East Side

East Side has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of Nov 2025, the estimated population of East Side is around 3,637. This figure reflects an increase of 539 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,098. The growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 3,636 following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and validation of four new addresses post-Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 937 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. East Side's growth rate since the Census exceeds both national (8.9%) and state averages, marking it as a notable growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 62% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch projections for each SA2 area are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch applies growth rates by age cohort provided by ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Future population dynamics anticipate above median growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, East Side is projected to expand by 622 persons, reflecting a total increase of 16.7% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in East Side according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

East Side has seen minimal construction activity with 3 new dwellings approved annually over the past five years (totalling 17). These low development levels reflect its rural nature, where housing needs typically drive development rather than broad market demand. Note that the small sample size can significantly influence annual growth and relativity statistics.

East Side shows less construction activity compared to Rest of NT and national averages. Recent construction comprises 75% standalone homes and 25% attached dwellings, reflecting its rural character with larger properties being typical. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 2392 people, indicating a quiet development environment. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate forecasts East Side to gain 608 residents by 2041.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

East Side has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 8thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 12 projects likely influencing this region. Notable projects include Alice Springs Hospital Emergency Department Redevelopment, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia, Alice Springs Flood Mitigation Project, and Melanka Accelerated Accommodation Development. The following list details those most relevant.

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 East Side rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

East Side has a highly educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.0%, as per AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation (June 2025).

The area had 2,805 residents employed at this time, with an unemployment rate 4.9% below Rest of NT's rate of 5.9%. Workforce participation was high at 73.3%, compared to Rest of NT's 50.7%. Leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training. East Side showed strong specialization in health care & social assistance (1.3 times the regional level), while agriculture, forestry & fishing employed just 0.5% of local workers, below Rest of NT's 5.0%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census working population vs resident population counts. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force decreased by 1.8%, alongside a 1.7% employment decline, causing unemployment to fall by 0.1 percentage points. This contrasted with Rest of NT's 1.7% employment contraction, 1.8% labour force fall, and marginal unemployment decrease. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts (Sep-22) suggest potential future demand within East Side. These projections indicate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to East Side's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for localised population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

East Side median taxpayer income was $69,838 with an average of $78,176 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is among the highest in Australia, 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, current estimates would be approximately $78,226 (median) and $87,565 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family, and personal incomes all rank highly in East Side, between the 79th and 92nd percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows the predominant cohort spans 34.0% of locals (1,236 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, consistent with broader trends across the broader area showing 33.6% in the same category. The substantial proportion of high earners indicates strong economic capacity throughout the district, with 35.2% above $3,000/week. Housing accounts for 14.2% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 80th percentile for disposable income and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

East Side displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

East Side's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 64.2% houses and 35.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NT's 67.8% houses and 32.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in East Side was recorded at 20.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.4% and rented ones at 42.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,742, lower than Non-Metro NT's average of $1,800. The median weekly rent figure for East Side was $393, higher than Non-Metro NT's $280. Nationally, East Side's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 62.9% of all households, including 26.6% couples with children, 23.6% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 37.1%, with lone person households at 28.4% and group households making up 8.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NT average of 2.8.

The educational profile of East Side exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

In East Side, a significant proportion of residents aged 15 and above have university qualifications, at 46.3%, which is higher than the SA4 region average (20.1%) and the Rest of NT average (20.1%). This high educational attainment indicates strong potential for knowledge-based opportunities in the area. Bachelor degrees are the most common, held by 26.6% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.9%, and graduate diplomas at 5.8%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 26.5% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (9.3%) and certificates (17.2%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 7.1% pursuing tertiary education. Ross Park Primary School serves the local educational needs within East Side, with an enrollment of 412 students as of a specific date. The school operates under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1049), offering balanced educational opportunities focused exclusively on primary education. Secondary options are available in surrounding areas. As of a certain date, the area has 11.3 school places per 100 residents, which is below the regional average of 15.0, suggesting some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Transport analysis indicates nine active stops operating within East Side, offering a mix of bus services. These stops are served by one route collectively providing forty-nine weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 222 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages seven trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately five weekly trips per individual stop.

East Side's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout East Side. Younger cohorts particularly have a very low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~2,096 people), compared to 53.7% across Rest of NT. The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 6.9 and 6.8% of residents respectively. Seventy-five point two percent declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 76.9% across Rest of NT. The area has 12.3% of residents aged 65 and over (447 people), which is higher than the 9.3% in Rest of NT. Health outcomes among seniors are above average but require more attention than the broader population.

East Side was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

East Side's population showed higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 26.5% born overseas and 18.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in East Side, accounting for 34.6%. Judaism was overrepresented, comprising 0.6%, compared to 0.1% regionally.

The top three ancestral groups were English (24.3%), Australian (20.4%), and Other (10.6%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal (9.8%) and French (0.7%) groups had higher representation in East Side than the regional averages of 28.9% and 0.4%, respectively.

East Side hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

East Side's median age is 34, slightly higher than Rest of NT's 31 but lower than Australia's 38. The age profile reveals that those aged 65-74 are notably prominent (8.5%), while the 15-24 group is relatively smaller (9.6%) compared to Rest of NT. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 65-74 age group has increased from 7.5% to 8.5%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 22.1% to 20.8%, and the 5-14 group has dropped from 12.4% to 11.2%. By 2041, East Side's age composition is projected to shift significantly. The 45-54 age cohort is expected to grow by 107 people (26%), from 414 to 522. Meanwhile, the 0-4 cohort shows minimal growth of just 7% (15 people).