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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Fadden has an estimated 3,016 residents. That puts 970 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to demographic evaluations by AreaSearch, the resident count in Fadden stands at approximately 3,016 as of Aug 2026. This indicates a minor gain of 10 people (0.3%) relative to the 2021 Census, when 3,006 people were recorded. Such movement is calculated utilizing the ABS estimated resident population figure of 3,014 as of June 2025 alongside 8 validated new addresses registered following the Census benchmark. Population concentration settles at 969 persons per square kilometer, tracking closely with broader benchmarks evaluated across AreaSearch locations. The local post-census expansion rate of 0.3% trails the broader SA3 area (1.4%) by 1.1 percentage points, signaling sound demographic stability.
Recent population additions were chiefly propelled by net overseas arrivals, which constituted roughly 50.5% of total inward gains. SA2 projections published in 2024 (anchored to a 2022 baseline) by ABS/Geoscience Australia are utilized by AreaSearch. For intervals beyond 2032 or areas omitted from that release, age-bracket growth trajectories sourced from ACT Government SA2 models (also with a 2022 base) are integrated. Looking ahead, local expansion is forecast to place within the lower quartile nationally, with projections anticipating an uplift of 30 persons through to 2041 relative to recent annual ERP baselines, translating to an overall growth rate of 0.9% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity in Fadden has remained virtually nonexistent over recent periods, recording just 4 homes approved throughout the preceding 5 financial years. Given that approximately 7 people per year migrated into the suburb for every completed home across those 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), inbound demand outpaces new building volume by a wide margin, typically fostering upward price pressure and heightened competition, with incoming residences registering an expected construction cost of $330,000. Relative to the wider Australian Capital Territory, per-capita residential construction in Fadden lags noticeably (tracking 82.0% below the broader territory benchmark).
This constrained pipeline generally bolsters demand and asset values across established homes. Additions also track well below nationwide figures, highlighting the mature suburban fabric and likely zoning constraints. Furthermore, all recent building activity has centered exclusively on detached houses, maintaining the low-density character of the neighbourhood and appealing to buyers seeking standalone properties.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Fadden
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 18 current infrastructure and development projects close to Fadden, worth an estimated $2.46 billion. 1 are already under construction and 4 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and sports & recreation. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local capital works, major developments, and urban planning initiatives play a decisive role in shaping property and lifestyle outcomes. AreaSearch has pinpointed 3 projects positioned to influence the area. Key infrastructure undertakings include the Wanniassa Hills Primary School Modernisation, Erindale Group Centre Master Plan Implementation - Stage 1, The Valley Ponds - Wanniassa, and Canberra Light Rail Stage 4 - Woden to Tuggeranong, with primary initiatives outlined below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Wanniassa Hills Primary School Modernisation
ACT Government modernisation project at Wanniassa Hills Primary School delivering a preschool upgrade and replacement of existing gas boilers with fully electric heat pumps to improve energy efficiency, thermal comfort and learning environments. The works build on the school's earlier major modernisation program including new learning communities, administration refurbishment, hall improvements and expanded parking. Electrical supply upgrade works were tendered in 2025 to support the new HVAC system.
Erindale Group Centre Master Plan Implementation - Stage 1
A long-term revitalisation of the Erindale Group Centre focused on transforming public spaces, improving pedestrian and active travel links, and upgrading community infrastructure. The 2025-26 ACT Budget specifically funded the Erindale shops upgrade, with concept designs for public space improvements, including new lighting, paving, and furniture, expected for community feedback in 2026. The broader master plan facilitates future mixed-use development and roughly 800 new dwellings to support Tuggeranong growth.
The Valley Ponds - Wanniassa
Proposed medium-density residential estate of approximately 120-150 townhouses and apartments on former open space land between Wanniassa Hills and the Erindale Centre, part of the broader Indicative Land Release Program.
Canberra Light Rail Stage 4 - Woden to Tuggeranong
Proposed southern extension of the Canberra light rail network connecting Woden Town Centre to Tuggeranong Town Centre via the Athllon Drive corridor. Recent 2026 updates indicate the ACT Government is developing a transit-oriented development (ToD) plan for the Athllon Drive corridor, with conceptual integrated bus and light rail network options for Canberra South expected by June 2026. The project remains part of the long-term City-wide Light Rail Network plan to support a population of 500,000.
