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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Driver has an estimated 2,989 residents, up from 2,747 at the 2021 Census — a change of 242 people, or 8.8%. Growth has averaged 0.5% a year over five years. Overseas migration accounts for 56.8% of that increase. That puts 1,738 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to research by AreaSearch, the resident population of Driver stands at roughly 2,989 as of Aug 2026. This represents an expansion of 242 people (8.8%) compared with the 2021 Census, when 2,747 people were recorded. This adjustment is derived from the ABS estimated resident population figure of 2,989 as of June 2025 alongside address validation carried out post-Census. With this headcount, local density reaches 1,737 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical ratio among nationwide locations examined by AreaSearch. The community's 8.8% post-census growth rate trails the nationwide benchmark (9.5%) by just 0.7 percentage points, highlighting solid underlying expansion.
International arrivals served as the primary growth catalyst, accounting for roughly 56.8% of total net gains over recent timeframes. Projections published by ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 (using 2022 as the base year) are utilized by AreaSearch across SA2 locations. For territories omitted from that release and for all post-2032 modeling, cohort-specific growth rates from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region release (grounded in 2022 data) are applied. Factoring in these structural shifts, Driver is anticipated to achieve population expansion above the median of statistical areas assessed by AreaSearch. The locality is projected to add 401 persons to 2041 relative to latest annual ERP figures, corresponding to an overall uplift of 13.4% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Annual residential building activity in Driver has averaged around 1 new dwelling approvals per year, totaling 5 homes approved across the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Because the area welcomed an average of 14.8 new residents per year for every home built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), local housing demand heavily exceeds newly constructed stock, exerting upward pressure on property values and intensifying buyer competition. Expected construction costs average $712,000 per build, showing that developers are focusing on higher-end builds in the premium tier.
Meanwhile, commercial development approvals reached $1.2 million this financial year, underscoring the suburb's largely residential environment. Residential building output in Driver is substantially muted when compared to Greater Darwin (tracking 91.0% below regional average per person). Although development momentum has improved recently, this restricted supply pipeline tends to bolster prices and demand for existing houses. Building volumes also track well behind the national benchmark, reflecting the mature character of the suburb and pointing to possible planning constraints. Furthermore, all recent building permits have been for detached houses, reinforcing suburban character and appealing to buyers seeking space. This emphasis on detached builds is more pronounced than the prevailing 66.0% at Census share, illustrating sustained demand for standalone family properties despite densification pressures. The area registers approximately 2194 people per dwelling approval, highlighting an established housing market. Demographic projections from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate indicate Driver will expand by 401 residents through to 2041. If residential construction volumes remain at current levels, housing additions will likely trail local population growth, intensifying purchaser rivalry and supporting real estate valuations.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Driver
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 6 current infrastructure and development projects close to Driver, worth an estimated $775 million. 2 are already under construction and 2 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans transport & logistics, national security and business parks & technology hubs. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Community performance and growth dynamics are heavily guided by strategic planning initiatives, civil works, and public infrastructure. Currently, no major projects have been identified by AreaSearch as exerting an immediate direct influence on the suburb. Key regional infrastructure ventures include the Darwin to Palmerston Mass Transit Corridor, Hudson Creek Power Station, Marine Industry Park, and Darwin Corporate Park, with details provided below on works of relevant interest.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Berrimah Road Duplication - Stuart Highway to Tiger Brennan Drive
Planned duplication of Berrimah Road to a dual carriageway between Stuart Highway and Tiger Brennan Drive to improve freight efficiency, road safety and traffic capacity, supporting Darwin Port and future residential growth including Northcrest. The project remains in the Australian Government's funded road corridor program and is progressing through planning.
Northcrest
A 168-hectare master-planned community development delivering up to 2,000 housing lots. The precinct includes residential homes, parks, a government primary school, retirement living, and 56,000sqm of retail, dining, and commercial space.
Tiger Brennan Drive and Berrimah Road intersection overpass
Construction of a new overpass to improve road safety, reduce traffic delays, and increase freight connectivity. The new overpass carries Berrimah Road traffic over Tiger Brennan Drive. Final works include shared user paths, landscaping, and emergency services access.
