Desert Springs, NT: suburb profile

The population of Desert Springs NT is 1,536 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Desert Springs is $1,454 per week ($75,608 per year). Median rent in Desert Springs is $500 per week ($2,167 per month). Desert Springs has a median age of 36 years, younger than the national median of 38. Desert Springs has a population density of 620 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Desert Springs is United States of America. The most common religion is No religion (45.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Punjabi. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Desert Springs is $2,264.

Population
1,536
Census 2021
Median income
$1,454/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$500/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
36years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021.

Desert Springs vs the typical NT suburb

The median personal income in Desert Springs is $1,454 a week, 70% above the typical NT suburb ($855). That ranks 7th of 163 NT suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $500 a week, $250 more than the typical NT suburb. Rent takes 16.5% of the median household income here, against 13.6% in the typical NT suburb. The median resident is 36, 3 years older than in the typical NT suburb (33).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureDesert SpringsTypical NTDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$1,454/wk$855/wk +70%$766/wk
Household income$3,025/wk$1,803/wk +68%$1,637/wk
Rent$500/wk$250/wk +100%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,264/mo$1,950/mo +16%$1,733/mo
Median age3633 +3 yrs42
Rent share of household income16.5%13.6% +2.9 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Desert Springs, the typical NT suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Desert Springs Population

1,536 residents at the 2021 Census.

Desert Springs Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$1,454/wk
$75,608 per year
Ranked 142 of 14,663
Median Rent
$500/wk
$2,167 per month
Ranked 576 of 14,663
Median Age
36years
2 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$2,264/mo
Avg household size: 2.8 · 0.9 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Desert Springs Rent Prices & Affordability

17% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $3,025/wk
Median rent $500/wk
Rent to income 16.5%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Desert Springs against your income

About $13,108 a month
Median rent $500/wk
Left after rent $2,525/wk
Rent share 16.5%

Desert Springs Schools

13
schools nearby
7
government
883
avg ICSEA score
3,520
total students
Ross Park Primary School Government
Primary · T-6 · 413 students
1040
ICSEA
St Philip's College Independent
Secondary · 7-12 · 502 students
1031
ICSEA
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College Catholic
Combined · T-12 · 823 students
1028
ICSEA
Bradshaw Primary School Government
Primary · T-6 · 381 students
918
ICSEA
Centralian Senior College Government
Secondary · 10-12 · 351 students
879
ICSEA
Centralian Middle School Government
Secondary · 7-9 · 338 students
816
ICSEA
Gillen Primary School Government
Primary · T-6 · 230 students
807
ICSEA
Sadadeen Primary School Government
Primary · T-6 · 118 students
793
ICSEA
Acacia Hill School Government
Combined · T-12 · 96 students
789
ICSEA
Yipirinya School Independent
Combined · T-10 · 186 students
729
ICSEA
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College - Bath Street Campus Catholic
Primary
St Joseph's Catholic Flexible School Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 82 students
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College - Sadadeen Road Campus Catholic
Secondary

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Desert Springs, with a map

Desert Springs Map

Desert Springs, Northern Territory Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Desert Springs, Northern Territory: 23.7125°S, 133.8856°E

Desert Springs Schools (13)

People in Desert Springs

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.1% (751) Female 50.9% (779)

Population Density

620
people per km²
1,536 people · 2.5 km²

Households

2.8
Avg household size
0.9
Persons per bedroom
$3,321
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

United States of America
9.9%
India
4.0%
New Zealand
3.1%
England
2.7%
Philippines
2.3%
South Africa
1.4%
China
0.8%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Punjabi
1.4%
Hindi
1.4%
Malayalam
1.1%
Cantonese
0.9%
Spanish
0.8%
Arabic
0.7%
Mandarin
0.7%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
35.6%
Australian
26.6%
Irish
11.5%
Scottish
9.6%
German
8.3%
Indian
4.4%
Australian Aboriginal
4.0%
Italian
3.6%
Chinese
2.6%
Filipino
2.6%
Dutch
1.8%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
45.8%
Catholic
19.7%
Not stated
5.3%
Anglican
4.8%
Uniting Church
4.1%
Hinduism
4.0%
Christian (other)
3.3%
Pentecostal
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

4.0%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
54.8% 665
Separated
2.0% 24
Divorced
8.7% 106
Widowed
2.9% 35
Never married
31.6% 383

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
53.7%
Couple: no children
27.7%
Couple: no children under 15
13.7%
One parent: no children under 15
3.3%
One parent: children under 15
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
18.9%
2 persons
33.1%
3 persons
20.0%
4 persons
17.0%
5 persons
7.1%
6+ persons
3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Desert Springs

Housing Tenure

Of the 525 occupied private dwellings in Desert Springs at the 2021 Census, 34.3% were rented, 21.3% owned outright and 37.9% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
4.6% 24 dwellings
Owned outright
21.3% 112 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
37.9% 199 dwellings
Rented
34.3% 180 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.8% 4 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
68.3%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
26.1%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
5.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.0%
2 bedrooms
25.2%
3 bedrooms
29.8%
4 bedrooms
35.2%
5 bedrooms
6.0%
6+ bedrooms
2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.2%
$450-$599/mo
1.8%
$600-$799/mo
1.8%
$800-$999/mo
3.0%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
16.8%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
10.2%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
24.0%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
21.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
17.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
1.4%
1 vehicle
30.1%
2 vehicles
44.6%
3 vehicles
16.2%
4+ vehicles
7.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Desert Springs

