Alawa vs Brinkin

In both, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. In Alawa, the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Brinkin: a median of $1.38 million, against $682,000 in Alawa, and rent is higher there too. Alawa is closer to the city centre: 12.5 km, against 16.6 km. On these figures, Alawa tends to suit families with children and buyers on a tighter budget, while Brinkin suits people living alone.

Alawa and Brinkin are both small Darwin suburbs with notably different property markets. Alawa is nearly twice the size at 2078 people, sits closer to the CBD at 12.5 km, and has a significantly higher walkability score of 70 compared to Brinkin's 38. However, Brinkin commands much higher property prices—median houses at $1,285,000 versus Alawa's $680,000—and residents there earn a median household income of $118,248 compared to $108,316 in Alawa. Brinkin also scores higher on liveability and sits in the top socio-economic decile. Choose Alawa if you value walkability and proximity to the city; Brinkin suits buyers seeking a more affluent, established neighbourhood.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Alawa

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (88% vs 43%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (65% vs 57%)
  • But Brinkin has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)

Weighs schools, house stock, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Alawa

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($682,000 vs $1,375,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Alawa

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 38/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (18 min vs 24 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (12.5 km vs 16.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Alawa is more walkable (70/100 vs 38/100)
  • Brinkin has more units and townhouses to downsize into (57% vs 13%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, and walkability.

Investors

Alawa

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (-2.3% vs -11.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Alawa and Brinkin drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Alawa Brinkin
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Alawa Brinkin
Walkability 70 / 38
Alawa — Walkability: 70/100 Brinkin — Walkability: 38/100

Demographics

Alawa has more residents (2,078 vs 1,117).

Alawa Brinkin
Population 2,078
+46% vs other
 1,117
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.3% -11.9%
Median age 35 34
Median household income $108,316/yr $118,248/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $340/wk $360/wk
+6% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Alawa Brinkin
0-4 7.4% / 4.5%
Alawa — 0-4: 7.4% Brinkin — 0-4: 4.5%
5-14 13.7% / 12.0%
Alawa — 5-14: 13.7% Brinkin — 5-14: 12.0%
15-19 4.7% / 4.5%
Alawa — 15-19: 4.7% Brinkin — 15-19: 4.5%
20-24 6.4% / 9.2%
Alawa — 20-24: 6.4% Brinkin — 20-24: 9.2%
25-34 17.3% / 21.9%
Alawa — 25-34: 17.3% Brinkin — 25-34: 21.9%
35-44 15.4% / 14.8%
Alawa — 35-44: 15.4% Brinkin — 35-44: 14.8%
45-54 12.3% / 11.6%
Alawa — 45-54: 12.3% Brinkin — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 9.6% / 8.8%
Alawa — 55-64: 9.6% Brinkin — 55-64: 8.8%
65-74 8.6% / 8.7%
Alawa — 65-74: 8.6% Brinkin — 65-74: 8.7%
75-84 3.9% / 3.1%
Alawa — 75-84: 3.9% Brinkin — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 0.5% / 1.1%
Alawa — 85+: 0.5% Brinkin — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Alawa 45.2% couple families
Alawa — Couple Families: 45.2% Alawa — Lone Person: 22.9% Alawa — One Parent Families: 20.2% Alawa — Group Household: 9.3% Alawa — Other Families: 2.3%
Brinkin 46.7% couple families
Brinkin — Couple Families: 46.7% Brinkin — Lone Person: 36.0% Brinkin — One Parent Families: 10.3% Brinkin — Group Household: 5.5% Brinkin — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Alawa 37.6% renting
Alawa — Owned Outright: 23.8% Alawa — Mortgage: 38.6% Alawa — Renting: 37.6%
Brinkin 42.9% renting
Brinkin — Owned Outright: 35.1% Brinkin — Mortgage: 22.0% Brinkin — Renting: 42.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Alawa Brinkin
Bachelor Degree 13.6% / 23.9%
Alawa — Bachelor Degree: 13.6% Brinkin — Bachelor Degree: 23.9%
Postgraduate Degree 7.6% / 13.2%
Alawa — Postgraduate Degree: 7.6% Brinkin — Postgraduate Degree: 13.2%
Certificate III & IV 11.0% / 8.8%
Alawa — Certificate III & IV: 11.0% Brinkin — Certificate III & IV: 8.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 6.0%
Alawa — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% Brinkin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 3.5%
Alawa — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Brinkin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.9%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Alawa Brinkin
India 3.5% / 7.2%
Alawa — India: 3.5% Brinkin — India: 7.2%
Philippines 4.5% / 3.8%
Alawa — Philippines: 4.5% Brinkin — Philippines: 3.8%
Nepal 2.9% / 3.6%
Alawa — Nepal: 2.9% Brinkin — Nepal: 3.6%
China 2.2% / 3.7%
Alawa — China: 2.2% Brinkin — China: 3.7%
England 1.9% / 2.9%
Alawa — England: 1.9% Brinkin — England: 2.9%
Greece 2.6% / 1.8%
Alawa — Greece: 2.6% Brinkin — Greece: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Alawa 87.5% houses
Alawa — Houses: 87.5% Alawa — Townhouses: 2.4% Alawa — Flats / Apartments: 10.2%
Brinkin 42.6% houses
Brinkin — Houses: 42.6% Brinkin — Townhouses: 45.9% Brinkin — Flats / Apartments: 11.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Alawa Brinkin
Median house price $682,000 $1,375,000
Median unit price $430,000 $455,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 10 sales
 21 days
from 7 sales