Defence Establishment Berrimah Redevelopment
Base-wide redevelopment of Defence Establishment Berrimah (DEB), a tri-service Defence support hub located in Coonawarra, about 8km east of Darwin CBD. The project delivers upgraded in-ground services including power supply, water and fire water systems, sewerage and ICT infrastructure, along with security upgrades and construction of three deployable force precincts with hardstands, messing, ablutions and recreational areas. Internal road network improvements will be delivered if budget allows. Delivered under Defence's Estate Capital and Sustainment Works Program via a head contractor construct-only arrangement, with Jacobs engaged as Project Manager/Contract Administrator.
Darwin Corporate Park
Darwin Corporate Park is a premier business park for mixed use commercial office space located in Berrimah, recognised as the geographic centre of greater Darwin. The precinct currently comprises five premium three-level office buildings set on 25,800 square metres, holding a 5-star NABERS rating and campus-style landscaping with covered walkways. Stage 1 was completed in 2014 and is almost fully leased. Stage 2 delivered Building 7, a purpose-built 3,500 square metre call centre solely occupied by bet365 as its Australian headquarters.The masterplan envisions up to eight office buildings in total. The park was sold by Berrimah Holdings to a South Australian private equity group, Spencer Property Group, for approximately 78.5 million AUD in one of the largest commercial real estate transactions in Darwin's history.
Ludmilla Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade
Upgrade of the existing wastewater treatment plant and associated pumping stations and rising mains, aimed at increasing robustness, optimizing treatment, improving environmental outcomes, and catering for future population growth until 2030. It was the largest sewer project ever undertaken by NT Power and Water Corporation.
1,604 residents of Driver are employed, from a labour force of 1,695. Unemployment sits at 5.4%, with participation at 75.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,298, about 77% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Driver possesses a capable labour base featuring strong engagement across essential service industries, accompanied by an unemployment rate of 5.4% and an estimated 0.5% gain in total employment over the past year. Employed locals numbered 1,604 as of March 2026, while the jobless rate sits 1.9% higher than the 3.5% reported across Greater Darwin. Labour force participation remains solid at 75.6%, compared with 72.9% across Greater Darwin. A modest 2.9% of workers operated from home at the Census, although prevailing Covid-19 restrictions at the time should be factored in. The primary employment sectors for local workers include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, alongside construction.
The workforce is heavily weighted toward construction, with participation running at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, public administration & safety employs 16.0% of local workers versus 19.5% regionally. As shown by the balance between Census working population and resident population, this predominantly suburban locality provides limited internal job openings. Based on AreaSearch evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics over the 12 months to March 2026, employment grew by 0.5% while the local workforce expanded by 0.8%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.3 percentage points. Across Greater Darwin over the same timeframe, employment climbed by 0.4%, the labour pool increased by 0.8%, and unemployment rose 0.3 percentage points. Future workforce requirements can also be evaluated using national forecasts published by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26. Projected industry trajectories across five and ten-year horizons have been weighted against the local occupational profile. While countrywide employment is anticipated to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, individual sectors show varied outlooks. Applying these specific trajectories to Driver's industry footprint points to local job gains of 6.2% over five years and 12.8% over ten years (note that this weighting is illustrative and excludes local demographic forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Driver is $1,984 a week (about $103,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,011 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $71,235 a year against an average of $78,989. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Taxation records compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place taxpayer earnings in the Driver SA2 well above national norms. The median taxpayer income in Driver SA2 reached $71,235 while the average income stood at $78,989, compared with Greater Darwin figures of $66,956 and $77,199 respectively. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.41% since financial year 2023, updated estimates sit at approximately $77,938 (median) and $86,422 (average) as of March 2026. Across household, family, and individual brackets, Census figures position local incomes around the 71st percentile nationally. The predominant cohort is the $1,500 - 2,999 band, containing 37.3% of residents (1,114 people), closely tracking the 36.7% observed across the wider region.
