Marden

Population growth drivers in Marden are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population of Marden is around 2,739 people. This reflects an increase of 94 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,645 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 2,712 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with an additional 18 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 2,584 persons per square kilometer, placing Marden in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The primary driver for this growth was overseas migration, contributing about 92.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted. These were released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking ahead, Marden is expected to experience a population increase just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch. By 2041, the suburb's population is projected to rise by 303 persons, reflecting an overall increase of approximately 12.9% over the 17-year period based on aggregated SA2-level projections.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Marden recorded around 14 residential properties granted approval per year over the past 5 financial years ending FY-25. This totals an estimated 73 homes. So far in FY-26, 4 approvals have been recorded. Based on historical data from FY-21 to FY-25, there were approximately 1.5 new residents per year per dwelling constructed. However, recent data shows this has increased to 8.5 people per dwelling over the past 2 financial years, indicating growing popularity and potential undersupply.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $836,000, reflecting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. This year alone, $32.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Marden shows 19.0% lower construction activity per person but ranks among the 39th percentile of areas assessed nationally, indicating more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. Recent construction comprises 50.0% detached dwellings and 50.0% medium to high-density housing, providing accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

Marden's population is estimated to grow by 354 residents through to 2041, with current development rates suggesting new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Marden has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Area infrastructure performance is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified three projects likely to impact the area: Broad Street Reserve Playground Upgrade, Marden Connect Development, Felixstow Intergenerational Community project, and Klemzig Interchange Upgrade. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Marden ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Marden has a highly educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.4% as of June 2025, lower than Greater Adelaide's 4.0%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.8%. Workforce participation in Marden is 65.9%, slightly higher than Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Notably, professional & technical services have an employment level of 1.3 times the regional average.

However, construction has a limited presence with only 5.6% of employment compared to the regional average of 8.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work, as indicated by the count of Census working population to local population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 1.8%, while labour force and unemployment remained broadly flat in Marden. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment rise by 2.1% during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Marden's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Marden's median income among taxpayers was $50,282 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $75,821 during the same period. This compares to figures for Greater Adelaide of $52,592 and $64,886 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $56,733 (median) and $85,549 (average) as of September 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, personal income ranks at the 52nd percentile ($818 weekly), while household income sits at the 36th percentile. In terms of income distribution, 32.1% of locals (879 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 category. This is similar to the broader area where 31.8% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 37th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Marden displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Marden, as per the latest Census evaluation, 44.1% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 55.8% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This differs from Adelaide metro's distribution of 51.7% houses and 48.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Marden stood at 26.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.0% and rented ones at 44.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,668, lower than Adelaide metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Marden was recorded at $305, compared to Adelaide metro's $340. Nationally, Marden's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 57.9% of all households, including 21.0% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 42.1%, with lone person households at 37.6% and group households comprising 4.1%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.2.

The educational profile of Marden exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Marden is notably high, with 43.9% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.9% in Greater Adelaide. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 28.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 12.6% and graduate diplomas at 3.0%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 25.1% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (14.9%). Educational participation is high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 9.4% in tertiary education, 7.6% in primary education, and 5.0% pursuing secondary education.

The area offers educational provision through Marden Senior College and Open Access College, serving a total of 4,906 students. It has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1040) with balanced educational opportunities, featuring one secondary school and one K-12 school. As an education hub, Marden provides 179.1 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 32.6, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Marden has 12 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totaling 15 individual routes. The combined weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes amount to 1,281.

Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 195 meters to the nearest stop. Daily service frequency across all routes averages 183 trips, translating to approximately 106 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Marden is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Marden demonstrates above-average health outcomes with a low prevalence of common health conditions among its general population, although this is higher than the national average for older and at-risk cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high in Marden, approximately 57% of the total population (around 1,559 people), compared to 61.4% across Greater Adelaide.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 8.1% and 7.7% of residents respectively. 72.1% of Marden's residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.4% across Greater Adelaide. The area has 17.0% of residents aged 65 and over (465 people), which is lower than the 20.9% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges requiring more attention than the broader population.

Marden is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Marden's population shows high cultural diversity, with 39.6% born overseas and 37.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 43.9% of Marden's population. The category 'Other' is overrepresented in Marden at 3.7%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 1.6%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (20.7%), Australian (17.2%), and Other (13.3%). Notably, Italian (10.8% vs regional 11.1%), Vietnamese (1.6% vs 0.9%), and Korean (0.7% vs 0.5%) groups are overrepresented in Marden compared to Greater Adelaide.

Marden's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Marden has a median age of 35, which is younger than Greater Adelaide's figure of 39 and slightly below Australia's national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 21.7% of Marden's population compared to Greater Adelaide, while the 5-14 cohort stands at 7.9%. This concentration of people aged 25-34 is notably higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present day, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 10.9% to 13.0%, while the 35 to 44 cohort rose from 14.7% to 15.8%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 10.7% to 9.5%, and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 10.7% to 9.5%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Marden's age structure. Notably, the 85+ group is projected to grow by 96%, reaching 161 people from an initial count of 82. Meanwhile, the 0-4 cohort is expected to grow modestly by 4% (an increase of 5 people).