Johnston vs Howard Springs

Johnston is the younger of the two, with a median age of 28 against 43 in Howard Springs. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Johnston, most households rent and about half of households are couple families. In Howard Springs, the large majority of households own their home and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Howard Springs: a median of $898,000, against $770,000 in Johnston, and rent is higher there too. Johnston is closer to the city centre: 26.4 km, against 31.7 km. On these figures, Johnston tends to suit renters, young adults, 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

Howard Springs

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (95% vs 58%)

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

First-home buyers

Johnston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($770,000 vs $897,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Johnston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (64% vs 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($370/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Johnston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (26.4 km vs 31.7 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Johnston

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (42% vs 5%)
  • But Howard Springs has more residents already 65 and over (15% vs 3%)

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

Investors

Johnston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (17.7% vs -38.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Johnston Howard Springs
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.

Johnston Howard Springs
Walkability 52 / 0
Johnston — Walkability: 52/100 Howard Springs — Walkability: 0/100

Demographics

Howard Springs skews older (43 vs 28); Howard Springs has more residents (3,153 vs 2,386).

Johnston Howard Springs
Population 2,386 3,153
+32% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +17.7% -38.6%
Median age 28 43
Median household income $117,208/yr $133,120/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $370/wk $400/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Johnston Howard Springs
0-4 10.9% / 6.0%
Johnston — 0-4: 10.9% Howard Springs — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 17.1% / 11.6%
Johnston — 5-14: 17.1% Howard Springs — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 5.7% / 6.1%
Johnston — 15-19: 5.7% Howard Springs — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 9.2% / 4.8%
Johnston — 20-24: 9.2% Howard Springs — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 21.3% / 11.0%
Johnston — 25-34: 21.3% Howard Springs — 25-34: 11.0%
35-44 19.3% / 13.0%
Johnston — 35-44: 19.3% Howard Springs — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 8.9% / 16.3%
Johnston — 45-54: 8.9% Howard Springs — 45-54: 16.3%
55-64 4.7% / 15.8%
Johnston — 55-64: 4.7% Howard Springs — 55-64: 15.8%
65-74 1.8% / 10.3%
Johnston — 65-74: 1.8% Howard Springs — 65-74: 10.3%
75-84 1.0% / 4.4%
Johnston — 75-84: 1.0% Howard Springs — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 0.1% / 0.5%
Johnston — 85+: 0.1% Howard Springs — 85+: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Johnston 50.9% couple families
Johnston — Couple Families: 50.9% Johnston — Lone Person: 22.0% Johnston — One Parent Families: 20.2% Johnston — Group Household: 6.3% Johnston — Other Families: 0.7%
Howard Springs 57.9% couple families
Howard Springs — Couple Families: 57.9% Howard Springs — Lone Person: 23.2% Howard Springs — One Parent Families: 13.1% Howard Springs — Group Household: 5.1% Howard Springs — Other Families: 0.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Johnston 63.8% renting
Johnston — Owned Outright: 2.0% Johnston — Mortgage: 34.2% Johnston — Renting: 63.8%
Howard Springs 16.6% renting
Howard Springs — Owned Outright: 34.7% Howard Springs — Mortgage: 48.7% Howard Springs — Renting: 16.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Johnston Howard Springs
Certificate III & IV 16.1% / 22.0%
Johnston — Certificate III & IV: 16.1% Howard Springs — Certificate III & IV: 22.0%
Bachelor Degree 9.8% / 8.6%
Johnston — Bachelor Degree: 9.8% Howard Springs — Bachelor Degree: 8.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 8.0%
Johnston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Howard Springs — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Postgraduate Degree 3.4% / 2.2%
Johnston — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4% Howard Springs — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.7%
Johnston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Howard Springs — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.0%).

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.

