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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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Gray has an estimated 3,479 residents, up from 3,142 at the 2021 Census — a change of 337 people, or 10.7%. Growth has averaged 0.7% a year over five years. Overseas migration accounts for 55.8% of that increase. That puts 2,319 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 conducted by AreaSearch, the resident population of Gray stands at approximately 3,479 as of Aug 2026. Comparing this figure to the 2021 Census tally of 3,142 people indicates an expansion of 337 people, or 10.7%. This updated count draws upon address validation records compiled since the Census along with the ABS June 2025 estimated resident population of 3,479. The resulting population density is 2,319 persons per square kilometer, outperforming the benchmark across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Furthermore, Gray's 10.7% expansion outpaced the national average of 9.5% recorded since the 2021 census, positioning the locality as a regional leader in growth.
Recent demographic gains were predominantly fuelled by overseas migration, which made up roughly 55.8% of net additions. Projections published by ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 utilizing 2022 as a baseline are applied by AreaSearch across individual SA2 boundaries. In instances where SA2 coverage is absent, as well as for forecasting past 2032 across every area, age cohort growth rates sourced from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023 using 2022 data) are utilized. Looking ahead, the locality is expected to achieve growth exceeding the national statistical area median, gaining 634 persons by 2041 according to the most recent annual ERP population numbers, which translates to a cumulative 16-year increase of 18.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential development in Gray has remained extremely quiet, seeing only 1 approval throughout a five-year timeframe. Such subdued activity points to a fully developed, established community with constrained vacant land for new construction. From a purchaser's perspective, this limited pipeline of freshly built stock generally underpins home values, directing buyer interest predominantly toward the established housing market. Compared with Greater Darwin, construction levels across Gray are notably subdued. Constrained residential building usually bolsters demand and prices for existing stock, even with building activity picking up momentum in recent times. Output also sits below the national average, reflecting planning boundaries and the mature state of the local area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Gray
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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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 Gray, 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
Major infrastructure developments, planning frameworks, and significant public projects play a pivotal role in shaping local performance. Currently, no projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are expected to directly affect the area. Major regional initiatives that may hold broader relevance include the Darwin to Palmerston Mass Transit Corridor, Hudson Creek Power Station, Marine Industry Park, and Darwin Corporate Park, as outlined below.
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.
1,609 residents of Gray are employed, from a labour force of 1,883. Unemployment sits at 14.6%, with participation at 69.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.0% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,656, about 76% 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
The local labour pool in Gray features a balanced mix across blue and white-collar occupations, alongside solid representation across essential services, against an unemployment rate of 14.6%. By March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,609, while the local jobless rate sat 11.1% higher than the Greater Darwin benchmark of 3.5%, pointing to capacity for improvement. Labour force participation was also slightly subdued, recording 69.1% versus 72.9% across Greater Darwin. Census returns indicated that just 3.1% of workers operated from home, though potential distortions linked to Covid-19 lockdowns must be factored in.
Local workers are largely concentrated in retail trade, health care & social assistance, and public administration & safety. Retail trade represents a notable area of local specialization, capturing a workforce share 1.4 times greater than the broader regional benchmark. Conversely, public administration & safety accounts for 15.7% of employed residents, trailing the 19.5% seen across Greater Darwin. A comparison between Census resident workers and local job counts indicates that this primarily residential locality offers relatively limited internal job opportunities. According to AreaSearch's evaluation of ABS and SALM figures over the 12 months leading to March 2026, the local workforce grew by 0.9% while employment numbers contracted by 1.4%, driving a 2.0 percentage point climb in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Darwin recorded a 0.8% rise in its labour force and a 0.4% lift in employment, alongside a 0.3 percentage point increase in unemployment. Future local employment demand can be evaluated using national industry projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26. Mapping these five and ten-year forecasts across the local industry profile provides insight into prospective trends. While overall Australian employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trajectories vary considerably by sector. Weighting Gray's employment structure against these sector trends suggests local job numbers could rise by 6.0% over five years and 12.6% over ten years (note that this illustrative model applies simple proportional weighting without integrating local demographic projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Gray is $1,479 a week (about $77,000 a year), with median personal income at $877 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $61,793 a year against an average of $68,520. 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
ATO postcode statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 show Gray SA2 recording an average taxpayer income of $68,520 and a median of $61,793. These figures sit marginally above nationwide averages, yet remain below Greater Darwin's median of $66,956 and average of $77,199. Factoring in a 9.41% lift in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of roughly $67,608 for median income and $74,968 for average income by March 2026. In the Census, individual weekly income reached the 63rd percentile ($877 weekly), whereas household earnings placed at the 34th percentile.
