Wulagi

An assessment of population growth drivers in Wulagi reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Analysis of ABS demographic updates and fresh address validation by AreaSearch estimates the population of the suburb of Wulagi at approximately 2,738 in May 2026. This indicates a rise of 228 individuals (9.1%) compared to the 2,510 residents documented in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is derived from the resident population of 2,738, calculated by AreaSearch using the June 2025 ABS ERP release alongside post-Census address verification. This population level corresponds to a density of 2,173 residents per square kilometer, exceeding the typical density across national locations analyzed by AreaSearch. The 9.1% post-Census growth rate in the suburb of Wulagi is within 0.2 percentage points of the national figure (9.3%), indicating solid growth performance. The main driver of this expansion was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 52.0% of the total population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch utilizes the 2024 population projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, using 2022 as the baseline. For locations where SA2 data is unavailable, or to calculate growth past 2032, AreaSearch applies cohort-specific growth rates from the 2023 Greater Capital Region projections, which rely on 2022 data. Looking forward, projections indicate that the suburb of Wulagi will experience population growth above the median of analyzed statistical areas. The local population is expected to rise by 473 individuals by 2041, representing a total gain of 17.3% over the 16-year timeframe.

The level of residential development activity in Wulagi is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Wulagi recorded no home construction approvals throughout the last five-year period. This indicates that the residential zone is fully developed, with natural limits on raw land for projects. Established residential pockets like this often experience consistent demand for existing properties due to the complete lack of newly built options.

Building activity in Wulagi is substantially lower than in the wider Greater Darwin region. This restricted supply of new builds generally underpins the value and interest in established properties. The level of construction is also below the national average, highlighting the mature state of the local market and hinting at potential regulatory or zoning constraints.

Wulagi has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 14thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure updates, development approvals, and major works projects are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 2 projects expected to influence the local area. These include the Royal Darwin Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit and CSSD Upgrade, the Northern Suburbs Youth Hub, the Casuarina Square Redevelopment, and improvements at Leanyer Primary School, with key details provided for the most relevant items.

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.

The labour market in Wulagi demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Wulagi supports a capable labor force with strong representation in key service industries, an unemployment rate of just 3.7%, and relatively consistent job numbers over the prior year according to compiled data. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,441, with the local unemployment rate sitting 0.2% higher than the 3.5% recorded for Greater Darwin. The workforce participation rate remains close to the Greater Darwin mark of 72.7%. Census records indicate that a minor 3.1% of the workforce operated from home, though this may have been influenced by pandemic-related movement restrictions.

Local workers are primarily employed in public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The suburb exhibits a clear concentration in education & training, employing people at 1.3 times the rate seen across the region. Conversely, accommodation & food services plays a smaller role, accounting for 5.4% of jobs compared to the regional figure of 8.0%. The heavily residential nature of the suburb means local employment opportunities are limited, as shown by the difference between local jobs and resident workers.

According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics for the 12 months ending March 2026, local employment grew by 0.4% while the labor force expanded by 0.7%, resulting in a 0.3 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same period, Greater Darwin saw a 0.4% rise in employment and a 0.8% expansion in the labor force, with its unemployment rate also climbing by 0.3 percentage points. Long-term employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia released in May-25 provide context for future workforce demands in Wulagi. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these figures vary widely by sector. Applying these industry trends to the local workforce structure suggest employment could grow by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, based on a basic weighting method that excludes local population shifts.

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

Based on the ATO tax data released for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in Wulagi recorded a median income of $67,033 and an average income of $74,729. This exceeds national benchmarks, comparing to a median of $66,956 and an average of $77,199 across Greater Darwin. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.41% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median of approximately $73,341 and an average of $81,761 as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reports that household, family, and personal incomes in the suburb are positioned between the 82nd and 85th percentiles nationwide. The weekly income band of $1,500 - 2,999 contains 38.8% of the local population (1,062 individuals), resembling the broader regional trend where 36.7% fall into this bracket. A significant proportion of high earners (34.2% earning above $3,000 weekly) indicates healthy financial capacity in the area. Housing costs consume 14.9% of local income, and strong earnings place residents in the 85th percentile for disposable income, with the SEIFA index placing the area in the 5th decile.

