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

Daly's population is approximately 2,185 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 295 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 1,890 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,185 in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. Daly's population density ratio is 0.10 persons per square kilometer. Daly's growth rate of 15.6% since the 2021 census exceeds both the national average (9.9%) and state averages, making it a regional growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 60.5% of overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimates, AreaSearch applies growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future demographic trends suggest a population increase just below the median of regional areas across Australia. Daly is expected to grow by 272 persons to reach approximately 2,457 by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 12.4% over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Daly had minimal residential development activity from 2014 to 2018 with only eight dwelling approvals in total. This low level of development is typical of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It should be noted that the small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics on an individual project basis.

Daly showed significantly less construction activity than the Rest of NT during this period, with its development pattern well below national averages. Recent building activity from 2014 to 2018 consisted entirely of detached dwellings, aligning with rural living preferences for space and privacy. New construction favoured detached housing more than current patterns suggest (83.0% at Census), indicating ongoing robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Daly is projected to add 272 residents by 2041.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Desert Springs Octopus Renewable Energy Program, Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage, Katherine Solar Farm (ENI), and Tindal Village. 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.

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

Daly's workforce comprises both white and blue-collar jobs, with essential services well-represented. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 10.2%. In Daly, 814 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 4.3% higher than Rest of NT's rate of 5.9%.

Workforce participation in Daly is lower at 53.4%, compared to Rest of NT's 70.4%. Census responses indicate that only 9.8% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries for employment include agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and public administration & safety. Daly has a notably high concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with employment levels at 4.0 times the regional average.

However, health care & social assistance has limited presence, with only 8.2% of employment compared to the regional average of 18.8%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Daly's labour force decreased by 1.0%, with employment decreasing by 1.2%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NT saw employment contract by 1.3% and the labour force fall by 1.2%, with only a marginal increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Daly's employment mix indicates potential local employment growth of 5.2% over five years and 11.4% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Daly SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $41,493 and an average level of $55,413. This is lower than the national average compared to levels of $53,572 and $63,776 across Rest of NT respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $44,995 (median) and $60,090 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Daly all fall between the 0th and 12th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that the largest segment comprises 30.0% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly with 655 residents aligning with this region where this cohort likewise represents 33.6%. Housing costs are modest with 93.1% of income retained, however 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 in Daly, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 82.8% houses and 17.3% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NT had 75.6% houses and 24.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Daly was 21.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 9.5% and rented dwellings at 69.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Daly was $1,181, below Non-Metro NT's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Daly was $80, compared to Non-Metro NT's $150. Nationally, Daly's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

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

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

The area's university qualification rate is 8.8%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 5.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 31.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 6.0% and certificates at 25.4%.

Educational participation is 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 closely align with national benchmarks. AreaSearch assessed mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence as standard for both young and old age cohorts. Private health cover is low at approximately 47% of the total population (~1,035 people), compared to 51.6% across Rest of NT and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are diabetes (4.8%) and asthma (4.3%), with 82.4% declaring no medical ailments, compared to 78.4% across Rest of NT. There are 192 residents aged 65 and over (8.8%). Health outcomes among seniors rank higher than the general population nationally.

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 had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 5.4% of its population born overseas and 64.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Daly, comprising 65.5% of the population. However, there was an overrepresentation in the 'Other' category, which made up 4.3% compared to 5.2% across the rest of the Northern Territory.

The top three ancestry groups were Australian Aboriginal at 67.6%, Australian at 9.7%, and English at 8.4%. These figures differed from regional averages: Australian Aboriginal was substantially higher (67.6% vs 43.6%), while Australian and English were notably lower (9.7% vs 14.9% and 8.4% vs 14.3%). There were also notable differences in the representation of French (0.6% vs 0.3%), Vietnamese (0.3% vs 0.3%), and Chinese (1.6% vs 1.0%) ethnic groups.

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

Daly has a median age of 28 years, which is slightly below the Rest of Northern Territory's average of 31 and significantly lower than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Rest of NT, Daly has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (16.6%) but fewer individuals aged 45-54 (9.1%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the population share of those aged 35-44 increased from 11.8% to 15.6%, while the 75-84 age group grew from 1.6% to 3.3%. Conversely, the proportion of individuals aged 5-14 decreased from 19.0% to 16.6%, and those aged 15-24 dropped from 17.6% to 16.4%. Looking forward to the year 2041, demographic projections indicate substantial shifts in Daly's age structure. The 35-44 age group is expected to grow by 23%, increasing from 341 to 420 individuals. Conversely, the number of residents aged 5-14 is projected to decrease by 32%.