Coconut Grove
Statistical Area - sa2

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

As of August 2025, Coconut Grove's population is approximately 3,007, reflecting a growth of 115 people since the 2021 Census. The population was recorded as 2,892 in the census. This increase, representing a 4% rise, is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population figure of 3,007 by June 2024 and address validation from the census date. The population density stands at around 2,117 persons per square kilometer, exceeding national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 70.2% of recent population gains in the area.

AreaSearch's projections for each SA2 area are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia estimates released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS' Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) are applied to estimate post-2032 growth. Future population projections indicate an above-median growth, with Coconut Grove expected to expand by 608 persons to reach a total of 3,615 by 2041, marking a 20.2% increase over the 17-year period.

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

Coconut Grove has recorded approximately one residential property approval annually. Development approval data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows a total of five approvals over the past five financial years, from FY20 to FY25, with none recorded so far in FY26. The population decline in recent years suggests that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good choice for buyers.

Additionally, $4.4 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature compared to Greater Darwin. Coconut Grove has significantly less development activity relative to Greater Darwin, which typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes due to constrained new construction. However, building activity has accelerated in recent years.

This is below average nationally, indicating the area's maturity and potential planning constraints. Population forecasts project an increase of 608 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, intensifying buyer competition and potentially driving price growth.

Coconut Grove has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 2ndth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects likely impacting the region: Social Housing Accelerator Payment (SHAP) in Greater Darwin/Nightcliff, John Stokes Square Redevelopment, Nightcliff Police Station, and Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct. The following list details those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis reveals Coconut Grove recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Coconut Grove has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.8% as of June 2021.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.2%. As of June 2025, 1,723 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.8% higher than Greater Darwin's rate of 3.0%. Workforce participation lagged significantly at 64.6%, compared to Greater Darwin's 69.7%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and accommodation & food.

Health care & social assistance has a particularly high representation with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, public administration & safety shows lower representation at 12.9% compared to the regional average of 19.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.2%, and labour force increased by 3.0%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows NT employment grew by 1.0% year-on-year, with a state unemployment rate of 4.2%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coconut Grove's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 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

Coconut Grove's median income among taxpayers was $54,745 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $63,757 during the same period. This compares to figures for Greater Darwin of $65,522 and $75,260 respectively. By March 2025, current estimates suggest median income would be approximately $60,460 and average income around $70,413, based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranked at the 69th percentile ($913 weekly), while household income sat at the 38th percentile. In Coconut Grove, 31.9% of individuals earned between $1,500 and $2,999, reflecting regional patterns where 36.7% occupied this earnings band. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 82.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 37th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

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

Coconut Grove's latest Census data shows 23.7% houses and 76.2% other dwellings compared to Darwin metro's 68.4% houses and 31.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coconut Grove was 14.8%, with mortgages at 22.7% and rentals at 62.5%. Median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,600, below Darwin metro's $2,028. Median weekly rent was $300, compared to Darwin metro's $350. Nationally, Coconut Grove's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 56.2% of all households, including 21.5% couples with children, 23.6% couples without children, and 9.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 43.8%, with lone person households at 37.7% and group households comprising 6.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Darwin average of 2.7.

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

Educational attainment in Coconut Grove is notably high, with 40.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications as of the latest data point, surpassing both Northern Territory's (27.3%) and Australia's (30.4%) averages. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 23.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 28.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 11.1% and certificates for 17.4%. Educational participation is high, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the given period.

This includes 9.9% in tertiary education, 6.7% in primary education, and 5.1% pursuing secondary education. It appears that educational facilities are primarily located outside Coconut Grove's immediate boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas for the most part.

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

Analysis shows 13 active public transport stops in Coconut Grove. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totaling 34 individual routes. Combined, these routes facilitate 2,127 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average 170 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 303 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 163 weekly trips per individual stop.

Coconut Grove's residents are extremely healthy with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Coconut Grove. Prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average among older, at-risk cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 51% of the total population (~1,539 people), slightly lagging behind the average SA2 area's 56.7%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 6.2 and 5.6% of residents respectively. Overall, 75.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Darwin's 77.0%. The area has 14.7% of residents aged 65 and over (441 people), higher than Greater Darwin's 12.3%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges requiring more attention than the broader population.

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's population comprises 44.3% who speak a language other than English at home, with 46.5% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 36.9%. Hinduism is notably higher than average, at 12.9% compared to Greater Darwin's 5.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (23.3%), English (16.9%), and Australian (13.1%). Filipinos are overrepresented at 5.2%, as are Australian Aboriginals at 8.6%, and Spanish at 0.8%.

Coconut Grove's population is younger than the national pattern

Coconut Grove's median age is 35, comparable to Greater Darwin's average of 34 and lower than the national average of 38. Relative to Greater Darwin, Coconut Grove has a higher percentage of 25-34 year-olds (22.8%) but fewer 5-14 year-olds (7.7%). This is well above the national average for 25-34 year-olds of 14.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age group increased from 4.2% to 5.1%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort decreased from 24.0% to 22.8%, and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 11.0% to 9.9%. Demographic modeling suggests Coconut Grove's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the strongest projected growth in the 45-54 cohort (41%), adding 128 residents to reach 440. The 0-4 group shows more modest growth at 4%, adding only 8 residents.