East Side vs Stuart

Stuart is the younger of the two, with a median age of 28 against 34 in East Side. In East Side, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Stuart, most households rent. Houses cost more in Stuart: a median of $650,000, against $545,000 in East Side, though rent is higher in East Side. On these figures, East Side tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Stuart suits renters and families with children.

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

East Side

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (64% vs 47%)

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

First-home buyers

East Side

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 23%)
  • has cheaper houses ($545,000 vs $650,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Stuart

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($150/wk vs $393/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (7% vs 18%)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (69% vs 42%)

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

Commuting to the city

Stuart

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (948 min vs 953 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1496 km vs 1500.1 km)
  • But East Side is more walkable (62/100 vs 10/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

East Side

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (62/100 vs 10/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (10% vs 5%)
  • But Stuart has more units and townhouses to downsize into (53% vs 36%)

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

Investors

East Side

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.1% vs -1.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

East Side Stuart
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.

East Side Stuart
Walkability 62 / 10
East Side — Walkability: 62/100 Stuart — Walkability: 10/100

Demographics

East Side has more residents (3,098 vs 459); East Side rents higher ($393/wk vs $150/wk).

East Side Stuart
Population 3,098
+85% vs other
 459
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.1% -1.5%
Median age 34 28
Median household income $115,700/yr
+9% vs other
 $105,300/yr
Median weekly rent $393/wk
+62% vs other
 $150/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

East Side Stuart
0-4 6.4% / 7.4%
East Side — 0-4: 6.4% Stuart — 0-4: 7.4%
5-14 12.4% / 20.5%
East Side — 5-14: 12.4% Stuart — 5-14: 20.5%
15-19 4.8% / 9.8%
East Side — 15-19: 4.8% Stuart — 15-19: 9.8%
20-24 4.3% / 7.0%
East Side — 20-24: 4.3% Stuart — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 22.1% / 17.4%
East Side — 25-34: 22.1% Stuart — 25-34: 17.4%
35-44 15.2% / 14.6%
East Side — 35-44: 15.2% Stuart — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 12.3% / 12.4%
East Side — 45-54: 12.3% Stuart — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 12.0% / 7.4%
East Side — 55-64: 12.0% Stuart — 55-64: 7.4%
65-74 7.5% / 4.1%
East Side — 65-74: 7.5% Stuart — 65-74: 4.1%
75-84 2.5% / 1.3%
East Side — 75-84: 2.5% Stuart — 75-84: 1.3%
85+ 0.5% / —
East Side — 85+: 0.5% Stuart — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

East Side 37.0% lone person
East Side — Lone Person: 37.0% East Side — Couple Families: 34.7% East Side — One Parent Families: 15.8% East Side — Group Household: 10.7% East Side — Other Families: 1.8%
Stuart 35.9% lone person
Stuart — Lone Person: 35.9% Stuart — Couple Families: 35.9% Stuart — One Parent Families: 22.3% Stuart — Group Household: 0.0% Stuart — Other Families: 5.8%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

East Side 42.2% renting
East Side — Owned Outright: 20.3% East Side — Mortgage: 37.6% East Side — Renting: 42.2%
Stuart 68.9% renting
Stuart — Owned Outright: 7.6% Stuart — Mortgage: 23.5% Stuart — Renting: 68.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

East Side Stuart
Bachelor Degree 19.1% / 8.7%
East Side — Bachelor Degree: 19.1% Stuart — Bachelor Degree: 8.7%
Certificate III & IV 11.0% / 9.4%
East Side — Certificate III & IV: 11.0% Stuart — Certificate III & IV: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 10.0% / 4.1%
East Side — Postgraduate Degree: 10.0% Stuart — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 4.8%
East Side — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Stuart — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.1% / 0.7%
East Side — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1% Stuart — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

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.

East Side Stuart
New Zealand 2.7% / 2.0%
East Side — New Zealand: 2.7% Stuart — New Zealand: 2.0%
India 1.4% / 2.8%
East Side — India: 1.4% Stuart — India: 2.8%
England 3.6% / —
East Side — England: 3.6% Stuart — England: not among its largest
Nepal 2.0% / —
East Side — Nepal: 2.0% Stuart — Nepal: not among its largest
Philippines 1.0% / 0.7%
East Side — Philippines: 1.0% Stuart — Philippines: 0.7%
Zimbabwe — / 0.9%
East Side — Zimbabwe: not among its largest Stuart — Zimbabwe: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

East Side 64.2% houses
East Side — Houses: 64.2% East Side — Townhouses: 31.0% East Side — Flats / Apartments: 4.8%
Stuart 47.1% houses
Stuart — Houses: 47.1% Stuart — Townhouses: 44.2% Stuart — Flats / Apartments: 8.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

East Side Stuart
Median house price $545,000 $650,000
Median unit price $352,500 $369,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 57 days
from 31 sales
 —

Development activity

East Side Stuart
New dwellings approved 30
across Alice Springs
same for both
Approvals change year on year +25%
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.

East Side Stuart
Houses 7.6%
$862/wk on $592K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NT

East Side Stuart
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 77% of NT Higher than 66% of NT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of NT Higher than 58% of NT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 70% of NT Higher than 69% of NT
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of NT Higher than 70% of NT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 96% of NT —

Liveability

East Side is more walkable (62 vs 10).

East Side Stuart
Grade B —
Score 64/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

East Side Stuart
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 5
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

East Side Stuart
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in East Side

  • Ross Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Stuart

  • St Philip's College Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

East Side Stuart
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 5 0
Childcare 5 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

East Side sits further from the CBD (1500.1 km vs 1496 km).

East Side Stuart
Walkability score 62/100 10/100
Distance to Darwin 1500.1 km 1496 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 953 min 948 min
Public transport score 28/100
Bus
 21/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 6.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 3.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 4 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 0870
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 40
postcode 0870
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.

East Side Stuart
Car (driver) 68.0% / 72.4%
East Side — Car (driver): 68.0% Stuart — Car (driver): 72.4%
Walked Only 7.0% / 9.0%
East Side — Walked Only: 7.0% Stuart — Walked Only: 9.0%
Car (passenger) 7.2% / 7.7%
East Side — Car (passenger): 7.2% Stuart — Car (passenger): 7.7%
Bicycle 10.8% / 3.8%
East Side — Bicycle: 10.8% Stuart — Bicycle: 3.8%
Worked from Home 5.4% / 2.6%
East Side — Worked from Home: 5.4% Stuart — Worked from Home: 2.6%
Bus 1.6% / 4.5%
East Side — Bus: 1.6% Stuart — Bus: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.4%).

Setting

East Side Stuart
Elevation 592 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 601 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

East Side Stuart
Connectivity score 67/100 57/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
1,351 premises
 22%
147 premises

Climate

East Side Stuart
Annual rainfall 285 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 36.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 4.5°C
same for both

Council rates

East Side Stuart
Average residential rate $2,106/yr
same for both
Council Alice Springs
same for both

Federal electorate

East Side Stuart
Division Lingiari
same for both
Member Marion Scrymgour
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

East Side Stuart
Grant amount $50,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

East Side

Parks Professionals Townhouses

Stuart

Affordable Family Rural Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with East Side

East Side vs Sadadeen East Side vs Desert Springs East Side vs Alice Springs

Other comparisons with Stuart

Stuart vs Braitling Stuart vs Ciccone Stuart vs Alice Springs
Full data on East Side Full data on Stuart
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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