Karama vs Marrara

Karama is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 45 in Marrara. In both, most households own their home. In Karama, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Marrara, most homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Marrara: a median of $690,000, against $620,000 in Karama, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Karama tends to suit families with children, while Marrara suits 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

Karama

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (6 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (77% vs 41%)

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

First-home buyers

Karama

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($362,500 vs $433,125)
  • has cheaper houses ($620,000 vs $690,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Karama

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($293/wk vs $370/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Karama

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 53/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Marrara

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (59% vs 23%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 10%)
  • But Karama is more walkable (75/100 vs 53/100)

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

Investors

Karama

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (-2.9% vs -14.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (7.3% vs 6.8%)
  • But Marrara returns a higher gross yield on houses (6.5% vs 5.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Karama and Marrara 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 Marrara
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 Marrara
Walkability 75 / 53
Karama — Walkability: 75/100 Marrara — Walkability: 53/100

Demographics

Karama has more residents (4,803 vs 1,323); Marrara skews older (45 vs 35).

Karama Marrara
Population 4,803
+72% vs other
 1,323
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.9% -14.6%
Median age 35 45
Median household income $92,716/yr $101,556/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $293/wk $370/wk
+26% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Karama Marrara
0-4 7.0% / 6.0%
Karama — 0-4: 7.0% Marrara — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 15.6% / 9.7%
Karama — 5-14: 15.6% Marrara — 5-14: 9.7%
15-19 7.4% / 3.9%
Karama — 15-19: 7.4% Marrara — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 6.6% / 4.1%
Karama — 20-24: 6.6% Marrara — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 13.2% / 13.0%
Karama — 25-34: 13.2% Marrara — 25-34: 13.0%
35-44 14.1% / 13.5%
Karama — 35-44: 14.1% Marrara — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 13.0% / 14.4%
Karama — 45-54: 13.0% Marrara — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 12.5% / 16.3%
Karama — 55-64: 12.5% Marrara — 55-64: 16.3%
65-74 7.3% / 12.9%
Karama — 65-74: 7.3% Marrara — 65-74: 12.9%
75-84 2.4% / 5.2%
Karama — 75-84: 2.4% Marrara — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 0.7% / 0.9%
Karama — 85+: 0.7% Marrara — 85+: 0.9%

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%
Marrara 34.3% couple families
Marrara — Couple Families: 34.3% Marrara — Lone Person: 44.8% Marrara — One Parent Families: 8.9% Marrara — Group Household: 8.1% Marrara — Other Families: 3.9%
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%
Marrara 34.8% renting
Marrara — Owned Outright: 34.0% Marrara — Mortgage: 31.1% Marrara — Renting: 34.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Karama Marrara
Certificate III & IV 14.0% / 15.3%
Karama — Certificate III & IV: 14.0% Marrara — Certificate III & IV: 15.3%
Bachelor Degree 9.2% / 11.2%
Karama — Bachelor Degree: 9.2% Marrara — Bachelor Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.5% / 9.1%
Karama — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5% Marrara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.7% / 5.4%
Karama — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7% Marrara — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.2%
Karama — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Marrara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

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 Marrara
Philippines 6.7% / 2.3%
Karama — Philippines: 6.7% Marrara — Philippines: 2.3%
England 1.5% / 3.6%
Karama — England: 1.5% Marrara — England: 3.6%
India 1.7% / 1.6%
Karama — India: 1.7% Marrara — India: 1.6%
Indonesia 2.0% / 1.1%
Karama — Indonesia: 2.0% Marrara — Indonesia: 1.1%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.8%
Karama — New Zealand: 1.3% Marrara — New Zealand: 1.8%
Greece 1.9% / —
Karama — Greece: 1.9% Marrara — Greece: not among its largest

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 — Flats / Apartments: 5.0% Karama — Townhouses: 17.8%
Marrara 40.7% houses
Marrara — Houses: 40.7% Marrara — Flats / Apartments: 58.2% Marrara — Townhouses: 1.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Karama Marrara
Median house price $620,000 $690,000
Median unit price $362,500 $433,125
Median land price — $310,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 23 sales
 22 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 Marrara
3 bed $605K / $737K
Karama — 3 bed: $605K (61 sales) Marrara — 3 bed: $737K (13 sales)

61 vs 13 sales

4 bed $672K / $735K
Karama — 4 bed: $672K (27 sales) Marrara — 4 bed: $735K (27 sales)

27 vs 27 sales

Development activity

Karama Marrara
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 Marrara
Houses 5.6%
$750/wk on $699K
 6.5%
$1,125/wk on $895K
Units 7.3%
$590/wk on $420K
 6.8%
$650/wk on $500K

Ranking within NT

Karama Marrara
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 56% of NT Higher than 64% of NT
Schools Higher than 75% of NT Higher than 25% of NT
Walkability Higher than 96% of NT Higher than 84% 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 85% of NT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 73% of NT Higher than 54% of NT

Liveability

Karama is more walkable (75 vs 53); Marrara scores higher overall (60 vs 51).

Karama Marrara
Grade C B
Score 51/100 60/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Karama Marrara
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
 High
70/100
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Karama Marrara
Inside the suburb 4 5
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
 2
Casuarina Campus, 3.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1% 0.9%

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 Marrara

  • Marrara Christian College Independent · Combined
  • NT Christian College Independent · Secondary
  • SEDA College NT - St Mary's Club campus Independent · Secondary
  • SEDA College NT - Tennis NT campus Independent · Secondary
  • SEDA College NT - Terriory Rugby League Stadium campus Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Karama Marrara
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 12 2
Childcare 6 2
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Karama Marrara
Walkability score 75/100 53/100
Distance to Darwin 14.4 km
+3% vs other
 13.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 19 min
Public transport score 92/100
Bus
 66/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 51.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 19.5
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 Marrara
Car (driver) 79.2% / 81.6%
Karama — Car (driver): 79.2% Marrara — Car (driver): 81.6%
Car (passenger) 9.3% / 7.5%
Karama — Car (passenger): 9.3% Marrara — Car (passenger): 7.5%
Worked from Home 3.6% / 6.3%
Karama — Worked from Home: 3.6% Marrara — Worked from Home: 6.3%
Bus 4.4% / 1.7%
Karama — Bus: 4.4% Marrara — Bus: 1.7%
Walked Only 1.9% / 1.8%
Karama — Walked Only: 1.9% Marrara — Walked Only: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.6%).

Setting

Karama Marrara
Elevation 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.3 km 4.8 km

NBN connectivity

Karama Marrara
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%
737 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Karama Marrara
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

Marrara

Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Karama

Karama vs Leanyer Karama vs Malak Karama vs Berrimah Karama vs Knuckey Lagoon

Other comparisons with Marrara

Marrara vs Malak Marrara vs Millner Marrara vs Anula Marrara vs Moil Marrara vs Jingili Marrara vs Berrimah
Full data on Karama Full data on Marrara
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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