The Top 10 Cheapest Suburbs in Darwin

With its rich history and superb position on Fannie Bay on the northern coast of Australia, Darwin, the administrative capital of the Northern Territory, is a vibrant and multicultural hub with a tropical ambience that appeals to residents and visitors alike – whether you prefer the beach, wilderness, historical excursions or urban jungle.

Since peaking in 2014, property values in Darwin have seen a substantial correction, which has resulted in a boost in affordability for potential buyers and investors. Six of Darwin’s most affordable suburbs to buy a house in have a median value lower than $400,000, and prospective buyers are definitely taking full advantage of the strong buying conditions and lower housing prices.

Darwin exudes a certain sense of suburban ‘wilderness’, and while the dynamic city is home to top attractions like cruises, exceptional shoreline restaurants and so much more, is also the perfect springboard to explore the wonders of nearby Kakadu National Park, Litchfield Park, the Tiwi islands and other surrounding attractions.

Are you looking for your dream home or a solid property investment in Darwin? Take a look at the top 10 most affordable suburbs for 2019, as compiled in a report by CoreLogic and Aussie Home Loans.

1. Moulden

If you’re looking for bit more space and laidback suburban living, Moulden might be worth checking out. About 25 kilometres from Darwin’s centre, Moulden offers generous-sized blocks, well-maintained parks and public leisure and sporting facilities like tennis courts and a pool, with Palmerston High School also close by.

Peaceful Moulden also has an active residents’ forum that drives various initiatives to foster and grow a sense of community, with most neighbours generally enjoying amicable relationships.

Moulden has a median house price of $303,522, offering great opportunities for buyers and investors.

2. Zuccoli

Established in 2007, the relatively young suburb of Zuccoli is located almost 14 kilometres from Darwin’s CBD. The leafy suburb offers contemporary homes and is great for young and growing families, as well as professionals, retirees and singles, with access to schools, several public parks, a gym, medical centre and plenty of amenities like the Zuccoli Plaza shopping centre.

With a median house price of $337,274 and lower quartile price of $267,569, Zuccoli offers accessibly-priced property options for buyers and investors.

3. Gray

About 23 kilometres southeast of the Darwin CBD, Gray is an inner-city suburb bounded by Temple Terrace to the north and west, Chung Wah Terrace to the east and Emery Avenue to the south and east. The leafy suburb is popular with those looking for a quieter pace of life and community feel, with a mix of professionals, singles, families with kids and retirees calling the area home.

The suburb offers good access to public transport and childcare, and with a median house price of $339,873 and lower quartile price of $316,509, it is no surprise that Gray appeals to a wide demographic of buyers and investors.

4. Woodroffe

Close to the local military base, several shopping centres, childcare centres, sports facilities and parks, and only a short drive from Darwin’s CBD, Woodroffe is ideally located to offer convenient city living. Ranked as the 16^th best suburb in Darwin, residents describe the area as quiet and peaceful, with a strong neighbourly feel and access to everything you need.

With its strong community feel, Woodroffe is especially popular with families with kids, but appeals to a wide range of residents, ranging from singles to professionals and retirees. The peaceful suburb has a median house price of $345,856 and lower quartile price of $328,509, meaning there are great opportunities for buyers and investors.

5. Karama

Ranked as the 7th best suburb in Darwin, Karama is characterised by large blocks and spacious family homes. The suburb is very well situated only 15 minutes from Darwin’s centre, and offers a host of amenities, four schools, a secondary college, public librarary, numerous parks and more, and is also close to family-favourite Leanyer Recreation Park. Residents rate the area as an up-and-coming hotspot with anything you could need close at hand, including vibey hangouts and eateries.

With a median house price of $372,356 and lower quartile price of $342,859, it is no surprise that dynamic Karama appeals to a wide range of buyers and investors.

6. Driver

About 20 minutes from Darwin’s centre, Driver is the ultimate family-friendly suburb. Offering a pleasant and calm environment with most amenities and schools within walking distance, Driver has seen various ‘green’ initiatives undertaken by the local community and businesses – and even the school, making it the perfect area to live for those who value sustainability and health and wellness. As it is home to a number of parks, dog parks, a BMX track and lake, the suburb is also popular with outdoor enthusiasts.

Driver has a median house price of $381,952 and lower quartile price of $353,897, further heightening its appeal among buyers and investors.

7. Alawa

Dating back to the 1960s, Alawa’s boundary borders the Casuarina Square shopping centre – the largest shopping centre in the Territory with 250-plus speciality shops, along with your standard offerings. The suburb has large green areas and parks used for numerous recreational sporting activities by the nearby Northern Territory University and other organisations.

Alawa is also close the coastal strip, bike tracks and other outdoor attractions, and is home to a local shopping centre and school. The active community hosts events and drives initiatives like the Community Garden, fostering sustainability and shared responsibility.

The perfect suburb for beach lovers, sports and outdoors enthusiasts and eco-aware residents, Alawa has a median house price of $404,218. The suburb has a lower quartile price of $373,659, which means that there are also more affordable opportunities for prospective property buyers and investors.

8. Bakewell

Bakewell is a suburb 24.9 kilometres southeast of the Darwin CBD, and development of the area dates from the 1990s. The suburb is home to a number of well-maintained public parks, the largest of which is on Bakewell’s border with the suburb of Gunn, and has three large ponds and a children’s playground. The dams are very popular with children, who at certain times during the year come together to sail remote-controlled boats on the water.

With its exceptional outdoor recreational offerings, community-orientated atmosphere, and access to childcare facilities and schools, it is no surprise that Bakewell is popular with families, but singles, professionals and retirees also enjoy the lifestyle on offer here.

The median housing price for the suburb is $404,445, but with a lower quartile price of $375,305, there are definitely more affordable property options for buyers and investors.

9. Durack

Bound to the north by the Stuart Highway, University Avenue to the west and south and Roystonea Avenue to the east, the leafy suburb of Durack is 22 kilometres southeast of the Darwin CBD. The suburb is largely made up of recent developments, dating to the early 1990s, including three estates as designated by the developers of the area – Fairway Waters, The Mews, and The Heights.

The suburb is close to a golf course and water park, and residents describe the area as secure and child-friendly, with easy access to numerous amenities, walking trails and childcare facilities and schools within walking distance.

Durack has a median house price of $429,028, and with lower quartile price of $387,367 there are still good opportunities for buyers and investors.

10.  Moil

One of Darwin’s northern suburbs, Moil is small but very popular. Set between neighbouring suburbs Jingili, Alawa, Wagaman and Anula, Moil is bounded by Trower Road, Parer Drive, Lee Point Road and Rothdale Road, and is home to Casuarina Senior College and Moil Primary School.

Moil is close to the Marrara Sporting Complex, a short drive from the beach, university, Leanyer Recreation Park and Casuarina Square shopping centre, meaning residents have plenty of activities to enjoy close at hand. The child-friendly suburb also has several parks, including Thornton, Moil, Butters, Byrne and Lynde parks, with walking and bike paths nearby, making it popular with outdoor enthusiasts and families.

Moil has a median house price of $430,580, but with a lower quartile price of $395,128, there are still more affordable property options for buyers and investors.

Conclusion

As a vibrant and multicultural hub, your best bet for finding your dream home in the Northern Territory’s capital city, Darwin, is to work with a reputable, qualified real estate agent. The right agent will be able to guide you during your property search and provide invaluable advice on making a solid long-term investment that ticks all your boxes.

After you’ve completed a quick assessment of your needs, Perfect Agent can recommend a number of real estate agents in your area of interest. Are you interested in investing or buying a home in Darwin? Perfect Agent can make it happen for you.