Gillen

Population growth drivers in Gillen are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, as of November 2025, the estimated population of the suburb of Gillen is around 5,010. This reflects an increase of 544 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,466 people in the suburb. The change is inferred from the resident population of 5,014 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and an additional three validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,964 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 12.2% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both the national average (8.9%) and state averages, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth that contributed approximately 50.0% 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 any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years 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). Looking at population projections moving forward, an above median population growth of national non-metropolitan areas is projected for the suburb, with an expected increase of 843 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 16.9% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Gillen shows approximately 4 dwellings receiving development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 24 homes were approved, with none yet recorded for FY26. This results in an average of 11.1 new residents per year arriving per dwelling constructed during this period.

The demand for housing significantly outpaces supply, which typically influences prices upwards and intensifies competition among buyers. New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost value of $419,000, below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing choices for buyers. In FY26, $2.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating the area's residential character. Comparatively, Gillen records approximately 58% of the building activity per person when compared to the Rest of NT.

Nationally, it places among the 19th percentile of areas assessed, suggesting more limited housing choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. However, development activity has picked up in recent periods. This is reflective of the area's maturity and may indicate possible planning constraints. New development in Gillen consists of 80.0% detached dwellings and 20.0% medium to high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 832 people per approval, Gillen demonstrates a mature, established area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Gillen is forecasted to gain approximately 849 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Regional Skate and Play Precinct, Jim McConville Oval Lighting Upgrade, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia, and Gillen Oval Multi-Sport Precinct. 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 Gillen performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Gillen has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.6% as of June 2025, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

In this month, 3725 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 4.3 percentage points lower than Rest of NT's rate of 5.9%. Workforce participation in Gillen stood at 72.1%, significantly higher than Rest of NT's 50.7%. Leading employment industries among residents included health care and social assistance, public administration and safety, and retail trade.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing had limited presence with only 0.3% employment compared to the regional average of 5.0%. The predominantly residential area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force decreased by 1.9% while employment declined by the same percentage, leaving unemployment broadly unchanged at 3.7%. In comparison, Rest of NT recorded an employment decline of 1.7%, labour force decline of 1.8%, with a marginal decrease in unemployment to 5.6%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-2022 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Gillen's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022, Gillen had a median income among taxpayers of $67,076. The average income stood at $75,103. This was well above the national average and compared to levels of $51,655 and $61,577 across Rest of NT respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.01% since financial year 2022, current estimates for median income would be approximately $75,132 as of September 2025, with average income estimated at $84,123 during the same period. From the 2021 Census, household incomes in Gillen rank between the 76th and 85th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 39.0% of individuals earn within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, reflecting patterns seen in metropolitan regions where 33.6% similarly occupy this range. High housing costs consume 15.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 76th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Gillen is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The dwelling structure in Gillen, as evaluated at the latest Census, consisted of 70.2% houses and 29.8% 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 Gillen was at 14.5%, similar to Non-Metro NT, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (43.1%) or rented (42.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Gillen was $1,733, lower than Non-Metro NT's average of $1,800. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $400, higher than Non-Metro NT's $280. Nationally, Gillen's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceed the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 70.5% of all households, consisting of 30.7% couples with children, 24.0% couples without children, and 14.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.5%, with lone person households at 22.8% and group households making up 6.4%. The median household size is 2.7 people, smaller than the Rest of NT average of 2.8.

Educational outcomes in Gillen fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 29.3% among residents aged 15+, exceeding both the SA4 regional average of 20.1% and that of Rest of NT (20.1%). Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 18.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.5% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 35.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.5% and certificates at 24.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.0% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 4.4% pursuing tertiary education. Gillen's four schools have a combined enrollment of 949 students. The area has varied educational conditions, with an ICSEA score of 833. Educational provision is split between two primary and two secondary institutions. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 18.9 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 15.0, indicating that Gillen serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Gillen has 12 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by three distinct routes that together facilitate 83 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is deemed excellent, with residents residing an average of 192 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 11 daily trips across all routes, translating to roughly six weekly trips per individual stop.

Gillen's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Health outcomes data shows excellent results in Gillen, with younger age groups particularly experiencing low prevalence rates for common health conditions. Approximately 56% (~2827 people) of Gillen's total population has private health cover, compared to 53.7% across the rest of the Northern Territory (NT).

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.8% and 5.6% of residents respectively. A total of 76.5% of residents report being free from medical ailments, compared to 76.9% across the rest of NT. Gillen has an elderly population (aged 65 and over) comprising 8.8% (~440 people). While health outcomes among seniors are above average, they require more attention than the broader population.

Gillen 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

Gillen's population, with 30.6% born overseas and 29.1% speaking a language other than English at home, is more culturally diverse than most local markets. Christianity is the predominant religion in Gillen, accounting for 44.5% of its population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category represents 2.8% of Gillen's population, slightly higher than the Rest of NT average of 2.1%.

In terms of ancestry, Australians make up 21.0%, English 19.3%, and Australian Aboriginal 13.9% of Gillen's population. However, this is lower than the regional average for Australian Aboriginals at 28.9%. Certain ethnic groups show notable differences in representation: Maori are overrepresented at 1.8% compared to the regional average of 1.1%, Samoan at 1.1% (regional average 0.4%), and New Zealanders at 1.1% (regional average 0.6%).

Gillen's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Gillen's median age is 33 years, slightly higher than the Rest of NT average of 31 but considerably lower than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Rest of NT, Gillen has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (17.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (16.9%). According to the 2021 Census, Gillen's population aged 15-24 grew from 11.9% to 14.0%, while the proportion of those aged 25-34 decreased from 19.2% to 16.9%. The percentage of residents aged 5-14 also dropped, from 15.9% to 14.5%. Population projections for 2041 suggest significant demographic changes in Gillen. Notably, the 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 31%, adding 177 people and reaching a total of 759 from 581. The 55-64 age group will experience more modest growth, with an increase of just 21 residents.