Palmerston - South

Palmerston - South lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Palmerston - South's population is around 8,843 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 2,392 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,451 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,546 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 482 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 354 persons per square kilometer. Palmerston - South's growth rate of 37.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.9%. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 66.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 to estimate growth post-2032, 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). Based on demographic trends, a significant population increase is forecast for Palmerston - South. The area is expected to grow by 2,187 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 21.4% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Palmerston - South was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Palmerston - South has averaged approximately 139 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 696 homes. As of FY26, 63 approvals have been recorded. On average, 4.5 people move to the area each year for every dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, indicating significant demand outpacing supply. This typically drives upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $292,000. In FY26, commercial approvals valued at $19.7 million have been registered, suggesting balanced commercial development activity in the area. Compared to Greater Darwin, Palmerston - South shows 424.0% higher construction activity per person, offering buyers greater choice. However, recent construction activity has eased. This level of activity is well above the national average, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area.

Recent construction comprises 97.0% detached dwellings and 3.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (81.0% at Census), indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. The location has approximately 84 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Palmerston - South is projected to add 1,890 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Palmerston - South has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 10thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. A single project identified by AreaSearch is expected to affect the area: Darwin Light Rail Stage 1, commencing in 2023. Other notable projects include Hudson Creek Power Station, planned for completion in 2025, Marine Industry Park, scheduled for opening in 2024, and Darwin Corporate Park, set to finish in 2026.

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

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.

Employment conditions in Palmerston - South rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Palmerston - South has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate was 1.1% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.4%.

As of September 2025, there are 5,367 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.1%, lower than Greater Darwin's rate of 3.1%. Workforce participation is high at 80.1%, compared to Greater Darwin's 69.7%. Leading employment industries include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area specializes in public administration & safety, with an employment share 1.2 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services have limited presence at 3.8%, compared to the regional rate of 5.8%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 2.4% while labour force grew by 2.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. Greater Darwin recorded employment growth of 1.9%. State-level data from 25-Nov shows NT employment contracted by 1.13%, with an unemployment rate of 4.4%, closely matching the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts suggest a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Palmerston - South's employment mix, local employment is expected to grow by 6.2% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

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

The median taxpayer income in Palmerston - South SA2 is $70,898 and the average is $76,309 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. This is higher than national averages, contrasting with Greater Darwin's median income of $65,522 and average income of $75,260. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.01% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $79,413 (median) and $85,474 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Palmerston - South rank highly nationally, between the 91st and 94th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 44.0% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 36.7% fall within this range. A substantial proportion, 36.7%, earn above $3,000 weekly, indicating strong economic capacity throughout the area. High housing costs consume 19.2% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 87th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Palmerston - South is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The dwelling structure in Palmerston - South, as per the latest Census, consisted of 81.4% houses and 18.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Darwin metro's 75.9% houses and 24.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Palmerston - South was at 2.5%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (58.2%) or rented (39.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,300, higher than Darwin metro's average of $2,037. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $450, compared to Darwin metro's $400. Nationally, Palmerston - South's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Palmerston - South features high concentrations of family households and group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 80.5% of all households, including 46.1% couples with children, 22.2% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 19.5%, with lone person households at 15.4% and group households comprising 3.9%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Greater Darwin average of 2.8.

The educational profile of Palmerston - South exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 27.1%, surpassing the SA3 area average of 21.4%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 18.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.8%) and certificates (29.5%).

Educational participation is high at 37.6%, including 13.2% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 6.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Palmerston - South shows that there are 12 active transport stops currently operating. These stops service a mix of bus routes, totaling 34 individual routes. Together, these routes facilitate 1,986 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport in the area is rated as good, with residents located an average of 335 meters from their nearest transport stop. On average, there are 283 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 165 weekly trips per individual stop.

Palmerston - South's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Palmerston - South shows excellent health outcomes across both younger and older age groups.

Common health conditions have a low prevalence in this area. Approximately 58% of the total population (~5,111 people) has private health cover, indicating a high rate. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (6.5%) and mental health issues (5.5%). A significant majority, 82.2%, report no medical ailments compared to 76.6% in Greater Darwin. The area has fewer seniors, with 3.6% of residents aged 65 and over (319 people), compared to 7.5% in Greater Darwin. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

Palmerston - South was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Palmerston-South, surveyed in 2016, had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 32.5% of its residents born overseas and 29.6% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 46.2% of the population. Notably, Hinduism was more prevalent in Palmerston-South at 5.1%, compared to the Greater Darwin average of 2.6%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups were Australian (23.5%), English (19.6%), and Other (14.6%). Some ethnic groups showed significant differences: Filipino residents made up 8.8% in Palmerston-South versus 4.8% regionally, Australian Aboriginals accounted for 6.0% compared to 9.1%, and Samoans were at 0.3% versus 0.2%.

Palmerston - South hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Palmerston - South is 29 years, which is lower than Greater Darwin's average of 34 and significantly younger than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to Greater Darwin, the 35-44 age cohort is notably overrepresented at 20.6% locally, while the 55-64 age group is underrepresented at 3.9%. This concentration of individuals aged 35-44 is significantly higher than the national average of 14.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 45 to 54 age group has increased from 8.8% to 10.9% of the population. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age cohort has decreased from 23.1% to 20.6%, and the 0 to 4 age group has dropped from 11.6% to 9.5%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Palmerston - South's age structure. The 45 to 54 age cohort is projected to grow by 56%, adding 546 residents to reach a total of 1,514. In contrast, the 0 to 4 age cohort shows minimal growth of just 7% (61 people).