NT · Katherine Council

Katherine, 0850

Est. population · Jun 2025

1,485

Growth (1 yr)

+0.9%

Growth (5 yr)

+5.0%

Median age

34

Median income

$2,053/wk

Employment rate

61.8%

Languages at home

22.6%non-English

Most common: Nepali, Australian Indigenous languages, Arabic

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

47.8/100
Average

Top 22% of Northern Territory's suburbs

Verified 65% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • High desirability
  • Education hub
  • Café precinct
  • National parks
What Katherine is known for: Green suburb, High desirability, Education hub, Café precinct, National parks

Suburb profile

Away from the major hubs, Katherine is a smaller community in Katherine Council with its own quieter rhythm. Day-to-day life leans on nearby towns and local hubs rather than the metro area. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with family life visible on every street.

A genuine café and dining culture runs through the area, denser than many peers of a similar size. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets.

Housing sits in the middle of the local market: neither cheap nor premium. An emerging neighbourhood feel is building here, with new households gradually reshaping local life.

Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because schools and education lag behind, despite relative strength in safety. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Katherine snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

No data available

Population (ERP)

1,485

+0.9% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

19.7%

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

#2

among Country & regional · Emerging

Pop. growth

48th

percentile in NT

Advantage (IRSAD)

5/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

3rd

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
47.8/100 — Average
State standing
Top 22% of Northern Territory's suburbs
National rank
2468th in Australia
State rank
35th in NT
Peer rank
#2 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#6 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
65%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

1,485(June 2025)

+0.9% annual · +5.0% over 5 years · 48th percentile in NT

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.9%
5-year growth
+5.0%
Change in 1 year
+13
Change in 5 years
+71
Growth rank in NT
48th 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 (~1,500), extrapolated at +0.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
1,254
Median age
34
Median household income / week
$2,053
Dwelling vacancy
19.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
97 of 493
Median monthly mortgage
$1,408
Employment rate
61.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
291 / 77 / 11

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian 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 ProfileAustralian 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)
797
Median ICSEA percentile
3th
School list
  • Clyde Fenton Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 693 · 1th percentile · LBOTE 80% · 114 students · Top SEA quarter 1% · 0.1 km awayView on My School →
  • Katherine School Of The AirCombined · Government · ICSEA 931 · 18th percentile · LBOTE 37% · 137 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 0.2 km awayView on My School →
  • St Joseph's Catholic CollegeCombined · Catholic · ICSEA 974 · 35th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 299 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
  • Kintore Street SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 757 · 2th percentile · LBOTE 75% · 55 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
  • Katherine High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 797 · 3th percentile · LBOTE 47% · 468 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Clyde Fenton Pre Schoolkindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Amenities

86 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

7 restaurants · 2 pubs · 2 fast food · 1 places of worship · 2 playgrounds · 3 swimming pools

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life8 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
Walkability proxy
22/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
8.77
Parks per 1,000 residents
6.38
Food & drink(11)
  • Happy Corner StoreFast food
  • McDonald'sFast food
  • Katherine Club Inc.Pub
  • Sport & Recreation ClubPub
  • Bucking BullRestaurant
  • Pedro's BistroRestaurant
  • Regent Food CourtRestaurant
  • Savannah RestaurantRestaurant
  • Sport & Recreation Club RestaurantRestaurant
  • Stonegrill RestaurantRestaurant
  • The Escarpment RestaurantRestaurant
Shopping(1)
  • Happy Corner StoreConvenience store
Community(3)
  • Clyde Fenton Pre SchoolKindergarten
  • Clyde Fenton Primary SchoolSchool
  • Katherine School of the AirSchool
Health & services(4)
  • Katherine HospitalHospital
  • Wurli Wurlinjang Health ServiceMedical clinic

    25 Third Street, Katherine

  • Katherine Vet CareVeterinary
  • Northern Territory Veterinary ServicesVeterinary
Sport & outdoors(12)
  • Giles ParkPark
  • Jukes ParkPark
  • Park (4)
  • Playground (2)
  • Sports field
  • Swimming pool (3)
Entertainment(1)
  • Katherine MuseumMuseum
Other(27)
  • Bicycle Parking
  • N.T SparesCar Parts
  • HertzCar Rental
  • Central Motors / SP Marine & MechanicalCar repair

    7 Second Street

  • Master MotorsCar repair
  • Knott's Crossing ResortCaravan Site

    10 Cameron Street

  • VinniesCharity
  • Tackle WorldFishing
  • Palm Court Backpackers HostelHostel
  • ash’s houseHotel

    Dove Street

  • Hotel
  • Katherine River LodgeHotel
  • St Andrews Serviced ApartmentsHotel
  • Laundry
  • Beagle Motor InnMotel
  • Best Western Pine Tree MotelMotel
  • Motel
  • Parraway MotelMotel
  • R&M MotorcyclesMotorcycle
  • Parking (26)
  • St Joseph ParishPlace of worship
  • Post Box
  • Shelter (3)
  • Rocky Ridge Nursing HomeSocial Facility
  • Tyres
  • Katherine Regional Aboriginal Health & Related ServicesYes
  • Wurli Wurlinjang Health ServiceYes

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 insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

3 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Giles ParkPark
  • Jukes ParkPark
  • O'Shea ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
8
Parks (OSM)
8

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

Places of worship

1 places of worship within ~1.5 km

  • St Joseph Parish

From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
6
Nearest hospital
Katherine Hospital (1.3 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
On site
  • Active Physiotherapy KatherinePhysiotherapist
  • Katherine HospitalHospital
  • Katherine HospitalHospital
  • Katherine Regional Aboriginal Health & Related ServicesYes
  • Wurli Wurlinjang Health ServiceThird StreetDoctor
  • Wurli Wurlinjang Health ServiceYes

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
53
Participants per 1,000 residents
35.7

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

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
34° / 24°
Rainfall
681 mm · ~85 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
34° / 21°
Rainfall
203 mm · ~25 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
32° / 16°
Rainfall
8 mm · ~1 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
37° / 23°
Rainfall
142 mm · ~18 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 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

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 252.7 km away).

Coalition 50.1%Labor 49.9%

8.2 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +3.1 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Katherine NorthLabor 50.0% · Coalition 50.0% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
  • Katherine EastLabor 48.5% · Coalition 51.5% TPP (2025)3.0 km away
  • Katherine SouthLabor 43.2% · Coalition 56.8% TPP (2025)3.8 km away
  • TindalLabor 49.4% · Coalition 50.6% TPP (2025)14.2 km away
  • Berry SpringsLabor 36.1% · Coalition 63.9% TPP (2025)237.9 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
5/10
IRSD decile (2021)
4/10

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

This suburb ranks highly for

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Katherine Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Northern Territory.