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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Driver has an estimated 2,989 residents, up from 2,747 at the 2021 Census — a change of 242 people, or 8.8%. Growth has averaged 0.5% a year over five years. Overseas migration accounts for 55.0% of that increase. That puts 1,738 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Driver has an estimated resident population of roughly 2,989 people, calculated by AreaSearch using post-Census validated addresses and ABS regional updates. Compared to the 2021 Census tally of 2,747 people, this represents an addition of 242 people (8.8%). AreaSearch established this figure following the ABS ERP release from June 2025 alongside subsequent address confirmations. The suburb of Driver exhibits a population density of 1,737 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the nationwide benchmark among assessed locations. Its post-Census expansion of 8.8% tracks closely with the broader Australian benchmark (9.5%), trailing by just 0.7 percentage points.
Recent population gains were predominantly underpinned by net overseas arrivals, which accounted for roughly 55.00000000000001% of overall net additions. Demographic forecasting by AreaSearch incorporates 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia models pegged to a 2022 baseline across SA2 areas. For locations lacking direct coverage or for projections extending beyond 2032, cohort-level growth figures from the ABS 2023 Greater Capital Region dataset (benchmarked to 2022) are utilized. Through 2041, aggregated SA2 figures indicate the suburb of Driver will expand by 400 persons, representing an overall rise of 13.4% across the 16 years and outpacing the median growth rate of localities tracked by AreaSearch.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential construction pipeline metrics from the ABS, compiled by AreaSearch, show an extremely constrained volume of dwelling approvals in Driver, with merely 4 homes approved over the past 5 financial years and 2 approvals logged to date in FY-25. Between FY-21 and FY-25, the community saw an annual influx averaging 14.4 people per dwelling built, highlighting a distinct supply deficit against incoming demand that creates upward pricing momentum. New residential construction reflects an anticipated construction cost averaging $400,000, aligning with broader regional patterns, while non-residential activity has been limited to $30,000 in commercial approvals this financial year, underscoring the area's predominantly residential character.
Per-capita development activity in Driver falls 91.0% below the Greater Darwin standard, pointing to an established urban footprint with planning constraints, although construction volume has recently quickened. This subdued pipeline generally reinforces the capital value of existing properties. Approvals have consisted entirely of detached houses, maintaining the suburban environment favored by buyers seeking land and living space. While detached dwellings made up 66.0% at Census, new approvals lean even more heavily into this structure type, reflecting sustained appetite for family properties. The local market remains highly established, recording approximately 1961 people per dwelling approval.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Driver
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 2 current infrastructure and development projects close to Driver, worth an estimated $379 million. 1 are already under construction. The pipeline spans business parks & technology hubs and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Infrastructure works, strategic planning initiatives, and major developments serve as significant drivers of local growth and connectivity. AreaSearch has identified no major projects with a direct local footprint, though broader regional initiatives include the Darwin to Palmerston Mass Transit Corridor, Hudson Creek Power Station, Marine Industry Park, and Darwin Corporate Park.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Northcrest
A 168-hectare master-planned community development delivering up to 2,000 housing lots. The precinct includes residential homes, parks, a government primary school, retirement living, and 56,000sqm of retail, dining, and commercial space.
Darwin Corporate Park
Darwin Corporate Park is a premier business park for mixed use commercial office space located in Berrimah, recognised as the geographic centre of greater Darwin. The precinct currently comprises five premium three-level office buildings set on 25,800 square metres, holding a 5-star NABERS rating and campus-style landscaping with covered walkways. Stage 1 was completed in 2014 and is almost fully leased. Stage 2 delivered Building 7, a purpose-built 3,500 square metre call centre solely occupied by bet365 as its Australian headquarters.The masterplan envisions up to eight office buildings in total. The park was sold by Berrimah Holdings to a South Australian private equity group, Spencer Property Group, for approximately 78.5 million AUD in one of the largest commercial real estate transactions in Darwin's history.
1,604 residents of Driver are employed, from a labour force of 1,695. Unemployment sits at 5.4%, with participation at 75.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,298, about 77% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Driver's local economy is supported by a capable workforce with strong representation in core services, registering an unemployment rate of 5.4% alongside a 0.5% yearly increase in employment according to AreaSearch regional data. As of March 2026, employed residents total 1,604, while local unemployment exceeds the Greater Darwin figure of 3.5% by 1.9%. The area's labor participation rate sits at 75.4%, compared to 72.9% across Greater Darwin. Census records indicated that 2.9% of local workers operated from home, though pandemic-related conditions during that period should be noted. Resident employment centers primarily around public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction.
Notably, local participation in construction is 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, public administration & safety constitutes 16.0% of local jobs versus 19.5% throughout the wider region. An analysis of the Census daytime working population relative to the resident labor base demonstrates that Driver is largely a dormitory residential suburb with few local workplace destinations. According to ABS and SALM figures gathered across statistical regions, the 12 months to March 2026 saw Driver's employment expand by 0.5% against a 0.8% labor force expansion, driving a 0.3 percentage points rise in the unemployment rate. This matched Greater Darwin's dynamic, where employment rose 0.4%, the workforce grew 0.8%, and unemployment climbed 0.3 percentage points. Based on national labor projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26, which forecast overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, local employment is estimated to grow by 6.2% over five years and 12.8% over ten years when weighted against Driver's occupational distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Driver is $1,984 a week (about $103,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,011 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $69,603 a year against an average of $76,917. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Taxation statistics from the ATO for financial year 2023 aggregated by AreaSearch demonstrate elevated income benchmarks in the suburb of Driver. Taxpayers recorded a median income of $69,603 and an average income of $76,917, sitting in comparison to Greater Darwin levels of $66,956 and $77,199 respectively. Adjusted for a 9.41% Wage Price Index increase since financial year 2023, March 2026 estimates indicate a median income of $76,153 and an average of $84,155. Census distributions place personal, family, and household earnings around the 71st percentile nationally, with 37.3% of residents (1,114 people) earning within the $1,500 - 2,999 band, comparable to the 36.7% regional proportion.
