Tennant Creek (NT)

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Based on statistical assessments of regional demographic updates and newly confirmed residential addresses, the suburb of Tennant Creek is calculated to have approximately 3,587 inhabitants as of May 2026. This indicates an expansion of 507 individuals, or 16.5%, from the 3,080 residents documented during the 2021 Census. The calculation is derived from the current figure of 3,587, which was determined by reviewing the June 2025 demographic release from the statistics bureau alongside 5 newly verified locations since the census date. The resulting density sits at 85 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and space for potential growth. This 16.5% rise since the 2021 census paced ahead of the national benchmark of 9.3% as well as the territory, making the locality a regional leader in population expansion. Demographic gains were mostly driven by natural increase, which accounted for roughly 57% of the growth during this timeframe.

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The local workforce displays solid qualifications, with significant employment in essential service fields. The jobless rate sits at 5.4%, and employment expanded by an estimated 2.9% over the past year. In March 2026, 1,871 residents were employed. The local unemployment level is 0.5% below the regional average of 5.9%, and the labor force participation rate matches the regional average of 69.9%. Census records indicate that a small proportion of 3.0% of the working population operated from home, though the influence of health restrictions should be kept in mind.

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According to tax data from financial year 2023, the suburb of Tennant Creek features income levels that are slightly below the national median. Taxpayers in the area recorded a median income of $62,548 and an average income of $66,374, which contrasts with the regional averages of $53,572 and $63,776. Adjusting for index growth of 9.41% since financial year 2023, these figures are estimated to be roughly $68,434 for the median and $72,620 for the average as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, local household income was positioned at the 46th percentile, representing $1,677 per week, while individual incomes fell at the 23rd percentile. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 contains 36.6% of the local population, totaling residents, which aligns closely with the wider metropolitan region where of residents fall into the same bracket. After paying for housing, households keep of their earnings, indicating solid discretionary funds.

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The housing profile in the suburb of Tennant Creek during the last census consisted of 80.6% standalone houses and 19.3% alternative dwellings, such as semi-detached homes or apartments, compared to regional averages of 75.6% houses and 24.5% other dwellings. The rate of home ownership in the suburb of Tennant Creek was 13.6%, which was slightly lower than the regional rate, with the remaining homes occupied by mortgage holders at 14.3% or renters at 72.1%. The median monthly mortgage payment in the locality was $1,114, which was well below the regional average, while the median weekly rent was $180, compared to regional figures of $1,733 and $150. Locally, mortgage costs are much lower than the national average of $1,863, and rent costs are also well below the national median of $375.

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Families make up the majority of households at 60.6%, which includes 23.8% couples with children, 19.6% couples without children, and 14.2% single parent households. Single-person and group dwellings account for the remaining 39.4% of households, with lone person households representing 35.1% and group homes making up 4.7%. The median household size is 2.7 persons, which is smaller than the regional average of 3.1.

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Formal qualifications among residents in the suburb of Tennant Creek are lower than the regional averages, with 20.7% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree compared to 30.4% across the nation. Among these, bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 5.3% and graduate diplomas at 2.7%. Vocational education is common, with 29.8% of residents aged 15+ holding practical qualifications, including advanced diplomas at 9.4% and certificates at 20.4%.

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Health indicators point to significant challenges for the suburb of Tennant Creek, with notable rates of chronic illness and mortality across both younger and older cohorts, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is slightly above the average SA2 region at approximately 53%, representing about 1,902 people.

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The suburb of Tennant Creek has a higher level of cultural diversity than most regional areas, with 16.5% of residents born outside Australia and 39.8% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 49.9% of the population. The most pronounced variation from regional trends is in the Other category, which accounts for 1.9% of residents compared to 5.2% across the wider region.

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The median age in the suburb of Tennant Creek is 33 years, which is slightly above the regional average of 31 years but well below the national median of 38 years. Compared to the wider region, the suburb of Tennant Creek has a larger share of residents in the 55 - 64 age bracket at 12.3%, but a smaller share of 15 - 24 year-olds at 11.7%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 65 to 74 grew from 6.6% to 7.7%, and the 5 to 14 cohort rose from 13.0% to 14.1%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 13.5% to . Projections for indicate demographic shifts, with the to age bracket expected to grow by , or people, rising from to . Conversely, the to cohort is projected to decrease by people.

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Tennant Creek currently has an estimated 308 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 184 children aged 0-2 and 123 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 14% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 6% by 2041 (to approximately 325 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 403. Recent growth has been driven by high birth rates observed in the area, with approximately 17.3 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the top 20% of areas assessed nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.