Darwin City vs The Gardens

Darwin City is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 36 in The Gardens. In both, most households rent. In Darwin City, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. In The Gardens, about half of households are people living alone. Darwin City is the city centre itself; The Gardens is 4.2 km out. On these figures, Darwin City tends to suit renters and young adults.

Darwin City is a much larger, more central neighbourhood with 7149 residents right in the CBD, while The Gardens is a quieter, smaller suburb 4.2 km out with just 726 people. Darwin City scores notably higher on liveability (78 versus 64) and walkability (74 versus 69), reflecting its urban density and proximity to services. Rental costs are higher in Darwin City at $450 per week compared to $388 in The Gardens, though median household incomes are nearly identical at around $112,000 annually. Darwin City suits someone seeking an active, walkable urban environment, while The Gardens appeals to those preferring a more residential, quieter setting.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Darwin City has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • The Gardens has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Darwin City has a bigger rental market to choose from (77% vs 64%)
  • The Gardens has cheaper rent ($388/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Darwin City

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (0 min vs 10 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (0 km vs 4.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Darwin City has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • The Gardens has more residents already 65 and over (12% vs 7%)

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

Investors

Darwin City

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (10.6% vs -0.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (7.5% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Darwin City The Gardens
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.

Darwin City The Gardens
Walkability 73 / 69
Darwin City — Walkability: 73/100 The Gardens — Walkability: 69/100

Demographics

Darwin City has more residents (7,149 vs 726); Darwin City rents higher ($450/wk vs $388/wk).

Darwin City The Gardens
Population 7,149
+90% vs other
 726
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.6% -0.3%
Median age 33 36
Median household income $111,852/yr $112,112/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+14% vs other
 $388/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Darwin City The Gardens
0-4 3.6% / 5.9%
Darwin City — 0-4: 3.6% The Gardens — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 4.8% / 9.1%
Darwin City — 5-14: 4.8% The Gardens — 5-14: 9.1%
15-19 2.1% / 5.1%
Darwin City — 15-19: 2.1% The Gardens — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 9.2% / 4.7%
Darwin City — 20-24: 9.2% The Gardens — 20-24: 4.7%
25-34 33.6% / 21.9%
Darwin City — 25-34: 33.6% The Gardens — 25-34: 21.9%
35-44 18.0% / 20.7%
Darwin City — 35-44: 18.0% The Gardens — 35-44: 20.7%
45-54 11.5% / 11.6%
Darwin City — 45-54: 11.5% The Gardens — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 9.9% / 10.5%
Darwin City — 55-64: 9.9% The Gardens — 55-64: 10.5%
65-74 5.5% / 9.6%
Darwin City — 65-74: 5.5% The Gardens — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 1.4% / 2.1%
Darwin City — 75-84: 1.4% The Gardens — 75-84: 2.1%
85+ 0.3% / 0.8%
Darwin City — 85+: 0.3% The Gardens — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Darwin City 56.5% lone person
Darwin City — Lone Person: 56.5% Darwin City — Couple Families: 19.7% Darwin City — Group Household: 15.0% Darwin City — One Parent Families: 6.5% Darwin City — Other Families: 2.3%
The Gardens 54.3% lone person
The Gardens — Lone Person: 54.3% The Gardens — Couple Families: 21.6% The Gardens — Group Household: 12.1% The Gardens — One Parent Families: 12.1% The Gardens — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Darwin City 77.3% renting
Darwin City — Owned Outright: 7.6% Darwin City — Mortgage: 15.1% Darwin City — Renting: 77.3%
The Gardens 63.8% renting
The Gardens — Owned Outright: 13.6% The Gardens — Mortgage: 22.6% The Gardens — Renting: 63.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Darwin City The Gardens
Bachelor Degree 23.1% / 19.8%
Darwin City — Bachelor Degree: 23.1% The Gardens — Bachelor Degree: 19.8%
Postgraduate Degree 12.3% / 10.1%
Darwin City — Postgraduate Degree: 12.3% The Gardens — Postgraduate Degree: 10.1%
Certificate III & IV 10.0% / 11.0%
Darwin City — Certificate III & IV: 10.0% The Gardens — Certificate III & IV: 11.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 9.5%
Darwin City — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% The Gardens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 3.0%
Darwin City — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% The Gardens — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.1%).

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.

