Charles

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

Charles's population was around 4,882 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 667 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,215 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,882 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 2 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 292 persons per square kilometer. Charles's 15.8% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.3%), along with the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 59.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch applied growth rates by age cohort to each area, 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 of just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas was expected. The area was expected to expand by 523 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 10.7% in total over the 16 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 nine residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 45 homes. As of FY26, zero approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.7 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were reported between FY21 and FY25. This suggests that construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing buyers with more options and enabling population growth.

The average value of new homes being built was $599,000, indicating a focus on the premium market. In FY26, there have been $46.8 million in commercial approvals, reflecting robust local business investment. Compared to the Rest of NT, Charles shows moderately higher construction activity, with 15.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. However, this 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. The estimated population density is 2608 people per dwelling approval, reflecting a quiet development environment. AreaSearch quarterly estimates project Charles to gain 523 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 limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 19thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has 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 those most relevant.

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 employment environment in Charles shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Charles has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 3.1% as of December 2025. Over the past year, there was an estimated employment growth of 0.9%. There are 3,219 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 3.0% lower than Regional NT's rate of 6.1%.

Workforce participation stands at 86.1%, significantly higher than Regional NT's 69.3%. According to Census responses, only 4.1% of residents work from home. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and construction. The area shows strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 1.9 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 1.1% compared to Regional NT's average of 5.0%. There are 1.9 workers for every resident, indicating that the area functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 0.9% while labour force grew by 1.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NT saw employment rise by 0.7%, labour force grow by 1.1%, and unemployment increase by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 14.2% over ten years for Charles, based on its local employment profile.

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

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Charles SA2's median income among taxpayers is $61,881. The average income in this area is $69,389. This is slightly above the national average. Comparing to Regional NT, Charles SA2 has a higher median and average income, with Regional NT having a median of $53,572 and an average of $63,776. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.41% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates for Charles SA2 would be approximately $67,704 (median) and $75,919 (average) as of March 2026. Census data shows that individual earnings in Charles SA2 stand out at the 84th percentile nationally, with residents earning $1,073 weekly on average. Looking at income distribution, the largest segment comprises 33.8% of residents earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which is equivalent to 1,650 residents. This pattern is similar to regional levels where 33.6% of residents also occupy this income range. After housing costs, residents in Charles SA2 retain 92.4% of their income, reflecting 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

In Charles, as per the latest Census evaluation, 73.5% of dwellings were houses while 26.6% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Regional NT's 75.6% houses and 24.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Charles stood at 17.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.6% and rented ones at 44.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $0, below Regional NT's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure for Charles was $350, compared to Regional NT's $150. Nationally, Charles's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 68.3% of all households, consisting of 27.9% couples with children, 24.9% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 31.7%, with lone person households at 27.1% and group households comprising 4.9% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is smaller than the Regional 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 educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 27.0% for residents aged 15+, exceeding the SA4 region average of 20.1% and that of Rest of NT (20.1%). Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 16.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.1% and graduate diplomas at 3.4%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 35.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 9.3% and certificates at 26.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 11.6% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 4.4% pursuing 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, all serving buses. These stops are covered by eight different routes, offering a total of 470 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good accessibility to these stops, with an average distance of 224 meters to the nearest one. Most residents commute outwards from Charles. Cars are the primary mode of transportation at 85%, followed by walking at 6% and cycling at 4%. 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 might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 67 trips per day, equating to about 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.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 54% of the total population (~2,631 people), leading that of the average SA2 area but lower than Regional NT's 51.6%. Mental health issues impact 6.8% of residents, while asthma affects 6.7%. A total of 73.8% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Regional NT's 78.4%. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. The area has 9.7% of residents aged 65 and over (475 people), higher than Regional NT's 8.5%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than those of 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 had 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. Christianity was the predominant religion in Charles, comprising 44.7% of the population. However, the category 'Other' was notably overrepresented in Charles, making up 1.9% of the population compared to 5.2% across Regional NT.

Regarding ancestry (country of birth of parents), English was the most represented group in Charles at 20.6%, substantially higher than the regional average of 14.3%. Australian ancestry also had a high representation, comprising 20.3% of the population, which was significantly higher than the regional average of 14.9%. However, Australian Aboriginal ancestry was notably lower at 20.2%, compared to the regional average of 43.6%. There were also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Maori was overrepresented at 1.0% of Charles' population (vs 0.7% regionally), Filipino at 1.9% (vs 1.4%), and Samoan at 0.3% (vs 0.2%).

Charles's population is younger than the national pattern

Charles has a median age of 34, which is slightly higher than the Regional NT figure of 31 but lower than the Australian median of 38. The age profile indicates that those aged 55-64 are notably prominent, making up 11.7% of the population, while the 15-24 group comprises a smaller proportion at 11.9%, compared to Regional NT. According to post-2021 Census data, the 0-4 age group has increased from 6.6% to 7.5%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 13.3% to 11.7%. By 2041, Charles is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The 45-54 age group is expected to increase by 106 people (19%), growing from 556 to 663. Conversely, population declines are forecast for the 85+ and 35-44 cohorts.