Karama vs Malak

Karama and Malak are neighbouring suburbs with similar median ages and socio-economic profiles, but some meaningful differences emerge in walkability and accessibility. Karama is notably more walkable with a score of 75 compared to Malak's 68, and sits closer to the CBD at 14.4 km versus 15.9 km. Karama also has a higher median household income of $92,716 against Malak's $87,152, and offers better rental yields on houses at 5.6% compared to 4.5%. Rental costs are comparable, though Malak is slightly higher at $301 per week, while property prices are very similar between the two.

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

Karama

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (6 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 8)

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

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

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

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Karama

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.6% vs 4.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Karama Malak
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.

Karama Malak
Walkability 75 / 68
Karama — Walkability: 75/100 Malak — Walkability: 68/100

Demographics

Karama has more residents (4,803 vs 3,013).

Karama Malak
Population 4,803
+37% vs other
 3,013
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.9% +0.4%
Median age 35
same for both
Median household income $92,716/yr
+6% vs other
 $87,152/yr
Median weekly rent $293/wk $301/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Karama Malak
0-4 7.0% / 6.4%
Karama — 0-4: 7.0% Malak — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 15.6% / 16.3%
Karama — 5-14: 15.6% Malak — 5-14: 16.3%
15-19 7.4% / 7.1%
Karama — 15-19: 7.4% Malak — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 6.6% / 5.4%
Karama — 20-24: 6.6% Malak — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 13.2% / 13.6%
Karama — 25-34: 13.2% Malak — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 14.1% / 14.2%
Karama — 35-44: 14.1% Malak — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 13.0% / 12.7%
Karama — 45-54: 13.0% Malak — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 12.5% / 12.3%
Karama — 55-64: 12.5% Malak — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 7.3% / 8.8%
Karama — 65-74: 7.3% Malak — 65-74: 8.8%
75-84 2.4% / 2.7%
Karama — 75-84: 2.4% Malak — 75-84: 2.7%
85+ 0.7% / 0.3%
Karama — 85+: 0.7% Malak — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Karama 43.1% couple families
Karama — Couple Families: 43.1% Karama — Lone Person: 26.9% Karama — One Parent Families: 23.6% Karama — Group Household: 4.4% Karama — Other Families: 1.9%
Malak 36.8% couple families
Malak — Couple Families: 36.8% Malak — Lone Person: 29.7% Malak — One Parent Families: 24.9% Malak — Group Household: 6.1% Malak — Other Families: 2.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Karama 38.9% renting
Karama — Owned Outright: 19.4% Karama — Mortgage: 41.7% Karama — Renting: 38.9%
Malak 42.4% renting
Malak — Owned Outright: 21.5% Malak — Mortgage: 36.1% Malak — Renting: 42.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Karama Malak
Certificate III & IV 14.0% / 12.7%
Karama — Certificate III & IV: 14.0% Malak — Certificate III & IV: 12.7%
Bachelor Degree 9.2% / 9.3%
Karama — Bachelor Degree: 9.2% Malak — Bachelor Degree: 9.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.5% / 5.7%
Karama — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5% Malak — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7%
Postgraduate Degree 2.7% / 2.9%
Karama — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7% Malak — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.1%
Karama — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Malak — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.0%).

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.

Karama Malak
Philippines 6.7% / 5.5%
Karama — Philippines: 6.7% Malak — Philippines: 5.5%
Indonesia 2.0% / 1.9%
Karama — Indonesia: 2.0% Malak — Indonesia: 1.9%
India 1.7% / 1.5%
Karama — India: 1.7% Malak — India: 1.5%
England 1.5% / 1.7%
Karama — England: 1.5% Malak — England: 1.7%
Greece 1.9% / 1.0%
Karama — Greece: 1.9% Malak — Greece: 1.0%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.3%
Karama — New Zealand: 1.3% Malak — New Zealand: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Karama 77.2% houses
Karama — Houses: 77.2% Karama — Townhouses: 17.8% Karama — Flats / Apartments: 5.0%
Malak 75.2% houses
Malak — Houses: 75.2% Malak — Townhouses: 24.8% Malak — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Karama Malak
Median house price $620,000 $610,500
Median unit price $362,500 $342,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 23 sales
 14 days
from 14 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.

Karama Malak
3 bed $605K / $587K
Karama — 3 bed: $605K (61 sales) Malak — 3 bed: $587K (56 sales)

61 vs 56 sales

4 bed $672K / $665K
Karama — 4 bed: $672K (27 sales) Malak — 4 bed: $665K (23 sales)

27 vs 23 sales

Development activity

Karama Malak
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.

Karama Malak
Houses 5.6%
$750/wk on $699K
 4.5%
$595/wk on $695K
Units 7.3%
$590/wk on $420K
 —

Ranking within NT

Karama Malak
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 56% of NT Higher than 53% of NT
Schools Higher than 75% of NT Higher than 19% of NT
Walkability Higher than 96% of NT Higher than 93% of NT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NT Higher than 75% of NT
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of NT Higher than 84% of NT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 73% of NT Higher than 16% of NT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 73% of NT —

Liveability

Karama Malak
Grade C
same for both
Score 51/100 49/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Karama Malak
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
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Karama Malak
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Casuarina Campus, 4.7 km
 1
Casuarina Campus, 3.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1%
same for both

Schools in Karama

  • Holy Family Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Karama Primary School Government · Primary
  • Manunda Terrace Primary School Government · Primary
  • O'Loughlin Catholic College Catholic · Secondary

Schools in Malak

  • Malak Primary School Government · Primary
  • Sanderson Middle School Government · Secondary
  • Top End School of Flexible Learning Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Karama Malak
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 12 8
Childcare 6 2
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1
same for both

Mobility

Karama Malak
Walkability score 75/100 68/100
Distance to Darwin 14.4 km 15.9 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 20 min
Public transport score 92/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 51.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 34.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 0812
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 0812
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.

Karama Malak
Car (driver) 79.2% / 81.2%
Karama — Car (driver): 79.2% Malak — Car (driver): 81.2%
Car (passenger) 9.3% / 9.6%
Karama — Car (passenger): 9.3% Malak — Car (passenger): 9.6%
Bus 4.4% / 2.7%
Karama — Bus: 4.4% Malak — Bus: 2.7%
Worked from Home 3.6% / 3.5%
Karama — Worked from Home: 3.6% Malak — Worked from Home: 3.5%
Bicycle 1.6% / 1.6%
Karama — Bicycle: 1.6% Malak — Bicycle: 1.6%
Walked Only 1.9% / 1.0%
Karama — Walked Only: 1.9% Malak — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.2%).

Setting

Karama Malak
Elevation 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.3 km 5.3 km

NBN connectivity

Karama Malak
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 99%
1,823 premises
 100%
1,221 premises

Climate

Karama Malak
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

Karama Malak
Average residential rate $1,870/yr
same for both
Council Darwin
same for both

Federal electorate

Karama Malak
Division Solomon
same for both
Member Luke John Gosling
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Karama Malak
Grant amount $50,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Karama

Easy Commute Family Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Transport Hub

Malak

Easy Commute Family Middle-Ring Parks Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Karama

Karama vs Leanyer Karama vs Marrara Karama vs Berrimah Karama vs Knuckey Lagoon

Other comparisons with Malak

Malak vs Leanyer Malak vs Wulagi Malak vs Anula Malak vs Marrara
Full data on Karama Full data on Malak
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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