Wadeye, NT: suburb profile

The population of Wadeye NT is 1,924 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Wadeye is $181 per week ($9,412 per year). Median rent in Wadeye is $50 per week ($217 per month). Wadeye has a median age of 27 years, younger than the national median of 38. Wadeye has a population density of 92 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Wadeye is Ireland. The most common religion is Catholic (36.5% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Australian Indigenous Languages.

Population
1,924
Census 2021
Median income
$181/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$50/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
27years
Census 2021

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

Wadeye vs the typical NT suburb

The median personal income in Wadeye is $181 a week, 79% below the typical NT suburb ($855). That ranks 161st of 163 NT suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $50 a week, $200 less than the typical NT suburb. Rent takes 6.5% of the median household income here, against 13.6% in the typical NT suburb. The median resident is 27, 6 years younger 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.
MeasureWadeyeTypical NTDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$181/wk$855/wk −79%$766/wk
Household income$767/wk$1,803/wk −57%$1,637/wk
Rent$50/wk$250/wk −80%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$0/mo$1,950/mo −100%$1,733/mo
Median age2733 −6 yrs42
Rent share of household income6.5%13.6% −7.1 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 Wadeye, the typical NT suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Wadeye Population

1,924 residents at the 2021 Census.

Wadeye Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$181/wk
$9,412 per year
Ranked 8,915 of 14,663
Median Rent
$50/wk
$217 per month
Ranked 8,812 of 14,663
Median Age
27years
11 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$0/mo
Avg household size: 4.8 · 1.8 per bedroom

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

Wadeye Rent Prices & Affordability

7% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $767/wk
Median rent $50/wk
Rent to income 6.5%

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

Median rent in Wadeye against your income

About $3,324 a month
Median rent $50/wk
Left after rent $717/wk
Rent share 6.5%

Wadeye Schools

1
schools nearby
0
government
622
avg ICSEA score
467
total students
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr Catholic College Catholic
Combined · T-12 · 467 students
622
ICSEA

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

All schools near Wadeye, with a map

Wadeye Map

Wadeye, Northern Territory Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Wadeye, Northern Territory: 14.2478°S, 129.5178°E

Wadeye Schools (1)

People in Wadeye

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.7% (938) Female 51.3% (989)

Population Density

92
people per km²
1,924 people · 20.8 km²

Households

4.8
Avg household size
1.8
Persons per bedroom
$439
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

Ireland
0.4%
China
0.3%
New Zealand
0.3%
England
0.2%
Afghanistan
0.0%
Bangladesh
0.0%
Bosnia and Herzegovina
0.0%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Australian Indigenous Languages
82.5%
Spanish
0.3%
Mandarin
0.2%
Korean
0.2%
Afrikaans
0.0%
Arabic
0.0%
Cantonese
0.0%

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

Ancestry

Australian Aboriginal
86.2%
Australian
4.1%
English
4.1%
Irish
2.9%
Scottish
1.0%
German
0.6%
Italian
0.5%
Dutch
0.4%
Chinese
0.4%
Welsh
0.3%
Greek
0.2%

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

Catholic
36.5%
No religion
32.7%
Not stated
15.0%
Othr Rel Aust Abor Trad Rel
11.9%
Other religions
11.9%
SB OSB NRA OSB
1.6%
Christian (other)
1.1%
Anglican
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

85.8%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
19.6% 277
Separated
1.8% 25
Divorced
2.3% 32
Widowed
3.5% 49
Never married
72.8% 1,027

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
56.1%
One parent: children under 15
19.0%
Couple: no children under 15
9.2%
Couple: no children
9.1%
One parent: no children under 15
6.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
11.9%
2 persons
15.2%
3 persons
9.5%
4 persons
10.7%
5 persons
12.5%
6+ persons
40.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Wadeye

Housing Tenure

Of the 339 occupied private dwellings in Wadeye at the 2021 Census, 82.6% were rented, 0.9% owned outright and 0.0% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
13.3% 45 dwellings
Owned outright
0.9% 3 dwellings
Rented
82.6% 280 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.7% 9 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
76.6%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
23.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
6.3%
2 bedrooms
36.6%
3 bedrooms
41.7%
4 bedrooms
13.8%
5 bedrooms
1.5%

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

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
63.9%
1 vehicle
22.7%
2 vehicles
9.7%
3 vehicles
2.7%
4+ vehicles
0.9%