In terms of earnings distribution, the largest cohort falls into the $1,500 - 2,999 band, comprising 33.8% of local residents (1,175 people), aligning closely with the 36.7% proportion observed across the surrounding area. Furthermore, housing affordability is under significant strain, with the remaining income share of 79.9% placing the area in the 29th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Gray had 1,136 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 60% detached houses and 39% apartments. 36% are owned with a mortgage, 52% rented and 12% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $300 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,725 a month. Rent absorbs 20.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 26.9%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, the local dwelling landscape in Gray comprised 59.8% standalone houses alongside 40.2% other housing formats (including apartments, semi-detached properties, and 'other' dwellings), whereas Darwin metro recorded 63.5% separate houses and 36.5% other dwellings. Outright property ownership in Gray sat at 12.4%, trailing Darwin metro, while 35.6% of homes were being paid off with a mortgage and 52.0% were occupied by renters. Typical monthly mortgage payments were noticeably lower than the Darwin metro benchmark of $2,100, standing at $1,725, while median weekly rent was $300 compared to $385 across the metropolitan area.
Looking nationwide, mortgage commitments in Gray sit below the Australian average of $1,863, and local rental costs are significantly under the nationwide figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Gray counted 1,136 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,258 today, averaging 2.4 people each. 23% are couples with children, fewer than in 75% of areas nationally, against 19% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family living arrangements represent the clear majority across Gray at 63.6%, including 23.4% couples with children, 19.9% single parent households, and 18.5% couples without children. Non-family dwellings make up the remaining 36.4%, with single-occupant homes accounting for 32.5% and group arrangements capturing 4.3%. The local median household comprises 2.4 people, slightly below the 2.6 person average recorded across Greater Darwin.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
17.5% of adults in Gray hold a university qualification, including 11.4% with a bachelor degree and 3.5% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 33.0% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 263 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 803 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
Attainment levels highlight educational challenges locally, with 17.5% of residents possessing tertiary qualifications compared to the SA4 regional benchmark of 31.3%, highlighting potential scope for targeted learning programs. Bachelor degrees form the primary higher education credential at 11.4%, followed by postgraduate awards (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Meanwhile, vocational and technical credentials are broad-based, with 44.4% of the population aged 15+ holding trade or technical certifications—specifically certificates (33.0%) and advanced diplomas (11.4%). A substantial 38.1% of the local population is actively engaged in formal study. By level, this comprises 14.8% attending primary school, 10.2% enrolled in secondary education, and 4.8% participating in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Gray reaches 11 stops on 28 routes, timetabled for about 1,700 services a week. The typical home sits about 190 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.2 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 infrastructure in Gray comprises 11 active stops accommodating bus services. These facilities connect to 28 separate routes that together deliver 1,728 trips each week. Transit access is very strong, with the average home located 193 meters from a stop. Reflecting its residential character, the vast majority of workers travel out of the suburb, with private motor vehicles accounting for 90% of travel. Motor vehicle ownership stands at 1.2 per household, below the wider regional level. Meanwhile, a modest 3.1% of workers worked from home according to the 2021 Census, a figure that may reflect pandemic-era conditions.
Network operations generate an average of 246 daily services across all bus routes, which corresponds to around 157 weekly departures at each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
72.5% of residents in Gray report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 80% of areas nationally. 4.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 53.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Mortality figures and chronic condition metrics assessed by AreaSearch indicate notable health challenges in Gray across both older and younger age brackets, while private health insurance membership sits just above the typical SA2 rate at roughly 53% of all residents (~1,854 people), trailing the 57.8% recorded across Greater Darwin. The prominent long-term ailments reported locally are asthma and arthritis, affecting 7.6 and 6.7% of the community, respectively, while 72.5% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions compared to 77.1% across Greater Darwin. Residents under the age of 65 generally record favorable health outcomes.
Seniors aged 65 and over make up 11.3% of the local population (394 people), and health metrics within this older group present certain difficulties, aligning closely with national averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Gray is largely Australian-born, at 75.9% of residents, with 19.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (22.9%) and English (22.0%). 14.9% 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
Gray displays strong cultural diversity relative to most surrounding markets, with 24.1% of residents born abroad and 19.9% communicating in a language other than English at home. Christianity is the leading faith, held by 40.6% of residents. The most notable concentration relative to wider patterns appears in Buddhism, which accounts for 3.3% of the population, matching the 3.3% level recorded across Greater Darwin. Evaluating parental country of birth shows Australian (22.9%), English (22.0%), and Australian Aboriginal (14.9%) as the three most common ancestral backgrounds, with Aboriginal heritage tracking well above the regional share of 7.0%.
Other cultural backgrounds also demonstrate distinct representation, including Filipino residents at 4.4% (against 3.8% regionally), Vietnamese at 1.0% (against 0.8%), and Maori at 0.6% (against 0.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Gray is 34, younger than 84% of areas nationally. 26.4% 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
Gray's demographic distribution closely mirrors Greater Darwin across its four major age segments, with the largest divergence measuring just 6.6 percentage points. The estimated median age stands at 34, matching both the 2021 Census result for the area and Greater Darwin's 34 from the same Census. Across specific brackets, residents aged 65+ have increased from 9.9% at the Census to an estimated 11.3%. Projections to 2041 indicate that the 45 - 64 age group will see the largest volume increase, growing by 213 people (23%) to 1,121, while the 65+ cohort will record the steepest rate of expansion, climbing 44% to 569.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Gray
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 (3,142 at the 2021 Census → 3,479 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 (701041039). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.