Cossack (NT)

Cossack lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Nov 2025, Cossack's population is estimated at around 1,504 people. This reflects an increase of 211 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,293 people. The current resident population estimate of 1,492, used for this calculation, was derived by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 5.9 persons per square kilometer. Cossack's growth rate of 16.3% since the 2021 census exceeded both the national average (8.9%) and the state average, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 61.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch applies growth rates by age cohort from the ABS's latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Considering these projections, an above median population growth is expected for non-metropolitan areas like Cossack. By 2041, the suburb is projected to expand by 213 persons, reflecting an increase of 11.0% in total over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Cossack, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Cossack approved 18 new dwelling constructions over five years, averaging three annually. This low development level is typical of rural areas with modest housing needs and limited construction activity due to local demand and infrastructure capacity. Notably, the small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Cossack's development levels are substantially lower than those in the Rest of NT and below national averages. The new building activity consists of 80% detached dwellings and 20% attached dwellings, reflecting the area's rural character with larger properties being typical. With an estimated 415 people per dwelling approval, Cossack's development environment is quiet and low-activity. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Cossack's population is forecasted to increase by 166 residents by 2041.

Development pace appears reasonable in relation to projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Cossack has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 1stth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects likely to impact this region: Katherine Solar Farm by ENI, Katherine Aquatic Centre Upgrade, Tindal Village, and Katherine Logistics and Agribusiness Hub. The following details the projects most relevant to the area.

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 Cossack exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Cossack has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.9%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, 1,018 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.0%, which is below the Rest of NT's rate of 5.9%. The workforce participation rate in Cossack is 59.3%, higher than the Rest of NT's 50.7%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and public administration & safety. Construction is particularly specialized, with an employment share of 2.1 times the regional level.

However, public administration & safety is under-represented, with only 12.5% of Cossack's workforce compared to 17.9% in Rest of NT. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.9%, while employment declined by 1.5%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.4 percentage points. This compares to Rest of NT where employment fell by 1.7%, labour force contracted by 1.8%, and unemployment fell marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offer insight into potential future demand within Cossack. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Cossack's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

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

Cossack's median taxpayer income was $61,866 and average income was $67,862 in financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is higher than the national average, contrasting with Rest of NT's median income of $51,655 and average income of $61,577. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.01% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $69,296 (median) and $76,012 (average). From the 2021 Census, Cossack's household, family, and personal incomes ranked between the 81st and 84th percentiles nationally. The largest income segment comprised 25.9% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, with 389 residents in this bracket, mirroring the surrounding region where 33.6% occupied this bracket. Economic strength was evident through 39.2% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000. After housing costs, residents retained 88.2% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power, and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Cossack, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 90.3% houses and 9.7% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NT had 77.7% houses and 22.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cossack was 30.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 43.3% and rented ones at 26.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cossack was $2,000, higher than Non-Metro NT's average of $1,863, but lower than the national figure of $375.

Cossack features high concentrations of family households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 78.0% of all households, including 35.4% couples with children, 33.3% couples without children, and 7.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.0%, with lone person households at 18.9% and group households comprising 3.7%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NT average of 3.2.

Cossack demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 18.1%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 47.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.1%) and certificates (37.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 34.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.3% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 3.0% pursuing tertiary education. Schools appear to be located outside the immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Cossack demonstrates above-average health outcomes with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is fairly high at approximately 54% of the total population (~806 people), compared to 49.8% across Rest of NT.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 6.3 and 5.7% of residents respectively, while 72.8% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 78.3% across Rest of NT. The area has 15.5% of residents aged 65 and over (233 people), which is higher than the 8.2% in Rest of NT. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

Cossack ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cossack's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with its population comprising 80.9% citizens, 89.2% born in Australia, and 83.0% speaking English only at home as of a specific date. Christianity was the predominant religion in Cossack, making up 45.2% of people. Notably, the 'Other' category comprised 1.2% of Cossack's population compared to 3.6% across the rest of the Northern Territory (NT).

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups were Australian at 28.5%, English at 25.7%, and Australian Aboriginal at 17.3%. These figures differed significantly from regional averages: Australian was substantially higher than the NT's average of 17.5%, English also exceeded the NT's average of 14.4%, while Australian Aboriginal was notably lower than the NT's average of 43.9%. Additionally, certain ethnic groups showed notable divergences in representation: Maori were notably overrepresented at 1.1% compared to the regional average of 0.4%, Filipino at 2.3% versus 1.6%, and German at 4.1% against the NT's average of 2.5%.

Cossack's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Cossack has a median age of 39, which is older than the Rest of NT's figure of 31 and close to Australia's 38 years. Compared to Rest of NT, Cossack has a higher concentration of residents aged 65-74 (10.8%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.8%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 13.2% to 14.4%. Conversely, the age group of 5-14 has declined from 14.3% to 12.8%, and the 25-34 age group has dropped from 12.0% to 10.8%. Population forecasts for Cossack indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to grow strongly, adding 50 residents to reach 278. Meanwhile, both the 25-34 and 35-44 age groups are expected to decrease in number.