Development activity

Alawa Brinkin
New dwellings approved 171
across Darwin
same for both
Approvals change year on year +47%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Alawa Brinkin
Houses 5.1%
$700/wk on $720K
 —
Units — 6.2%
$625/wk on $520K

Ranking within NT

Alawa Brinkin
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 70% of NT Higher than 82% of NT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 94% of NT Higher than 78% of NT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 83% of NT Higher than 90% of NT
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NT Higher than 93% of NT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 42% of NT —
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 23% of NT

Liveability

Alawa is more walkable (70 vs 38); Brinkin scores higher overall (72 vs 65).

Alawa Brinkin
Grade B A
Score 65/100 72/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Alawa Brinkin
Bushfire Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Crime Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Alawa Brinkin
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Casuarina Campus, 1.2 km
 1
Casuarina Campus, 2.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1% 4.3%

Schools in Alawa

  • Alawa Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Nemarluk School Government · Primary · Special school

Schools in Brinkin

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Alawa Brinkin
Parks & reserves 1 5
Childcare 2
same for both
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Brinkin sits further from the CBD (16.6 km vs 12.5 km).

Alawa Brinkin
Walkability score 70/100 38/100
Distance to Darwin 12.5 km 16.6 km
+33% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 24 min
Public transport score 92/100
Bus
 66/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 45.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 16.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 0810
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 35
postcode 0810
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Alawa Brinkin
Car (driver) 76.5% / 75.3%
Alawa — Car (driver): 76.5% Brinkin — Car (driver): 75.3%
Car (passenger) 7.9% / 6.3%
Alawa — Car (passenger): 7.9% Brinkin — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Bus 4.3% / 5.7%
Alawa — Bus: 4.3% Brinkin — Bus: 5.7%
Worked from Home 4.9% / 4.8%
Alawa — Worked from Home: 4.9% Brinkin — Worked from Home: 4.8%
Walked Only 2.9% / 4.5%
Alawa — Walked Only: 2.9% Brinkin — Walked Only: 4.5%
Bicycle 3.5% / 3.4%
Alawa — Bicycle: 3.5% Brinkin — Bicycle: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.5%).

Setting

Alawa Brinkin
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.6 km
2.1 km to a named beach
 142 m
1.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Alawa Brinkin
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
816 premises
 100%
427 premises

Climate

Alawa Brinkin
Annual rainfall 1,836 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 32.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 19.8°C
same for both

Council rates

Alawa Brinkin
Average residential rate $1,870/yr
same for both
Council Darwin
same for both

Federal electorate

Alawa Brinkin
Division Solomon
same for both
Member Luke John Gosling
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Alawa Brinkin
Grant amount $50,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Alawa

Coastal Easy Commute Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural Quiet River Transport Hub

Brinkin

Beach Coastal Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Quiet Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Alawa

Alawa vs Rapid Creek Alawa vs Millner Alawa vs Wagaman Alawa vs Moil Alawa vs Nakara Alawa vs Jingili

Other comparisons with Brinkin

Brinkin vs Rapid Creek Brinkin vs Tiwi Brinkin vs Nakara
Full data on Alawa Full data on Brinkin
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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