Darwin City The Gardens
Nepal 7.0% / 2.3%
Darwin City — Nepal: 7.0% The Gardens — Nepal: 2.3%
England 3.8% / 1.9%
Darwin City — England: 3.8% The Gardens — England: 1.9%
India 3.7% / 1.9%
Darwin City — India: 3.7% The Gardens — India: 1.9%
China 3.8% / 1.4%
Darwin City — China: 3.8% The Gardens — China: 1.4%
Philippines 2.6% / 2.1%
Darwin City — Philippines: 2.6% The Gardens — Philippines: 2.1%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.5%
Darwin City — New Zealand: 2.2% The Gardens — New Zealand: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Darwin City 99.4% flats / apartments
Darwin City — Flats / Apartments: 99.4% Darwin City — Townhouses: 0.1% Darwin City — Houses: 0.5%
The Gardens 24.8% flats / apartments
The Gardens — Flats / Apartments: 24.8% The Gardens — Townhouses: 73.1% The Gardens — Houses: 2.1%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Darwin City The Gardens
Median house price $519,000 $500,000
Median unit price $471,000 $497,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 144 days
from 4 sales
 —

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Darwin City The Gardens
2 bed $475K / $485K
Darwin City — 2 bed: $475K (293 sales) The Gardens — 2 bed: $485K (31 sales)

293 vs 31 sales

3 bed $580K / $646K
Darwin City — 3 bed: $580K (168 sales) The Gardens — 3 bed: $646K (8 sales)

168 vs 8 sales

Development activity

Darwin City The Gardens
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.

Darwin City The Gardens
Houses 7.5%
$750/wk on $520K
 3.8%
$725/wk on $980K
Units 6.3%
$650/wk on $532K
 6.3%
$485/wk on $399K

Ranking within NT

Darwin City The Gardens
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 73% of NT
same for both
Schools — Higher than 38% of NT
Walkability Higher than 95% of NT Higher than 93% of NT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 82% of NT Higher than 98% of NT
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of NT Higher than 90% of NT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 95% of NT Higher than 9% of NT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 35% of NT Higher than 31% of NT

Liveability

Darwin City scores higher overall (92 vs 69).

Darwin City The Gardens
Grade A+ B
Score 92/100 69/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Darwin City The Gardens
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 High
81/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Darwin City The Gardens
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Danala Education and Community Precinct, 0.0 km
 2
Danala Education and Community Precinct, 2.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4% 0.4%

Schools in Darwin City

  • St Mary's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Schools in The Gardens

  • Darwin High School Government · Secondary
  • Darwin Middle School Government · Secondary
  • Northern Territory School of Distance Education Government · Secondary
  • SEDA College NT - Waratah Club campus Independent · Secondary
  • St John's Catholic College Catholic · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Darwin City The Gardens
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 44 4
Parks & reserves 14 24
Childcare 3 0
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 3 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 7 0
Fuel stations 4 0
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 1 6

Mobility

The Gardens sits further from the CBD (4.2 km vs 0 km).

Darwin City The Gardens
Walkability score 73/100 69/100
Distance to Darwin 0 km 4.2 km
(not reported on the other side)
Drive time (normal traffic) 0 min 10 min
Public transport score 92/100
Bus
 68/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 119.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 13.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 0800
 1.1%
postcode 0820
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 4
postcode 0800
 19
postcode 0820

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.

Darwin City The Gardens
Car (driver) 56.5% / 70.1%
Darwin City — Car (driver): 56.5% The Gardens — Car (driver): 70.1%
Walked Only 24.9% / 8.9%
Darwin City — Walked Only: 24.9% The Gardens — Walked Only: 8.9%
Car (passenger) 6.1% / 6.7%
Darwin City — Car (passenger): 6.1% The Gardens — Car (passenger): 6.7%
Worked from Home 5.0% / 7.5%
Darwin City — Worked from Home: 5.0% The Gardens — Worked from Home: 7.5%
Bicycle 3.3% / 4.7%
Darwin City — Bicycle: 3.3% The Gardens — Bicycle: 4.7%
Bus 4.1% / 2.0%
Darwin City — Bus: 4.1% The Gardens — Bus: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.1%).

Setting

Darwin City The Gardens
Elevation 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 470 m
517 m to a named beach
 266 m
360 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Darwin City The Gardens
Connectivity score 97/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 91%
7,131 premises
 100%
419 premises

Climate

Darwin City The Gardens
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

Darwin City The Gardens
Average residential rate $1,870/yr
same for both
Council Darwin
same for both

Federal electorate

Darwin City The Gardens
Division Solomon
same for both
Member Luke John Gosling
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Darwin City The Gardens
Grant amount $50,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Darwin City

Apartments Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Transport Hub

The Gardens

Beach Beachfront Coastal Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Darwin City

Darwin City vs Stuart Park Darwin City vs Larrakeyah

Other comparisons with The Gardens

The Gardens vs Stuart Park The Gardens vs Larrakeyah The Gardens vs Fannie Bay The Gardens vs Parap
Full data on Darwin City Full data on The Gardens
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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