Coconut Grove

An assessment of population growth drivers in Coconut Grove reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

According to investigations by AreaSearch, the resident count of Coconut Grove stands at approximately 3,100 in May 2026. This represents an expansion of 208 residents (7.2%) from the 2,892 individuals recorded during the 2021 Census. This growth is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 3,100 and subsequent validation of addresses. The resulting density is 2,183 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the typical figure observed in national evaluations. The 7.2% population growth recorded here is within 2.1 percentage points of the national average (9.3%), indicating healthy growth dynamics. This increase was driven mostly by arrivals from overseas, who made up approximately 79.3% of the total demographic gains lately.

AreaSearch utilizes projections from Geoscience Australia and the ABS published in 2024 with 2022 as their starting point. Where specific SA2 data is unavailable, or to calculate projections beyond 2032, growth rates by age cohort from the 2023 Greater Capital Region forecasts (utilizing 2022 base data) are applied. Future population forecasts indicate that this suburb will grow at a rate above the national median, increasing by 555 residents by 2041 relative to recent annual ERP statistics, representing a total rise of 17.9% over a 16-year period.

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

Only 1 residential development consent has been logged in Coconut Grove during the last five years. This indicates that the suburb is mature and fully established, with minimal vacant land left for new building projects. For prospective purchasers, this limited addition of new housing stock generally helps sustain property valuations and focuses buyer competition onto established homes.

Compared against Greater Darwin, Coconut Grove experiences a much lower rate of residential construction. Although building activity has risen lately, the overall rate remains under the national average, highlighting the established nature of the suburb and implying potential planning constraints that restrict new construction, which helps support the pricing and demand for existing houses.

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

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and urban planning changes can significantly influence suburban performance. AreaSearch has identified 2 specific projects of relevance to the suburb. Key developments include the Social Housing Accelerator Payment (SHAP) - Greater Darwin / Nightcliff, John Stokes Square Redevelopment, the Darwin Mid Suburbs Area Plan, and the Royal Darwin Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit and CSSD Upgrade, with detailed listings below showing the projects of greatest significance.

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 performance in Coconut Grove lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Coconut Grove is characterized by a workforce with high levels of education and strong representation in essential services, alongside an unemployment rate of 6.4% and relatively stable job numbers over the prior year. In March 2026, working residents numbered 1,682, with an unemployment rate 2.9% higher than the Greater Darwin average of 3.5%. Participation in the workforce was slightly lower than typical, recorded at 68.4% compared to 72.7% in Greater Darwin. Census responses showed that a small 3.8% of individuals worked from home, although the influence of Covid-19 restrictions should be noted.

The primary employment fields for local citizens are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and accommodation & food. The suburb shows a distinct specialization in the health care & social assistance sector, where the employment concentration is 1.5 times the wider regional proportion. Conversely, public administration & safety accounts for only 12.9% of the local workforce, which is lower than the 19.5% seen across Greater Darwin. Although there are local employment options, the ratio of Census workers to the resident population suggests many locals travel to other suburbs for work.

AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics shows that during the 12-month period leading to March 2026, total employment expanded by 0.4% while the labor force grew by 0.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Greater Darwin experienced a 0.4% rise in employment, 0.8% growth in the labor force, and a 0.3 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia released in May-25 provide further context for future employment demand in Coconut Grove. When these national forecasts—which predict overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years across various industries—are weighted against the suburb's specific job profile, they indicate local employment could grow by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Postcode data from the ATO for the 2023 financial year shows that average incomes in the Coconut Grove SA2 are slightly below the national standard, with a median of $55,647 and an average of $65,421. By comparison, Greater Darwin recorded a median of $66,956 and an average of $77,199. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 9.41% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated March 2026 incomes of approximately $60,883 (median) and $71,577 (average). According to Census data, individual weekly income sits at the 69th percentile ($913), while household income ranks at the 38th percentile. In terms of income distribution, the largest cohort consists of 31.9% of residents (988 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, which is comparable to the 36.7% registered across the metropolitan area. Financial pressure from housing costs is notable, with only 82.5% of income leftover, placing the area in the 37th percentile for affordability and the 5th decile of the SEIFA income index.

