West Arnhem NT 0822
Located in Northern Territory, West Arnhem sits 396 km from Darwin CBD, around 6 hours 25 minutes by car. The locality has 785 residents, a median age of 27, and a median household income of $61,048 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the bottom 20% nationally. Population grew 14.9% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $30 per week. The area shows high coastal erosion risk. 4 schools sit within the locality boundary, and walkability is low.
Is West Arnhem a good place to live?
West Arnhem scores a D (22/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — weaker on schools, transit, and community.
Below the state average
4 schools · Bottom 12% in NT
Car-dependent
Walkability 0/100 · 396.1 km · 386 min drive to Darwin
Highly disadvantaged
SEIFA decile 1/10 · median age 27 · 785 residents
Liveability Rating
22 / 100 · Ranked #82 in NTEach bar is West Arnhem's rank among NT suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better). Scored on 4 of 5 factors: no 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 West Arnhem?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
22 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Crime in the West Arnhem area
Crime recorded across the whole area over the 12 months to Aug 2026, not in West Arnhem 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 | 492 | 77.2 |
| Assault | 215 | 33.7 |
| Domestic violence assault | 180 | 28.2 |
| Sexual offences | 12 | 1.9 |
| House burglary | 45 | 7.1 |
| Commercial burglary | 30 | 4.7 |
| Theft | 57 | 8.9 |
| Property damage | 112 | 17.6 |
| Robbery and extortion | 2 | 0.3 |
| Endangering people | 19 | 3.0 |
Rates use the West Arnhem area’s 6,377 residents. The latest month is preliminary and may be revised.
Coastal Erosion
Shoreline Change Summary
1988–2025Nearest Eroding Coastline
- Distance
- 43.9 km
- Rate
- -0.21 m/yr
- Net Movement
- -12.6 m
- Certainty
- good
Data Quality
Schools
Four schools serve West Arnhem, but none have published comparable ratings yet.
- • 60 students across 4 schools (avg 15)
- • ICSEA 558-712, median 664 (below the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Nawarddeken Academy Kunmayali School (34 students)
Secondary
Combined
Walkability
West Arnhem 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.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in West Arnhem.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 54
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
West Arnhem: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this locality alone — this locality's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 5 small areas inside this locality and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 2 different deciles — a narrow range, so the average describes the locality closely.
West Arnhem is home to 785 residents, and skews young, with a median age of 27 against the national 38. Median household income runs at $61,000 a year, with unemployment at 21.0%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
785
Median Age
27
Median Household Income
$61,048/yr
Census Median Rent
$30/wk
Census Median Mortgage
—
Avg Household Size
5.6
Median Personal Income
$12,168/yr
Unemployment Rate
21.0%
Unoccupied Dwellings
98.1%
Total Dwellings
105
Owner-Occupier Rate
—
Houses
87.6%
Rental Stress
2.6%
Mortgage Stress
—
Work From Home
0.0%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
8 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 40 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 50 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 98.0%
- English Spoken at Home
- 3.7%
- Employment Rate
- 16.6%
- Completed Year 12
- 12.7%
Occupations
Religion
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,233 a year through West Arnhem based on 2026 figures.
Building Approvals: West Arnhem
In the year to August 2026, 34 new dwellings were approved across West Arnhem. That mix is 10 houses and 24 units. Approvals are up 500.0% on the same period a year earlier.
Setting
- Elevation
- 28 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 43.9 km
Elevation is the ground at the locality 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 0822, 9 of 6,890 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 1.7% (119 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 1.9%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 0822, 1,382 rooftop-solar systems totalling 17.5 MW have been installed since 2001, against 5,409 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 77 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.
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 locality's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Manuel Brown Labor
Next state election: 26 August 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Manuel Brown ALP | 69.7% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2023, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this locality's voters. Results: Northern Territory Electoral Commission.
Looking at a specific address in West Arnhem?
Every figure above is a locality 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 785 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
East Arnhem NT 0822
Gunbalanya NT 0822
Warruwi NT 0822
Kakadu NT 0822
Minjilang NT 0822
Flying Fox NT 0852
Compare West Arnhem to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other NT suburb — type a name and pick one.
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Common questions about West Arnhem
Is West Arnhem a safe place to live?
NT does not publish suburb-level crime statistics, so there is no crime figure for West Arnhem.
Is West Arnhem a good place to live?
West Arnhem has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of D (22/100), 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 West Arnhem?
West Arnhem, NT had a population of 785 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for West Arnhem, NT?
The postcode for West Arnhem, NT is 0822.
How far is West Arnhem from Darwin?
West Arnhem is 396 km from Darwin CBD by road, about 386 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in West Arnhem?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in West Arnhem was $61,048 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 West Arnhem?
There are too few current rental listings in West Arnhem for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $30, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in West Arnhem?
The median age of residents in West Arnhem was 27 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in West Arnhem?
There are 4 schools inside the West Arnhem boundary, none of which has enough NAPLAN and ICSEA data for a quality band.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in West Arnhem?
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 West Arnhem belong to?
West Arnhem sits within the West Arnhem local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in West Arnhem?
The average residential rates bill through West Arnhem is $1,233 a year (2026). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near West Arnhem?
Across West Arnhem, 34 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's up 500.0% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is West Arnhem in?
West Arnhem sits within the federal Division of Lingiari, currently held by Marion Scrymgour (Australian Labor Party).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Council rates · FY 2026–27
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- 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.
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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.