East Side

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

Based on ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, as of Nov 2025, the East Side statistical area (Lv2)'s population is estimated at around 3660. This reflects an increase of 562 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3098 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3649, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional four validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 943 persons per square kilometer. East Side's 18.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 9.7%. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 62.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth across all areas 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). Anticipating future population dynamics, an above median population growth of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is projected. The East Side is expected to expand by 625 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 16.1% in total over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, East Side has recorded approximately four residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 24 homes. So far in FY-26, two approvals have been recorded. This results in an average of 13.5 new residents per year for every home built between FY-21 and FY-25. Demand significantly outpaces supply, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers.

New dwellings are developed at an average value of $317,000. In terms of commercial development, $5.8 million in approvals have been registered this financial year, indicating limited focus on commercial development. Compared to the Rest of NT, East Side records 17.0% less building activity per person and places among the 8th percentile of areas assessed nationally, suggesting more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. This is under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and potential planning limitations.

New development consists of 80.0% detached houses and 20.0% medium to high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (64.0% at Census), indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. The estimated count of 2392 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Future projections show East Side adding 588 residents by 2041, from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

East Side has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 18thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 12 projects likely impacting the area. Key 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.

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees East Side performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

East Side has an educated workforce with prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 0.9% as of September 2025, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

In this month, 2,849 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 4.9% lower than Rest of NT's rate of 5.9%. Workforce participation stood at 73.3%, exceeding Rest of NT's 50.7%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training. Notably, health care & social assistance has a significant presence with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.5% compared to the regional 5.0%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.0%, with employment falling by 0.9%, causing unemployment to drop by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NT saw an employment decline of 1.3% and a labour force decline of 1.2%, with marginal rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide insights into potential future demand within East Side. These projections suggest national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to East Side's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.9% over ten years.

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

The median taxpayer income in East Side is $69,838, with an average of $78,176 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2023. Nationally, this is high compared to Rest of NT's median income of $53,572 and average income of $63,776. By September 2025, estimates based on an 8.44% Wage Price Index growth project a median income of approximately $75,732 and an average of $84,774 in East Side. The 2021 Census places household, family, and personal incomes in East Side between the 79th and 92nd percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that 34.0% of residents (1,244 individuals) earn within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to the broader area's 33.6%. A significant proportion (35.2%) have incomes above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity. Housing expenses consume 14.2% of income, while residents' disposable income ranks in the 80th percentile nationally. The suburb'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 dwellings, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 64.2% houses and 35.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NT had 67.8% houses and 32.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in East Side was 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, below Non-Metro NT's average of $1,800. The median weekly rent figure for East Side was recorded at $393, compared to Non-Metro NT's $280. Nationally, East Side's mortgage repayments were lower than 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 comprising 8.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, 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

East Side's educational attainment is notably higher than broader averages. Among residents aged 15+, 46.3% have university qualifications, compared to 20.1% in the SA4 region and 20.1% in the Rest of NT. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 26.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.9%) and graduate diplomas (5.8%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 26.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas (9.3%) and certificates (17.2%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.9% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 7.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transportation in East Side shows nine active transit stops currently operating. These stops offer a variety of bus routes, with one route serving all the stops collectively providing 49 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport is rated as good, with residents typically located 222 meters from the nearest transit stop.

On average, there are seven trips per day across all routes, which equates 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 shows East Side's health metrics are strong, with younger cohorts having low prevalence of common conditions. Private health cover is high at approximately 58% (2,109 people), compared to 53.8% across Rest of NT.

Common conditions include asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.9% and 6.8% respectively. 75.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 76.9% in Rest of NT. East Side has 12.2% (446 people) aged 65 and over, higher than Rest of NT's 9.3%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention despite being above average.

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

East Side's population showed higher cultural diversity compared to 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, however, was overrepresented at 0.6%, compared to 0.1% across Rest of NT.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (24.3%), Australian (20.4%), and Other (10.6%). Notably, Australian Aboriginals were overrepresented in East Side at 9.8% (vs regional 28.9%), Maori was represented equally at 1.1%, and French at 0.7% (vs regional 0.4%).

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

East Side has a median age of 34, which is slightly higher than the Rest of NT's figure of 31 but considerably lower than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile indicates that individuals aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, comprising 8.5% of the population, while those aged 15-24 make up a smaller proportion at 9.6%. Post-2021 Census data reveals that the 65 to 74 age group has grown from 7.5% to 8.5% of the population. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has decreased from 22.1% to 20.8%, and the 5 to 14 age group has dropped from 12.4% to 11.2%. By 2041, East Side's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 45 to 54 age cohort is projected to increase significantly, growing by 105 people (25%) from 417 to 523. In contrast, the 0 to 4 age group shows minimal growth of just 6%, an increase of 15 people.