Johnston Howard Springs
England 1.7% / 3.6%
Johnston — England: 1.7% Howard Springs — England: 3.6%
Philippines 4.4% / 0.8%
Johnston — Philippines: 4.4% Howard Springs — Philippines: 0.8%
India 3.7% / 0.7%
Johnston — India: 3.7% Howard Springs — India: 0.7%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.9%
Johnston — New Zealand: 1.6% Howard Springs — New Zealand: 1.9%
Nepal 1.0% / —
Johnston — Nepal: 1.0% Howard Springs — Nepal: not among its largest
Ireland — / 0.5%
Johnston — Ireland: not among its largest Howard Springs — Ireland: 0.5%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Johnston 57.8% houses
Johnston — Houses: 57.8% Johnston — Flats / Apartments: 23.8% Johnston — Townhouses: 18.3%
Howard Springs 94.7% houses
Howard Springs — Houses: 94.7% Howard Springs — Flats / Apartments: 3.9% Howard Springs — Townhouses: 1.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Johnston Howard Springs
Median house price $770,000 $897,500
Median unit price $476,250 —
Median land price — $775,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 15 sales
 41 days
from 33 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.

Johnston Howard Springs
3 bed $685K / $840K
Johnston — 3 bed: $685K (16 sales) Howard Springs — 3 bed: $840K (30 sales)

16 vs 30 sales

4 bed $800K / $910K
Johnston — 4 bed: $800K (26 sales) Howard Springs — 4 bed: $910K (37 sales)

26 vs 37 sales

5 bed $1.02M / $970K
Johnston — 5 bed: $1.02M (5 sales) Howard Springs — 5 bed: $970K (10 sales)

5 vs 10 sales

Development activity

Johnston Howard Springs
New dwellings approved 247
across Palmerston
 130
across Litchfield
Approvals change year on year -3% +0%

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.

Johnston Howard Springs
Houses 4.4%
$750/wk on $895K
 —
Units 6.2%
$580/wk on $490K
 —

Ranking within NT

Johnston Howard Springs
House price —
same for both
Income — Higher than 89% of NT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of NT Higher than 5% of NT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 69% of NT Higher than 81% of NT
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of NT Higher than 60% of NT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 15% of NT —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 15% of NT —

Liveability

Johnston is more walkable (52 vs 0); Johnston scores higher overall (58 vs 50).

Johnston Howard Springs
Grade B C
Score 58/100 50/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Johnston Howard Springs
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Johnston Howard Springs
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Johnston

  • MacKillop Catholic College Catholic · Secondary

Schools in Howard Springs

  • Howard Springs Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Good Shepherd Lutheran College Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Johnston Howard Springs
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 4 3
Childcare 0 7
GPs 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 4

Mobility

Howard Springs sits further from the CBD (31.7 km vs 26.4 km).

Johnston Howard Springs
Walkability score 52/100 0/100
Distance to Darwin 26.4 km 31.7 km
+20% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 29 min
Public transport score 50/100
Bus
 30/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 13.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 8.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 0832
 0.5%
postcode 0835
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 0832
 61
postcode 0835

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.

Johnston Howard Springs
Car (driver) 84.9% / 84.3%
Johnston — Car (driver): 84.9% Howard Springs — Car (driver): 84.3%
Car (passenger) 7.2% / 4.9%
Johnston — Car (passenger): 7.2% Howard Springs — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Worked from Home 4.1% / 7.8%
Johnston — Worked from Home: 4.1% Howard Springs — Worked from Home: 7.8%
Bus 2.3% / 1.2%
Johnston — Bus: 2.3% Howard Springs — Bus: 1.2%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.3%
Johnston — Walked Only: 1.1% Howard Springs — Walked Only: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (84.9%).

Setting

Johnston Howard Springs
Elevation 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.7 km 11.3 km

NBN connectivity

Johnston Howard Springs
Connectivity score 100/100 26/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
529 premises
 0%
1,096 premises

Climate

Johnston Howard Springs
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

Johnston Howard Springs
Average residential rate $1,608/yr $1,153/yr
Council Palmerston Litchfield

Federal electorate

Johnston Howard Springs
Division Solomon Lingiari
Member Luke John Gosling Marion Scrymgour
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Johnston Howard Springs
Grant amount $50,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Johnston

Family Middle-Ring Parks Young Families

Howard Springs

Acreage Outer Premium

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Johnston

Johnston vs Zuccoli Johnston vs Rosebery Johnston vs Bakewell Johnston vs Gunn Johnston vs Holtze Johnston vs Farrar

Other comparisons with Howard Springs

Howard Springs vs Zuccoli Howard Springs vs Holtze Howard Springs vs Virginia Howard Springs vs Girraween Howard Springs vs McMinns Lagoon Howard Springs vs Coolalinga
Full data on Johnston Full data on Howard Springs
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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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