Wulagi

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Wulagi's population is around 2,687 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 177 people (7.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,510 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,687 from the ABS as of June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 2,132 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Wulagi's 7.1% growth since the census positions it within 0.3 percentage points of the SA3 area (7.4%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 51.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years post-2032, AreaSearch is applying growth rates by age cohort to each area, as provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Considering the projected demographic shifts, an above-median population growth of statistical areas across the nation is projected, with the area expected to increase by 434 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 16.1% in total over the 17 years.

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

Wulagi has seen no residential development approvals in the past five years. This suggests the area is largely built out, with minimal vacant land for development. Such established areas often see steady demand for existing properties, as buyers have few new-build alternatives.

Relative to Greater Darwin, Wulagi shows substantially reduced construction. This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and pointing to possible planning constraints.

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 2 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Royal Darwin Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit and CSSD Upgrade, Northern Suburbs Youth Hub, Casuarina Square Redevelopment, and Leanyer Primary School, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 performance in Wulagi has been broadly consistent with national averages

Wulagi has a skilled workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of only 3.4%, and 1.1% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 1,441 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.3% above Greater Darwin's rate of 3.1%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (73.1% compared to Greater Darwin's 76.1%). Based on Census responses, a low 3.1% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area shows particularly strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, accommodation & food shows lower representation at 5.4% versus the regional average of 8.0%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw employment increasing by 1.1% alongside labour force increasing by 1.2%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. This compares to Greater Darwin, where employment grew by 1.3%, labour force expanded by 1.2%, and unemployment fell marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Wulagi. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Wulagi's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Wulagi SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $68,003 with the average level standing at $77,435. This is very high nationally and compares to levels of $66,956 and $77,199 across Greater Darwin respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.44% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $73,742 (median) and $83,971 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Wulagi, between the 82nd and 84th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 38.8% of the community (1,042 individuals), reflecting patterns seen in the region where 36.7% similarly occupy this range. The substantial proportion of high earners (34.2% above $3,000/week) indicates strong economic capacity throughout the locality. Housing accounts for 14.9% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 85th percentile for disposable income and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Dwelling structure within Wulagi, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 98.2% houses and 1.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Darwin metro's 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Wulagi was well beyond that of Darwin metro, at 22.7%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (48.5%) or rented (28.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was below the Darwin metro average at $2,000, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $425, compared to Darwin metro's $2,100 and $385. Nationally, Wulagi's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 82.4% of all households, comprising 39.3% couples with children, 24.5% couples without children, and 17.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 17.6%, with lone person households at 13.4% and group households comprising 3.6% of the total. The median household size of 2.9 people 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

Educational qualifications in Wulagi trail regional benchmarks, with 26.2% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 36.1% in the SA3 area. This gap highlights the potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 17.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 38.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (11.5%) and certificates (26.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 37.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.8% in primary education, 11.2% in secondary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 10 active transport stops operating within Wulagi, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 36 individual routes, collectively providing 1,906 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 148 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward, and the car remains the dominant mode at 91%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. A relatively low 3.1% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 272 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 190 weekly trips per individual 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

Wulagi demonstrates above-average health outcomes, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts show a low prevalence of common health conditions, and the rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~1,558 people).

The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and arthritis, impacting 5.6% and 5.4% of residents, respectively, while 77.9% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 77.1% across Greater Darwin. Working-age residents are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 11.9% of residents aged 65 and over (318 people), which is higher than the 10.8% in Greater Darwin. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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 was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets, with 25.0% of its population born overseas and 21.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Wulagi is Christianity, which makes up 47.1% of people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Buddhism, which comprises 4.0% of the population, compared to 3.3% across Greater Darwin.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Wulagi are Australian, comprising 25.2% of the population, English, comprising 18.4% of the population, and Other, comprising 14.8% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal is notably overrepresented at 10.1% of Wulagi (vs 7.0% regionally), Filipino at 3.4% (vs 3.8%) and Maori at 0.9% (vs 0.6%).

Wulagi's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

With a median age of 36, Wulagi is slightly older than the Greater Darwin figure of 34 but modestly under Australia's 38 years. Relative to Greater Darwin, Wulagi has a higher concentration of 5 - 14 residents (17.5%) but fewer 25 - 34 year-olds (11.0%). This 5 - 14 concentration is well above the national 12.1%. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 11.3% to 13.3% of the population, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 3.0% to 4.6%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 15.6% to 14.4%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Wulagi. The 45 to 54 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 23%, adding 88 residents to reach 475. Meanwhile, the 85+ cohort grows by a modest 0% (0 people).