Harden

Harden is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of Nov 2025, the population of the Harden statistical area (Lv2) is estimated at around 1,970 people. This reflects an increase of 70 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,900 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 1,937 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 12 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 138 persons per square kilometer. Harden's growth rate of 3.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 3.5%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 51.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, the Harden (SA2) is expected to expand by 249 persons to reach a population of approximately 2,219 by 2041, reflecting an increase of 11.5% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Harden according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Harden experienced limited development activity with an average of three approvals per year over five years (18 total approvals). This low level is typical in rural areas due to modest housing needs and construction demand constrained by local factors. The small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth figures.

Harden had less construction activity than the Rest of NSW, with levels below national averages. All new constructions were standalone homes, favoring family dwellings suited for rural living. The area's population density was estimated at 353 people per dwelling approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Harden is projected to add 226 residents by 2041.

If current construction levels continue, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Harden has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified one major project expected to impact the region: Harden Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade, Smart Water Meter Replacement Program, Coppabella Wind Farm, and Harden to Boorowa Pipeline are key projects, with details on those most relevant provided below.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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.

The employment landscape in Harden presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.5%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Harden has a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar jobs, with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.5%, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, there are 764 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.3% below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Harden lags significantly at 46.2%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. There is particularly strong specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share of 2.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, manufacturing employs only 3.0% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.8%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, labour force decreased by 5.9% and employment decreased by 5.6%, resulting in a fall in unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.5%, labour force decline of 0.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. As of 25-Nov-25, state-level data shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Harden's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Harden had a median income among taxpayers of $39,472 and an average level of $48,071. This is lower than the national average and compares to levels of $52,390 and $65,215 across Rest of NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $42,969 (median) and $52,330 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Harden all fall between the 2nd and 6th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that the $400 - 799 earnings band captures 32.0% of the community (630 individuals), contrasting with the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 29.9%. The prevalence of lower-income residents (42.0% under $800/week) indicates constrained household budgets across much of the locality. While housing costs are modest with 89.1% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 6th percentile nationally.

Harden is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Harden's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.6% houses and 6.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 93.2% houses and 6.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Harden was 50.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.4% and rented ones at 18.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Harden was $910, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,699. The median weekly rent figure in Harden was $220, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $270. Nationally, Harden's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Harden features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 61.4% of all households, including 18.4% couples with children, 30.6% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.6%, with lone person households at 36.2% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

Harden faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 11.4%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 8.8% of residents holding such qualifications, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent among residents aged 15 and above, with 38.2% holding these skills, including advanced diplomas (9.2%) and certificates (29.0%).

A notable 24.1% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, with 10.8% in primary education, 6.1% in secondary education, and 1.5% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Harden has 15 active public transport stops. These include both train and bus services. There are 20 different routes operating in total, providing 688 weekly passenger trips collectively.

The accessibility of these services is rated as good, with residents typically located 264 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 98 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 45 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Harden is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Harden faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. As of approximately mid-2021, around 46% (~906 people) have private health cover, compared to Rest of NSW's 53.8%. Nationally, the average is 55.7%.

Arthritis and asthma are the most prevalent conditions in Harden, affecting 13.0% and 10.4% of residents respectively, while 58.0% report no medical ailments, compared to Rest of NSW's 63.6%. Harden has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 32.6% (642 people), compared to Rest of NSW's 21.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Harden are notably better than the general population.

The latest Census data sees Harden placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Harden's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 91.5% of its population being citizens born in Australia who speak English only at home. The dominant religion was Christianity, practiced by 72.2%, compared to the regional figure of 61.3%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (33.6%), Australian (33.3%), and Irish (9.6%).

Notably, certain ethnic groups had higher representation in Harden than regionally: Australian Aboriginal at 6.0% versus 2.9%, Serbian at 0.4% versus 0.2%, and Polish at 0.7% versus 0.4%.

Harden ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Harden's median age is 51 years, significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and considerably older than the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, the 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented at 17.3% locally, while the 15-24 age group is under-represented at 8.2%. This concentration of the 65-74 cohort is well above the national average of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 8.9% to 9.9% of Harden's population. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 18.8% to 17.3%, and the 55 to 64 age group has dropped from 14.5% to 13.3%. By 2041, Harden is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the 85+ group will grow by 69%, reaching 120 people from a starting point of 70. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 51% of projected growth. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group is expected to contract by 4 residents.