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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Harden is $380k. House values have moved 6.0% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Harden has an estimated 1,953 residents, up from 1,900 at the 2021 Census — a change of 53 people, or 2.8%. That puts 137 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
Based on reviews of ABS demographic updates covering the wider region, along with fresh address points verified by AreaSearch since the national survey, the resident count for the suburb of Harden is calculated to be approximately 1,953 in May 2026. This represents an addition of 53 individuals (2.8%) compared to the 2021 Census, which registered 1,900 people. This adjustment is derived from the population of 1,952, calculated by AreaSearch using the latest ABS ERP release from June 2025 alongside an extra 14 validated new addresses since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 137 persons per square kilometer, indicating low-density living and potential capacity for expanding housing.
The 2.8% expansion in the suburb of Harden since the 2021 census was quicker than the wider SA3 region (2.5%), making it a regional leader in population expansion. Growth in the locality was mostly supported by arrivals from abroad, which accounted for roughly 51.0% of the overall gains in recent times. AreaSearch incorporates regional projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline. For localities lacking this coverage, projections from the NSW State Government published in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are substituted. The age-bracket growth trajectories from these sources are likewise applied to all locations for the period spanning 2032 to 2041. Factoring in these demographic shifts, the suburb of Harden is expected to experience population expansion exceeding the median of national non-metropolitan zones, expanding by 242 individuals by 2041 according to combined SA2 projections, which represents a total rise of 12.3% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Property development within the suburb of Harden is very limited, with approvals averaging one dwelling annually, totaling seven dwellings over the five-year timeframe. This quiet building environment is typical of rural areas, where housing requirements remain small and construction is naturally constrained by local demand and infrastructure limits. Given these very low approval numbers, single residential projects can heavily alter year-on-year statistics and comparative metrics. Building activity in the suburb of Harden is significantly quieter than in the Rest of NSW, and the rate of new construction falls well below country-wide averages.
Furthermore, residential development has consisted entirely of detached houses, focusing on larger homes tailored to buyers desiring a country lifestyle and acreage. The ratio of 1298 people per dwelling approval highlights this quiet, low-scale building market. Projections indicate that the suburb of Harden will gain 241 residents by 2041, according to the latest quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. If current building rates do not accelerate, residential supply may fail to keep pace with demand, which is likely to increase buyer competition and support property price appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Harden
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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 one current infrastructure or development project inside Harden, worth an estimated $5 million. A further 73 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $17.6 billion. 26 are already under construction and 16 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, environmental & disaster management and transport & logistics. 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 performance is heavily shaped by modifications to infrastructure, major projects, and town planning. In total, a single project has been identified by AreaSearch as likely to affect the area. Notable projects include the Harden Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade, the Smart Water Meter Replacement Program, the Coppabella Wind Farm, and the Harden to Boorowa Pipeline, with details provided for the most relevant works.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Harden Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade
Remediation and upgrade of the Harden sewage treatment plant to restore and improve performance following storm and flood impacts. Works included rehabilitation and realignment of treatment ponds, construction of spillways, and upgrades to recycled water rising mains. Council indicated works commencing December 2024 with completion targeted for April 2025; project is now treated as complete.
Apollo Fabrication Group Expansion
Apollo Fabrication Group is undertaking a staged expansion of its structural steel manufacturing operations in Young. Stage one involves the construction of a fully enclosed 4,000 square metre loading and storage facility designed to streamline distribution logistics, expand fabrication throughput, and minimise dust and acoustic impacts on the surrounding precinct.
Hill Street Subdivision Young
New land development by Mellross Communities off Hills Street, Young. Titled and ready for construction with fully serviced lots including Colorbond fencing and building pads. Located in prime position surrounded by upmarket lifestyle properties with natural fall and tranquil backdrop.
Burrangong Creek Bridge Duplication
Duplication of existing bridge along Henry Lawson Way in Young to improve connectivity for surrounding towns, increase load limits and safety, and extend bridge lifespan. Project includes traffic management and approach road improvements during construction phase.
