Bakewell

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

Based on examination of ABS population statistics for the surrounding region, and recent address validations conducted by AreaSearch since the Census, the population of the suburb of Bakewell is estimated to be approximately 3,417 in May 2026. This represents a growth of 326 people (10.5%) relative to the 2021 Census, which counted 3,091 residents. This shift is calculated from the resident population of 3,417, which was estimated by AreaSearch analyzing the most recent ABS ERP statistics from June 2025 alongside address verification post-Census. Such a population size translates to a density of 2,588 persons per square kilometer, placing the suburb of Bakewell within the highest quartile of all locations evaluated nationwide by AreaSearch. The 10.5% expansion rate in the suburb of Bakewell since the 2021 census outpaced the national benchmark of 9.3%, establishing it as a local growth leader. The expansion was primarily fueled by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 51.0% of the overall population increases in recent times.

AreaSearch utilizes the ABS and Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, published in 2024 with 2022 serving as the baseline. For SA2 regions lacking these metrics, and to project development past 2032, AreaSearch projects cohort-specific growth rates onto the locations using the latest Greater Capital Region projections published by the ABS in 2023, based on 2022 figures. Looking at future demographics, projections indicate that the suburb of Bakewell will experience population growth above the median of areas assessed by AreaSearch, with an expected increase of 740 residents by 2041 using combined SA2 projections, representing a total rise of 21.7% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Bakewell recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

According to AreaSearch evaluations of ABS building consent statistics distributed from wider statistical regions, the suburb of Bakewell has averaged approximately 2 home approvals annually, compiling an estimated 14 residential builds over the prior 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 4 consents have been logged. With an average of 11.5 new occupants per year entering for every completed dwelling over the past 5 financial years (running from FY-21 to FY-25), demand is outstripping supply, which generally drives up property values and heightens buyer competition, while new homes average $358,000 in construction costs. Furthermore, commercial approvals worth $244,000 have been logged during this financial year, highlighting the residential focus of the area.

Compared to Greater Darwin, the suburb of Bakewell exhibits a much lower volume of building activity, sitting 79.0% below the regional average on a per-person basis. This low volume of additions tends to support demand and price levels for existing properties, even though construction has risen lately. The construction rate is also below the countrywide average, highlighting the established character of the area and indicating potential planning constraints. Furthermore, recent development is comprised entirely of medium and high-density housing options. This shift toward higher-density building provides more affordable entry points and attracts downsizers, property investors, and first-time buyers. This represents a clear shift from the historical property mix, which currently consists of 54.0% houses, suggesting a shortage of vacant residential land and reflecting changing lifestyle preferences and budget constraints. With approximately 483 residents for every residential approval, the suburb of Bakewell represents a mature market.

Projecting forward, the suburb of Bakewell is anticipated to add 740 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations by AreaSearch. If current building rates do not accelerate, residential additions could fall behind population expansion, potentially worsening buyer competition and supporting upward price movements.

Bakewell has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 15thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure updates, major regional developments, and local planning decisions are critical drivers of local market performance. In total, no projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having an influence on the area. Notable regional developments include the Darwin to Palmerston Mass Transit Corridor, the Hudson Creek Power Station, the Marine Industry Park, and the Darwin Corporate Park, with the following records detailing the most relevant items.

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 Bakewell demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

The suburb of Bakewell possesses a qualified labor pool, with solid representation in essential services, an unemployment rate of only 2.6%, and steady employment levels over the prior year, based on AreaSearch calculations across local statistical areas. In March 2026, there are 2,043 employed residents, which represents an unemployment rate 0.9% below the Greater Darwin level of 3.5%, while the participation rate is notably elevated at 79.7% compared to 72.7% in Greater Darwin. Census data indicates that a minor 3.4% of workers operated from home, though the influence of COVID-19 restrictions should be kept in mind.

The primary employment fields for working residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. The workforce is highly concentrated in retail trade, which represents a share 1.2 times the wider regional baseline. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for only 11.2% of the local workforce, which is lower than the 14.2% figure for Greater Darwin. The heavily residential suburb seems to provide few local employment options, as shown by comparing the Census working population against the total resident count.

Based on AreaSearch processing of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from regional sectors, the past 12-month timeframe saw employment expand by 0.1% while the labor force increased by 0.7%, yielding a rise in unemployment of 0.6 percentage points. This differs from Greater Darwin, where employment increased by 0.4%, the labor force expanded by 0.8%, and unemployment went up by 0.3 percentage points. Long-term national projections from Jobs and Skills Australia released in May-25 offer additional perspective on future employment trends in the suburb of Bakewell. These projections, spanning five and ten years, have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rate of change varies widely by sector. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the local job profile suggests employment in the suburb of Bakewell will rise by 6.0% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, noting this is a weighted extrapolation for comparison and does not integrate local population growth estimates.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of Bakewell recorded a median taxpayer income of $67,199 and an average of $72,326, according to the most recent postcode ATO figures compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. These figures exceed the national averages, though they contrast with Greater Darwin's median of $66,956 and average of $77,199. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index rise of 9.41% since financial year 2023, current projections estimate figures of roughly $73,522 (median) and $79,132 (average) as of March 2026. Individual wages are high, sitting at the 85th percentile nationwide at $1,104 weekly during the 2021 Census. Income distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 range is the most common, accounting for 47.1% of residents (1,609 people), matching the wider region where this segment comprises 36.7%. Although high housing costs absorb 17.9% of earnings, solid incomes mean disposable revenue sits at the 60th percentile, and the SEIFA index for income places the area in the 4th decile.

