Skip to content
Suburb profile ·Litchfield LGA · NT ·0835

Howard Springs NT 0835

Howard Springs is in Litchfield LGA, NT, postcode 0835, with population 3,153.

The read

Verify-first

The page has enough signal to be useful, but the story is mixed rather than decisive. Use compare mode to pressure-test it against stronger nearby options, then use the calculator if it still makes the shortlist.

$768K
+3.0% YoY
2019 → 2024 · 6 periods
ABS + state medians
$768K
$603K
2019 2024
Why it fits

Population movement supports a growth-led read. Transport coverage adds a practical access signal. Higher SEIFA context supports a stronger local-quality read.

What to check

Evidence depth is verify-heavy, so the profile should be treated as provisional. Gross yield looks low for an income-first use case.

Median house
$768K
House median, latest period
3.0%YoY D4 vs AU
Median rent
$400/wk
Market rent signal
D9 vs AU
Gross yield
2.7%
Low yield band
D8 vs AU
Population
3,153
3K local footprint
D9 vs AU
Schools
2
Matched school context
D8 vs AU
Drive to city
31 min
25.4 km to Darwin CBD · free-flow
Solar
657
37 added 12mo · 5MW

Price history

Trend & investor depth

Indicative cashflow-$456/wk (-$23,696/yr) · interest-only @ 6.4%, 80% LVR
Value vs advantage+1% vs suburbs of similar SEIFA advantage (decile 8)

Indicative cashflow is interest-only and excludes tax — use the calculator for a full projection. Turnover divides recorded sales by an estimated household count (population over average household size).

Investment grade

Cgrade · 43/100 · top 57% of 3,604AU suburbs
Peer distributionstronger than 43% of AU suburbs
WeakerTypicalStronger
Capital growth18
Rental yield44
Stability100
Volatility-1.6ppCycle-2.0

Bar = this suburb's percentile · tick = typical (median) peer · stability drivers signed (+ = steadier)

Relative grade across Australian suburbs, combining qp's capital-growth (multi-year CAGR + cycle timing), rental-yield, and stability (price volatility + cycle + affordability) metrics via a three-pillar property-scoring method with an imbalance penalty. Within-Australia relative, indicative only — not financial advice.

Investor profile

Who invests in Howard Springs

Owner-occupied 83%Rented 17%
The read

Owner-occupier stronghold

80% of homes here are owner-occupied and 16% rented.

Why it fits

80% owner-occupied — owner-occupiers hold longer and absorb rate shocks, supporting price stability.

What to check

Gross yield 2.7% is thin — returns here lean on capital growth, not cash flow.

ABS Census 2021 tenure (G37), ATO postcode rental statistics, and QuickProperty's investor-exposure index. Owner-occupied = owned outright + with a mortgage.

Mortgage affordability

34%
of household income to service a new loan
7.7 yrs
to save a 20% deposit
Stretched
housing-stress band
Rent vs buyRenting cheaper

New-loan repayment $3,761/mo vs median rent $1,733/mo (+117% · +$468/wk)

If rates move

At 4.2%: $3,003/mo (-758) · at 6.2% (current): $3,761/mo · at 8.2%: $4,591/mo (+831)

Assumes a 20% deposit and a 30-year principal-and-interest loan at the current RBA new owner-occupier variable rate, against median weekly household income (ABS Census 2021). Stress bands follow the 30% / 45%-of-income thresholds used in ANZ-CoreLogic and AIHW reporting. Rent vs buy compares that repayment with the suburb's median advertised rent; it excludes rates, insurance, maintenance and deposit opportunity cost.

Stronger alternatives nearby

Higher yield

similar price · cross-LGA

Stronger 5-yr growth

similar price · cross-LGA

More affordable

lower price-to-income

Alternatives are similar-priced suburbs (0.7–1.4x this suburb's median) in other council areas that exceed it on the named metric. Indicative — not financial advice.

Affordability

Buying
5.8x
median home price as a multiple of annual household income
Affordable
Renting
16%
median weekly rent as a share of gross household income (the 30% rule)
Manageable

Owners with a mortgage repay a median of $2,388/mo, while renters pay about $1,733/mo — owning runs $655/mo higher on these medians.

Median price
$768K
Household income · yr
$133K
Median rent · wk
$400
Owner mortgage · mo
$2,388
Gross yield
2.7%

Household income

$133K household · yr+66.7% vs NT suburb median
Personal
$58K
Family
$144K
Household
$133K
Household income distribution (ABS Census 2021 · weekly)43% could service the median house
Under $300
20
$300-649
62
$650-999
60
$1,000-1,499
98
$1,500-1,999
88
$2,000-2,999
185
$3,000-3,999
154
$4,000+
210

Serviceability line: a household needs about $2,893/wk to hold a new loan on the median house at 30% of income (20% deposit, 30-year P&I, current RBA rate).