Thornhill Street Pavement Upgrades
The project involves reconstructing the pavement on Thornhill Street due to failures, deformation, and end of useful life. Works include in situ chemical stabilisation, trimming, sealing, asphalting, and stormwater upgrades. Stage 2 is underway south of Spring Street, with temporary road closures for safety.
Young Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade
Replacement of the existing sewage treatment plant with a modern 12,000 EP facility to enhance treatment processes and enable reuse of treated water for irrigation of public parks and fields, reducing reliance on potable water.
Young High School and New Joint Use Library and Community Facility Upgrade
The project delivered a new 2.5-storey joint use library and community facility integrated with Young High School and Carrington Park. Key features include new learning spaces, reading and study areas, technology facilities, children's activity area, youth wellbeing hub, arts floor with gallery, coffee bar, Wiradjuri learning centre, staff hub, canteen, student toilets, and landscaping.
Young Stormwater Infrastructure Upgrades
Hilltops Council is undertaking comprehensive stormwater drainage and flood mitigation infrastructure upgrades across the Young township. The scope includes hydraulic capacity improvements, drainage network renewal, and water quality treatment measures to reduce local overland flooding and enhance environmental outcomes along Burrangong Creek.
774 residents of Harden are employed, from a labour force of 802. Unemployment sits at 3.5%, with participation at 49.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,567, about 80% 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
The suburb of Harden displays a balanced workforce distributed across manual and professional occupations, with strong representation in basic services and a jobless rate of only 3.5% according to aggregated local data. As of March 2026774 residents are employed, with the jobless rate tracking 0.6 percentage points lower than the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%, while workforce participation is notably lower at 49.2% compared to 60.6% for Regional NSW. Census data indicates that a small proportion of workers (6.8%) worked from home, although this should be viewed in light of pandemic-era restrictions.
The primary employment sectors for local workers are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. The suburb of Harden exhibits a strong concentration in transport, postal & warehousing, employing residents at 2.3 times the regional average rate. Conversely, manufacturing accounts for only 3.0% of local jobs, which is lower than the Regional NSW level of 5.8%. Comparing the number of working residents to local job positions suggests limited employment opportunities exist within the immediate vicinity. Analysis of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated across local areas shows that over the 12-month period, the total labour force shrank by 2.4% while overall employment fell by 1.8%, leading to a 0.6 percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate. In comparison, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 0.9% and the labour force contract by 0.4%, with unemployment rising by 0.5 percentage points. Employment forecasts for Australia from May-25 issued by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context on future labour demand. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential changes. While overall national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary by industry. Projecting these industry trends onto the local workforce suggests employment in the suburb of Harden could increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation that does not account for local population changes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Harden is $973 a week (about $51,000 a year), with median personal income at $550 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $39,472 a year against an average of $48,071. 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
Aggregated tax data from the ATO for financial year 2023 indicates the median income for taxpayers in the suburb of Harden was $39,472, with the average income recorded at $48,071. These levels are below national benchmarks, comparing to $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) across Regional NSW. Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated values would stand at approximately $43,546 (median) and $53,032 (average) by March 2026. The 2021 Census placed household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Harden between the 2nd and 6th percentiles nationally.
