Urban Centre · Area profile
Tennant Creek
9 km²
A strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence defines Tennant Creek, where 55.3% of the population identifies as such. This is a noticeably younger community than the national average, with many children and a typical resident aged 33. While the total population of 2,949 shrank slightly since 2011, the town remains a significant regional hub. It is a place of contrast, featuring a high proportion of renters and a diverse, multilingual population.
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The population is much younger than most areas, with children under 15 making up 22.6% of residents. While seniors account for only 8.5%, the number of people in de facto relationships is higher than in most similar areas.
People born overseas make up 15.3% of the community, a figure that rose 5.0 points since 2011. Despite this increase, the proportion of overseas-born residents remains far below the national figure.
Language diversity is very high, with 36.1% of people using another language at home—a rate far above the national average. This has seen a sharp increase of 16 points since 2011, though the number of people who speak little or no English has barely changed.
Religious affiliation is split, with 41.9% of residents identifying as Christian and 37.9% reporting no religion. The proportion of people with no religion rose by 9.2 points since 2011, bringing it in line with the national figure.
Education levels have risen, with the share of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher increasing to 15.7%. However, the 35.2% who completed Year 12 is far below both the state and national figures.
Income levels are generally lower than the national figure, with a typical family earning $1,424 a week. Despite this, there has been a rise in high earners, with 10.6% of people now earning $2,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are less common here than in most areas, with only 22.1% of residents affected. Mental health conditions are also reported at a rate well below the national average.
Caregiving is a prominent feature of the community, as 34.3% of people provide unpaid childcare—well above the national figure. However, the volunteer rate has fallen to 12.5%, which is lower than most similar areas.
Household structures are diverse, with a very high rate of one-parent families at 27.3%. At the same time, 35.5% of people live alone, which is far above the state average.
Renting is very common, with 59.7% of households renting—far above the national figure. While typical weekly rent of $180 is much lower than most areas, outright home ownership is among the lowest at 10.6%.
Car dependency is high, though 24.3% of homes have no motor vehicle, a figure far above the national average. Public transport use for commuting has fallen to 0.0%.
The area sees significant movement, with 39.1% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are particularly high at 25.2%, which is well above the state average.
Full-time employment is very high at 75.3%, though the unemployment rate of 9.3% is well above the national figure. Most residents work in health care, social assistance, or public administration.
Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, schools, and parks, making it far more walkable than other NT areas. However, there is no public transport within a 10-minute walk of any home.