Even with residential housing expenses accounting for 17.4% of earnings, strong local compensation keeps disposable income at the 62nd percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Driver had 940 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 66% detached houses and 29% apartments. 40% are owned with a mortgage, 48% rented and 13% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $350 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,950 a month, a total housing cost higher than 80% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 17.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data reveals that Driver's housing landscape is composed of 66.1% houses alongside 33.8% other dwellings (incorporating apartments, semi-detached properties, and 'other' accommodation), compared to Darwin metro's balance of 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwellings. Full home ownership stands at 12.7%, tracking below the metropolitan benchmark, with mortgaged properties making up 39.7% and rentals comprising 47.6%. Median residential housing expenses include monthly mortgage repayments of $1,950 and weekly rents of $350, both below Darwin metro metrics ($2,100 and $385 respectively). Compared to Australian averages, Driver's mortgage payments exceed the national benchmark of $1,863, whereas local rents sit below the nationwide figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Driver counted 940 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,023 today, averaging 2.7 people each. 31% are couples with children, against 26% couples without children. 21% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family structures characterize the majority of households at 73.6%, consisting of couples with children (30.9%), couples without children (25.7%), and single parent families (16.2%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 26.4%, divided between lone person households at 21.0% and group arrangements at 5.3%. The local median household size is 2.7 people, marginally higher than the Greater Darwin benchmark of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
23.4% of adults in Driver hold a university qualification, including 15.4% with a bachelor degree and 4.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 32.7% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 1,641 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 906 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Higher education qualifications in Driver sit below wider SA4 benchmarks, with 23.4% of residents aged 15+ holding a tertiary degree compared to 31.3% regionally. Bachelor degrees represent 15.4% of attainment, postgraduate credentials account for 4.8%, and graduate diplomas comprise 3.2%. Technical training is widespread, with vocational qualifications held by 42.1% of residents aged 15+, consisting of certificates (32.7%) and advanced diplomas (9.4%). A significant 35.8% of local residents are actively engaged in formal study. This student cohort is distributed across primary education (13.2%), secondary education (8.2%), and tertiary studies (5.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Driver reaches 13 stops on 30 routes, timetabled for about 1,900 services a week. The typical home sits about 270 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Local public transit infrastructure comprises 13 active transport stops served by 30 bus routes, providing 1,902 weekly passenger trips. Access to transit options is favorable, with residents situated an average of 270 meters from their closest stop. Given the suburb's residential nature, outbound commuting is standard, with private vehicles accounting for 88% of journeys and vehicle ownership standing at an average of 1.4 per dwelling. Census findings from 2021 indicated that 2.9% worked from home, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 settings. Transit activity across the network provides an average of 271 trips per day, delivering approximately 146 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
75.1% of residents in Driver report no long-term health condition. 4.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 57.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Community health statistics assessed by AreaSearch indicate below-average health outcomes, with chronic illness and mortality rates slightly elevated across older and younger cohorts alike, while private health insurance adoption is notable, encompassing approximately 57% of the total population (~1,708 people). Mental health conditions (7.7%) and asthma (7.3%) represent the most prevalent diagnoses locally, whereas 75.1% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 77.1% regionally. Favorable health outcomes are evident among residents under 65. The community includes 289 people aged 65 and over (9.7% of residents), lower than the 10.7% regional proportion, with older residents recording health indicators that surpass regional and national standards.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
25.7% of Driver residents were born overseas and 21.3% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (25.2%) and English (23.0%). 10.1% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Driver is pronounced relative to broader benchmarks, with 25.7% of the community born overseas and 21.3% using a non-English language at home. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation at 39.0%, while affiliations classified as Other account for 1.8% of the local population compared to 1.3% across Greater Darwin. The primary reported ancestries in Driver are Australian (25.2%), English (23.0%), and Other (10.8%). The community also displays elevated representation across specific heritages, including Australian Aboriginal residents at 10.1% (versus 7.0% regionally), Filipino residents at 4.4% (versus 3.8%), and Maori residents at 0.9% (versus 0.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Driver is 33, younger than 86% of areas nationally. 27.7% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Driver maintains a younger age profile than Greater Darwin, with children and young adults (0 - 24) accounting for 35.6% of residents as of August 2026 estimates compared to 32.1% across the capital region. The median age remains at 33 as at August 2026, matching the 2021 Census and sitting 1 year below Greater Darwin's Census median of 34 and well under the Australian median of 38 at that Census. Since the Census, the retiree and elderly segment (65+) expanded from 7.5% to an estimated 9.7% of the population, and is projected to experience the strongest numerical expansion by 2041, increasing by 213 residents (73%) to reach 503.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Driver
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,747 at the 2021 Census → 2,989 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL70080). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.