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

Residential structures in the suburb of Bakewell at the time of the last Census consisted of 54.5% houses and 45.5% semi-detached properties, townhouses, apartments, or alternative dwellings, compared to Darwin metro's breakdown of 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwellings. The level of home ownership stood at 10.4%, trailing the Darwin metro benchmark, with the remaining residences being mortgaged (43.5%) or occupied by renters (46.1%). The median monthly home loan payment was $1,742, sitting well below the Darwin metro average of $2,100, while the median weekly rent was $380, compared to $385 in Darwin metro. Nationally, the monthly mortgage outlays in the suburb of Bakewell are lower than the Australian baseline of $1,863, whereas weekly rents sit above the national average of $375.

Bakewell features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 69.9%, consisting of 31.4% couples with children, 20.5% couples without children, and 17.0% single parent families. The remaining 30.1% are non-family households, with lone person households representing 26.1% and group houses accounting for 4.1%. The average household occupancy of 2.5 people is slightly below the Greater Darwin average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Bakewell aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Educational challenges exist within the local population, as university completion rates of 18.8% sit significantly below the SA4 regional average of 31.3%. This situation presents opportunities for focused educational support. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher education qualification at 13.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.8% and graduate diplomas at 2.6%. Vocational and technical qualifications are highly prevalent, with 45.6% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, comprising advanced diplomas (11.0%) and certificates (34.6%).

Enrolment levels are high, with 35.2% of the population currently engaged in study. This group includes 13.6% attending primary schools, 8.7% in secondary schools, and 5.0% enrolled in tertiary institutions.

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

Public transit statistics show 6 active transport stops located within the suburb of Bakewell, which are serviced by a combination of buses. These stops accommodate 24 different routes, which together provide 1,146 passenger journeys each week. Local transit access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 213 meters from their closest stop. As the area is mostly residential, the majority of workers travel out of the area, with private vehicles remaining the primary choice at 92%. Dwellings have an average of 1.4 vehicles. A low 3.4% of residents worked from home during the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

The average frequency of transit services is 163 runs per day across the network, which equates to roughly 191 weekly services at each individual transit stop.

Health performance in Bakewell is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

The suburb of Bakewell exhibits notable health issues, based on AreaSearch analysis of local death rates and the frequency of ongoing medical issues across younger and older demographics, while the share of residents with private health insurance is high at approximately 55% of the total population (~1,891 people). This compares to 57.8% across Greater Darwin.

The most prevalent medical challenges identified in the area are mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 7.7 and 6.2% of residents respectively, while 76.2% of the population reported no long-term medical conditions, compared to 77.1% throughout Greater Darwin. Residents under the age of 65 experience better health outcomes than average, with local health rankings for the suburb of Bakewell matching the broader national population, and the area contains 6.5% of residents aged 65 and over (222 people), which is lower than the 11.0% seen in Greater Darwin.

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

The suburb of Bakewell displays greater cultural diversity than most property markets, with 25.0% of residents born outside Australia and 20.0% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, representing 41.3% of the local population. However, the most distinct variation is in Hinduism, which represents 2.4% of residents compared to 4.2% throughout Greater Darwin.

Looking at parent birthplaces, the three largest ancestry groups are Australian at 24.9%, English at 22.5%, and Other at 11.1%. There are also distinct variations in other backgrounds: Filipino residents are overrepresented at 5.6% of the population (compared to 3.8% across the region), Australian Aboriginal residents account for 9.4% (compared to 7.0% regionally), and New Zealand ancestry sits at 0.8% (compared to 0.6% regionally).

Bakewell hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

The suburb of Bakewell has a median age of 32, making it slightly younger than the Greater Darwin median of 34 and considerably younger than the national average of 38. Compared to the wider Greater Darwin region, there is a higher proportion of young people aged 5 - 14 (15.4%) but a lower share of seniors aged 65 - 74 (3.9%). Since 2021, the 15 to 24 demographic has increased from 12.0% to 13.6% of the population, and the 35 to 44 age bracket grew from 15.8% to 16.9%, whereas the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 14.0% to 11.9%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic projections indicate shifts in the age profile, with the 45 to 54 age group projected to grow strongly by 149 people (37%) from 406 to 556, while the 55 to 64 group is expected to grow more slowly at 9%, adding 30 residents.