Howard Springs is a suburb in Northern Territory, 32 km from Darwin CBD, around 29 minutes by car. Population is 3,153; the median age is 43 and the median household income is $133,120 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the top 40% nationally. The suburb fell 38.6% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $400 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $2,388. 2 schools sit within the suburb boundary, and walkability is low.
Is Howard Springs a good suburb?
Howard Springs scores a C (50/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on community.
Mixed results
2 schools
Some car dependence
Walkability 0/100 · 31.7 km · 29 min drive to Darwin
Median available
Median $898K
Advantaged
SEIFA decile 8/10 · median age 43 · 3,153 residents
Liveability Rating
50 / 100 · Ranked #54 in NTEach bar is Howard Springs's rank among NT suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better). Scored on 3 of 5 factors: no school or safety data, so the other factors carry its weight.
No bushfire or crime or flood data is published for Northern Territory — a blank here means we hold no data, not that there is no risk.
How do you rate the liveability in Howard Springs?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
50 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataHoward Springs's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $898,000, roughly 12% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$897,500
19% above its 6 neighbours (median $755,000)
Based on 104 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 41 days — median across 33 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 3 bed 30 sales $840K
- 4 bed 37 sales $910K
- 5 bed 10 sales $970K
Land
$775,000
Based on only 6 sales — small sample, take as indicative.
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Howard Springs are currently listed at around $1.05 million on average. Based on 27 houses listed in the past six months.
$1.05M
27 houses listed in the last 6 months.
27 of the suburb's 1,016 dwellings (2.7%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Crime in the Howard Springs area
Crime recorded across the whole area over the 12 months to Aug 2026, not in Howard Springs alone. NT Police publish by town and district, not by suburb, and recent months can take several months to settle.
| Type | Count | Per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| All offences | 672 | 106.5 |
| Assault | 381 | 60.4 |
| Domestic violence assault | 20 | 3.2 |
| Sexual offences | 19 | 3.0 |
| House burglary | 1 | 0.2 |
| Commercial burglary | 10 | 1.6 |
| Theft | 89 | 14.1 |
| Property damage | 120 | 19.0 |
| Robbery and extortion | 1 | 0.2 |
| Endangering people | 51 | 8.1 |
Rates use the Howard Springs area’s 6,308 residents. The latest month is preliminary and may be revised.
Schools
Two schools serve Howard Springs, and the cohort is trailing peer-suburb performance.
- • 1,394 students across 2 schools (avg 697)
- • Sectors: 1 Independent, 1 Government
- • ICSEA 951-1025, median 988 (around the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Good Shepherd Lutheran College (1,117 students)
Primary
Combined
Walkability
Howard Springs is very car-dependent on foot — at 0/100, nearly all errands require a car.
We hold no public transport timetable data for this area, so public transport is not rated here and the score is spread across the remaining components. It is not counted as zero.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Howard Springs.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 8.0 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 0.6 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 2.9 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 2 min
- Span of service
- 11.8 hours
Scheduled service only, based on the 21 October 2026 timetable. Reliability (delays, cancellations) not measured.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Howard Springs.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 1,096
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Litchfield: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this suburb alone — this suburb's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 11 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 4 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this suburb rank well above the average and parts well below it.
Howard Springs is home to about 3,200 residents, with a median age of 43, a touch above the national 38. Median household income runs at $133,000 a year, with unemployment at 3.7%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
3,153
Median Age
43
Median Household Income
$133,120/yr
Census Median Rent
$400/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$2,388/mo
Avg Household Size
2.9
Median Personal Income
$58,136/yr
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Unoccupied Dwellings
8.5%
Total Dwellings
1,016
Owner-Occupier Rate
83.4%
Houses
94.7%
Rental Stress
15.6%
Mortgage Stress
21.5%
Work From Home
7.8%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 77.9%
- English Spoken at Home
- 87.4%
- Employment Rate
- 65.8%
- Completed Year 12
- 36.8%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
42 residents (1.3%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 2,965 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
24% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (409 of 1,707).
