Petermann - Simpson

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Petermann - Simpson's population is around 2,264 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 303 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,961 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,251 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 5 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 0 persons per square kilometer. Petermann - Simpson's growth of 15.5% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.9%. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 82.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as 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). Future population dynamics anticipate an above median growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas. The area is expected to expand by 324 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 13.7% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Petermann - Simpson is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Petermann-Simpson had minimal residential construction activity from 2016 to 2020, with only six new dwellings approved annually on average. This low development level reflects the rural character of the area, where housing growth is typically driven by local needs rather than broader market demand. The small number of approvals means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Compared to the rest of the Northern Territory and national patterns, Petermann-Simpson has much lower development activity. All recent construction in the area has been detached dwellings, maintaining its rural nature and favoring family homes despite increasing density pressures (39.0% at Census). By 2041, Petermann-Simpson is expected to grow by 311 residents according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Looking ahead, Petermann - Simpson is expected to grow by 311 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Petermann - Simpson has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 18thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects likely impacting the region. Notable ones are Ernabella Arts Centre Extension and Refurbishment, APY Lands Groundwater Quantity and Quality Investigation, Better and Safer Future for Central Australia, and Coastal Hazards Adaptation Strategy. Below is a list of those most relevant.

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

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While Petermann - Simpson retains a healthy unemployment rate of 3.9%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Petermann - Simpson has a skilled workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.9% as of September 2025.

The area employs 1,663 residents at this time, with an unemployment rate of 2.0% below the Rest of NT's rate of 5.9%. Workforce participation in Petermann - Simpson is 60.6%, compared to the Rest of NT's 50.7%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include accommodation & food, arts & recreation, and public administration & safety. Notably, accommodation & food has an employment level at 6.7 times the regional average.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented with only 5.9% of Petermann - Simpson's workforce compared to 18.8% in the Rest of NT. Many residents appear to commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. From September 2024 to September 2025, the labour force decreased by 1.3% while employment declined by 1.2%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. In comparison, the Rest of NT saw employment fall by 1.3%, labour force contract by 1.2%, and unemployment rise marginally. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicate a projected expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Petermann - Simpson's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 11.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The Petermann - Simpson SA2's median income among taxpayers was $63,602 and average income stood at $81,180 in financial year 2022. This compares to Rest of NT's figures of $51,655 and $61,577 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.01% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $71,241 (median) and $90,930 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household incomes were at the 17th percentile while personal income was at the 50th percentile. Income brackets indicated that the $800 - 1,499 bracket dominated with 38.1% of residents (862 people), contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket led at 33.6%. Housing costs were modest with 90.8% of income retained, but total disposable income ranked at just the 24th percentile nationally.

Petermann - Simpson displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Petermann-Simpson's dwelling structure in its latest Census evaluation was 38.7% houses and 61.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NT had 67.8% houses and 32.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Petermann-Simpson was at 6.9%, with the rest being mortgaged (0.7%) or rented (92.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $758, lower than Non-Metro NT's average of $1,800 and Australia's national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Petermann-Simpson was recorded at $123, substantially below Non-Metro NT's $280 and the national figure of $375.

Petermann - Simpson features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 48.1% of all households, including 17.6% couples with children, 22.0% couples without children, and 5.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 51.9%, with lone person households at 49.8% and group households making up 2.5%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NT average of 2.8.

Petermann - Simpson faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 19.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (30.2%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.1% in primary education, 4.7% in secondary education, and 4.1% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Petermann - Simpson'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 across Petermann - Simpson, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 61% of the total population (1,376 people), compared to 53.7% across Rest of NT and a national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are diabetes and asthma, impacting 7.2% and 5.6% of residents respectively, while 77.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 76.9% across Rest of NT.

The area has 4.9% of residents aged 65 and over (110 people), which is lower than the 9.3% in Rest of NT. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Petermann-Simpson has a higher level of cultural diversity compared to most local markets, with 15.8% of its population born overseas and 54.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Petermann-Simpson, accounting for 49.4% of the population. However, the most significant overrepresentation is seen in the 'Other' category, which comprises 7.0% of the population compared to the regional average of 2.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are Australian Aboriginal at 43.3%, Australian at 15.0%, and English at 13.6%. Notably, Spanish is overrepresented at 1.0%, Filipino at 1.7%, and Korean at 0.4% compared to regional averages of 0.3%, 1.7%, and 0.2% respectively.

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

Petermann-Simpson's median age of 30 years is close to the Rest of NT's 31 and significantly lower than the national average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NT, Petermann-Simpson has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (26.0%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.6%). This 25-34 concentration is well above the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 17.5% to 21.2%, while the 35 to 44 age group has declined from 16.3% to 14.5%. The 45 to 54 age group has also decreased, from 11.8% to 10.4%. Demographic modeling indicates that Petermann-Simpson's age profile will evolve significantly by the year 2041. Leading this demographic shift, the 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 34%, reaching 787 from 587. Conversely, both the 35 to 44 and 55 to 64 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.