Wulagi

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

According to research conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Wulagi is estimated to be approximately 2,738 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 228 individuals (9.1%) compared to the 2,510 residents recorded during the 2021 Census. This population shift is calculated utilizing the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 2,738 combined with address validation tracking since the Census. With this population level, the local density stands at 2,173 persons per square kilometer, a figure that exceeds the typical density found in other monitored national locations. Wulagi's 9.1% post-census growth rate is within 0.2 percentage points of the 9.3% national benchmark, indicating healthy growth dynamics. The expansion was largely propelled by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 64.0% of the overall population gains during the recent period.

Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 (using 2022 as a baseline) are utilized for local SA2 modeling. For locations missing from this dataset, and to project trends beyond 2032, growth rates by age bracket from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (based on 2022 data) are applied. Evaluating these anticipated demographic changes, the district is projected to experience population expansion exceeding the national median, with an expected gain of 473 individuals by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP data, translating to a total growth of 17.3% over the 16 years.

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

No new residential building permits have been issued in Wulagi throughout the last five-year period. This indicates a fully established neighborhood with scarce prospects for new residential projects. The lack of incoming housing stock generally underpins demand for existing homes and can help maintain stable property values.

Wulagi exhibits significantly reduced construction volumes when contrasted with Greater Darwin. This restriction on new builds typically strengthens demand and pricing structures for the existing housing stock. The level of activity is also lower than the national average, reflecting local market maturity and suggesting potential constraints on development.

Wulagi has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 0thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure changes, major projects, and urban planning policies are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has tracked 2 projects within the region that are anticipated to influence the local area. Significant initiatives include the Royal Darwin Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit and CSSD Upgrade, the Northern Suburbs Youth Hub, the Casuarina Square Redevelopment, and improvements at Leanyer Primary School, with key details provided below for the most relevant projects.

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

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The labour market in Wulagi demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

The local workforce in Wulagi is characterized by strong skill levels, substantial representation in critical service industries, an unemployment rate of just 3.7%, and consistent employment patterns over the prior year. In March 2026, there were 1,441 employed residents, with the local unemployment rate sitting 0.2% higher than the Greater Darwin average of 3.5%, and labor force participation matching the 72.7% recorded across Greater Darwin. Census data indicates that a minor 3.1% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic containment measures.

The primary sectors employing local residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The community exhibits a notable concentration in education & training, employing staff at a rate 1.3 times that of the wider region. Conversely, the accommodation & food sector accounts for only 5.4% of the local workforce, which is lower than the Greater Darwin benchmark of 8.0%. Because the suburb is primarily residential, local job availability appears restricted, as shown by the variance between the number of local jobs and the size of the resident workforce.

Based on analysis of SALM and ABS statistics, the year ending March 2026 saw employment expand by 0.4% and the labor force grow by 0.7%, leading to a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. In comparison, Greater Darwin recorded a 0.4% lift in employment, a 0.8% expansion in the labor force, and a 0.3 percentage point increase in unemployment. Future local employment demand can be contextualized by the May-25 national forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local industry mix to project regional trends. Although the national workforce is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary widely by sector. Projecting these industry trends onto Wulagi's workforce distribution suggests local employment growth of 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, representing a basic weighted calculation for comparison that does not integrate local population growth estimates.

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

Taxpayer data from the ATO for the 2023 financial year indicates that the Wulagi SA2 recorded a median taxpayer income of $68,003 and an average income of $77,435. These figures are elevated on a national scale and compare to median and average benchmarks of $66,956 and $77,199 across Greater Darwin. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 9.41% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median of $74,402 and an average of $84,722 as of March 2026. The 2021 Census highlights strong household, family, and personal earnings in Wulagi, placing the area in the 82nd to 84th national percentiles. Income distribution shows the largest segment consists of 38.8% of residents (1,062 people) earning in the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which is similar to the wider regional pattern where 36.7% fall into this group. Affluence is high, with 34.2% of the population earning more than $3,000 weekly, which helps sustain high-end retail and local services. Housing costs consume 14.9% of income, while robust household earnings place residents in the 85th percentile for disposable income and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 5th decile.

