Guide
Best suburbs to invest in Darwin: 5 affordable picks for 2026
Five suburbs in Darwin where a typical house costs less than the city median of $747,252, picked on price growth, rent growth and rental yield. A shortlist to research, not a list to buy from.
By Mossy Taheri, licensed buyer’s agent · Updated
The short answer
Five affordable suburbs to research in Darwin: Gray, Driver, Moulden, Bakewell, Wagaman. Each has a typical house price under $747,252. Moulden has had the strongest growth, about 11.6% a year over five years, and Gray has the highest gross yield, about 5.5%.
The five suburbs at a glance
Houses, all bedroom sizes, to 31 October 2026. Growth figures are average yearly changes.
| Suburb | Typical house price | Weekly rent | Gross yield | Price growth (5 yrs, a year) | Rent growth (3 yrs, a year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray Palmerston | $627,745 | $665 | 5.5% | 9.2% | 6.6% |
| Driver Palmerston | $671,732 | $702 | 5.4% | 7.0% | 9.2% |
| Moulden Palmerston | $627,709 | $604 | 5.0% | 11.6% | 6.1% |
| Bakewell Palmerston | $666,693 | $662 | 5.2% | 6.5% | 6.7% |
| Wagaman Darwin's northern suburbs | $726,975 | $715 | 5.1% | 7.0% | 5.1% |
Each suburb in brief
1. Gray, Palmerston
A well-established Palmerston suburb close to the city centre, with a gross yield above 5%. Like most of Darwin, prices fell through the 2010s before recovering.
Typical house price $627,745, rent about $665 a week (a gross yield of 5.5%). Prices grew about 9.2% a year over five years and 5.0% a year over ten; rents grew about 6.6% a year over three years.
2. Driver, Palmerston
Near Palmerston's shops and services, with the strongest rent growth on this list.
Typical house price $671,732, rent about $702 a week (a gross yield of 5.4%). Prices grew about 7.0% a year over five years and 4.4% a year over ten; rents grew about 9.2% a year over three years.
3. Moulden, Palmerston
The best 5-year growth on this list, and one of the lowest entry prices in Greater Darwin.
Typical house price $627,709, rent about $604 a week (a gross yield of 5.0%). Prices grew about 11.6% a year over five years and 5.3% a year over ten; rents grew about 6.1% a year over three years.
4. Bakewell, Palmerston
A family suburb in Palmerston's south, with a yield above 5%.
Typical house price $666,693, rent about $662 a week (a gross yield of 5.2%). Prices grew about 6.5% a year over five years and 3.7% a year over ten; rents grew about 6.7% a year over three years.
5. Wagaman, Darwin's northern suburbs
Close to Casuarina and Charles Darwin University, with the highest rent on this list.
Typical house price $726,975, rent about $715 a week (a gross yield of 5.1%). Prices grew about 7.0% a year over five years and 4.0% a year over ten; rents grew about 5.1% a year over three years.
How we chose them
- Affordable: a typical house price below the median house value for Darwin, $747,252 (Cotality, median house values, September 2026).
- Reliable: only suburbs with enough sales and rentals to give dependable figures.
- Ranked on four measures: price growth over five years, rent growth over three years, gross rental yield and, at half weight, price growth over ten years. 6 suburbs passed the first filters.
- Left out: island suburbs, very small or outlying towns with few buyers, suburbs with well-known flood exposure, and any third suburb from the same town (such as a third Elizabeth suburb in Adelaide), so the list isn't five versions of one place.
This is a shortlist for research, not a recommendation to buy in any of these suburbs. Past growth doesn’t predict future growth, and figures for a whole suburb hide big differences between streets and properties. General information only, not personal financial advice.
Before you buy in any of them
- Check the council's flood, bushfire and planning overlays for the street, not just the suburb.
- Look at the vacancy rate and how many rentals are listed, so you know tenants are there.
- Find out what's being built nearby: new estates and apartment blocks add supply and can slow growth.
- Get a building and pest inspection; many affordable suburbs have older homes.
- Run the numbers on the property itself, including interest, rates, insurance and management.
Our rental yield calculator and cash flow calculator help with the last step. For buying costs, see stamp duty.
- Darwin market guide 2026
- Buyers agent Darwin
- Best suburbs to invest in Australia: every list
- All locations
Cite this page: Rising Returns, “Best Suburbs to Invest in Darwin 2026: 5 Affordable Picks”, data to 31 October 2026, https://risingreturns.com.au/best-suburbs-to-invest-darwin/
Thinking of buying in Darwin?
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Book a free discovery callInvesting in Darwin: common questions
What are the best affordable suburbs to invest in Darwin?
On our analysis of suburb data to 31 October 2026, our five picks are Gray, Driver, Moulden, Bakewell and Wagaman. Each has a typical house price below $747,252, enough sales to give reliable figures, and a strong mix of price growth, rent growth and rental yield. They are a starting point for research, not a recommendation to buy in any of them.
What does affordable mean on this list?
A typical house price below Cotality's median house value for Darwin ($747,252). It is relative: an affordable suburb in Sydney still costs more than most regional towns.
Does past growth mean these suburbs will keep growing?
No. Growth figures show what has happened, not what will. Strong recent growth can mean a suburb has already had its run. Look at supply, jobs, infrastructure and vacancy rates as well, and check the individual property and street.
Why does the list only cover houses?
Houses usually hold more land value, which tends to drive long-term growth, and house data is more consistent between suburbs. Units and townhouses can suit some budgets and goals, but they need a separate comparison.
General information only. It doesn’t consider your personal circumstances and isn’t financial, tax, credit or legal advice. Speak to a licensed professional before you act.