Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Katherine
5 km²
A hub of accessibility in the Northern Territory, Katherine is a compact community where nearly every home is within a short walk of parks, schools, and health services. The area is notably young, with a typical resident aged 34, and is a magnet for new arrivals from overseas. This mobility is reflected in a professional workforce and typical incomes that sit above the national figure. It is a place of diverse backgrounds and high employment, blending a strong professional class with a significant First Nations presence.
Household incomes here are high, yet Katherine's schools draw a notably less advantaged community.
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The community is younger than the national average, with the typical resident aged 34. About 21.5% of residents are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which is far above the Australian figure but well below the territory average.
International migration is a key feature here, with 21.9% of people born overseas, a figure much higher than in most similar areas. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, and Irish.
About 19.0% of people use a language other than English at home, which is much higher than most similar areas. However, this is far below the Northern Territory average of 32.4%.
Religious patterns follow the national trend, with 39.2% of residents reporting no religion, which is about the same as the figures for both the territory and Australia.
The area has a high proportion of well-qualified adults, with 23.0% holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is much higher than most similar areas and slightly above the territory average.
Earning levels are strong, with a typical personal weekly income of $1,141, which is well above the national figure. Typical household incomes are also much higher than in most similar areas.
Residents generally report good health, as the 20.3% of people with a long-term health condition is well below the national average of 27.7%.
Participation in unpaid care and housework is much lower than in most similar areas. However, a higher-than-usual 3.9% of residents have served in the Defence Force.
First Nations residents in Katherine have a typical household income of $1,928, which is well above both the state and national figures. An impressive 20.4% speak a First Nations language, among the highest for its level.
Living arrangements are varied, with 32.4% of people living alone and 19.2% in one-parent families, both of which are much higher than in most similar areas.
Renting is very common, with 49.0% of households renting, far above the national average. While typical weekly rents of $360 are a little above the territory average, typical mortgage payments are well below the national figure.
Cars are the primary way to get around, as 64.0% of people drive to work. Very few people use public transport, and only 4.0% of the workforce works from home, which is far below the national figure.
The population is highly mobile, with 46.8% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 27.0% of the community, a figure far above the national average.
The job market is strong, with a full-time employment rate of 77.7% and an unemployment rate of 2.8%, which is lower than most similar areas. Health care and public administration are the main industries.
The area is very walkable, with 74.8% of homes having a 15-minute-city walkshed. Most residents live within a short walk of groceries (80.6%) and health services (79.0%), though there is no local public transport.