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

The mix of housing in Wulagi at the time of the latest Census consisted of 98.2% standalone houses and 1.8% other dwelling types such as townhouses and apartments, differing from the Darwin metro distribution of 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Wulagi stood significantly higher than the Darwin metro average at 22.7%, with remaining properties held under mortgages (48.5%) or rented (28.8%). Typical monthly mortgage payments were lower than the Darwin metro average at $2,000, while typical weekly rent was recorded at $425, compared to regional benchmarks of $2,100 and $385. Globally within Australia, Wulagi's mortgage costs exceed the national average of $1,863, and rent levels are also considerably higher than the national figure of $375.

Wulagi features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families comprise the vast majority of households at 82.4%, which includes 39.3% couples with children, 24.5% couples without children, and 17.2% single parent households. The remaining 17.6% consists of non-family living arrangements, with single-person households representing 13.4% and group homes accounting for 3.6%. The typical household size of 2.9 individuals is larger than the Greater Darwin average of 2.6.

Educational outcomes in Wulagi fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Levels of educational attainment in Wulagi are lower than regional averages, with 26.2% of residents aged 15+ holding a tertiary degree compared to 36.1% in the broader SA3 area, suggesting opportunities for further skill development. Bachelor degrees represent the most common higher qualification at 17.2%, followed by postgraduate degrees (6.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational training is common, with 38.1% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.5%) and certificates (26.6%).

School and study enrollment levels are prominent, with 37.7% of the population actively participating in academic programs. This cohort includes 14.8% enrolled in primary schools, 11.2% in secondary institutions, and 4.9% undertaking higher education programs.

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

Analysis of regional transport indicates there are 10 active bus stops within Wulagi. These locations are connected by 36 different routes, delivering a combined total of 1,906 passenger journeys each week. Local access to transport is highly rated, with residents living an average of 148 meters from their nearest stop. Given the residential nature of the suburb, most workers commute outside the area, and private vehicles remain the primary transit mode at 91%. Households own an average of 1.7 vehicles, which is higher than the regional benchmark. A low proportion of the workforce (3.1%) worked from home, based on 2021 Census data collected during pandemic conditions.

Transit service schedules show an average of 272 daily trips across all routes, which translates to approximately 190 weekly connections at each transit stop.

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

Residents of Wulagi display positive health profiles based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and chronic illness rates, with low rates of common health conditions reported across both younger and older cohorts, alongside a high level of private health insurance coverage at roughly 58% of the population (~1,588 people).

Asthma and arthritis represent the most frequent health issues reported by residents, affecting 5.6% and 5.4% of the population. Meanwhile, 77.9% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 77.1% throughout Greater Darwin. The working-age cohort shows strong physical health with a low incidence of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over constitute 12.7% of the community (348 people), which is higher than the 11.0% share in Greater Darwin. The health status of these older residents remains positive, matching general national benchmarks.

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

Wulagi shows higher levels of cultural diversity than most compared markets, with 25.0% of the population born outside of Australia and 21.5% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 47.1% of local residents. The most pronounced religious variation relative to the wider region is in Buddhism, which accounts for 4.0% of the population compared to 3.3% across Greater Darwin.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds, the three most common heritages reported in Wulagi are Australian at 25.2%, English at 18.4%, and Other at 14.8%. There are also notable differences in other groups, with Australian Aboriginal ancestry highly represented at 10.1% of the population (compared to 7.0% across the region), Filipino ancestry at 3.4% (compared to 3.8% regionally), and Maori ancestry at 0.9% (compared to 0.6% regionally).

Wulagi's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Having a median age of 36 years, Wulagi's population is slightly older than the Greater Darwin average of 34, but slightly younger than the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Darwin, Wulagi has a larger proportion of residents aged 5 - 14 (16.8%) but a lower share of people aged 25 - 34 (11.0%). Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 grew from 11.3% to 13.4%, and the 75 to 84 cohort expanded from 3.0% to 4.8%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 group contracted from 15.6% to 14.1%, and the 5 to 14 age bracket fell from 18.0% to 16.8%. Population projections for 2041 indicate notable demographic adjustments, with the 45 to 54 cohort expected to grow the fastest at 21%, adding 83 people to reach a total of 470, while the 5 to 14 age group is projected to rise by 2% (8 people).