Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Tennant Creek
42 km²
A growing number of people now speak a language other than English in Tennant Creek, where the use of another language at home rose 15 points since 2011. The community is notably young, with a typical age of 33 and a high proportion of children. More than half of the residents are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which helps explain the strong presence of First Nations languages. It is a place of contrasts, where high full-time employment rates sit alongside significant disadvantage and low typical incomes.
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The population is much younger than the national figure, with 21.7% being children under 15. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 55.4% of the community, a figure that has risen since 2011.
People born overseas make up 15.0% of the population, which is far below the national figure. However, recent arrivals from overseas have increased, now accounting for 24.7% of the community.
Language diversity is high, with 35.0% of people using a language other than English at home, far above the Australian average. Despite this, those who speak little or no English make up only 2.1% of the population.
Christianity is the most common faith at 41.8%, while 36.9% of residents report no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen by 8.2 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is far below the national figure, with only 34.9% of residents completing Year 12. This is reflected in the fact that only 15.0% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.
Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the usual family earning $1,433 a week. While household incomes have risen since 2011, 42.9% of people still earn under $650 per week.
Long-term health conditions are reported by 21.9% of residents, which is well below the national figure. Mental health conditions are also among the lowest seen in similar areas at 3.8%.
Unpaid care is common here, with 32.8% of people caring for children, well above the national average. Conversely, volunteering has fallen since 2011 and is now lower than the national figure at 12.5%.
First Nations people are a central part of the community, with 44.8% speaking a First Nations language. This group faces significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 21.6% and a typical personal income of $336.
Household sizes are slightly larger than average, with 2.7 people per home. One-parent families are very common at 27.4%, while 35.1% of people live alone.
Renting is far more common here than elsewhere in Australia, with 59.1% of households renting. Typical weekly rent is among the lowest in the country at $180.
The area relies heavily on cars, as there are no public transport routes or stops. Consequently, 23.5% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is far above the national figure.
The community is relatively mobile, with 38.1% of people moving in the last five years. This includes a high proportion of recent arrivals from overseas at 24.7%.
Full-time employment is very high at 75.4%, far above the national figure. However, overall job participation is low, and the unemployment rate of 8.7% is well above the national average.
The area is ranked as having very low overall advantage and access to resources. It has a small business presence with only 160 businesses in total.
The climate is hot, with average minimum temperatures among the highest in the region at 20.3 degrees. Annual rainfall is low at 434mm.
The town is quite walkable, with 88.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a 'city walkshed'. Most residents can easily reach parks, schools, and groceries on foot.