Northern Territory · Suburb Profile

Desert Springs NT — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Desert Springs, Northern Territory. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Desert Springs NT is 1,536 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Desert Springs is $1,454 per week ($75,608 per year). Median rent in Desert Springs is $500 per week ($2,167 per month). Desert Springs has a median age of 36 years, younger than the national median of 38. Desert Springs has a population density of 620.1 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Desert Springs is India. The most common religion is No Religion (51% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is IAL Punjabi. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Desert Springs is $2,264.

Desert Springs Map

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Desert Springs Population

residents (Census 2021)

Desert Springs Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$1,454/wk

$75,608 per year

#142 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$500/wk

$2,167 per month

#576 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

36years

2 years younger than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$2,264/mo

Avg household size: 2.8 · 0.9 per bedroom

Desert Springs Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.1% (751) Female 50.9% (779)

Population Density

620.1

people per km²

1,536 people · 2.5 km²

Households

2.8

Avg household size

0.9

Persons per bedroom

$3,321

Family income/wk

Desert Springs Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Desert Springs Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

36.0% 112 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

64.0% 199 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Desert Springs Country of Birth

Australia

88.1%

India

6.0%

England

2.9%

Hong Kong

1.0%

Brazil

0.8%

China

0.8%

Greece

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Desert Springs Religion

No Religion

51.5%

Catholic

22.2%

Not stated

5.9%

Anglican

5.3%

Uniting Church

4.6%

Hinduism

4.5%

Christian (other)

3.7%

Pentecostal

2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Desert Springs Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

75.6%

Year 10 or equivalent

11.9%

Year 11 or equivalent

10.1%

Year 9 or equivalent

2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Desert Springs Languages Spoken at Home

IAL Punjabi

21.3%

Other

17.3%

SAL Tot

12.0%

Malayalam

12.0%

Mandarin

10.7%

Hindi

9.3%

IAL Nepali

9.3%

Arabic

8.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Desert Springs Employment

💼

Employed full-time

61.3% 683 people

⏰

Employed part-time

19.8% 221 people

🔍

Unemployed

1.3% 15 people

🏠

Not in labour force

17.6% 196 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Desert Springs Qualifications

Bachelor Degree

33.8%

Certificate III/IV

26.3%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

18.3%

Postgraduate Degree

15.8%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

4.2%

Certificate I/II

1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Desert Springs Occupation

Professionals

34.9%

Managers

19.0%

Community & Personal Service

16.6%

Clerical & Administrative

12.8%

Technicians & Trade Workers

10.2%

Sales Workers

3.4%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

1.8%

Labourers

1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Desert Springs Field of Study

Management & Commerce

23.3%

Society & Culture

18.0%

Health

17.3%

Engineering

13.3%

Education

7.2%

Architecture & Building

6.0%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

5.8%

Creative Arts

2.5%

Natural & Physical Sciences

2.5%

Information Technology

2.4%

Agriculture & Environment

1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Desert Springs Dwelling Types

Separate house

68.3%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

26.1%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

5.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Desert Springs Weekly Household Income

$300-$399/wk

1.1%

$500-$649/wk

1.3%

$650-$799/wk

1.3%

$800-$999/wk

3.0%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

3.2%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

4.8%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.5%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.2%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

11.0%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

10.8%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

9.1%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

7.6%

$4,000+/wk

35.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Desert Springs Marital Status

💍

Married

54.8% 665

↔️

Separated

2.0% 24

📋

Divorced

8.7% 106

🕊️

Widowed

2.9% 35

👤

Never married

31.6% 383

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Desert Springs Ancestry

English

27.9%

Australian

20.8%

Other

13.4%

Irish

9.0%

Scottish

7.5%

German

6.5%

Indian

3.5%

Aboriginal Australianralian

3.1%

Italian

2.9%

Chinese

2.0%

Filipino

2.0%

Dutch

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Desert Springs School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

25.7%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

23.2%

Pre-school

11.3%

Vocational Education

11.3%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

10.3%

Primary — Catholic

7.8%

Secondary — Catholic

6.9%

Secondary — Government

3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Desert Springs Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

1.5% 45

✅

No need for assistance

98.5% 2,888

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Desert Springs Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

21.9% 252

—

Not a volunteer

78.1% 901

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Desert Springs Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

4.2%

$450-$599/mo

1.8%

$600-$799/mo

1.8%

$800-$999/mo

3.0%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

16.8%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

10.2%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

24.0%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

21.0%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

17.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Desert Springs How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

70.9%

Did not go to work

9.0%

Car (passenger)

7.9%

Bicycle

5.3%

Walked only

2.8%

Bus

1.8%

Motorbike/Scooter

1.5%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.4%

Other

0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Desert Springs Car Ownership

0 vehicles

1.4%

1 vehicle

30.1%

2 vehicles

44.6%

3 vehicles

16.2%

4+ vehicles

7.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Desert Springs Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

1.0%

2 bedrooms

25.2%

3 bedrooms

29.8%

4 bedrooms

35.2%

5 bedrooms

6.0%

6+ bedrooms

2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Desert Springs Population Mobility

20.8%

moved in the last year

59.6%

moved in the last 5 years

1.6%

unemployment rate (Census)

79.8%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Desert Springs Indigenous Population

4.2%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

126

Indigenous residents

2,852

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Desert Springs Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

Asthma

Heart disease

Arthritis

Diabetes

Cancer

Lung condition

Kidney disease

Stroke

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Desert Springs Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

