Nhulunbuy
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Nhulunbuy's population, as of Aug 2025, is approximately 3,787 people. This figure represents a 15.9% increase from the 2021 Census population of 3,267 people. The growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data and address validation since the Census date in June 2024. The population density is around 495 persons per square kilometer. Nhulunbuy's growth rate exceeded both national (8.6%) and state averages, indicating it as a regional growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 52.5% of overall population gains recently, with all migration factors also being positive.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, based on 2022 data. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimates, AreaSearch applies growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future demographic trends project above median population growth for Australia's regional areas. By 2041, Nhulunbuy is expected to expand by 548 persons, with a total increase of 14.5% over the 17-year period.

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

Nhulunbuy has experienced limited development activity, with an average of two approvals per year over five years (14 approvals). This is characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. Note that due to the small number of approvals, individual projects can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Compared to the Rest of NT and national averages, Nhulunbuy has much lower development activity. Recent construction comprised 67.0% standalone homes and 33.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating an expanding range of medium-density options. This reflects a change from the current housing mix of 86.0% houses, addressing reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands. Population forecasts predict Nhulunbuy will gain 548 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to meet population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Nhulunbuy has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 1stth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. Two projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Notable projects include Bunggulwuy Close Housing Development, Nhulunbuy Master Plan, Northern Territory Freight Rail And Logistics Capacity Improvements, and Network Optimisation Program - Rail. The following details those projects likely to be most relevant:.

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

The labour market strength in Nhulunbuy positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Nhulunbuy has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 0.6%.

The employment rate in Nhulunbuy is 5.3% below the Rest of NT's rate of 5.9%, and workforce participation is at 66.6%, compared to the Rest of NT's 50.7%. Leading industries include mining, health care & social assistance, and public administration & safety. Mining is particularly strong, with an employment share 6.9 times higher than the regional level. However, public administration & safety is under-represented at 10.9% compared to the Rest of NT's 17.9%.

Some residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over June 2024 to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.8%, employment declined by 1.7%, and unemployment remained stable in Nhulunbuy. In contrast, the Rest of NT saw employment contract by 1.7%, the labour force fall by 1.8%, and marginal unemployment reduction. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Nhulunbuy's industry mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.0%% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that median income in Nhulunbuy is $59,134 and average income is $73,770. This contrasts with Rest of NT's figures of a median income of $51,655 and an average income of $61,577. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes are approximately $65,308 (median) and $81,472 (average) as of March 2025. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Nhulunbuy rank highly nationally, between the 95th and 98th percentiles. Income brackets show that 39.6% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999, reflecting surrounding region patterns where 33.6% also occupy this range. The district demonstrates affluence with 45.9% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. After housing costs, residents retain 96.0% of income, indicating strong purchasing power. Area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Nhulunbuy's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.3% houses and 13.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NT's 89.4% houses and 10.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Nhulunbuy was at 6.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 3.3% and rented ones at 90.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,741, higher than Non-Metro NT's average of $1,664. Median weekly rent in Nhulunbuy was $110, compared to Non-Metro NT's $80 and the national average of $375. Nationally, mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863.

Nhulunbuy has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 74.6% of all households, including 46.3% couples with children, 22.2% couples without children, and 6.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.4%, with lone person households at 21.4% and group households making up 3.2%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NT average of 4.0.

Nhulunbuy performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

In Nhulunbuy, educational attainment is notably high among residents aged 15 and above. University qualifications are held by 30.0% of this age group, surpassing the SA3 area's 14.9% and the SA4 region's 20.1%. This educational advantage is evident in various qualifications: bachelor degrees at 19.0%, postgraduate qualifications at 6.3%, and graduate diplomas at 4.7%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 45.2% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (35.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 48.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 21.7% in primary education, 12.8% in secondary education, and 5.8% pursuing tertiary education. Nhulunbuy's four schools have a combined enrollment reaching 758 students. The schools demonstrate typical Australian school conditions with an ICSEA score of 974, indicating balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes one primary school, two secondary schools, and one K-12 school. Note that where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Nhulunbuy'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 in Nhulunbuy, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is high at approximately 56% of the total population (around 2,139 people), compared to 51.5% across the rest of NT.

Asthma and mental health issues are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 5.8% and 5.3% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 83.3%, report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 82.9% across the rest of NT. As of a specific date (not specified), 5.1% of residents are aged 65 and over (194 people). Health outcomes among seniors align with those of the general population.

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

Nhulunbuy's cultural diversity is above average, with 19.2% of its population born overseas and 14.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Nhulunbuy, comprising 43.0% of people. The category 'Other' represents 0.8%, significantly lower than the Rest of NT average of 15.8%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian is the top group at 28.3%, higher than the regional average of 11.5%. English ancestry follows at 25.3%, above the regional average of 10.3%. 'Other' ancestry comprises 8.9% of the population. Notable ethnic group disparities include Maori, overrepresented at 1.8% in Nhulunbuy compared to the regional average of 0.7%. Australian Aboriginal representation is 6.6%, significantly lower than the regional average of 60.9%. South African ancestry is also slightly higher than average, at 0.7% versus the regional average of 0.3%.

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

Nhulunbuy's median age is 33 years, which is slightly higher than the Rest of NT average of 31 but significantly lower than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Rest of NT, Nhulunbuy has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (20.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (14.5%). This concentration of 35-44 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.2%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 9.9% to 11.6%, while the proportions of those aged 25-34 and 5-14 have decreased to 14.5% and 18.2% respectively. By 2041, population forecasts suggest substantial demographic changes in Nhulunbuy. Notably, the 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 35%, reaching 714 people from its current size of 527. Conversely, the 25-34 and 35-44 age groups are projected to experience population declines.