Question 1

Is Johnston a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Johnston is a residential suburb in Palmerston within Darwin’s commuter ring. It has relatively modern, mostly single-storey homes on modest blocks, neighbourhood parks and playgrounds, and a straightforward local feel. The area suits young families and people who work shifts or commute to Darwin and nearby industrial areas. Residents rely on Palmerston’s shopping and services and have bus links and straightforward road access via the Stuart Highway to schools, sporting facilities and broader amenities.

The community is weighted towards families, with couple families with children making up 50.4% of families and a median age of 28. The median household income is $2,254 a week and homes are more often rented than owner-occupied, with 63.8% rented. Sixteen social housing dwellings were found structurally defective, were vacated and are scheduled for demolition, and the council has recommended investigating a multipurpose community centre for the locality. Whether Johnston suits you will come down to what you are looking for.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Johnston?

Accepted Answer

Rent in Johnston takes a meaningful slice of a typical local household's income as recorded at the most recent Census. A house renting for $730 a week would be about 32.4% of the median household weekly income at the last Census ($2,254 a week), a sizeable share, while a unit at $600 a week would be about 26.6% of that income, a moderate share.

If you're renting rather than buying, those rent shares are the most relevant figures and whether they feel expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Johnston a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Over the past 12 months the clearest movements in Johnston are in property values, especially for units. Median unit values jumped 25.7%, a large rise, while median house values rose 10.8%, a strong rise. On the income side, unit rents climbed 13.2%, a strong rise, whereas house rents increased 2.1%, a modest rise. Value changes reflect capital growth over the year, while rent changes show how rental income moved.

For someone weighing Johnston as an investment, the figures show units delivered the larger capital gain and the stronger rental growth this year, while houses saw solid price growth but only modest rent growth. Which of those outcomes matters most depends on your goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	N/A	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	10.8%	25.7%
Sold Past 3 months	9	6
Median days on market Past 12 months	69	56
Average rent Past 12 months	$730	$600
Change in rent Past 12 months	2.1%	13.2%

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