Larrakeyah
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Larrakeyah are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Larrakeyah's population is approximately 4,380 as of Aug 2025. This figure represents an increase of 437 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,943. The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data for June 2024 and address validation. This results in a density ratio of 2,246 persons per square kilometer, exceeding average densities across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Larrakeyah's growth rate of 11.1% since the 2021 Census exceeds both the SA3 area (8.6%) and national averages, making it a notable growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 81.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is using 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 growth estimates, AreaSearch applies age cohort-specific growth rates provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Based on these projections, Larrakeyah is expected to experience above median population growth, increasing by 729 persons to 2041, representing a total gain of 16.9% over the 17-year period.

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

Larrakeyah has recorded approximately two residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis: 13 homes over the past five financial years, from FY2021 to FY2025, with zero approvals so far in FY2026. On average, 24.5 new residents have arrived per dwelling constructed over these five years. This significant demand exceeds new supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition.

The average construction cost of new homes is $1,225,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY2026, there have been $10.5 million in commercial approvals, suggesting steady commercial investment activity. Compared to Greater Darwin, Larrakeyah shows approximately 75% of construction activity per person and ranks among the ninth percentile nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing properties. This level is below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New development consists of 50% standalone homes and 50% attached dwellings, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

Notably, developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (22% at Census), reflecting persistent strong demand for family homes. Future projections show Larrakeyah adding 738 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.

Larrakeyah has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 14thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 11 projects likely affecting the area. Notable ones include The Avenue Larrakeyah, Darwin Youth Centre, Larrakeyah Defence Precinct Redevelopment, and Darwin Digital Hub. Details about these projects are listed below.

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

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Larrakeyah performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Larrakeyah has a highly educated workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 0.7% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.1%.

As of June 2025, there were 3,122 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 2.4% lower than Greater Darwin's rate of 3.0%. Workforce participation was at 74.3%, compared to Greater Darwin's 69.7%. Leading employment industries among residents included public administration & safety, accommodation & food, and health care & social assistance. The area had a particular specialization in public administration & safety with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

Meanwhile, construction had limited presence with 5.1% employment compared to 9.2% regionally. Many residents appeared to commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 3.1% while labour force increased by 2.9%, resulting in a fall of unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Darwin experienced employment growth of 2.9%. State-level data up to Sep-25 showed NT employment grew by 1.0% year-on-year with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, outpacing the national average of 0.26%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 projected a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Larrakeyah's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this was a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2022, Larrakeyah had a median income among taxpayers of $71,643 and an average level of $88,443. These figures are among the highest in Australia, compared to levels of $65,522 and $75,260 across Greater Darwin respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $79,123 (median) and $97,676 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Larrakeyah rank highly nationally, between the 87th and 95th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that 41.1% of locals (1,800 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 category, aligning with regional levels where this cohort represents 36.7%. Higher earners make up a substantial presence with 36.9% exceeding $3,000 weekly. Housing accounts for 14.2% of income, while strong earnings place residents within the 87th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Larrakeyah features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Larrakeyah, as per the latest Census data, 22.0% of dwellings were houses while 78.0% were other types such as semi-detached and apartments. This compares to Darwin metro's figures of 23.6% houses and 76.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Larrakeyah stood at 15.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 17.1% and rented ones at 67.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,800, lower than Darwin metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Larrakeyah was $395, compared to Darwin metro's $420. Nationally, Larrakeyah's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Larrakeyah features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 61.4% of all households, including 24.8% couples with children, 31.8% couples without children, and 4.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up 38.6%, consisting of 28.4% lone person households and 10.1% group households. The median household size is 2.3 people, which aligns with the Greater Darwin average.

Educational achievement in Larrakeyah places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Larrakeyah is notably higher than broader benchmarks. 48.9% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 27.3% in the Northern Territory (NT) and 30.4% in Australia. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 29.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 14.6% and graduate diplomas at 4.6%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 28.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (16.8%).

Educational participation is high, with 32.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary education, 9.3% in tertiary education, and 4.1% pursuing secondary education. Larrakeyah Primary School serves the area, with an enrollment of 465 students as of a recent report. The school's Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) score is 1083, indicating above-average socio-educational conditions. There is one primary school in Larrakeyah, focusing exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. School places per 100 residents stand at 10.6, below the regional average of 15.1, suggesting some students may attend schools outside Larrakeyah.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Larrakeyah has eight active public transport stops in operation. These are served by a mix of buses operating along 28 different routes. The total number of weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes is 1,338.

Residents' access to transport is rated as good, with an average distance of 202 meters to the nearest stop. On average, there are 191 trips per day across all routes, which equates to around 167 weekly trips per individual stop.

Larrakeyah's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data shows excellent results throughout Larrakeyah, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 64% of the total population (2,803 people), compared to 61.3% across Greater Darwin and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 4.6 and 4.3% of residents respectively.

A significant majority, 82.9%, report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 79.9% across Greater Darwin. As of a recent date, 10.4% of residents are aged 65 and over (455 people). Health outcomes among seniors in the area are particularly strong, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

Larrakeyah is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Larrakeyah has a high level of cultural diversity, with 32.0% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 40.0% born overseas. Christianity is the dominant religion in Larrakeyah, accounting for 38.2% of people. Hinduism is overrepresented, comprising 11.6% of the population compared to 7.4% across Greater Darwin.

The top three ancestry groups are English at 23.6%, Australian at 18.5%, and Other at 17.3%. Notably, Filipino (3.2%), Korean (0.6%), and Vietnamese (1.2%) ethnicities have higher representation in Larrakeyah compared to the regional averages of 2.9%, 0.4%, and 1.1% respectively.

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

Larrakeyah's median age at 33 years is similar to Greater Darwin's average of 34 and lower than Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Darwin, Larrakeyah has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (26.4%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.0%). This 25-34 concentration is notably higher than the national average of 14.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35 to 44 age group increased from 16.2% to 18.0%, and the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 2.4% to 3.5%. Conversely, the 15 to 24 group decreased from 13.7% to 12.1%, and the 55 to 64 age group fell from 9.9% to 8.6%. Demographic projections suggest significant changes in Larrakeyah's age profile by 2041. The 45 to 54 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, increasing by 159 people (33%) from 482 to 642. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 cohort grows by a modest 6% (10 people).