Employment

Employed full-time
61.3% 683 people
Employed part-time
19.8% 221 people
Unemployed
1.3% 15 people
Not in labour force
17.6% 196 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
34.9%
Managers
19.0%
Community & Personal Service
16.6%
Clerical & Administrative
12.8%
Technicians & Trade Workers
10.2%
Sales Workers
3.4%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
1.8%
Labourers
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

$300-$399/wk
1.1%
$500-$649/wk
1.3%
$650-$799/wk
1.3%
$800-$999/wk
3.0%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
3.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
4.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.2%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.0%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
10.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
9.1%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
7.6%
$4,000+/wk
35.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.4%
$1-$149/wk
3.1%
$150-$299/wk
1.6%
$300-$399/wk
0.5%
$400-$499/wk
0.8%
$500-$649/wk
1.3%
$650-$799/wk
5.8%
$800-$999/wk
8.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
10.9%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
8.7%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
16.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.8%
$3,500+/wk
9.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
70.9%
Did not go to work
9.0%
Car (passenger)
7.9%
Bicycle
5.3%
Walked only
2.8%
Bus
1.8%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.5%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.4%
Other
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
75.6%
Year 10 or equivalent
11.9%
Year 11 or equivalent
10.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
2.4%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
33.8%
Certificate III/IV
26.3%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.3%
Postgraduate Degree
15.8%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.2%
Certificate I/II
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
23.3%
Society & Culture
18.0%
Health
17.3%
Engineering
13.3%
Education
7.2%
Architecture & Building
6.0%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.8%
Creative Arts
2.5%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.5%
Information Technology
2.4%
Agriculture & Environment
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
25.7%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
23.2%
Pre-school
11.3%
Vocational Education
11.3%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
10.3%
Primary: Catholic
7.8%
Secondary: Catholic
6.9%
Secondary: Government
3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
93.6%
Has need for assistance
1.5%
Need for assistance not stated
4.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
78
Asthma
43
Heart disease
30
Arthritis
28
Diabetes
25
Cancer
10
Lung condition
9
Kidney disease
5
Stroke
5

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
8.8% 102
Did not provide
91.2% 1,057

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
21.9% 252
Not a volunteer
78.1% 901

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.5% 6
Current ADF: Reserves
0.7% 8
Previously served
3.8% 44
Never served
95.0% 1,110

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
39.6%
1 child
12.5%
2 children
26.5%
3 children
15.0%
4 children
5.8%
5+ children
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
5
1951: 1960
8
1961: 1970
21
1971: 1980
20
1981: 1990
48
1991: 2000
34
2001: 2010
96
2011: 2015
94
2016
25
2017
23
2018
37
2019
53
2020
42
2021
23

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

20.8%
moved in the last year
59.6%
moved in the last 5 years
1.6%
unemployment rate (Census)
79.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,160
Moved from NT
99
Moved from overseas
69
Moved: same area (SA2)
54
Moved from VIC
30
Moved from QLD
17
Moved from NSW
10
Moved from ACT
8
Moved from SA
6

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
25.4%
5: 14 hours
33.3%
15: 29 hours
12.0%
30+ hours
6.7%
Did not do domestic work
22.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
80.5%
Step family: no other children
16.7%
Blended family: no other children
1.4%
Intact family: other children present
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Parap
Income: $1,281/wk Rent: $415/wk $85/wk less rent
The Gap (NT)
Income: $1,189/wk Rent: $350/wk $150/wk less rent
Araluen (NT)
Income: $1,281/wk Rent: $440/wk $60/wk less rent
Herbert
Income: $1,268/wk Rent: $460/wk $40/wk less rent
Fannie Bay
Income: $1,322/wk Rent: $390/wk $110/wk less rent
Farrar
Income: $1,172/wk Rent: $455/wk $45/wk less rent
Holtze
Income: $1,308/wk Rent: $230/wk $270/wk less rent
Girraween (NT)
Income: $1,256/wk Rent: $420/wk $80/wk less rent

Suburbs near Desert Springs

The closest suburb to Desert Springs is The Gap (NT), 1.2 km away.

The Gap (NT)
1.2 km away · income $1,189/wk · rent $350/wk
Sadadeen
1.8 km away · income $984/wk · rent $320/wk
Gillen
2.0 km away · income $1,103/wk · rent $400/wk
East Side
2.7 km away · income $1,227/wk · rent $393/wk
Araluen (NT)
3.5 km away · income $1,281/wk · rent $440/wk
Braitling
4.7 km away · income $1,138/wk · rent $430/wk

Compare Desert Springs

Frequently Asked Questions About Desert Springs

What is the population of Desert Springs NT?

The population of Desert Springs NT is 1,536 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 620 people per km². Desert Springs is ranked #3,365 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Desert Springs?

The median personal income in Desert Springs NT is $1,454 per week, or $75,608 per year. The median household income is $3,025 per week. Family income is $3,321 per week. Desert Springs is ranked #142 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Desert Springs?

Median rent in Desert Springs NT is $500 per week ($2,167 per month). Rent represents 16.5% of household income, which is considered affordable. Desert Springs ranks #576 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Desert Springs?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Desert Springs NT is $2,264. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Desert Springs?

The median age in Desert Springs NT is 36 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Desert Springs a good suburb to live in?

Desert Springs is a suburb in Northern Territory with a population of 1,536. The median income is $1,454/wk, which is above the typical NT suburb ($855/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (16.5% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 70078. All dollar figures in AUD.