Ludmilla - The Narrows

Ludmilla - The Narrows is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Ludmilla - The Narrows' population is approximately 2,766 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 203 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 2,563. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 2,766 in June 2025 and 30 validated new addresses added post-census. This results in a density ratio of 517 persons per square kilometer. Ludmilla - The Narrows' 7.9% growth since the census is close to the national average of 9.3%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 68.3% of overall population gains recently.

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 from the latest Greater Capital Region projections, released by ABS in 2023 using 2022 data. Future demographic trends project above median population growth nationally; Ludmilla - The Narrows is expected to expand by 439 persons to 2041, reflecting a 15.9% increase over the 16-year period based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Ludmilla - The Narrows has seen only one residential development approval in the past five years. Despite its established nature, the area has seen virtually no new residential development during this period. This limited supply of new housing typically supports values for existing properties.

Factors such as planning constraints or limited market activity may contribute to this trend. Compared to Greater Darwin, Ludmilla - The Narrows records markedly lower building activity, 91.0% below the regional average per person, from January 2017 to December 2021 inclusive. This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties in the area. This level of activity is also lower than the national average, reflecting market maturity and pointing to possible development constraints during this period.

Ludmilla - The Narrows has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 4thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. Six projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Notable ones are Darwin Desalination Plant, Darwin Mid Suburbs Area Plan, Intersection Upgrade - Dick Ward Drive and Fitzer Drive, Richardson Park Community Space. Details below list those most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Ludmilla - The Narrows has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Ludmilla - The Narrows has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 5.5% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8% over the past year. As of that date, 1,462 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.4% higher than Greater Darwin's rate of 3.1%.

Workforce participation was lower at 69.2%, compared to Greater Darwin's 72.5%. Census responses indicated that only 4.6% of residents worked from home, with potential Covid-19 lockdown impacts considered. Employment in Ludmilla - The Narrows is concentrated in public administration & safety (30.2%), health care & social assistance (11.5%), and accommodation & food services (8.7%).

Health care & social assistance has a lower presence compared to the regional average of 14.2%. While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 0.8% while the labour force grew by 1.0%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Darwin experienced employment growth of 1.3% and labour force growth of 1.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project an expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ludmilla - The Narrows' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

The median taxpayer income in Ludmilla - The Narrows SA2 is $54,391 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The average income is $66,174. This is slightly lower than the national average, with Greater Darwin having a median income of $66,956 and an average income of $77,199. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.41% from financial year 2023 to March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $59,509 (median) and $72,401 (average). Census 2021 data shows that income in Ludmilla - The Narrows clusters around the 69th percentile nationally. Income distribution data indicates that 32.7% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to the broader area where 36.7% fall within this bracket. After housing expenses, 85.8% of income remains for other expenditures. The SEIFA income ranking places Ludmilla - The Narrows in the 6th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Ludmilla - The Narrows, as per the latest Census, had 70.7% houses and 29.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Darwin metro's 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ludmilla - The Narrows was 18.2%, similar to Darwin metro, with the rest being mortgaged (28.9%) or rented (52.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, above Darwin metro's average of $2,100. Median weekly rent in Ludmilla - The Narrows was $260, lower than Darwin metro's $385 and the national average of $375. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863.

Ludmilla - The Narrows features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 70.7% of all households, including 29.6% couples with children, 25.7% couples without children, and 14.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.3%, with lone person households at 21.9% and group households comprising 6.9%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Darwin average.

Educational outcomes in Ludmilla - The Narrows fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 30.8%, significantly lower than the SA3 area average of 45.3%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 21.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational credentials are held by 32.8% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 8.9% and certificates at 23.9%. Educational participation is high, with 32.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.9% in primary education, 7.8% in secondary education, and 6.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 16 active stops operating in Ludmilla - The Narrows area, with a mix of bus services. These stops are served by 40 individual routes, offering a total of 2,070 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 268 meters from the nearest stop. The area, being primarily residential, sees most residents commuting outward. Cars remain the dominant mode at 86%, with cycling at 4%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 4.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 295 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 129 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Ludmilla - The Narrows is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Ludmilla - The Narrows demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts show low prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is at approximately 52% of the total population (~1,441 people), slightly lagging behind the average SA2 area's rate of 57.8%. This compares to Greater Darwin's 57.8%. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 6.6 and 5.0% of residents respectively, while 75.9% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 77.1% across Greater Darwin. Working-age residents are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 12.5% of residents aged 65 and over (344 people), which is higher than the 11.0% in Greater Darwin. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, ranking nationally even higher than the general population.

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

Ludmilla-The Narrows, found in a study, exhibited higher cultural diversity than most nearby markets. Its population comprised 24.1% overseas-born individuals and 24.6% who spoke languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, with 37.2% of residents identifying as such.

Notably, Buddhism was more prevalent in Ludmilla-The Narrows at 2.7%, compared to Greater Darwin's 3.3%. In terms of ancestry, Australians constituted 22.0%, English 21.4%, and Australian Aboriginal 13.2%, the latter being significantly higher than the regional average of 7.0%. Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Filipino residents were slightly overrepresented at 3.7% (regional average 3.8%), Sri Lankan at 0.5% (vs regional 0.3%), and Welsh at 0.7% (vs regional 0.4%).

Ludmilla - The Narrows hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Ludmilla - The Narrows's median age is 34 years, matching Greater Darwin's average but lower than Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Darwin, Ludmilla - The Narrows has a higher percentage of residents aged 75-84 (5.2%) and fewer residents aged 15-24 (11.2%). Between 2021 and the present, the 75-84 age group increased from 3.6% to 5.2%, while the 35-44 cohort rose from 14.5% to 16.0%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort decreased from 19.3% to 17.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Ludmilla - The Narrows's age profile. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow steadily, increasing by 134 people (38%) from 353 to 488. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort is projected to decline by 0 people.