City centre: the ABS area around each capital's CBD, such as Sydney Inner City or Perth City (which takes in Subiaco and Leederville). 2021 Census place of work.
Local Jobs
People who work in this suburb against employed people who live here, 2021 Census.
About 1,096 people work here; 1,707 employed residents live here.
Mostly a place people commute from: 0.6 jobs per working resident. At least 34% of employed residents must work outside the suburb.
Counts are by place of work and place of usual residence. The ABS counts jobs in zones; where a zone spans several places, its jobs are shared out by land use. The ABS also adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,153 a year through Litchfield based on 2026 figures.
Building Approvals: Litchfield
In the year to August 2026, 130 new dwellings were approved across Litchfield. That mix is 126 houses and 4 units.
Climate & Setting
from Darwin Airport, 19.1 kmHigh rainfall — hot summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 29 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 11.3 km
- Annual rainfall
- 1,836 mm
- 98 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 32.5°C
- 27 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 19.8°C
- 0 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the suburb centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
EV adoption
In postcode 0835, 16 of 2,965 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.8% (83 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 3.3%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 0835, 666 rooftop-solar systems totalling 5.6 MW have been installed since 2001, against 1,098 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 42 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$50,000 for new homes.
Administered as the HomeGrown Territory Grant. Established-home buyers may also be eligible for the separate BuildBonus Grant.
Mortgage repayments
Stamp duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with Territory Revenue Office
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-27 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Marion Scrymgour Australian Labor Party
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Marion Scrymgour | 58.1% | 41.9% | +6.5 |
| 2022 | Marion Scrymgour | 51.0% | 49.0% | +4.5 |
| 2019 | Warren Snowdon | 55.5% | 44.5% | +2.7 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact suburb's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Gerard Maley Country Liberal
Next state election: 26 August 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Gerard Maley CLP | 71.6% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2023, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this suburb's voters. Results: Northern Territory Electoral Commission.
Looking at a specific address in Howard Springs?
Every figure above is a suburb average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 3,153 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Nearby suburbs
Zuccoli NT 0832
Johnston NT 0832
Holtze NT 0829
Virginia NT 0834
Girraween NT 0836
McMinns Lagoon NT 0822
Compare Howard Springs to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other NT suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about Howard Springs
Is Howard Springs a safe place to live?
NT does not publish suburb-level crime statistics, so there is no crime figure for Howard Springs.
Is Howard Springs a good place to live?
Howard Springs has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of C (50/100), ranked against other NT suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of Howard Springs?
Howard Springs, NT had a population of 3,153 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Howard Springs, NT?
The postcode for Howard Springs, NT is 0835.
How far is Howard Springs from Darwin?
Howard Springs is 32 km from Darwin CBD by road, about 29 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Howard Springs?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Howard Springs was $133,120 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Howard Springs?
There are too few current rental listings in Howard Springs for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $400, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in Howard Springs?
The median age of residents in Howard Springs was 43 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in Howard Springs?
There are 2 schools inside the Howard Springs boundary: 1 below similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
What is the weather like in Howard Springs?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Howard Springs, Darwin Airport (19.1 km away), summer days average 32.5°C, winter nights 19.8°C, 1,836 mm of rain a year over 98 rainy days, and 27 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Howard Springs?
First-home buyers in NT may be eligible for $50,000 towards new homes. The grant is administered by Territory Revenue Office; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Howard Springs belong to?
Howard Springs sits within the Litchfield local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Howard Springs?
The average residential rates bill through Litchfield is $1,153 a year (2026). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Howard Springs?
Across Litchfield, 130 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Howard Springs in?
Howard Springs sits within the federal Division of Lingiari, currently held by Marion Scrymgour (Australian Labor Party).
Search another suburb or address
Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2026–27
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- Public transport · Oct 2026
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- State electorate · 2024
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
Was the information on this page useful to you?
Thanks! Anything we could improve?
We hate spam as much as you do — we'll never use your email for marketing, and we might not be able to reply to everyone.
Thanks for your feedback! 🙏
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.