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

Work, income and education in Wadeye

Employment

Employed full-time
17.5% 226 people
Employed part-time
4.0% 51 people
Unemployed
3.7% 48 people
Not in labour force
74.8% 966 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
36.0%
Community & Personal Service
23.8%
Managers
10.1%
Technicians & Trade Workers
9.5%
Clerical & Administrative
7.4%
Sales Workers
6.9%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
3.2%
Labourers
3.2%

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

Weekly Household Income

$1-$149/wk
7.9%
$150-$299/wk
15.2%
$300-$399/wk
5.4%
$400-$499/wk
9.4%
$500-$649/wk
7.9%
$650-$799/wk
4.3%
$800-$999/wk
4.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
6.9%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
5.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
3.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.1%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
7.2%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.8%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
1.4%
$4,000+/wk
4.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
5.9%
$1-$149/wk
40.8%
$150-$299/wk
30.7%
$300-$399/wk
1.8%
$400-$499/wk
1.3%
$500-$649/wk
0.6%
$650-$799/wk
1.4%
$800-$999/wk
2.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
3.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
3.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
3.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
2.2%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
2.2%
$3,500+/wk
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Walked only
47.0%
Car (driver)
28.2%
Car (passenger)
11.8%
Bus
5.6%
Did not go to work
4.2%
Other
1.7%
Bicycle
1.4%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
47.1%
Year 10 or equivalent
32.3%
Year 11 or equivalent
12.7%
Year 9 or equivalent
7.9%

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

Certificate III/IV
35.4%
Bachelor Degree
26.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
16.9%
Postgraduate Degree
10.1%
Certificate I/II
8.5%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.6%

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

Field of Study

Education
25.4%
Society & Culture
22.6%
Management & Commerce
15.8%
Engineering
6.8%
Health
6.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.6%
Architecture & Building
5.6%
Agriculture & Environment
5.1%
Creative Arts
5.1%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.7%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Catholic
52.2%
Secondary: Catholic
18.3%
Primary: Government
9.2%
Secondary: Government
8.4%
Pre-school
6.6%
Vocational Education
3.8%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
1.5%

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
87.0%
Has need for assistance
3.9%
Need for assistance not stated
9.4%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Heart disease
35
Mental health
31
Asthma
27
Diabetes
20
Kidney disease
16
Lung condition
11
Cancer
6
Stroke
3
Arthritis
3

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
11.1% 143
Did not provide
88.9% 1,148

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
6.0% 77
Not a volunteer
94.0% 1,205

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.5% 7
Previously served
1.0% 13
Never served
98.5% 1,276

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
38.4%
1 child
14.9%
2 children
18.0%
3 children
15.7%
4 children
8.4%
5+ children
4.6%

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

When Migrants Arrived

1981: 1990
4
2001: 2010
8
2011: 2015
13
2019
7
2020
5

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

Population Mobility

7.6%
moved in the last year
13.1%
moved in the last 5 years
13.3%
unemployment rate (Census)
25.5%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,695
Moved: same area (SA2)
62
Moved from NT
37
Moved from VIC
13
Moved from QLD
9
Moved from WA
7
Moved from TAS
7
Moved from NSW
5
Moved from SA
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
17.4%
5: 14 hours
20.0%
15: 29 hours
15.4%
30+ hours
13.0%
Did not do domestic work
34.2%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
76.0%
Intact family: other children present
8.3%
Step family: no other children
6.9%
Step family: other children present
3.9%
Blended family: no other children
2.9%
Other couple: children only
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Compare Wadeye

Frequently Asked Questions About Wadeye

What is the population of Wadeye NT?

The population of Wadeye NT is 1,924 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 92 people per km². Wadeye is ranked #3,086 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Wadeye?

The median personal income in Wadeye NT is $181 per week, or $9,412 per year. The median household income is $767 per week. Family income is $439 per week. Wadeye is ranked #8,915 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Wadeye?

Median rent in Wadeye NT is $50 per week ($217 per month). Rent represents 6.5% of household income, which is considered affordable. Wadeye ranks #8,812 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What is the median age in Wadeye?

The median age in Wadeye NT is 27 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Wadeye a good suburb to live in?

Wadeye is a suburb in Northern Territory with a population of 1,924. The median income is $181/wk, which is below the typical NT suburb ($855/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (6.5% 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: 70275. All dollar figures in AUD.