Daly

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Daly's population is around 2,185 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 295 people (15.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,890 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,185 from the ABS as of June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 0.10 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Daly's 15.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%) and the state average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth, which contributed approximately 60.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as 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). Regarding demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of regional areas across the nation is expected, with the area expected to grow by 272 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 12.4% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Daly according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Daly has minimal residential development activity with 1 dwelling approval annually (8 approvals over five years). Such low development levels are characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is naturally limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. Note: given the small number of approvals, individual development projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Daly shows significantly less construction activity than the Rest of NT. The development pattern is also well below national averages. Further, recent building activity consists entirely of detached dwellings, which aligns with rural living preferences for space and privacy. New construction favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (83.0% at Census), demonstrating ongoing robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures.

Future projections show Daly adding 272 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Daly has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 13thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 8 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Desert Springs Octopus Renewable Energy Program, Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage, Katherine Solar Farm (ENI), and Tindal Village, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

Employment conditions in Daly face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Daly possesses a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 10.4%, and 0.7% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025824 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 4.4% above Regional NT's rate of 6.1%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation lags significantly (54.2% compared to Regional NT's 71.4%). Based on Census responses, a low 9.8% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and public administration & safety. The area shows particularly strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share of 4.0 times the regional level. Meanwhile, health care & social assistance has limited presence with 8.2% employment compared to 18.8% regionally. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.7% and labour force increased by 1.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.5 percentage points. This compares to Regional NT, where employment grew by 0.7%, labour force expanded by 1.1%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Daly. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Daly's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.2% over five years and 11.4% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Daly SA2 is lower than average on a national basis, with the median assessed at $41,493 while the average income stands at $55,413. This contrasts with Regional NT's figures of a median income of $53,572 and an average income of $63,776. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.44% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $44,995 (median) and $60,090 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Daly all fall between the 0th and 12th percentiles nationally. Looking at income distribution, the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 30.0% of the community (655 individuals), aligning with the broader area where this cohort likewise represents 33.6%. While housing costs are modest with 93.1% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 21st percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure within Daly, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 82.8% houses and 17.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NT's 75.6% houses and 24.5% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Daly was higher than that of Regional NT, at 21.4%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (9.5%) or rented (69.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional NT average at $1,181, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $80, compared to Regional NT's $1,733 and $150. Nationally, Daly's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 72.1% of all households, comprising 38.6% couples with children, 15.6% couples without children, and 16.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 27.9%, with lone person households at 23.3% and group households comprising 4.1% of the total. The median household size of 3.6 people is larger than the Regional NT average of 3.1.

Daly faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (8.8%) substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 5.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 31.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (6.0%) and certificates (25.4%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 34.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 22.9% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 0.8% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Daly's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Daly's health metrics sit close to national benchmarks, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a standard level of common health conditions across both young and old age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is low at approximately 47% of the total population (~1,035 people). This compares to 51.6% across Regional NT. The national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are diabetes and asthma, impacting 4.8% and 4.3% of residents, respectively, while 82.4% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 78.4% across Regional NT. The area has 8.8% of residents aged 65 and over (192 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Daly records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Daly was found to be above average in terms of cultural diversity, with 5.4% of its population born overseas and 64.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Daly is Christianity, which makes up 65.5% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Other, which comprises 4.3% of the population, compared to 5.2% across Regional NT.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Daly are Australian Aboriginal, comprising 67.6% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 43.6%; Australian, comprising 9.7% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 14.9%; and English, comprising 8.4% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 14.3%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: French is notably overrepresented at 0.6% of Daly (vs 0.3% regionally), Vietnamese at 0.3% (vs 0.3%), and Chinese at 1.6% (vs 1.0%).

Daly hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

At 28 years, Daly's median age is marginally below the Regional NT average of 31 and substantially under Australia's 38 years. Relative to Regional NT, Daly has a higher concentration of 5 - 14 residents (16.6%) but fewer 45 - 54 year-olds (9.1%). Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 11.8% to 15.6% of the population, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 1.6% to 3.3%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 19.0% to 16.6% and the 15 to 24 group dropped from 17.6% to 16.4%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Daly's age structure. Leading the demographic shift, the 35 to 44 group will grow by 23% (78 people), reaching 420 from 341. On the other hand, numbers in the 5 to 14 age range are expected to fall by 32.