At the median asking rent, about 23% of households here would spend more than 30% of income on rent (rent stress line: $1,333/wk income).

Median taxable income trend (ATO, 2018-19 – 2022-23)$67K → $76K

Housing stock and tenure

Tenure (1,016 households)
Owned outright
33%
Owned with mortgage
47%
Rented
16%
Dwelling structure7.8% of dwellings unoccupied on census night
Separate house
95%
Townhouse / semi
1%
Flat / apartment
0%

Getting to work: 85% drive, 1% public transport, 2% walk or cycle, 7% worked from home (2021 Census, taken during COVID-era work-from-home arrangements).

Schools

Total2
Avg ICSEA988
Students1,394
Government1
Independent1
  • Good Shepherd Lutheran CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1025
  • Howard Springs Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 951

Livability

51/ 100 livability index

Top 49% most liveable of 4,565Australian suburbs.

Peer distributionstronger than 51% of Australian suburbs
WeakerTypicalStronger
Everyday access19
Public transport (18 stops)51
Schools & hospitals56

Bar = this suburb's percentile · tick = typical (median) peer

Suburb-level access-density index (not an address-level walk-time score), normalised within Australian suburbs. Method based on the Urban Liveability Index (Higgs et al. 2019) and Walk Score — three equal-weighted domains combined with an imbalance penalty.

Crime Year ending Apr 2026
633
20,076 per 100k
D10 vs AU

Crime

Rate · per 100k20,076
Total incidents633· Year ending Apr 2026
  • Assault345100%
  • Break And Enter00%
  • Drug Offences00%
  • Fraud00%

Development screen

Could a secondary dwelling be worth investigating?

independent unit / ancillary dwelling screening context Low broad constraint context

Policy position

Policy source needs review

A specific stable official policy source has not yet been adopted for this jurisdiction. Confirm the current planning scheme and building approval path directly with the local authority before relying on this screen.

Rental use: Review NT planning, building and tenancy requirements before use.

Open official policy source

Separate houses

87.6%

Suburb share of occupied private dwellings recorded as separate houses.

19.7 pp above the state median

State median 67.9% · 68 valid suburbs

Residential-zone context

Not staged

A comparable planning-zone layer is not staged for this state.

Rental households

15.9%

Demand context only; it does not establish permission to rent a secondary dwelling.

28.6 pp below the state median

State median 44.5% · 68 valid suburbs

Mapped hazards

Not staged

No broad-area layer staged for this suburb. No broad-area layer staged for this suburb.

Approval pathway

Four checks, each with a different evidence threshold.

This is an investigation sequence, not a guarantee that every step applies or that approval will be granted.

  1. 01 Verify current source

    State policy position

    The current independent unit / ancillary dwelling position needs direct confirmation before relying on this screen.

  2. 02 Property dependent

    Planning pathway

    Confirm zoning, lot controls, overlays, setbacks, site coverage and whether planning approval is required.

  3. 03 Design dependent

    Building approval

    Confirm the building approval route after the design, site classifications, services and construction requirements are known.

  4. 04 Check separately

    Intended use

    Confirm long-term rental, short-stay or family-use rules separately from permission to construct the dwelling.

Property due diligence

Turn the suburb screen into a property checklist.

Every check starts unconfirmed. Progress stays in this browser and suburb evidence never clears an address-level requirement.

0evidence acquired
0evidence missing
0reviews due
0consultant questions

Active record: Howard Springs unnamed property

0/14checked
0issues found

Site controls

Lot area and dimensions

Confirm title dimensions, usable site area and any minimum lot threshold.

Status for Lot area and dimensions
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Setbacks and site coverage

Test setbacks, private open space, landscaping and maximum site coverage against a concept plan.

Status for Setbacks and site coverage
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Slope and ground conditions

Check survey levels, soil classification, retaining needs and likely earthworks.

Status for Slope and ground conditions
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Title and planning

Zoning and overlays

Obtain current property-level zoning, overlays and applicable planning controls.

Status for Zoning and overlays
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Title, easements and covenants

Review the title for easements, covenants, restrictions and common property.

Status for Title, easements and covenants
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Services and access

Sewer and stormwater

Locate assets and connection points, then confirm capacity, clearances and discharge requirements.

Status for Sewer and stormwater
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Power, water and metering

Confirm service routes, upgrade needs and whether separate metering is permitted or practical.

Status for Power, water and metering
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Vehicle access and parking

Test driveway width, gradients, turning, parking and emergency access requirements.

Status for Vehicle access and parking
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Construction constraints

Bushfire exposure

Order an address-level bushfire assessment and determine any BAL construction response.

Status for Bushfire exposure
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Flood and overland flow

Obtain property flood information and check floor levels, flow paths and drainage constraints.

