Median house price
—
No data available
NT · Alice Springs Council
East Side, 0870
Est. population · Jun 2025
3,757
Growth (1 yr)
+1.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+11.8%
Median age
34
Median income
$2,225/wk
Employment rate
71.1%
Languages at home
18.6%non-English
Most common: Australian Indigenous languages, Nepali, Mandarin
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- National parks
Suburb profile
East Side sits in Alice Springs Council as a regional mid-sized suburb that feels self-contained and a long way from big-city bustle. Regional towns and local services do more of the everyday heavy lifting than the city. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street.
Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Buses are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. A growing community is gradually adding fresh energy without losing its local identity.
Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because schools and education lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus safety.
At a glance
East Side snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
3,757
+1.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
11.2%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#1
among Country & regional · Growth area
Pop. growth
71st
percentile in NT
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
7th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 50.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 17% of Northern Territory's suburbs
- National rank
- 2139th in Australia
- State rank
- 26th in NT
- Peer rank
- #1 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #4 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 72%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
3,757(June 2025)
+1.5% annual · +11.8% over 5 years · 71th percentile in NT
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.5%
- 5-year growth
- +11.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +57
- Change in 5 years
- +395
- Growth rank in NT
- 71th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~3,900), extrapolated at +0.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,098
- Median age
- 34
- Median household income / week
- $2,225
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 140 of 1,247
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,742
- Employment rate
- 71.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 711 / 343 / 54
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 879
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 7th
School list
- Ross Park Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1040 · 64th percentile · LBOTE 38% · 413 students · Top SEA quarter 33% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
- Centralian Senior CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 879 · 7th percentile · LBOTE 32% · 351 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- Acacia Hill SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 789 · 3th percentile · LBOTE 60% · 96 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Sadadeen Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 793 · 3th percentile · LBOTE 73% · 118 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- St Philip's CollegeSecondary · Independent · ICSEA 1031 · 60th percentile · LBOTE 28% · 502 students · Top SEA quarter 28% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Rona Glynn Pre-schoolkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
9 public transport stops in this suburb
- Chewings Street
- Kurrajong Drive
- Lindsay Ave before Renner St
- Undoolya Road
- Winnecke Avenue
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
61 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 restaurants · 1 supermarkets · 2 fast food · 4 places of worship · 6 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 9 parks mapped in suburb
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 9 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 47/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.29
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.91
Food & drink(4)
- Fast food
- Pad Thai TakeawayFast food
- Casa Nostra Pizza and Spaghetti HouseRestaurant
- Flavours of India RestaurantRestaurant
Shopping(1)
- IGA East SideSupermarket
Community(3)
- Rona Glynn Pre-schoolKindergarten
- Ross Park Primary SchoolSchool
- School
Sport & outdoors(16)
- Davidson ParkPark
- Frances Smith Memorial ParkPark
- Gosse Street ParkPark
- Park (4)
- Ross ParkPark
- Spencer Hill Community ParkPark
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (6)
Transport(9)
9 bus stops
Other(13)
- Perentie SculptureArtwork
- Bicycle Parking
- Kathy's PlaceGuest House
4 Cassia Court
- Molliejay Bed & BreakfastGuest House
- Alice LodgeHostel
- Bluegum LodgeHotel
- Parking (15)
- Desert Life ChurchPlace of worship
- Place of worship (2)
- The Potter's House Christian ChurchPlace of worship
- MHACAPsychotherapist
- Public toilets
- 102.1FM 8CCC Community RadioStudio
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Davidson ParkPark
- Frances Smith Memorial ParkPark
- Gosse Street ParkPark
- Ross ParkPark
- Spencer Hill Community ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 9
- Parks (OSM)
- 9
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
4 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Desert Life Church
- Place of worship (2)
- The Potter's House Christian Church
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Alice Springs Hospital (2.6 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- MHACAPsychotherapist
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 108
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 28.7
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 36° / 21°
- Rainfall
- 117 mm · ~15 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 29° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 78 mm · ~10 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 5°
- Rainfall
- 37 mm · ~5 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 31° / 15°
- Rainfall
- 56 mm · ~7 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via state planning hazard mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- NT Fire Protection and Fire Management zones — Bushfires NT / Department of Lands, Planning and Environment · current · Updated · Shapefile boundaries (CC BY 4.0)
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Lingiari
- Member of Parliament
- Marion SCRYMGOUR (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 76,817
- Turnout (2025)
- 62.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +6.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 41.9%Labor 58.1%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 1038.7 km away).
Coalition 36.7%Labor 63.3%
5.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- SadadeenLabor 64.2% · Coalition 35.8% TPP (2025)0.6 km away
- Alice SpringsLabor 64.0% · Coalition 36.0% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
- GillenLabor 54.8% · Coalition 45.2% TPP (2025)3.3 km away
- BraitlingLabor 53.2% · Coalition 46.8% TPP (2025)3.4 km away
- IlparpaLabor 36.2% · Coalition 63.8% TPP (2025)6.3 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
This suburb ranks highly for
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Alice Springs Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile elsewhere in Northern Territory or interstate.