Accommodation commitments absorb 17.4% of earnings, yet healthy wage levels maintain local disposable income at the 62nd percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Driver had 940 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 66% detached houses and 29% apartments. 40% are owned with a mortgage, 48% rented and 13% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $350 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,950 a month, a total housing cost higher than 80% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 17.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, the housing inventory in Driver comprised 66.1% houses and 33.8% other dwellings (incorporating semi-detached units, apartments, and other dwellings), whereas Darwin metro recorded 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwellings. Outright home ownership in Driver was lower than the metropolitan rate at 12.7%, with remaining properties occupied under mortgages (39.7%) or rental agreements (47.6%). Typical monthly mortgage obligations of $1,950 and weekly rents of $350 were both below Darwin metro medians ($2,100 and $385 respectively). Compared to countrywide benchmarks, local monthly mortgage repayments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, whereas local weekly rents remain lower than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Driver counted 940 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,023 today, averaging 2.7 people each. 31% are couples with children, against 26% couples without children. 21% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the vast majority of local living arrangements, representing 73.6% of all households. This comprises couples with children at 30.9%, couples without children at 25.7%, and single parent families at 16.2%. Non-family living situations make up the remaining 26.4%, consisting of lone person households at 21.0% and group households at 5.3%. The local median household size of 2.7 people slightly exceeds the Greater Darwin figure of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
23.4% of adults in Driver hold a university qualification, including 15.4% with a bachelor degree and 4.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 32.7% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 1,641 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 906 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment levels in Driver track below the broader region, with 23.4% of inhabitants aged 15+ possessing university qualifications compared to 31.3% across the SA4 region, suggesting room for further educational and professional upskilling. Bachelor degrees account for the largest share at 15.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Meanwhile, technical and vocational pathways are strongly represented, with 42.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (9.4%) and certificates (32.7%). Active participation in study is pronounced throughout the suburb, with 35.8% of residents enrolled in formal education programs.
This cohort includes 13.2% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 5.6% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Driver reaches 13 stops on 30 routes, timetabled for about 1,900 services a week. The typical home sits about 270 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit options within Driver include 13 active transport stops providing bus connections. A total of 30 individual routes service these access points, generating 1,902 weekly passenger trips. Transit access is favorable across the suburb, with residents living an average of 270 meters from their nearest stop. Given the area's predominantly residential character, travel for employment is largely outbound, with private vehicles remaining the primary commuting choice at 88%. Households maintain an average of 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. At the 2021 Census, a modest 2.9% of residents worked from home, a figure potentially influenced by COVID-19 circumstances.
Across all transit lines, transit service frequency averages 271 trips per day, which translates to roughly 146 weekly trips at each separate stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
75.1% of residents in Driver report no long-term health condition. 4.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 58.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of mortality patterns and chronic ailment rates suggest below-average health outcomes across Driver, with standard medical conditions slightly elevated among both younger and older demographics. Concurrently, private health insurance coverage is extensive, held by approximately 58% of the total population (~1,745 people). Mental health issues and asthma represent the most frequent conditions reported by residents, affecting 7.7 and 7.3% of the community respectively. Meanwhile, 75.1% of locals reported no long-term medical conditions, compared to 77.1% across Greater Darwin. Health indicators for the population under 65 are comparatively positive.
Seniors aged 65 and over make up 9.7% of the community (288 people), below the 10.7% proportion in Greater Darwin. Older residents experience above-average health results, with overall national standings mirroring the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
25.7% of Driver residents were born overseas and 21.3% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (25.2%) and English (23.0%). 10.1% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Driver exhibits broad cultural diversity relative to most Australian suburbs, with 25.7% of residents born overseas and 21.3% utilizing a non-English language at home. Christianity represents the most common religious affiliation, encompassing 39.0% of the local population. The most prominent statistical overrepresentation occurs within the Other classification, which accounts for 1.8% of residents against 1.3% across Greater Darwin. Regarding parental ancestry, the primary reported backgrounds among Driver residents are Australian (25.2%), English (23.0%), and Other (10.8%). Several cultural cohorts show higher representation in Driver than regionally: Filipino backgrounds stand at 4.4% (versus 3.8% regionally), Australian Aboriginal backgrounds account for 10.1% (versus 7.0%), and Maori ancestry represents 0.9% (versus 0.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Driver is 33, younger than 88% of areas nationally. 27.7% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic profile of Driver is noticeably younger than that of Greater Darwin. AreaSearch estimates for August 2026 indicate that children and young adults (0 - 24) comprise 35.6% of the local population, compared with 32.1% across Greater Darwin. The median age is estimated at 33 as at August 2026, identical to the 2021 Census figure and 1 year younger than the Greater Darwin median of 34 recorded at that Census. Nationally, the median age was 38 at the same Census. The most pronounced shift since the Census has occurred in the retiree and elderly cohorts (65+), growing from 7.5% to an estimated 9.7% of residents.
Long-term projections to 2041 indicate that the retiree and elderly cohorts will see the largest expansion, climbing by 216 residents (75%) to 505.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Driver
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,747 at the 2021 Census → 2,989 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (701041037). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.