Driver vs Gray

In both, about half of households rent and most homes are detached houses. On these figures, Gray tends to suit people living alone.

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

Gray

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 4)
  • But Driver is already more of a family suburb (64% vs 54%)

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

Gray

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Gray

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 64/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Gray

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 64/100)

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

Investors

Driver

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (7.4% vs 6.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Driver Gray
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.

Driver Gray
Walkability 64 / 72
Driver — Walkability: 64/100 Gray — Walkability: 72/100

Demographics

Driver has higher household incomes ($103,168 vs $76,908); Driver rents higher ($350/wk vs $300/wk).

Driver Gray
Population 2,747 3,142
+14% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -4.8% -4.4%
Median age 33 34
Median household income $103,168/yr
+25% vs other
 $76,908/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+14% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Driver Gray
0-4 7.4% / 7.2%
Driver — 0-4: 7.4% Gray — 0-4: 7.2%
5-14 15.1% / 15.7%
Driver — 5-14: 15.1% Gray — 5-14: 15.7%
15-19 5.7% / 6.1%
Driver — 15-19: 5.7% Gray — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 7.0% / 6.1%
Driver — 20-24: 7.0% Gray — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 18.4% / 15.2%
Driver — 25-34: 18.4% Gray — 25-34: 15.2%
35-44 15.7% / 13.7%
Driver — 35-44: 15.7% Gray — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 12.3% / 14.7%
Driver — 45-54: 12.3% Gray — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 10.8% / 11.5%
Driver — 55-64: 10.8% Gray — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 5.8% / 6.9%
Driver — 65-74: 5.8% Gray — 65-74: 6.9%
75-84 1.3% / 2.3%
Driver — 75-84: 1.3% Gray — 75-84: 2.3%
85+ 0.4% / 0.7%
Driver — 85+: 0.4% Gray — 85+: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Driver 41.9% couple families
Driver — Couple Families: 41.9% Driver — Lone Person: 27.8% Driver — One Parent Families: 22.6% Driver — Group Household: 7.0% Driver — Other Families: 0.7%
Gray 28.2% couple families
Gray — Couple Families: 28.2% Gray — Lone Person: 39.6% Gray — One Parent Families: 25.7% Gray — Group Household: 5.3% Gray — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Driver 47.2% renting
Driver — Owned Outright: 13.4% Driver — Mortgage: 39.4% Driver — Renting: 47.2%
Gray 51.9% renting
Gray — Owned Outright: 12.4% Gray — Mortgage: 35.8% Gray — Renting: 51.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Driver Gray
Certificate III & IV 17.6% / 15.3%
Driver — Certificate III & IV: 17.6% Gray — Certificate III & IV: 15.3%
Bachelor Degree 9.8% / 6.2%
Driver — Bachelor Degree: 9.8% Gray — Bachelor Degree: 6.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.0% / 6.2%
Driver — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.0% Gray — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.0% / 1.9%
Driver — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0% Gray — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.4%
Driver — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Gray — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

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.

Driver Gray
Philippines 4.4% / 4.4%
Driver — Philippines: 4.4% Gray — Philippines: 4.4%
England 2.3% / 1.9%
Driver — England: 2.3% Gray — England: 1.9%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.9%
Driver — New Zealand: 1.8% Gray — New Zealand: 1.9%
India 2.4% / 1.1%
Driver — India: 2.4% Gray — India: 1.1%
Nepal 2.6% / —
Driver — Nepal: 2.6% Gray — Nepal: not among its largest
Indonesia 1.3% / 1.0%
Driver — Indonesia: 1.3% Gray — Indonesia: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Driver 65.9% houses
Driver — Houses: 65.9% Driver — Flats / Apartments: 28.9% Driver — Townhouses: 5.2%
Gray 59.8% houses
Gray — Houses: 59.8% Gray — Flats / Apartments: 38.9% Gray — Townhouses: 1.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Driver Gray
Median house price $605,000 $557,000
Median unit price $380,000 $360,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 15 days
from 9 sales
 10 days
from 9 sales

House price by bedroom count

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

Driver Gray
3 bed $600K / $550K
Driver — 3 bed: $600K (51 sales) Gray — 3 bed: $550K (39 sales)

51 vs 39 sales

4 bed $665K / $590K
Driver — 4 bed: $665K (18 sales) Gray — 4 bed: $590K (8 sales)

18 vs 8 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.

Driver Gray
2 bed $340K / $360K
Driver — 2 bed: $340K (47 sales) Gray — 2 bed: $360K (31 sales)

47 vs 31 sales

3 bed $402K / $462K
Driver — 3 bed: $402K (20 sales) Gray — 3 bed: $462K (7 sales)

20 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Driver Gray
New dwellings approved 247
across Palmerston
same for both
Approvals change year on year -3%
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.

Driver Gray
Houses 5.4%
$720/wk on $695K
 5.4%
$650/wk on $624K
Units 7.4%
$570/wk on $399K
 6.6%
$565/wk on $445K

Ranking within NT

Driver Gray
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 65% of NT Higher than 47% of NT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 90% of NT Higher than 94% of NT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 62% of NT
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of NT
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 56% of NT Higher than 58% of NT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 77% of NT Higher than 38% of NT

Liveability

Gray is more walkable (72 vs 64).

Driver Gray
Grade C
same for both
Score 52/100 50/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Driver Gray
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 6
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Driver Gray
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Driver

  • Driver Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Palmerston College Government · Secondary

Schools in Gray

  • Good Shepherd Lutheran College - Palmerston Campus Independent · Primary
  • Gray Primary School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Driver Gray
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 4 7
Childcare 2 8

Mobility

Driver Gray
Walkability score 64/100 72/100
Distance to Darwin 21.8 km 23.3 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 24 min
Public transport score 76/100
Bus
 74/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 32.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 27.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 0830
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 39
postcode 0830
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.

Driver Gray
Car (driver) 80.9% / 84.1%
Driver — Car (driver): 80.9% Gray — Car (driver): 84.1%
Car (passenger) 7.6% / 6.5%
Driver — Car (passenger): 7.6% Gray — Car (passenger): 6.5%
Bus 3.6% / 3.9%
Driver — Bus: 3.6% Gray — Bus: 3.9%
Worked from Home 3.0% / 3.3%
Driver — Worked from Home: 3.0% Gray — Worked from Home: 3.3%
Walked Only 3.4% / 2.0%
Driver — Walked Only: 3.4% Gray — Walked Only: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (84.1%).

Setting

Driver Gray
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.0 km 4.5 km

NBN connectivity

Driver Gray
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,173 premises
 100%
1,459 premises

Climate

Driver Gray
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

Driver Gray
Average residential rate $1,608/yr
same for both
Council Palmerston
same for both

Federal electorate

Driver Gray
Division Solomon
same for both
Member Luke John Gosling
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Driver Gray
Grant amount $50,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Driver

Family Middle-Ring Parks

Gray

Affordable Apartments Family Middle-Ring Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Driver

Driver vs Durack Driver vs Woodroffe Driver vs Moulden Driver vs Marlow Lagoon Driver vs Palmerston City

Other comparisons with Gray

Gray vs Woodroffe Gray vs Bakewell Gray vs Gunn Gray vs Palmerston City
Full data on Driver Full data on Gray
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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