Coconut Grove displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

According to the latest Census, the housing mix in Coconut Grove consisted of 23.7% detached houses and 76.2% other housing types (including apartments, semi-detached properties, and alternative dwellings), compared to the Darwin metro mix of 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwellings. The rate of home ownership was lower than the metropolitan average at 14.8%, with the remaining properties occupied by mortgagors (22.7%) or tenants (62.5%). The median monthly mortgage payment was lower than the Darwin metro average at $1,600, and the median weekly rent was $300, compared to metropolitan figures of $2,100 and $385. Nationally, Coconut Grove's mortgage costs are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are below the national baseline of $375.

Coconut Grove features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 56.2%, consisting of couples with children (21.5%), couples without children (23.6%), and single-parent homes (9.3%). Non-family households comprise the remaining 43.8%, with single-person households representing 37.7% and group housing accounting for 6.2%. The median household size of 2.2 individuals is smaller than the Greater Darwin average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Coconut Grove exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The level of formal education in Coconut Grove is high, with 40.7% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 27.3% across the NT and 30.4% nationally. This educational profile positions the suburb well for professional opportunities. Bachelor degrees are held by 23.3% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 14.0% and graduate diplomas at 3.4%. Vocational and technical training is also common, with 28.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (17.4%).

Engagement in learning is high, with 29.7% of the population enrolled in formal education programs. This includes 9.9% studying at tertiary institutions, 6.7% in primary school, and 5.1% in secondary education.

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

Analysis of local public transport shows 13 active transit stops within Coconut Grove, which are serviced by bus routes. These stops accommodate 36 distinct routes, which provide a total of 2,131 weekly passenger trips. Access to public transport is strong, with residents living an average of 170 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and most workers commute out of the area. Private cars are the dominant mode of travel at 81%, followed by buses at 9% and cycling at 3%. Motor vehicle ownership averages 0.9 cars per dwelling, which is lower than the regional average. A small proportion of residents (3.8%) worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The average service frequency across all routes is 304 trips per day, which translates to approximately 163 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Coconut Grove is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health indicators highlight clear challenges for Coconut Grove, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic health conditions, which are present in both younger and older cohorts. In addition, the proportion of residents with private health insurance is slightly lower than the SA2 average, covering approximately 52% of the population (~1,608 people), compared to 57.8% in Greater Darwin.

The most prevalent diagnosed conditions among residents are mental health challenges and arthritis, affecting 6.2 and 5.6% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 75.6% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 77.1% in Greater Darwin. Working-age citizens show low rates of chronic illness, indicating good general health. Residents aged 65 and over make up 15.4% of the population (476 people), which is higher than the 11.0% average for Greater Darwin. Health outcomes for these older residents are generally consistent with national averages.

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

Coconut Grove displays high cultural diversity, with 44.3% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 46.5% born in another country. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 36.9% of the population. Hinduism shows a high concentration at 12.9% of the population, which is higher than the Greater Darwin average of 4.2%.

Regarding family backgrounds, the three largest ancestry groups are Other at 23.3% of the population (higher than the regional average of 13.1%), English at 16.9%, and Australian at 13.1% (lower than the regional average of 22.6%). Other groups show differences from regional averages: Filipino residents account for 5.2% of the suburb (vs 3.8% regionally), Australian Aboriginal residents account for 8.6% (vs 7.0%), and Spanish ancestry accounts for 0.8% (vs 0.4%).

Coconut Grove's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in Coconut Grove is 35 years, which is close to the Greater Darwin average of 34 and slightly below the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Darwin, there is a higher concentration of young adults aged 25 - 34 (23.3%) and a lower proportion of children aged 5 - 14 (7.6%). This 25 - 34 cohort is higher than the national average of 14.6%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age cohort increased from 4.2% to 5.3%. In contrast, the 55 to 64 cohort decreased from 11.0% to 9.4%, and the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 10.9% to 9.9%. Projections to 2041 indicate that the local age profile will change, with the 45 to 54 group expected to grow by 38% (adding 117 people to reach 424) and the 0 to 4 group expected to grow by 5% (adding 10 children).