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

Residential patterns in Wulagi at the time of the last Census showed that separate houses accounted for 98.2% of the housing stock, while semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwellings comprised 1.8%. In contrast, the wider Darwin metropolitan area consisted of 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwelling types. Home ownership without a mortgage stood at 22.7%, representing a higher rate than the Darwin metropolitan average, with mortgaged properties making up 48.5% and rented homes accounting for 28.8%. The median monthly mortgage payment was below the metropolitan average at $2,000, while the median weekly rent was $425, compared to metropolitan benchmarks of $2,100 and $385 respectively. Nationally, local mortgage commitments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are notably higher than the country-wide median of $375.

Wulagi features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up the vast majority of households at 82.4%, consisting of couples with children at 39.3%, couples without children at 24.5%, and single parent families at 17.2%. Non-family households account for the remaining 17.6%, with single-person households representing 13.4% and group households making up 3.6%. The typical household size is 2.9 individuals, which is larger than the Greater Darwin average of 2.6.

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

Educational attainment levels in Wulagi are lower than regional trends, with 26.2% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university qualification, compared to 36.1% in the wider SA3 region. This indicates potential for future skills growth. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 17.2%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 6.2% and graduate diplomas at 2.8%. Vocational education is well represented, with 38.1% of residents aged 15 and over holding technical qualifications, including advanced diplomas at 11.5% and certificates at 26.6%.

A high proportion of the community is engaged in learning, with 37.7% of residents currently enrolled in an educational program. This includes 14.8% attending primary school, 11.2% in secondary school, and 4.9% enrolled in tertiary institutions.

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

Public transit analysis indicates 10 active bus stops operate within Wulagi. These stops accommodate 36 distinct routes, which combine to deliver 1,906 weekly passenger connections. Transit access is rated highly, with the average home located 148 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential nature of the suburb, most workers commute to other areas, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of travel at 91%. The average number of vehicles per household is 1.7, exceeding the regional average. A small share of the workforce (3.1%) worked from home, based on 2021 Census data collected during pandemic conditions.

Service frequency averages 272 daily trips across the transit network, translating to about 190 weekly services for each individual stop.

Wulagi's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health indicators point to favorable outcomes for local residents. Analysis of mortality rates and medical diagnoses shows results that align with national trends, with low rates of common health conditions observed across both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is high, representing approximately 56% of the population (~1,541 people).

Asthma and arthritis are the most prevalent diagnosed conditions, affecting 5.6% and 5.4% of the population respectively. Meanwhile, 77.9% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 77.1% across Greater Darwin. The working-age cohort is generally healthy with a low incidence of chronic illnesses. Residents aged 65 and over make up 12.7% of the population (347 people), which exceeds the Greater Darwin proportion of 11.0%. Seniors in the area experience positive health outcomes, ranking higher than the general population on national metrics.

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

Wulagi displays higher cultural diversity than most comparable markets, with 25.0% of residents born outside Australia and 21.5% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 47.1% of the community. The most distinct religious variance is Buddhism, which is practiced by 4.0% of the population, compared to 3.3% across Greater Darwin.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds, the three most common heritages are Australian at 25.2%, English at 18.4%, and Other at 14.8%. There are also notable differences in specific ethnic groups, with Australian Aboriginal heritage representing 10.1% of the population (compared to 7.0% regionally), Filipino ancestry at 3.4% (compared to 3.8% regionally), and Maori ancestry at 0.9% (compared to 0.6% regionally).

Wulagi's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age of 36 in Wulagi is slightly above the Greater Darwin average of 34 but below the national figure of 38. Compared to the wider Darwin region, the area has a larger proportion of children aged 5 - 14 (16.9%) but a smaller share of young adults aged 25 - 34 (11.0%). Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age bracket has risen from 11.3% to 13.5% of the population, and the 75 to 84 bracket has grown from 3.0% to 4.7%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 15.6% to 14.2%, and the 0 to 4 group declined from 7.4% to 6.2%. Projections for 2041 indicate demographic shifts, with the 45 to 54 age group expected to see the largest increase of 22%, adding 84 residents to reach 473, while the 5 to 14 cohort is projected to grow by just 1% (5 people).