Fastest growing Darwin suburbs (2016-2021)
Muirhead grew fastest in percentage terms, at +54%. It also added the most residents, 1,291. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 39 eligible Darwin suburbs.
This ranking shows which Darwin suburbs grew fastest between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses — once by percent change, and once by the sheer number of residents added, because those two questions have very different answers.
Percent growth and headcount growth are both real and they rarely agree. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 has grown 4,900%, and a suburb going from 35,000 to 56,000 has grown 63% — but the second one added four times as many people. The first list finds the greenfield estates, the second finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Both are ranked within Darwin's own pool. Note the period: the 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count available in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here.
Darwin suburbs that grew fastest, 2016-2021
Ranked on percent population change between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses. Percent growth favours suburbs starting from a small base, so greenfield estates built on former farmland dominate the top.
Muirhead
NT 0810 · 3,689 residents1,291 residents added · +54% · 3,689 residents in 2021
Berrimah
NT 0828 · 1,199 residents409 residents added · +52% · 1,199 residents in 2021
Darwin City
NT 0800 · 7,149 residents685 residents added · +11% · 7,149 residents in 2021
Fannie Bay
NT 0820 · 2,875 residents251 residents added · +10% · 2,875 residents in 2021
Farrar
NT 0830 · 1,650 residents132 residents added · +9% · 1,650 residents in 2021
Larrakeyah
NT 0820 · 3,943 residents214 residents added · +6% · 3,943 residents in 2021
Durack
NT 0830 · 3,730 residents193 residents added · +6% · 3,730 residents in 2021
The Narrows
NT 0820 · 632 residents29 residents added · +5% · 632 residents in 2021
Jingili
NT 0810 · 1,841 residents83 residents added · +5% · 1,841 residents in 2021
Marlow Lagoon
NT 0830 · 754 residents33 residents added · +5% · 754 residents in 2021
Woolner
NT 0820 · 962 residents31 residents added · +3% · 962 residents in 2021
Moulden
NT 0830 · 3,053 residents94 residents added · +3% · 3,053 residents in 2021
Wulagi
NT 0812 · 2,510 residents74 residents added · +3% · 2,510 residents in 2021
Parap
NT 0820 · 2,819 residents71 residents added · +3% · 2,819 residents in 2021
Bayview
NT 0820 · 1,702 residents19 residents added · +1% · 1,702 residents in 2021
Ranked from 39 qualifying suburbs.
Darwin suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021
Ranked on the NUMBER of residents added between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses rather than the percentage, which surfaces the established growth corridors instead of small suburbs multiplying from near zero.
Muirhead
NT 0810 · 3,689 residents1,291 residents added · +54% · 3,689 residents in 2021
Darwin City
NT 0800 · 7,149 residents685 residents added · +11% · 7,149 residents in 2021
Berrimah
NT 0828 · 1,199 residents409 residents added · +52% · 1,199 residents in 2021
Fannie Bay
NT 0820 · 2,875 residents251 residents added · +10% · 2,875 residents in 2021
Larrakeyah
NT 0820 · 3,943 residents214 residents added · +6% · 3,943 residents in 2021
Durack
NT 0830 · 3,730 residents193 residents added · +6% · 3,730 residents in 2021
Farrar
NT 0830 · 1,650 residents132 residents added · +9% · 1,650 residents in 2021
Moulden
NT 0830 · 3,053 residents94 residents added · +3% · 3,053 residents in 2021
Jingili
NT 0810 · 1,841 residents83 residents added · +5% · 1,841 residents in 2021
Wulagi
NT 0812 · 2,510 residents74 residents added · +3% · 2,510 residents in 2021
Parap
NT 0820 · 2,819 residents71 residents added · +3% · 2,819 residents in 2021
Marlow Lagoon
NT 0830 · 754 residents33 residents added · +5% · 754 residents in 2021
Woolner
NT 0820 · 962 residents31 residents added · +3% · 962 residents in 2021
Nightcliff
NT 0810 · 3,884 residents30 residents added · +1% · 3,884 residents in 2021
The Narrows
NT 0820 · 632 residents29 residents added · +5% · 632 residents in 2021
Ranked from 39 qualifying suburbs.
100% population growth, ranked within Darwin's candidate pool — once by percent change and once by residents added, because those two questions have different answers. Nothing else is blended in: a suburb that grew is not thereby better or worse to live in. The figures are the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb population counts published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than today. Suburbs missing either count are excluded rather than ranked as no-growth. See how we calculate for the full methodology.
Common questions about this ranking
What are the fastest growing Darwin suburbs (2016-2021)?
Muirhead grew fastest in percentage terms, at +54%. It also added the most residents, 1,291. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 39 eligible Darwin suburbs.
What period does this cover?
The 2016-2021 Censuses. The 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here, and one that took off after 2021 will not.
Why are there two different lists?
Because percent growth and headcount growth rarely agree, and both are real. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 grew 4,900%; one going from 35,000 to 56,000 grew 63% but added four times as many people. The percent list finds greenfield estates built on former farmland; the headcount list finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Presenting only one would hide half the answer.
Does fast growth make a suburb a good place to live?
This ranking does not say so, and deliberately blends nothing else in. Rapid growth can mean new housing, new schools and rising demand, or it can mean construction, strained roads and services that have not caught up — often both at once in the same suburb. Check the walkability, transport, schools and risk figures on each suburb's own page.
Which suburbs are eligible?
Suburbs in Darwin with at least 500 residents and a population figure in both Censuses. A suburb missing either count is left out rather than ranked as no-growth, and the top 15 are shown in each list.
Same list in other cities
- Fastest growing Sydney suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Melbourne suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Brisbane suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Perth suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Adelaide suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Hobart suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Canberra suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Newcastle suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Central Coast suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Sunshine Coast suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Gold Coast suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Wollongong suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Geelong suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Townsville suburbs (2016-2021)
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- Fastest growing Busselton suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Ballarat suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Cairns suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Albany suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Ballina suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Geraldton suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Warragul suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Bundaberg suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Launceston suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Bendigo suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Rockhampton suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Mackay suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Albury – Wodonga suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Camden Haven suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Burnie suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Wagga Wagga suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Coffs Harbour suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Alice Springs suburbs (2016-2021)
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Related
Rankings last computed 28 September 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.
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