Palmerston
NTTier 2Positive
48
Signal score
VS
Shepparton
VICTier 2Near-Positive
54
Signal score

Research only. Not financial advice. Data: Q1 2025 indicative estimates from public sources. Verify independently.

Palmerston: Yield Advantage
6.0% vs 5.0%
Shepparton: Tighter Rental Market
1.4% vs 2.8% vacancy
Palmerston: Better Cashflow Position
Positive vs Near-Positive
Palmerston: Budget Policy Resilient
No NG required (proposed changes pending legislation)
Shepparton: Stronger Rent Momentum
+5% vs +3.5%

Palmerston offers a materially higher gross yield (6.0% vs 5.0%), making it the stronger income candidate at current prices. Palmerston achieves positive cashflow without negative gearing support, while Shepparton requires additional tax offset or rental growth to break even. Vacancy conditions favour Shepparton (1.4% vs 2.8%), indicating tighter rental demand relative to supply.

Research context only. Not financial advice. Both markets carry distinct risks specific to their location, employment base, and economic profile. Read the individual suburb research pages before drawing conclusions. All policy references reflect proposed changes subject to final legislation.

Metric
Palmerston
NT · #25
Shepparton
VIC · #19
Gross Yield6.0%5.0%
Vacancy Rate2.8%1.4%
Median Price$510k$468k
Weekly Rent$590/wk$450/wk
Net pre-costs pa+$4,160$-936
CashflowPositiveNear-Positive
Rent Growth 12m+3.5%+5%
Price Growth 12m+3%+5.5%
NG DependenceNoneLow
Discovery StatusKnownKnown
Population37k64k
Cycle StageStartingEarly-Mid
Policy Impact◆ NEUTRAL▲ UPGRADED
Signal Score48 / Tier 254 / Tier 2
Palmerston

Government-backed tenant quality via ADF DHOAS subsidies. Robertson Barracks is a permanent strategic asset. Vacancy driven by ADF rotations not economic weakness.

Shepparton

5.0% yield on a 64,000-population city with Australia's largest tomato processing facility and a $400M hospital rebuild underway. The Food Valley precinct is creating permanent food-tech employment. Rent growth +5.0% will push to cashflow-positive within 18 months.

Palmerston: Sources

CoreLogic NT Q1 2025 · REINT Palmerston/Darwin Q4 2024 · SQM Research · ADF Defence Housing Australia occupancy data 2024 · NT Government Greater Darwin Region Land Use Objectives 2024

Data vintage: Q1 2025

Shepparton: Sources

CoreLogic VIC Q1 2025 · REI Victoria Shepparton Q4 2024 · SQM Research · GV Health project update 2024 · Kagome Australia operations report · Greater Shepparton City Council economic data 2024

Data vintage: Q1 2025

The interactive tool lets you add up to 4 suburbs for a full side-by-side breakdown with score components.

Research only. Not financial advice. Data vintage Q1 2025 (indicative estimates from public sources). Verify all metrics independently with local property managers and licensed advisers before making any investment decision. All negative gearing and budget policy references reflect proposed changes subject to final legislation. Consult a registered tax adviser for personal tax position.