Katherine
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Katherine's population was 9,658 as of Aug 2021. By Aug 2025, it had increased to around 10,965, a rise of 1,307 people (13.5%). This growth is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 10,868 in June 2024 and 36 validated new addresses since Aug 2021. The population density was around 1.5 persons per square kilometer by Aug 2025. Katherine's growth exceeded the national average (8.6%) from Aug 2021 to Aug 2025, making it a regional growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 60.8% of overall population gains during this period.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by these projections and years post-2032, AreaSearch applied growth rates by age cohort from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). By 2041, Katherine's population is projected to increase by just below the median of Australian non-metropolitan areas, expanding by 1,249 persons with a total increase of 10.5% over the 17 years from Aug 2025.

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

Katherine has recorded approximately 27 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is provided by the ABS on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 136 homes have been approved, with none yet in FY-26. The average new residents per year per dwelling constructed over this period was 0.9.

This pace suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average development value of new dwellings was $356,000, which is below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options. In the current financial year, $488.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the Rest of NT, Katherine has recorded construction levels 23.0% above the regional average per person over this five-year period, balancing buyer choice while supporting current property values.

However, this activity is lower than national averages, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. New building activity consists of 82.0% standalone homes and 18.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes. The estimated population density per dwelling approval is 557 people, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. Looking ahead, Katherine is projected to grow by 1,152 residents by 2041. Current development levels appear aligned with future requirements, suggesting stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects likely to affect the region. Notable projects are Katherine Logistics and Agribusiness Hub, Supporting Growth in Katherine East (Katherine East Residential Estate), Katherine Aquatic Centre Upgrade, and Tindal Village. The following list details those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch assessment positions Katherine ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Katherine has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 2.4% as of June 2025. There are 7,733 residents employed in the area at this time, which is below the Rest of NT's employment rate of 5.9%.

The workforce participation rate in Katherine is 62.4%, higher than the Rest of NT's rate of 50.7%. Key employment sectors include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. There is a high specialization in public administration & safety with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. However, education & training shows lower representation at 10.1% compared to the regional average of 12.4%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. Over the year ending June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.7% and employment declined by 1.4%, leading to a fall in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May 2025, project an increase of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Katherine's current employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4%% over five years and 13.4% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Katherine has a median taxpayer income of $61,407 and an average of $67,358 based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is higher than the national average, compared to Rest of NT's median income of $51,655 and average income of $61,577. By March 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $67,818 and an average of $74,390, considering the Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2022. According to Census 2021 income data, Katherine's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 73rd and 84th percentiles. Income analysis shows that 35.9% of locals (3,936 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, which is similar to regional levels where this cohort represents 33.6%. After housing costs, residents retain 87.3% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Katherine, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 79.9% houses and 20.1% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NT had 77.7% houses and 22.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Katherine was higher than Non-Metro NT at 16.5%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (26.2%) or rented (57.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Katherine was $1,625, above the Non-Metro NT average but below the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Katherine was $295, lower than both the Non-Metro NT ($178) and national averages ($375).

Katherine features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 70.8% of all households, including 30.7% couples with children, 27.0% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.2%, with lone person households at 23.6% and group households comprising 5.5%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NT average of 3.2.

Educational outcomes in Katherine fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's educational profile exceeds regional averages with university qualification rates at 24.1% of residents aged 15+, compared to the SA3 average of 17.4%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 16.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are held by 42.5% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.5% and certificates at 31.0%.

Current educational participation is high at 36.6%, including 16.3% in primary, 8.7% in secondary, and 4.6% in tertiary education. Katherine has a network of 8 schools educating approximately 1,826 students, comprising 4 primary, 1 secondary, and 3 K-12 schools.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Katherine's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Katherine, with younger cohorts experiencing a notably low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover stands at approximately 53% of the total population (around 5,855 people), compared to 49.8% across the rest of the Northern Territory.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.1 and 5.2% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 77.1% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 78.3% across the rest of the NT. Katherine has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (9.6%, or approximately 1,051 people), compared to the rest of the NT at 8.2%. Notably, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those of the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Katherine was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Katherine's population shows above-average cultural diversity, with 17.7% born overseas and 22.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Katherine, accounting for 43.0%. Judaism, however, is overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% across Rest of NT.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (25.2%), English (20.5%), and Australian Aboriginal (19.5%). Notably, Filipino (2.7%) and German (3.6%) are overrepresented, while Maori is slightly overrepresented at 0.5%.

Katherine's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Katherine's median age at 33 years exceeds the Rest of NT average of 31 but remains substantially below Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NT, Katherine has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (2.9%) but fewer individuals aged 15-24 (12.1%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 35-44 grew from 14.4% to 16.4%, while the age group of 5-14 declined from 15.2% to 14.0%. By 2041, demographic forecasts indicate significant changes in Katherine's population. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 27%, increasing from 1,303 to 1,658 people. Conversely, the 35-44 age group is expected to decline by 17 individuals.