Palmerston
NTTier 2Positive
48
Signal score
VS
Toowoomba
QLDTier 2Near-Positive
58
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%
Toowoomba: Tighter Rental Market
1% vs 2.8% vacancy
Palmerston: Better Cashflow Position
Positive vs Near-Positive
Palmerston: Budget Policy Resilient
No NG required (proposed changes pending legislation)
Toowoomba: Stronger Rent Momentum
+5.5% vs +3.5%
Toowoomba: Higher Signal Score
58 vs 48

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 Toowoomba requires additional tax offset or rental growth to break even. Vacancy conditions favour Toowoomba (1% 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
Toowoomba
QLD · #14
Gross Yield6.0%5.0%
Vacancy Rate2.8%1%
Median Price$510k$582k
Weekly Rent$590/wk$560/wk
Net pre-costs pa+$4,160$-1,144
CashflowPositiveNear-Positive
Rent Growth 12m+3.5%+5.5%
Price Growth 12m+3%+6%
NG DependenceNoneLow
Discovery StatusKnownKnown
Population37k175k
Cycle StageStartingMid
Policy Impact◆ NEUTRAL▲ UPGRADED
Signal Score48 / Tier 258 / 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.

Toowoomba

5.0% yield on Australia's largest inland city (175,000). Inland Rail makes Toowoomba a permanent logistics node: structural demand, not cyclical. Wellcamp Airport's freight capacity is genuinely unique. Vacancy at 1.0% is tight for a city this size.

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

Toowoomba: Sources

CoreLogic QLD Q1 2025 · REIQ Toowoomba Q4 2024 · SQM Research · ARTC Inland Rail updates 2024 · Wellcamp Airport annual report 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.