Alawa vs Casuarina

Casuarina is the younger of the two, with a median age of 27 against 35 in Alawa. In Alawa, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. In Casuarina, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are couple families. Units cost more in Casuarina: a median of $490,000, against $430,000 in Alawa, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Alawa tends to suit families with children, while Casuarina suits renters, young adults, and couples.

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 the one thing that separates them

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (88% vs 13%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Alawa has cheaper units ($430,000 vs $490,000)
  • Casuarina leaves households under less mortgage stress (14% vs 20%)

Weighs unit prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Alawa has cheaper rent ($340/wk vs $460/wk)
  • Casuarina has a bigger rental market to choose from (64% vs 38%)

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

Commuting to the city

Casuarina

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 70/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Casuarina

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (87% vs 13%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 70/100)
  • But Alawa has more residents already 65 and over (13% vs 2%)

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

Investors

Casuarina

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (22.7% vs -2.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Alawa and Casuarina 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 Casuarina
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 Casuarina
Walkability 70 / 91
Alawa — Walkability: 70/100 Casuarina — Walkability: 91/100

Demographics

Alawa has more residents (2,078 vs 406); Casuarina rents higher ($460/wk vs $340/wk).

Alawa Casuarina
Population 2,078
+80% vs other
 406
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.3% +22.7%
Median age 35 27
Median household income $108,316/yr $143,000/yr
+32% vs other
Median weekly rent $340/wk $460/wk
+35% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Alawa Casuarina
0-4 7.4% / 2.7%
Alawa — 0-4: 7.4% Casuarina — 0-4: 2.7%
5-14 13.7% / 1.5%
Alawa — 5-14: 13.7% Casuarina — 5-14: 1.5%
15-19 4.7% / 5.2%
Alawa — 15-19: 4.7% Casuarina — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 6.4% / 27.1%
Alawa — 20-24: 6.4% Casuarina — 20-24: 27.1%
25-34 17.3% / 49.8%
Alawa — 25-34: 17.3% Casuarina — 25-34: 49.8%
35-44 15.4% / 8.6%
Alawa — 35-44: 15.4% Casuarina — 35-44: 8.6%
45-54 12.3% / 3.2%
Alawa — 45-54: 12.3% Casuarina — 45-54: 3.2%
55-64 9.6% / 1.5%
Alawa — 55-64: 9.6% Casuarina — 55-64: 1.5%
65-74 8.6% / 0.7%
Alawa — 65-74: 8.6% Casuarina — 65-74: 0.7%
75-84 3.9% / 1.2%
Alawa — 75-84: 3.9% Casuarina — 75-84: 1.2%
85+ 0.5% / —
Alawa — 85+: 0.5% Casuarina — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Alawa 45.2% couple families
Alawa — Couple Families: 45.2% Alawa — Lone Person: 22.9% Alawa — Group Household: 9.3% Alawa — One Parent Families: 20.2% Alawa — Other Families: 2.3%
Casuarina 71.4% couple families
Casuarina — Couple Families: 71.4% Casuarina — Lone Person: 14.3% Casuarina — Group Household: 14.3% Casuarina — One Parent Families: 0.0% Casuarina — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person Group Household One Parent Families 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%
Casuarina 64.3% renting
Casuarina — Owned Outright: 10.7% Casuarina — Mortgage: 25.0% Casuarina — Renting: 64.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Alawa Casuarina
Bachelor Degree 13.6% / 32.5%
Alawa — Bachelor Degree: 13.6% Casuarina — Bachelor Degree: 32.5%
Postgraduate Degree 7.6% / 19.0%
Alawa — Postgraduate Degree: 7.6% Casuarina — Postgraduate Degree: 19.0%
Certificate III & IV 11.0% / 6.4%
Alawa — Certificate III & IV: 11.0% Casuarina — Certificate III & IV: 6.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 9.1%
Alawa — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% Casuarina — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 0.7%
Alawa — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Casuarina — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.5%).

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 Casuarina
China 2.2% / 15.8%
Alawa — China: 2.2% Casuarina — China: 15.8%
Philippines 4.5% / 9.9%
Alawa — Philippines: 4.5% Casuarina — Philippines: 9.9%
India 3.5% / 10.1%
Alawa — India: 3.5% Casuarina — India: 10.1%
Nepal 2.9% / 5.7%
Alawa — Nepal: 2.9% Casuarina — Nepal: 5.7%
Bangladesh — / 8.4%
Alawa — Bangladesh: not among its largest Casuarina — Bangladesh: 8.4%
Vietnam 1.6% / 6.7%
Alawa — Vietnam: 1.6% Casuarina — Vietnam: 6.7%
Greece 2.6% / —
Alawa — Greece: 2.6% Casuarina — Greece: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Alawa 87.5% houses
Alawa — Houses: 87.5% Alawa — Flats / Apartments: 10.2% Alawa — Townhouses: 2.4%
Casuarina 13.3% houses
Casuarina — Houses: 13.3% Casuarina — Flats / Apartments: 86.7% Casuarina — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Alawa Casuarina
Median house price $682,000 —
Median unit price $430,000 $490,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 10 sales
 —

Development activity

Alawa Casuarina
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 Casuarina
Houses 5.1%
$700/wk on $720K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NT

Alawa Casuarina
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 70% of NT Higher than 94% of NT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 94% of NT Higher than 100% of NT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 83% of NT Higher than 85% of NT
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NT Higher than 75% of NT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 42% of NT —

Liveability

Casuarina is more walkable (91 vs 70).

Alawa Casuarina
Grade B —
Score 65/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Alawa Casuarina
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
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Alawa Casuarina
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1
same for both
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, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1% 21.7%

Schools in Alawa

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

Schools in Casuarina

  • Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Alawa Casuarina
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 11
Parks & reserves 1 0
Childcare 2 0
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 7
Fuel stations 0 3

Mobility

Alawa Casuarina
Walkability score 70/100 91/100
Distance to Darwin 12.5 km 13.8 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 19 min
Public transport score 92/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 45.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 94.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 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 Casuarina
Car (driver) 76.5% / 57.0%
Alawa — Car (driver): 76.5% Casuarina — Car (driver): 57.0%
Bus 4.3% / 20.7%
Alawa — Bus: 4.3% Casuarina — Bus: 20.7%
Walked Only 2.9% / 15.2%
Alawa — Walked Only: 2.9% Casuarina — Walked Only: 15.2%
Car (passenger) 7.9% / 5.1%
Alawa — Car (passenger): 7.9% Casuarina — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Worked from Home 4.9% / 2.1%
Alawa — Worked from Home: 4.9% Casuarina — Worked from Home: 2.1%
Bicycle 3.5% / —
Alawa — Bicycle: 3.5% Casuarina — Bicycle: not among its largest

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

Setting

Alawa Casuarina
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.6 km
2.1 km to a named beach
 2.2 km
2.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Alawa Casuarina
Connectivity score 100/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
816 premises
 37%
511 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Alawa Casuarina
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

Casuarina

Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Students Transport Hub

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 Casuarina

Casuarina vs Wagaman Casuarina vs Nakara Casuarina vs Wanguri
Full data on Alawa Full data on Casuarina
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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