NT · Palmerston Council

Moulden, 0830

Est. population · Jun 2025

3,361

Growth (1 yr)

-0.7%

Growth (5 yr)

+2.3%

Median age

33

Median income

$1,515/wk

Employment rate

49.9%

Languages at home

13.7%non-English

Most common: Australian Indigenous languages, Tagalog, Filipino

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

37.2/100
Below average

Top 39% of Northern Territory's suburbs

Verified 68% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Excellent transport
  • Education hub
  • High desirability
What Moulden is known for: Excellent transport, Education hub, High desirability

Suburb profile

In Palmerston Council, Moulden is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. The community skews younger, with family life visible on every street. School and preschool provision is plentiful within the local area.

Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. Green space punches above what many metro suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.

Homes are relatively cheap compared with the wider market, which keeps entry costs lower. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.

Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because community and employment lag behind, despite relative strength in safety. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Moulden snapshot

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

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

No data available

Population (ERP)

3,361

-0.7% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

9.4%

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

#25

among Metro Darwin · Established

Pop. growth

1st

percentile in NT

Advantage (IRSAD)

1/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

8th

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
37.2/100 — Below average
State standing
Top 39% of Northern Territory's suburbs
National rank
4271st in Australia
State rank
62nd in NT
Peer rank
#25 among Metro Darwin · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#43 among Metro Darwin suburbs
Data confidence
68%

Data sources & freshness

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

Population

Estimated resident population

3,361(June 2025)

-0.7% annual · +2.3% over 5 years · 1th percentile in NT

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
-0.7%
5-year growth
+2.3%
Change in 1 year
-25
Change in 5 years
+74
Growth rank in NT
1th 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 (~3,400), extrapolated at +0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
3,053
Median age
33
Median household income / week
$1,515
Dwelling vacancy
9.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
98 of 1,043
Median monthly mortgage
$1,632
Employment rate
49.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
763 / 56 / 131

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
7
Median school ICSEA (7 schools)
884
Median ICSEA percentile
8th
School list
  • Moulden Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 753 · 2th percentile · LBOTE 28% · 211 students · Top SEA quarter 1% · 0.2 km awayView on My School →
  • Woodroffe Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 842 · 4th percentile · LBOTE 26% · 327 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
  • Forrest Parade SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 939 · 21th percentile · LBOTE 41% · 118 students · Top SEA quarter 12% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
  • Palmerston CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 884 · 8th percentile · LBOTE 30% · 1,267 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
  • Sacred Heart Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 983 · 39th percentile · LBOTE 25% · 165 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
  • Gray Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 808 · 3th percentile · LBOTE 34% · 283 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
  • Palmerston Christian CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1008 · 51th percentile · LBOTE 28% · 365 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap

  • Goodstart Early LearningTamarind Roadkindergarten
  • Scallywags Child Care Centrechildcare

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

9 public transport stops in this suburb

  • 35 Bonson Terrace
  • 65 Bonson Terrace
  • Bonson Tce after Tamarind Rd
  • Bonson Tce at Moulden Primary School
  • Elrundie Ave before Chung Wah Tce

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

26 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

2 places of worship · 1 playgrounds · 1 swimming pools

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life9 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
  • Reasonable bus and transport access9 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
14/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.95
Community(3)
  • Scallywags Child Care CentreChildcare
  • Goodstart Early LearningKindergarten

    1 Tamarind Road

  • Moulden Park Primary SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(10)
  • Gordon Stott ParkPark
  • Park (3)
  • Stone ParkPark
  • Tiverton ParkPark
  • Walter ParkPark
  • Playground
  • Sports field
  • Palmerston Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre YMCASwimming pool
Transport(9)

9 bus stops

Other(3)
  • Parking (2)
  • Islamic Society of PalmerstonPlace of worship

    104 Bonson Terrace

  • Uniting ChurchPlace of worship

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

6 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Gordon Stott ParkPark
  • Stone ParkPark
  • Tiverton ParkPark
  • Walter ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

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

Places of worship

2 places of worship within ~1.5 km

  • Islamic Society of Palmerston

    104 Bonson Terrace

  • Uniting Church

From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Nearest hospital
Palmerston Regional Hospital (4.7 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
149
Participants per 1,000 residents
44.3

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
31° / 25°
Rainfall
1,010 mm · ~90 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
31° / 24°
Rainfall
491 mm · ~61 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
30° / 20°
Rainfall
8 mm · ~1 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
32° / 24°
Rainfall
171 mm · ~21 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
Solomon
Member of Parliament
Luke John GOSLING (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
78,702
Turnout (2025)
79.3%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-7.1 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 48.7%Labor 51.3%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.8 km away).

Coalition 52.8%Labor 47.2%

4.1 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -7.8 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • DriverLabor 49.7% · Coalition 50.3% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
  • BellamackLabor 47.5% · Coalition 52.5% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
  • GrayLabor 46.1% · Coalition 53.9% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
  • RoseberyLabor 42.6% · Coalition 57.4% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
  • BakewellLabor 48.2% · Coalition 51.8% TPP (2025)2.7 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)
1/10
IRSD decile (2021)
1/10

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

Compare with

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

More in Palmerston Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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