NT · Darwin Council

Rapid Creek, 0810

Est. population · Jun 2025

3,578

Growth (1 yr)

+0.9%

Growth (5 yr)

+2.5%

Median age

35

Median income

$2,208/wk

Employment rate

72.9%

Languages at home

29.3%non-English

Most common: Nepali, Gujarati, Punjabi

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

50.9/100
Average

Top 15% of Northern Territory's suburbs

Verified 61% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • High desirability
  • Education hub
  • Excellent transport
  • Café precinct
What Rapid Creek is known for: High desirability, Education hub, Excellent transport, Café precinct

Suburb profile

Rapid Creek is a lively inner mid-sized suburb with dining, shopping and leisure options right on the doorstep. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. The suburb has a clear multicultural mix alongside longer-term local households.

School and preschool provision is plentiful within the local area. 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, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area.

Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.

The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer compared with similar metro suburbs, though community and employment, plus safety remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Rapid Creek snapshot

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

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

No data available

Population (ERP)

3,578

+0.9% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

9.8%

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

#11

among Metro Darwin · Established

Pop. growth

50th

percentile in NT

Advantage (IRSAD)

9/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

49th

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
50.9/100 — Average
State standing
Top 15% of Northern Territory's suburbs
National rank
2052nd in Australia
State rank
23rd in NT
Peer rank
#11 among Metro Darwin · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#21 among Metro Darwin suburbs
Data confidence
61%

Data sources & freshness

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

Population

Estimated resident population

3,578(June 2025)

+0.9% annual · +2.5% over 5 years · 50th percentile in NT

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.9%
5-year growth
+2.5%
Change in 1 year
+32
Change in 5 years
+89
Growth rank in NT
50th 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 (~3,600), extrapolated at +0.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
3,261
Median age
35
Median household income / week
$2,208
Dwelling vacancy
9.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
142 of 1,447
Median monthly mortgage
$1,956
Employment rate
72.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
540 / 19 / 746

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
8
Median school ICSEA (8 schools)
1,004
Median ICSEA percentile
49th
School list
  • The Essington SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1128 · 91th percentile · LBOTE 40% · 782 students · Top SEA quarter 54% · 0.3 km awayView on My School →
  • St Paul's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1077 · 78th percentile · LBOTE 41% · 221 students · Top SEA quarter 40% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
  • Nightcliff High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 986 · 40th percentile · LBOTE 51% · 409 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
  • Nightcliff Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1063 · 73th percentile · LBOTE 49% · 478 students · Top SEA quarter 36% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
  • Millner Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 911 · 13th percentile · LBOTE 59% · 171 students · Top SEA quarter 10% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
  • Nemarluk SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 929 · 18th percentile · LBOTE 51% · 170 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
  • Jingili Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 997 · 46th percentile · LBOTE 24% · 235 students · Top SEA quarter 26% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
  • Alawa Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1011 · 52th percentile · LBOTE 30% · 259 students · Top SEA quarter 24% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

15 public transport stops in this suburb

  • 100 Ryland Road
  • 122 Ryland Road
  • 144 Ryland Road
  • 82 Ryland Road
  • Ryland Rd after Nightcliff Rd

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

73 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 restaurants · 1 cafes · 1 pubs · 1 playgrounds

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Decent local green space2 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
  • Reasonable bus and transport access15 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
29/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.31
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.92
Parks per 1,000 residents
0.61
Food & drink(3)
  • Central Darwin CafeCafe
  • The Beachfront HotelPub
  • Siam GatewayRestaurant
Community(3)
  • Nightcliff Middle SchoolSchool
  • St Paul’s Catholic Primary SchoolSchool
  • The Essington SchoolSchool

    22 Chapman Road, Rapid Creek

Sport & outdoors(9)
  • Kite CornerPark
  • Park
  • BBQPicnic area
  • Picnic area
  • Picnic TablePicnic area
  • Playground
  • Cricket PitchSports field
  • Exercise EquipmentSports field
  • Sports field
Transport(14)

14 bus stops

Other(13)
  • Bench (2)
  • Bench; Exercise Equipment
  • Bicycle Parking (2)
  • Common
  • Drinking water (9)
  • Exercise Equipment
  • Parking (18)
  • Parking Space
  • Public toilets
  • BBQShelter
  • Shelter (3)
  • Shower (2)
  • Water Point (2)

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

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Kite CornerPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
35
Parks (OSM)
2

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

Health access

Nearest hospital
Darwin Private Hospital (3.5 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)
62
Participants per 1,000 residents
17.3

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 4.8 km away).

Coalition 37.2%Labor 62.8%

11.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -5.2 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • Rapid CreekLabor 67.2% · Coalition 32.8% TPP (2025)0.8 km away
  • MillnerLabor 58.8% · Coalition 41.2% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
  • MoilLabor 52.5% · Coalition 47.5% TPP (2025)2.4 km away
  • NakaraLabor 60.1% · Coalition 39.9% TPP (2025)2.4 km away
  • WanguriLabor 55.1% · Coalition 44.9% TPP (2025)3.3 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
9/10
IRSD decile (2021)
8/10

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 Darwin Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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