Urban Centre · Area profile
Alice Springs
86 km²
A noticeably young and diverse population defines Alice Springs, where the typical resident is just 34. The town is a significant regional hub with nearly 25,000 people, including a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence that has grown to 21.2%. It is a highly mobile community with a significant number of overseas arrivals, which helps explain the high proportion of people who speak a language other than English at home. This mix of young adults and international residents creates a distinct atmosphere compared to the rest of the territory.
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The community is much younger than the national figure, with 21% of people under 15. While the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is far above the Australian average, it is well below the Northern Territory figure.
Birthplaces are diverse, with 26.9% of people born overseas—a figure that rose 6.5 points since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Irish and Scottish.
Language diversity is high, with 25.2% of people using a language other than English at home, an increase of 8.7 points since 2011. However, those who speak little or no English are fewer than the national average.
A large number of residents report having no religion, accounting for 42.8% of the population. This figure is well above both the national and territory averages and has risen 17 points since 2011.
The area is well-qualified, with 27.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, which is well above the territory average. Those who finished Year 12 also rose 11 points since 2011.
Typical incomes are higher than both the state and national figures. This is reflected in the 27.6% of households earning $3,000 or more a week, a figure that rose 15 points since 2011.
Residents are generally healthier than the national average, with only 21.9% reporting a long-term health condition. Those needing help with daily activities are also much lower than in most other areas.
Unpaid childcare is common, with 27.3% of people caring for children. However, the number of people providing other types of unpaid care is much lower than in most areas.
Families tend to be larger than the national average, with 2.6 people per home. Single-parent families are also more common here than across Australia.
Renting is very common, with 43.9% of households renting, far above the national figure. This is consistent with the low 15.1% of homes owned outright, which is far below the Australian average.
Most people rely on cars, and only 3% work from home, which is far below the national figure. About 9% of homes have no motor vehicle, a rate much higher than in most areas.
The population is very mobile, with 49% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 25.8% of the community, which is far above the national average.
The workforce is strong, with 69.5% of adults working or looking for work, well above the national figure. Health care and public administration are the most common industries.
The area is somewhat walkable, with many homes within a short walk of parks and public transport. However, far fewer people can walk to health services compared to the rest of the territory.