Status for Flood and overland flow
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Wind, corrosion and termite

Confirm site classifications that affect structural design, materials and durability.

Status for Wind, corrosion and termite
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Approval and use

Planning approval pathway

Confirm exemption, complying pathway or permit requirements with the responsible authority.

Status for Planning approval pathway
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Building approval and consultants

Identify required survey, design, engineering, energy, certification and inspection evidence.

Status for Building approval and consultants
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Rental and intended use

Confirm occupation, rental, short-stay and family-use rules plus insurance and tax implications.

Status for Rental and intended use
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Howard Springs, NT 0835 · Local browser record

Investigation aid only. Confirm current planning, building, title, service and hazard requirements with qualified professionals and responsible authorities.

Building due diligence

Construction requirements can change by location.

The National Construction Code is the baseline. Local hazards and site classifications can change the required structure, materials, fixings, insulation and detailing.

Known here

SUBURB CONTEXT

No local compliance layer is staged.

This is missing evidence, not evidence that the property has no constraints.

Check the property

ADDRESS + DESIGN

NCC climate zone

Check the property

Confirm the NCC climate zone used for the building design and energy provisions.

May affect: Insulation and glazing · Condensation control · Roof-space ventilation

Wind class and BAL

Site assessment required

A suburb layer cannot determine the site wind classification or Bushfire Attack Level.

May affect: Structure and tie-downs · Cladding and fixings · Openings and bushfire detailing

Corrosion and termite exposure

Check the property

Confirm marine or corrosive exposure and the applicable termite-management requirements.

May affect: Fasteners and connectors · Roofing and coatings · Termite management

This screen identifies investigation triggers, not building quality or property compliance. Confirm the address, design and current jurisdiction rules with the council, building surveyor or certifier, designer and engineer.

NCC 2022 Housing Provisions: how to use · NCC 2022 Volume Two and Housing Provisions

Population outlook

5,619 people · 20226,636 by 2032 (+18.1%)

ABS population projection (2022 base) for the Howard Springs SA2 statistical area — the finest official projection grain available; suburb-level projections do not exist.

Full data detail Census · ATO · ABS · state datasets
Howard Springs NT — Property Data and Demographics

Howard Springs (postcode 0835) is a smaller residential area in Northern Territory within the Litchfield local government area. With a population of 3,153, the suburb has an established family demographic with a median age of 43. Households earn a median income of $133K per year, with an average household size of 2.9 people. Recent annual estimates show population movement into the broader catchment, with population growth running at +2.2% year-on-year at the LGA level. NT employment has moved +3.3% year-on-year in the official ABS Labour Force trend series, which provides the broader jobs backdrop for this suburb. NT also had 4 Commonwealth-backed major projects under construction, 3 underway, and 4 in planning as at 2025-09-01, which is useful as a broader delivery backdrop rather than a suburb-specific project count. The most common occupations are technicians & trades, clerical & administrative, professionals. Employment in the area leans toward construction and public admin & safety. The top ancestries reported are Australian, English, Irish.

Howard Springs has a median house price of $768,000, which has moved higher by 3% year-on-year. The median weekly rent is $400 (Census 2021). This gives a gross rental yield of approximately 2.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,388.

Howard Springs is served by 2 schools, including 1 primary, 1 combined. The average ICSEA score is 988, which is around the national average of 1,000. Public transport access includes 18 bus stops. The crime rate in the Litchfield LGA is higher than average at 20,076 incidents per 100,000 population.

Looking at the investment signals, Gross rental yield sits at around 2.7% (low yield). Property prices are near the state median ($768K/$750K). The price-to-income ratio of 5.8x is considered affordable. House prices have moved +3.0% year-on-year. Population growth of +2.2% year-on-year points to strong growth demand fundamentals. Building approvals have changed +0% year-on-year, indicating steady development activity.

