Housing
Housing tenure
About this topic
Housing tenure shows whether households own their dwelling outright, are purchasing it, rent privately, rent from a social landlord, or occupy it under another arrangement. It describes how households hold or access housing, not the type of dwelling itself.
This topic is useful for analysing housing markets, affordability, stability, and the mix of owners and renters. It works best alongside dwelling type, household composition, and housing cost topics such as mortgage repayments and rent.
Interpretation notes
- Tenure type describes how the dwelling is occupied, including ownership, mortgage, rental, or other arrangements.
- It applies to occupied private dwellings and should not be confused with dwelling structure or housing cost measures.
Key insight
In 2021, 48% of households in Darwin (C) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 49% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Greater Darwin (35.7%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Darwin (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Darwin (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Darwin and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Darwin (C), with comparison markers for Greater Darwin.
Fully owned
2021 count
5,256
% of total
18.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
5,256
18.5%
+0.5pp
Mortgage
2021 count
8,402
% of total
29.5%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
8,402
29.5%
-0.4pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
13,931
% of total
49.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
13,931
49.0%
+0.9pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
1,921
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,921
6.8%
0.0pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
11,926
% of total
41.9%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
11,926
41.9%
+1.2pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
85
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
85
0.3%
-0.3pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
379
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
379
1.3%
+0.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
484
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
484
1.7%
-1.7pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+591
+0.5pp
Mortgage
+664
-0.4pp
Renting - Total
+1,468
+0.9pp
Renting - Social housing
+162
0.0pp
Renting - Private
+1,378
+1.2pp
Renting - Not stated
-64
-0.3pp
Other tenure type
+228
+0.7pp
Not stated
-404
-1.7pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Darwin (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Darwin.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 5,256 | 18.5% | 17.3% | 4,665 | 18.0% | 16.7% | +591 | +0.5pp |
| Mortgage | 8,402 | 29.5% | 35.7% | 7,738 | 29.9% | 35.1% | +664 | -0.4pp |
| Renting - Total | 13,931 | 49.0% | 43.8% | 12,463 | 48.1% | 44.4% | +1,468 | +0.9pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 1,921 | 6.8% | 6.1% | 1,759 | 6.8% | 6.3% | +162 | 0.0pp |
| Renting - Private | 11,926 | 41.9% | 37.5% | 10,548 | 40.7% | 37.4% | +1,378 | +1.2pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 85 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 149 | 0.6% | 0.7% | -64 | -0.3pp |
| Other tenure type | 379 | 1.3% | 1.4% | 151 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +228 | +0.7pp |
| Not stated | 484 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 888 | 3.4% | 3.3% | -404 | -1.7pp |
| Total households | 28,456 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 25,905 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,551 | 0.0pp |