idc-logo
svg rectangle color
AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Darwin

Dwelling type

In Greater Darwin, 36.0% of the dwellings were medium or high density, compared to 21% in Western Australia.

Dwelling Type is an important determinant of Greater Darwin's residential role and function. A greater concentration of higher density dwellings is likely to attract more young adults and smaller households, often renting. Larger, detached or separate dwellings are more likely to attract families and prospective families. The residential built form often reflects market opportunities or planning policy, such as building denser forms of housing around public transport nodes or employment centres.

Dwelling Type statistics should be viewed in conjunction with Household Size, Household Types, Housing Tenure and Age Structure for a more complete picture of the housing market in Greater Darwin.

If you're looking at this data to prepare a housing strategy, learn more here.

Q:

Derived from the Census:

'Dwelling Structure is derived from the ABS address register supplemented with information from Census Field Officers.'

Dwelling structure
Greater Darwin - Dwellings (Enumerated)20212011Change
Dwelling typeNumber%Western Australia %Number%Western Australia %2011 to 2021
Separate house34,60059.177.129,29260.378.1+5,308
Medium density11,04718.915.910,68822.016.0+359
High density10,04817.24.85,76611.93.7+4,282
Caravans, cabin, houseboat2,0703.51.52,1214.41.7-51
Other3350.60.45451.10.4-210
Not stated4350.70.41450.30.2+290
Total Private Dwellings58,535100.0100.048,557100.0100.0+9,978
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information
Dwelling type
Greater Darwin20212011Change
Dwelling typeNumber%Western Australia %Number%Western Australia %2011 to 2021
Occupied private dwellings53,50391.289.544,68991.788.4+8,814
Unoccupied private dwellings5,0258.610.33,8587.911.3+1,167
Non private dwellings1530.30.21620.30.3-9
Total dwellings58,681100.0100.048,709100.0100.0+9,972
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

In 2021, there were 34,600 separate houses in the area, 11,047 medium density dwellings, and 10,048 high density dwellings. In addition, there were 2,070 caravans/cabins/houseboats in the area.

Analysis of the types of dwellings in Greater Darwin in 2021 shows that 59.1% of all dwellings were separate houses; 18.9% were medium density dwellings, and 17.2% were in high density dwellings, compared with 77.1%, 15.9%, and 4.8% in the Western Australia respectively.

In 2021, a total of 91.2% of the dwellings in Greater Darwin were occupied on Census night, compared to 89.5% in Western Australia. The proportion of unoccupied dwellings was 8.6%, which is smaller compared to that found in Western Australia (10.3%).

Emerging groups

The total number of dwellings in Greater Darwin increased by 9,972 between 2011 and 2021.

The largest changes in the type of dwellings found in Greater Darwin between 2011 and 2021 were:

  • Separate house (+5,308 dwellings)
  • High density (+4,282 dwellings)
  • Medium density (+359 dwellings)
  • Other (-210 dwellings)

DISCLAIMER: While all due care has been taken to ensure that the content of this website is accurate and current, there may be errors or omissions in it and no legal responsibility is accepted for the information and opinions in this website.

Please view our Privacy Policy, Terms of use and Legal notices.

ABS Data and the copyright in the ABS Data remains the property of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The copyright in the way .id has modified, transformed or reconfigured the ABS Data as published on this website remains the property of .id. ABS Data can be accessed from the Australian Bureau of Statistics at www.abs.gov.au. ABS data can be used under license - terms published on ABS website. intermediary.management@abs.gov.au if you have any queries or wish to distribute any ABS data.