Empire Global Mixed-Use Development
Major mixed-use development comprising 299 residential apartments, 6 serviced apartments, and 1 commercial unit across two buildings up to 8 storeys. Includes three basement parking levels with 371 car spaces. The project was initially refused due to solar access concerns, but the developer plans to resubmit with amendments addressing planning authority concerns.
Wanniassa Playing Fields Irrigation & Lighting Upgrade
Installation of automated irrigation system and sports field lighting at Wanniassa District Playing Fields to support increased usage, night use, and drought resilience.
Southquay Greenway Stage 2 - Block 1 Section 80 Public Housing
Public housing development on Block 1 Section 80 in the Southquay Greenway precinct on Lake Tuggeranong, proposing 30 Class C adaptable units (12 x two-bedroom, 17 x three-bedroom, and 1 x four-bedroom) aligning with the ACT Planning Strategy for compact, efficient, and accessible developments.
Calwell Retirement Living Precinct
A retirement living precinct proposal by KBDC, featuring 30 one-storey townhouses alongside the Calwell shopping strip.
1,637 residents of Fadden are employed, from a labour force of 1,658. Unemployment sits at 1.3%, with participation at 68.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,318, about 77% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Fadden features an exceptionally educated workforce characterized by high professional services participation, an unemployment rate standing at a minimal 1.3%, and annual jobs growth estimated at 1.0%. By March 2026, employed residents reached 1,637, with local joblessness sitting 2.8% lower than the Australian Capital Territory benchmark of 4.1%, while workforce engagement was slightly lower at 68.2% compared to Australian Capital Territory's 70.6%. Census figures indicated that 14.7% of workers performed their duties from home, an outcome influenced by prevailing Covid-19 restrictions. Key employment categories for local workers include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, alongside professional & technical roles.
In contrast, accommodation & food demonstrates a smaller footprint, capturing 4.8% of the workforce against the territory-wide share of 6.5%. Comparing Census counts of local jobs against the resident labour pool demonstrates that domestic employment opportunities within the suburb itself are relatively constrained. Analysis of ABS and SALM figures indicates that during the 12 months leading to March 2026, resident employment rose by 1.0% while the local workforce expanded by 1.1%, shifting the jobless rate upward by 0.1 percentage points. Over the identical timeframe, the Australian Capital Territory posted employment gains of 0.3% alongside labour force expansion of 1.1%, driving a 0.7 percentage point rise in unemployment. Long-term national hiring projections released in Mar-26 by Jobs and Skills Australia shed additional light on future labour requirements across Fadden. When these five- and ten-year national trajectories (which project countrywide expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years across diverse sectors) are weighted against the local occupational profile, projected employment growth for Fadden reaches 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years (representing a direct industry weighting model for context, rather than a localized population forecast).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Fadden is $3,302 a week (about $172,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,415 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $83,100 a year against an average of $96,725. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO taxpayer records at the postcode level for financial year 2023 place the Fadden SA2 median income at $83,100, alongside an average figure of $96,725. These levels exceed national standards substantially, comparing favorably against the Australian Capital Territory median of $72,206 and territory average of $85,981. Adjusted for cumulative Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, modeled figures reach roughly $91,776 (median) and $106,823 (average) as of March 2026. Across Census measures, personal, family, and household earnings all place between the 96th and 98th percentiles nationwide. The top bracket ($4000+) accounts for 38.1% of residents (1,149 people), distinct from the broader region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is largest at 34.3%.
A total of 55.8% take home weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, underscoring high local spending power. Net of shelter costs, households retain 90.8% of their income, placing the suburb in the 10th decile on the SEIFA economic index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Fadden had 1,039 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 97% detached houses and 1% apartments. 48% are owned with a mortgage, 6% rented and 45% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $620 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,383 a month. Rent absorbs 18.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 16.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The local housing profile at the most recent Census was overwhelmingly dominated by separate houses, which accounted for 96.8% of dwellings, while medium/high-density options (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings) made up 3.1%, contrasting with territory-wide ratios of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Outright home ownership was particularly pronounced at 45.3%, well above the Australian Capital Territory rate, while remaining properties were mortgaged (48.4%) or leased (6.3%). Median monthly mortgage repayments stood at $2,383, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory standard of $2,080, while median weekly rent was $620 against the territory figure of $450.
