Palmerston - South
Statistical Area - sa2

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 8,837 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 2,386 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,451. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,546 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 480 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 353 persons per square kilometer. Palmerston - South's growth of 37.0% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.6%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 66.8% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, 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). By 2041, Palmerston - South is forecast to grow by 2,187 persons, reflecting an increase of 21.5% 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. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, totalling 696 approvals over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, with an additional 24 so far in FY-26. On average, 4.5 people have moved to the area annually for each dwelling built during these years. This demand significantly exceeds new supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition.

New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $454,000. There has been $19.7 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating steady commercial investment activity. Compared to Greater Darwin, Palmerston - South shows 424.0% higher construction activity per person, offering buyers greater choice, though construction activity has eased recently. This level 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 suggested by the current mix at Census (81.0%), indicating continued strong demand for family homes. The location has approximately 84 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Future projections suggest Palmerston - South will add 1,896 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 11thth percentile nationally

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like alterations to its local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that might impact this area. Notable projects include Hudson Creek Power Station, Marine Industry Park, Darwin Corporate Park, and Darwin Renewable Energy Hub, with the following list detailing those most likely to be relevant.

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

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

Palmerston - South has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. As of June 2025, its unemployment rate is 1.0%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.8% over the past year.

This figure compares favourably to Greater Darwin's unemployment rate of 3.0%. Workforce participation in Palmerston - South stands at 80.1%, higher than Greater Darwin's 69.7%. The leading employment industries among residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area has a particular specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share of 1.2 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services have limited presence, with only 3.8% employment compared to the regional average of 5.8%. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data for the year ending June 2025 shows that employment increased by 2.8%, while labour force grew by 2.9%, keeping unemployment broadly stable. In comparison, Greater Darwin recorded similar employment and labour force growth but saw a marginal decrease in unemployment. At the state level, as of Sep-25, NT employment grew by 1.0% year-on-year, adding 1,710 jobs. The state's unemployment rate stood at 4.2%, outperforming the national average of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Palmerston - South's employment mix indicates potential local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, although these figures are illustrative extrapolations and do not account for localized population projections.

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

Palmerston - South had median taxpayer income of $70,898 and average income of $76,309 according to latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This was higher than national averages, contrasting with Greater Darwin's median income of $65,522 and average income of $75,260. By March 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% suggest median income would be approximately $78,300 and average income $84,276. Census 2021 data showed household, family, and personal incomes in Palmerston - South ranked between the 91st and 94th percentiles nationally. Income distribution indicated largest segment was 44.0% earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly (3,888 residents). High earners comprised substantial proportion at 36.7%, suggesting strong economic capacity. Housing costs consumed 19.2% of income, but disposable income remained high at the 88th percentile. Area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 8th decile.

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

Palmerston - South's dwelling structure, 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 rest being mortgaged (58.2%) or rented (39.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,300, higher than Darwin metro's average of $2,037, and the median weekly rent was $450, compared to Darwin metro's $400. Nationally, Palmerston - South's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents 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 make up 19.5%, consisting of 15.4% lone person households and 3.9% group households. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is 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 university qualification rate is 27.1%, higher than the SA3 average of 21.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 18.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 42.3% of residents holding them – advanced diplomas at 12.8% and certificates at 29.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 37.6% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (13.2%), secondary (8.7%), and tertiary (6.5%). Palmerston - South has three schools with a combined enrollment of 1,632 students, serving typical Australian conditions with balanced educational opportunities. It has two primary and one secondary school, providing more places per resident (18.5) than the regional average (14.7), indicating it serves as an educational hub for the broader region.

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

The analysis shows that in Palmerston - South, there are currently twelve active public transport stops operating. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with thirty-four individual routes providing service to the area. Together, these routes facilitate one thousand nine hundred eighty-six weekly passenger trips.

The report indicates good transport accessibility for residents, with an average distance of three hundred thirty-five meters from their homes to the nearest stop. On average, there are two hundred eighty-three daily trips across all routes, which translates to approximately one hundred sixty-five 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 with both young and elderly populations having low prevalence rates of common health conditions.

Approximately 58% (5,107 people) have private health cover, which is exceptionally high. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma at 6.5%, and mental health issues at 5.5%. A total of 82.2% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 76.6% in Greater Darwin. Only 3.6% (319 people) are aged 65 and over, lower than the 7.5% in Greater Darwin. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention despite being above average.

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 between June 2016 and June 2021, had a population with 32.5% born overseas and 29.6% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 46.2%. Hinduism was notably higher at 5.1%, compared to Greater Darwin's 2.6%.

Ancestry-wise, Australians comprised 23.5%, followed by English at 19.6% and Other at 14.6%. Filipino representation stood out at 8.8%, Australian Aboriginal at 6.0%, and Indian at 3.1%, differing from regional averages of 4.8%, 9.1%, and 1.6% respectively.

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 notably lower than Greater Darwin's average of 34 and considerably younger than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to Greater Darwin, the 35-44 cohort is significantly over-represented in Palmerston-South at 20.6%, while the 55-64 year-olds are under-represented at 3.9%. The 35-44 concentration is well above the national average of 14.2%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 45 to 54 age group has grown from 8.8% to 10.9% of the population, while the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 23.1% to 20.6%, and the 0 to 4 group has dropped from 11.6% to 9.5%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Palmerston - South's age structure. The 45 to 54 cohort is projected to grow by 57%, adding 547 residents to reach 1,514. In contrast, the 0 to 4 cohort shows minimal growth of just 7% (62 people).