Market & money
Investment signalsHeuristics
Rental Yield2.7% Low Yield
Price vs State$768K/$750K· Near Median
Affordability5.8x Affordable
Price Momentum+3.0%· Stable
Pop. Growth+2.2% Strong Growth
Development+0%· Steady
InvestmentNT
Mortgage · mth$2,388
Rent · wk(Census)$400
Gross yield2.7%
Price / income5.8x
Population growth · Litchfield LGAABS ERP
Population (2025)24,849
5-year growth+1.5% CAGR
YoY change+2.2%
20012025
Development · Litchfield LGAABS Approvals
Approvals (2026)108
Houses 96%Units 4%
YoY change+0%
Employment · Litchfield LGASALM
Unemployment (Dec-25)2.6%
YoY change+0pp
Dec-10Dec-25
People & prosperity
DemographicsCensus 21
Population3,153
Median age43
Household size2.9
HH income · wk$2,560
Personal income · wk$1,118
Persons / bedroom0.9
IncomeATO 22-23
Median income$76,297
Mean income$81,246
Earners3,158
YoY change+3.2%
SEIFA indexABS
Advantage (IRSAD)8/10
Education (IEO)5/10
Economic (IER)9/10
Disadvantage (IRSD)8/10
Income momentumCensus 16→21
HH income · wk$2,253 → $2,560
Change+13.6%
vs NT median+7.8 pp
Median rent+0%
stablevs NT 2016–21
Area & amenity
Local amenitiesOSM
Supermarkets0
Pharmacies0
GP / clinics0
Fuel stations1
Cafes & dining1
TransportGTFS
Bus stops18
Hospitals · Litchfield LGAAIHW
Public1
Private0
Palmerston Regional Hospitalpublic
Childcare · Litchfield LGAACECQA
Services20
Approved places1,476
Exceeding NQS0
Girraween Primary School Outside School Hours Care145 places
Family First Early Learning135 places
Bees Creek Outside School Hours Care105 places
Howard Springs Primary School OSHC-YMCA NT105 places · in suburb
Creative Kids Childcare Howard Springs90 places · in suburb
Humpty Doo OSHC86 places
+14 more in Litchfield LGA
Shortlist workspace

Save suburbs here while you browse. Once the shortlist has two or more names, hand it straight into compare.

Current status
Add Howard Springs if it deserves a shortlist slot.

No saved AU suburbs yet.

EMPTY SET

No saved suburbs yet. Start with one ranking or suburb page, then compare once you have two candidates.

Open rankings to save the first candidates.

Greater Darwin regional market (2026-Q1): median house $718k · house rent $709/wk · vacancy 1.7% — NT has no suburb-level price source; this is the closest regional signal (NT Treasury / REINT).

Sources & freshness
Verify-heavy evidence

Howard Springs leans on evidence that should be verified before a decision.

QuickProperty mixes release files, Census baselines, and matched local services on this page. Read the status panel before treating every metric as equally fresh.

PRICE POSTURE
Prices come from release-based suburb series.

Annual SA2 price series matched to suburb pages as fallback coverage

RENT POSTURE
Rent is falling back to Census, not a market feed.

This gives you directional coverage, but it is weaker than a current rent release.

SERVICE POSTURE
Service coverage is matched locally, not inferred nationally.

Schools, transport, and hospitals are useful as presence signals, but they still have different source cadences.

Data status
Property prices
ABS Data by Region · 2024 · Annual SA2 price series matched to suburb pages as fallback coverage
medium stability · manual file · snapshot · release-based
Verify
Market rent
ABS Census 2021 · Using Census rent fallback
stable source · manual file · snapshot · census-cycle
Verify
Crime
State crime dataset · Year ending Apr 2026 · Area-level release dataset
Available
Schools
ACARA 2025 · 2 schools matched
stable source · automated · every update · annual
Available
Hospitals
AIHW · No linked local hospital coverage
medium stability · manual file · snapshot · mixed
Missing
Transport
GTFS feeds · 18 matched stops/stations
medium stability · manual file · snapshot · mixed
Available
Population growth
ABS ERP · 2025 · Annual estimate series
stable source · automated · every update · annual
Available
Building approvals
ABS Building Approvals · 2026 · Annual release series
stable source · automated · every update · monthly
Available
Available means a direct local dataset is linked. Verify means coverage exists but freshness or precision is weaker, such as ABS price fallback, Census rent fallback, or low-confidence hospital matching.

Howard Springs FAQ

Common questions
  1. What LGA is Howard Springs in?

    Howard Springs is in the Litchfield Local Government Area, NT, postcode 0835. Council-level context for Litchfield LGA (suburb mix, population, rent, and price coverage) is available on the QuickProperty LGA page.

  2. What is the median house price in Howard Springs?

    The current median house price in Howard Springs, NT is $768K, based on the latest available sales data from state Valuers General offices and ABS Data by Region.

  3. What is the typical weekly rent in Howard Springs?

    The median weekly rent in Howard Springs is $400/wk, based on ABS Census 2021 rent fallback.

  4. Is Howard Springs a good investment?

    QuickProperty's investment signals for Howard Springs show: Low Yield, Near Median, Affordable. These are computed from price, rent, income, and population data — not an opaque score.

  5. Where does QuickProperty get its data for Howard Springs?

    Property prices come from state Valuers General offices and ABS Data by Region. Demographics are from ABS Census 2021. School ICSEA scores are from ACARA. Crime statistics are from state police agencies. Transport data is sourced from GTFS feeds.

  6. How often is the Howard Springs data updated?

    Property prices update quarterly. RBA macro indicators update with each deploy. Demographics are from Census 2021. School ICSEA scores are from ACARA 2025.