7.4%

$1-$149/wk

3.1%

$150-$299/wk

1.6%

$300-$399/wk

0.5%

$400-$499/wk

0.8%

$500-$649/wk

1.3%

$650-$799/wk

5.8%

$800-$999/wk

8.7%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

10.4%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

9.0%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

10.9%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

8.7%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

16.7%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

5.8%

$3,500+/wk

9.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Desert Springs Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

53.7%

Couple — no children

27.7%

Couple — no children under 15

13.7%

One parent — no children under 15

3.3%

One parent — children under 15

1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Desert Springs Military Service

🎖️

Current ADF — Regular

0.5% 6

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

0.7% 8

🏅

Previously served

3.8% 44

👤

Never served

95.0% 1,110

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Desert Springs Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

8.8% 102

—

Did not provide

91.2% 1,057

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Desert Springs Children Ever Born

No children

39.6%

1 child

12.5%

2 children

26.5%

3 children

15.0%

4 children

5.8%

5+ children

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Desert Springs When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Desert Springs Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

25.4%

5–14 hours

33.3%

15–29 hours

12.0%

30+ hours

6.7%

Did not do domestic work

22.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Desert Springs Household Size

1 person

18.9%

2 persons

33.1%

3 persons

20.0%

4 persons

17.0%

5 persons

7.1%

6+ persons

3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Desert Springs Where Residents Moved From

Same address

1,160

Moved from NT

Moved from overseas

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from VIC

Moved from QLD

Moved from NSW

Moved from ACT

Moved from SA

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Desert Springs Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

80.5%

Step family — no other children

16.7%

Blended family — no other children

1.4%

Intact family — other children present

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Desert Springs Schools

schools nearby

government

883

avg ICSEA score

3,520

total students

Ross Park Primary School Government

Primary · T-6 · 413 students

1040

ICSEA

St Philip's College Independent

Secondary · 7-12 · 502 students

1031

ICSEA

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College Catholic

Combined · T-12 · 823 students

1028

ICSEA

Bradshaw Primary School Government

Primary · T-6 · 381 students

918

ICSEA

Centralian Senior College Government

Secondary · 10-12 · 351 students

879

ICSEA

Centralian Middle School Government

Secondary · 7-9 · 338 students

816

ICSEA

Gillen Primary School Government

Primary · T-6 · 230 students

807

ICSEA

Sadadeen Primary School Government

Primary · T-6 · 118 students

793

ICSEA

Acacia Hill School Government

Combined · T-12 · 96 students

789

ICSEA

Yipirinya School Independent

Combined · T-10 · 186 students

729

ICSEA

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College - Bath Street Campus Catholic

Primary

St Joseph's Catholic Flexible School Catholic

Secondary · 7-12 · 82 students

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College - Sadadeen Road Campus Catholic

Secondary

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Desert Springs with map →

Desert Springs Rent Prices & Affordability

17%

of income

Affordable

Household Income $3,025/wk

Median Rent $500/wk

Rent-to-Income 16.5%

Rent is under 25% of household income — generally considered affordable.

If you earn X in Desert Springs

Your weekly income

≈ $13,108/month

Median rent $500/wk

Left after rent $2,525/wk

Rent share 16.5%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Parap

Income: $1,281/wk Rent: $415/wk Save: $85/wk

The Gap (NT)

Income: $1,189/wk Rent: $350/wk Save: $150/wk

Araluen (NT)

Income: $1,281/wk Rent: $440/wk Save: $60/wk

Herbert

Income: $1,268/wk Rent: $460/wk Save: $40/wk

Fannie Bay

Income: $1,322/wk Rent: $390/wk Save: $110/wk

Farrar

Income: $1,172/wk Rent: $455/wk Save: $45/wk

Holtze

Income: $1,308/wk Rent: $230/wk Save: $270/wk

Girraween (NT)

Income: $1,256/wk Rent: $420/wk Save: $80/wk

Desert Springs vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NT

West Arnhem

Pop: 785 Income: $234/wk Rent: $30/wk

Bees Creek

Pop: 803 Income: $1,046/wk Rent: $408/wk

Ross (NT)

Pop: 806 Income: $1,102/wk Rent: $300/wk

Ramingining

Pop: 814 Income: $217/wk Rent: $40/wk

Tindal

Pop: 850 Income: $1,513/wk Rent: $260/wk

Yulara

Pop: 853 Income: $1,019/wk Rent: $134/wk

Compare Desert Springs

Desert Springs vs West Arnhem →Desert Springs vs Bees Creek →Desert Springs vs Ross (NT) →Desert Springs vs Ramingining →

Frequently Asked Questions About Desert Springs

What is the population of Desert Springs NT?

The population of Desert Springs NT is 1,536 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 620.1 people per km².Desert Springs is ranked #3,365 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Desert Springs?

The median personal income in Desert Springs NT is $1,454 per week, or $75,608 per year.The median household income is $3,025 per week.Family income is $3,321 per week.Desert Springs is ranked #142 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Desert Springs?

Median rent in Desert Springs NT is $500 per week ($2,167 per month).Rent represents 16.5% of household income, which is considered affordable.Desert Springs ranks #576 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Desert Springs?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Desert Springs NT is $2,264. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Desert Springs?

The median age in Desert Springs NT is 36 years.This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Desert Springs a good suburb to live in?

Desert Springs is a suburb in Northern Territory with a population of 1,536.The median income is $1,454/wk, which is above the NT average of $760/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (16.5% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Looking for schools, childcare centres, and playgrounds in this area? See kid.com.au for family facilities data.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 70078. All dollar figures in AUD.