. Conversely, the Australian Aboriginal figure is notably lower than the regional average of 43.6%. Additionally, there are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Maori at 1.0%, Filipino at 1.9%, and Samoan at 0.3% in Charles, compared to their respective regional averages of 0.7%, 1.4%, and 0.2%.

Charles's population is younger than the national pattern

Charles has a median age of 35, which is higher than the Rest of NT figure of 31 but lower than the Australian median of 38. Compared to Rest of NT, Charles has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (12.4%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (12.0%). Between 2021 and the present, the 0-4 age group has increased from 6.6% to 8.0% of the population while the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 18.1% to 16.9%. By 2041, demographic projections show that the 45-54 age cohort is expected to increase by 108 people (19%) from 563 to 672. Meanwhile, the 35-44 age range is projected to decrease by 14 people.