Overall score
Darwin City
60.7/100
Nightcliff
53.4/100
Darwin City for retirees and families; Nightcliff for investment and value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Darwin City
60.7/100
Nightcliff
53.4/100
Crime rate
Darwin City
79.1 / 1k
Nightcliff
79.1 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Darwin City
643
Nightcliff
162
Population
Darwin City
7,149
Nightcliff
3,884
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Darwin City | Nightcliff |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 60.7/100 | 53.4/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 48.1/100 | 48.4/100 |
| Crime rate | 79.1 / 1k | 79.1 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 2 | 5 |
| Weather (desirability) | 9.6/100 | 9.6/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 8 | 5 |
| Public transport stops | 14 | 11 |
| Walkability | 91.0/100 | 53.5/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 643 | 162 |
| Green cover | 12.5% | 2.6% |
| Population | 7,149 | 3,884 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 10/10 | 9/10 |
Put side by side, Darwin City is a well-serviced metro mid-sized suburb with plenty happening nearby, and Nightcliff is an energetic metro mid-sized suburb where cafés and local life overlap.
Darwin City tends to lead on parks and reserves, public transport access, and walkability, while Nightcliff stands out for housing affordability, plus schools and education options.
On balance, investors are more likely to prefer Nightcliff, while Darwin City remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.