Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Papunya suburb profile
Papunya, NT · Postcode 0872
This Papunya suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Papunya, NT (postcode 0872). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Papunya with nearby suburbs.
Papunya at a glance
Population
438
Median rent
$83/wk
Household income
$1,520/wk
Median age
27
Papunya trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+4.8% over 10 years
Population
438
was 404 in 2016
+34 · +8.4%
Median rent
$83/wk
was $30/wk in 2016
+$53 · +176.7%
Household income
$1,520/wk
was $1,208/wk in 2016
+$312 · +25.8%
Median age
27
was 29 in 2016
-2 · -6.9%
Dig deeper: Papunya population growth · Papunya then and now
Papunya vs nearby & Greater Darwin
Median Census 2021 figures for Papunya, nearby suburbs (8), and the Darwin metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-76.9% vs area
- Papunya$83/wk
- Nearby$90/wk
- Darwin$360/wk
Household income
-30.2% vs area
- Papunya$1,520/wk
- Nearby$1,294.5/wk
- Darwin$2,179/wk
Median age
-20.6% vs area
- Papunya27
- Nearby29
- Darwin34
Personal income
-78.1% vs area
- Papunya$240/wk
- Nearby$393.5/wk
- Darwin$1,093.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NT. See Darwin rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Papunya compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Papunya ranks among Australia's most disadvantaged suburbs. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 1504.1
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 1711.5
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1493.4
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 2911.5
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Papunya on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Papunya, NT.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Papunya people
- Population
- 438
- Median age
- 27
- Born overseas
- 2.7%
- Average household size
- 4.6
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Papunya income
- Median household income
- $1,520/wk
- Median personal income
- $240/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Papunya housing
- Median rent
- $83/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $0/mo
- Separate houses
- 73%
- Flats & apartments
- 0%
- Owned outright
- 0%
- Mortgaged
- 0%
- Rented
- 61.8%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 22.5%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Papunya work
- Employment to population
- 26.8%
- Unemployment rate
- 10.4%
- Year 12 or above
- 12.1%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 0872)
Compare Papunya with nearby suburbs
Papunya in numbers
Papunya had 438 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 109th most populous suburb or locality in NT out of 273. The median age is 27, 21% below the typical NT suburb. The average household has 4.6 people. 2.7% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 0% own their home outright, 0% are paying a mortgage, 61.8% rent. Separate houses make up 73% of dwellings, with 0% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $83/wk, 76% below the typical NT suburb.
Median household income was $1,520/wk, 27% below the typical NT suburb. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 1 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 8.4% (from 404 to 438). Median rent moved from $30/wk to $83/wk (+176.7%).
Papunya suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Papunya, NT?
- The median weekly rent in Papunya was $83/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Papunya, NT?
- Papunya had 438 residents at the 2021 Census, up 8.4% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Papunya?
- Median household income in Papunya was $1,520/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Papunya?
- 61.8% of occupied homes in Papunya were rented, 0% were owned outright and 0% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Papunya suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Papunya. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Darwin