Across Australia, typical monthly home loan repayments were $1,863 and weekly rents averaged $375, both significantly below Fadden levels.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Fadden counted 1,039 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.9 people each. 44% are couples with children, more than in 87% of areas nationally, against 33% couples without children. 13% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the vast majority of local living arrangements at 86.0%, comprising 44.0% couples with children, 33.1% couples without children, and 8.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 14.0%, consisting of lone person households (12.7%) and group households (1.2%). Average occupancy stands at 2.9 people per home, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
47.1% of adults in Fadden hold a university qualification, including 26.0% with a bachelor degree and 14.5% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 82% of areas nationally. A further 14.0% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 233 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,081 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment among Fadden residents tracks well above broader territory and national benchmarks, with 47.1% of people aged 15+ possessing higher education credentials, compared with 30.4% across Australia and 31.1% in the SA3 area. Bachelor degrees constitute the largest share at 26.0%, followed by postgraduate awards at 14.5% and graduate diplomas at 6.6%. Vocational education is also widespread, with 25.6% of residents aged 15+ holding technical qualifications, divided between advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (14.0%). Formal study engagement is substantial throughout the community, with 28.4% of the population attending an educational institution.
This proportion encompasses 10.1% attending primary schools, 8.6% in secondary education, and 5.4% enrolled in tertiary courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Fadden reaches 22 stops on 36 routes, timetabled for about 2,800 services a week. The typical home sits about 190 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.9 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport connectivity across Fadden comprises 22 operating stops serviced by buses. Across these stops, 36 distinct bus routes operate to deliver 2,843 scheduled passenger trips each week. Transit proximity is high, with households situated an average of 186 meters from their closest boarding point. Reflecting its suburban profile, outward commuting is standard, with private vehicle travel accounting for 92% of journeys and bus transit capturing 5%. Private vehicle availability averages 1.9 per dwelling, outperforming regional norms, while 14.7% of residents worked from home at the 2021 Census under prevailing COVID-19 settings.
Transit service schedules deliver an average of 406 trips daily across the network, translating to roughly 129 weekly departures per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
69.6% of residents in Fadden report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 81% of areas nationally. 4.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 69.7% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health metrics for Fadden indicate exceptional outcomes across every demographic bracket, with AreaSearch evaluations demonstrating minimal chronic ailment rates and low mortality figures. Private health insurance uptake is notably high, covering approximately 70% of the population (2,102 people). This compares to 62.4% across the Australian Capital Territory and a nationwide baseline of 55.7%. The two primary health conditions diagnosed locally are arthritis (affecting 8.7% of residents) and asthma (8.0%), while 69.6% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. Health indicators across the working-age cohort remain standard.
Residents aged 65 and over account for 21.8% of the community (658 people), above the territory proportion of 14.2%, with senior health indicators remaining positive and tracking in line with wider domestic standards.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Fadden is largely Australian-born, at 76.2% of residents, with 15.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (26.4%) and Australian (24.0%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural background measures show elevated diversity, with overseas-born individuals representing 23.8% of the population and 15.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religious affiliation, encompassing 52.0% of the community. Meanwhile, Islamic representation accounts for 2.0% of residents, compared to 3.4% across the Australian Capital Territory. Examining parentage and ancestry, the three primary heritage groups in Fadden are English (26.4%), Australian (24.0%), and Irish (9.4%). Notable deviations in other backgrounds include Croatian ancestry representing 1.1% of residents (compared to 0.9% across the region), Welsh at 0.8% (versus 0.6%), and Serbian at 0.7% (versus 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Fadden is 43. 20.1% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age distribution in Fadden leans noticeably older than the Australian Capital Territory average. As of August 2026, AreaSearch estimates indicate that 21.8% of the community falls into the retirement and senior categories (65+), compared with 14.2% across the territory, whereas younger to middle-aged adults (25 - 44) make up 18.5%, below the regional figure of 32.8%. The local median age is estimated at 43, mirroring the 2021 Census result, while standing 8 years older than the Australian Capital Territory median of 35 recorded at that Census and above Australia's Census median of 38.
The most pronounced shift since the Census has occurred among young to middle-aged adults, contracting from 21.8% to 18.5%. Projections to 2041 anticipate the largest numeric additions in the mature adult and early retiree group (45 - 64), rising by 46 (6%) to 843, while the young to middle-aged cohort is anticipated to diminish.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Fadden
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 8 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,006 at the 2021 Census → 3,016 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (801071076). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.