Income distribution shows that the $400 - 799 weekly bracket is the largest locally, containing 32.0% of the community (624 individuals), whereas the $1,500 - 2,999 range is the most common across the wider region at 29.9%. A high proportion of lower-income earners (42.0% earning under $800/week) points to tight household budgets. Although housing costs are low, with residents keeping 89.1% of their earnings, overall disposable income ranks in just the 6th percentile across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Harden had 814 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 94% detached houses and 2% apartments. 31% are owned with a mortgage, 18% rented and 50% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $220 a week and the median mortgage repayment $910 a month. Rent absorbs 22.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential structures in the suburb of Harden at the time of the latest Census consisted of 93.6% detached houses and 6.4% alternative dwellings like semi-detached properties and apartments, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings across Regional NSW. Home ownership was high at 50.2%, with remaining households holding a mortgage (31.4%) or renting (18.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment was low at $910, while the median weekly rent stood at $220, compared to Regional NSW averages of $1,733 and $330. Nationally, mortgage costs in the suburb of Harden are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are well below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Harden counted 814 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.1 people each. 18% are couples with children, fewer than in 90% of areas nationally, against 31% couples without children. 36% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 61.4%, consisting of couples with children at 18.4%, couples without children at 30.6%, and single parents at 11.1%. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.6%, with single-person households representing 36.2% and shared group households making up 2.5% of the total. The median household size of 2.1 people is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
11.4% of adults in Harden hold a university qualification, including 8.8% with a bachelor degree and 1.4% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 92% of areas nationally. A further 29.0% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 385 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 946 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
Educational attainment in the area is lower than average, with university completion rates at 11.4%, which is below the NSW average of 32.2%. This gap presents an opportunity for targeted training programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 8.8%, followed by postgraduate studies at 1.4% and graduate diplomas at 1.2%. Practical and vocational skills are common, with 38.2% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (9.2%) and certificates (29.0%). A significant 24.1% of residents are enrolled in formal study. This student group comprises 10.8% in primary schools, 6.1% in high schools, and 1.5% in higher education institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Harden reaches 17 stops on 20 routes, timetabled for about 690 services a week. The typical home sits about 260 m from its nearest stop. Trains carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.3 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 options in the suburb of Harden consist of 17 active stops, including both train and bus services. These stops are served by 20 distinct routes, providing a total of 688 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 264 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and most workers commute out of the area. Private vehicles remain the primary mode of travel at 89%, while 10% of residents walk to work. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per household, which is lower than the regional average.
A small share of residents (6.8%) worked from home, as recorded in the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic conditions. Service frequency averages 98 runs per day across the network, which translates to approximately 40 weekly trips for each stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
58.0% of residents in Harden report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 84% of areas nationally. 7.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 46.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Analysis of mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic illnesses suggests significant health challenges in the suburb of Harden, with common medical conditions visible across both younger and older cohorts. Additionally, the rate of private health insurance is low at approximately 46% of the population (~898 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%. The most common chronic conditions in the locality are arthritis and asthma, affecting 13.0% and 10.4% of residents, respectively. Meanwhile, 58.0% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW.
The working-age cohort faces notable health difficulties, with higher rates of chronic conditions. Residents aged 65 and over make up 33.5% of the population (654 people), which is higher than the 23.4% representation across Regional NSW. Seniors face particular health challenges, with local health rankings for this group being higher than for the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Harden is largely Australian-born, at 91.5% of residents, with 3.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (33.6%) and Australian (33.3%). 6.0% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The suburb of Harden exhibits lower cultural diversity than average, with citizens representing 91.5% of the population, 91.5% born in Australia, and 96.5% speaking only English at home. The main religious affiliation is Christianity, accounting for 72.2% of residents, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Regarding ancestry, the top three backgrounds reported are English at 33.6%, Australian at 33.3%, and Irish at 9.6%. There are also notable differences in the representation of other groups: Australian Aboriginal residents account for 6.0% of the population (compared to 4.6% in the wider region), Serbian ancestry stands at 0.4% (compared to 0.2%), and Polish ancestry is recorded at 0.7% (compared to 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Harden is 52, older than 94% of areas nationally. 17.0% 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 median age of 52 years in the suburb of Harden is higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the national median of 38. The 65 - 74 age bracket is over-represented locally at 17.7%, while 25 - 34 year-olds are under-represented at 8.2%. The concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 is higher than the national share of 9.4%. Since 2021, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 8.9% to 9.9% of the population, whereas the 65 to 74 bracket has decreased from 18.8% to 17.7%.
Demographic projections for 2041 point to significant changes, with the 85+ cohort expected to grow by 74%, adding 53 residents to reach 126. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 55 to 64 cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Harden
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) 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) | May 2026 3 months ago 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2025 about a year ago all 1 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 Aug 2025. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month 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 — 14 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (1,900 at the 2021 Census → 1,953 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 May 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 (SAL11858). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.