Wurrumiyanga

Wurrumiyanga is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

The suburb of Wurrumiyanga had an estimated population of 1,817 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates and new addresses validated since the Census. This represented a growth of 396 people (27.9%) from the 2021 Census figure of 1,421 residents. The increase was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 1,811 residents based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with an additional 21 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population density equated to approximately 180 persons per square kilometer. The suburb's growth rate exceeded both the national average of 8.9% and the state average during this period, with overseas migration contributing around 53.0% of overall population gains. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by this data, growth rates are applied by age cohort based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 with a base year of 2022. Projected demographic shifts indicate an above median population growth for Australian non-metropolitan areas, with the suburb expected to increase by 307 persons by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 8.4% over the 17-year period.

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

Wurrumiyanga has had minimal residential development activity with 3 dwelling approvals annually since 2016 (19 approvals over five years). This low level of development reflects the rural nature of the area, where housing needs are typically met through specific local projects rather than broad market demand. It is important to note that with such low approval numbers, yearly growth figures and relativities can vary considerably based on individual projects.

Compared to Rest of NT and national patterns, Wurrumiyanga has much lower development activity. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Wurrumiyanga is expected to grow by 153 residents by 2041.

Construction pace is maintaining a reasonable level with projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as population increases.

Wurrumiyanga has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 0thth percentile nationally

No changes can significantly affect an area's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Tiwi H2 (Hydrogen) Project, Northern Territory Freight Rail And Logistics Capacity Improvements, Network Optimisation Program - Rail, and Coastal Hazards Adaptation Strategy. The following list details those anticipated to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Wurrumiyanga face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Wurrumiyanga has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well represented, with an unemployment rate of 17.2% as per AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

As of June 2025, there are 536 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 11.3% higher than the Rest of NT's rate of 5.9%. Workforce participation in Wurrumiyanga is lower at 34.0%, compared to the Rest of NT's 50.7%. Employment is concentrated in education & training, public administration & safety, and health care & social assistance sectors. The area has a particular specialization in education & training with an employment share of 2.3 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 12.5% compared to the Rest of NT's 18.8%. The predominantly residential area appears to have limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force decreased by 2.1% while employment declined by 6.1%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 3.5 percentage points. In comparison, the Rest of NT saw employment fall by 1.7%, labour force contract by 1.8%, and unemployment fall marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 provide insights into potential future demand within Wurrumiyanga. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Wurrumiyanga's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not consider localized population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Wurrumiyanga had a median taxpayer income of $37,142 and an average income of $49,580. Nationally, the averages were $51,655 and $61,577 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth since 2022, estimates for September 2025 are approximately $41,603 (median) and $55,535 (average). Census income data is unavailable for detailed analysis. The largest income segment in Wurrumiyanga was 30.4% earning $0 - $399 weekly, with 552 residents, differing from surrounding regions where $1,500 - $2,999 dominates at 33.6%. Notably, 55.6% of households earn below $800 weekly, indicating affordability pressures. Despite modest housing costs, with 89.8% of income retained, disposable income ranks at the 2nd percentile nationally.

Wurrumiyanga is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Wurrumiyanga's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 83.5% houses and 16.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is comparable to Non-Metro NT's figures of 83.6% houses and 16.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wurrumiyanga stood at 8.7%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (0%) or rented (91.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $607, below Non-Metro NT's average of $635 and significantly lower than Australia's national average of $1,863 for the period ended 2021. The median weekly rent in Wurrumiyanga was recorded at $80, matching Non-Metro NT's figure but substantially below the national average of $375 during the same period.

Wurrumiyanga features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 81.5 percent of all households, including 32.8 percent couples with children, 24.1 percent couples without children, and 17.9 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 18.5 percent, with lone person households at 17.6 percent and group households making up 0.8 percent of the total. The median household size is 3.5 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NT.

Wurrumiyanga faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 13.7%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Technical qualifications make up 14.1% of educational achievements among residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 3.0% and certificates at 11.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.1% in primary education, 9.1% in secondary education, and 1.5% pursuing tertiary education. The area has two schools serving 268 students: Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic Primary School and Xavier Catholic College. The Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) for the area is 618. Educational provision follows conventional lines, with one primary and one secondary institution.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Wurrumiyanga's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data for Wurrumiyanga shows excellent results across all age groups, with a very low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 47% of the total population (~845 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

Heart disease and diabetes are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 4.6 and 4.4% of residents respectively. A total of 82.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the Rest of NT's figure of 78.5%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 6.3% (114 people) compared to the Rest of NT's 9.4%. Health outcomes among seniors in Wurrumiyanga are particularly strong, broadly matching the general population's health profile.

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

Wurrumiyanga had a cultural diversity above average, with 2.7% of its population born overseas and 91.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the main religion in Wurrumiyanga, comprising 91.9%, compared to 61.0% across Rest of NT. The top three represented ancestry groups were Australian Aboriginal (86.4%), English (4.4%), and Australian (2.8%).

These percentages differed from regional averages: Australian Aboriginal was substantially higher (64.6%), English notably lower (10.2%), and Australian also notably lower (9.9%). Notably, Vietnamese ethnicity was overrepresented in Wurrumiyanga at 0.3%, compared to the regional average of 0.7%.

Wurrumiyanga hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Wurrumiyanga is close to the Rest of NT's average of 31 years but younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NT average, the 45-54 age cohort is notably over-represented at 14.1% locally, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 11.7%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 55-64 age group has grown from 10.2% to 11.8% of the population. Conversely, the 5-14 age cohort has declined from 14.2% to 11.7%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 15.5% to 14.1%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Wurrumiyanga's age structure, with the 45-54 cohort projected to grow by 27%, adding 68 residents to reach a total of 325. In contrast, both the 85+ and 15-24 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.