Marleston

Marleston lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of November 2025, Marleston's estimated population is around 2,143. This figure reflects a growth of 193 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,950. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 2,134 residents based on ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and an additional 27 validated new addresses. This results in a density ratio of 2,209 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Marleston's growth rate of 9.9% since the 2021 Census exceeds the state's 7.1%, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 97.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth.

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 are adopted, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Marleston is forecasted to experience significant population growth in the top quartile of statistical areas analyzed by AreaSearch, with an expected increase of 567 persons by 2041, reflecting a gain of 24.5% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Marleston when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis using ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data, Marleston averaged approximately 33 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 166 homes. As of FY-26, six approvals have been recorded. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an average of 0.9 people moved to the area per year for each dwelling built. New construction has matched or outpaced demand, offering buyers more options while enabling population growth that may exceed current expectations.

The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings is $379,000. In FY-26, there have been $52.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Marleston records 156.0% more building activity per person, providing greater choice for buyers despite recent slowdowns in overall building activity. This level is substantially higher than the national average, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. Recent construction comprises 38.0% detached dwellings and 62.0% attached dwellings, with a trend towards denser development appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. Marleston has around 116 people per dwelling approval, indicating growth area characteristics.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Marleston is expected to grow by 525 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Marleston has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

No factors influence a region's performance more than alterations to local infrastructure, major undertakings, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has pinpointed zero projects slated to impact this area. Significant ventures comprise Tram Grade Separation Projects, Thebarton Technology Hub, North South Corridor, and Goodwood Oval Sporting Precinct Revitalisation, with the following list highlighting those most pertinent.

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 labour market in Marleston shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Marleston has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.2% as of the past year, with estimated employment growth at 3.4%.

As of June 2025, 1,252 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.8% below Greater Adelaide's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation was 64.9%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Dominant employment sectors included health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. Notably, accommodation & food had employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction was under-represented with only 5.6% of Marleston's workforce compared to Greater Adelaide's 8.7%. The area functioned as an employment hub with 1.9 workers per resident, attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 3.4%, while labour force grew by 3.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 2.1% with marginal unemployment increase. National employment forecasts from Sep-22 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Marleston's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Marleston's median income among taxpayers was $49,507 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $59,045 during the same period. In comparison, Greater Adelaide had a median income of $52,592 and an average income of $64,886. By September 2025, estimates suggest Marleston's median income will be approximately $55,859 and the average income will reach around $66,620, based on a 12.83% growth in wages since financial year 2022. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Marleston rank modestly, between the 30th and 38th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. In terms of earnings profile, 31.4% of Marleston's population (672 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, which is similar to the surrounding region at 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Marleston, with only 82.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 28th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Marleston, as per the latest Census, consisted of 50.2% houses and 49.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Adelaide metro's 63.9% houses and 36.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Marleston stood at 22.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.3% and rented dwellings at 47.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,528, lower than Adelaide metro's average of $1,745. The median weekly rent in Marleston was $290, compared to Adelaide metro's $310. Nationally, Marleston's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 54.9% of all households, including 19.7% couples with children, 24.3% couples without children, and 8.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 45.1%, with lone person households at 36.7% and group households comprising 8.5%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.3.

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

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 35.3% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the South Australian average of 25.7% and Greater Adelaide's rate of 28.9%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 22.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 27.8% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 9.3% while certificates make up 18.5%.

Educational participation is high at 25.5%, including 9.5% in tertiary education, 6.5% in primary education, and 3.6% pursuing secondary education. Warriappendi Secondary School serves Marleston with an enrollment of 85 students, while the area's educational conditions are varied (ICSEA: 749). Secondary education dominates with one school, while primary students typically attend schools in neighboring areas due to limited local capacity (4.0 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.8).

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

Marleston has 13 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 13 different routes that together facilitate 1,107 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport system in Marleston is rated as good, with residents on average located just 217 meters from their nearest transport stop.

The service frequency across all routes averages 158 trips per day, which equates to approximately 85 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Marleston is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Marleston faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions being somewhat prevalent across all age groups but to a higher degree among older cohorts.

Approximately half of Marleston's total population (~1,079 people) has private health cover. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and arthritis, affecting 10.7% and 8.0% of residents respectively. However, 67.1% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 70.9% across Greater Adelaide. Marleston has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 16.3% (349 people) than Greater Adelaide's 17.6%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

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

Marleston's population shows high cultural diversity, with 40.2% born overseas and 40.4% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Marleston, with 41.8%. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprises 4.1%, higher than Greater Adelaide's 3.1%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian (20.7%), English (19.7%), and Other (14.5%) are the top groups. Some ethnicities show significant differences: Greeks at 5.0% (vs regional 6.1%), Indians at 6.3% (vs 3.7%), and Koreans at 0.8% (vs 0.3%).

Marleston's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Marleston is 36 years, which is slightly below Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and also slightly below Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Marleston has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (21.4%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.1%). This proportion of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 has increased from 20.1% to 21.4%, while the proportion of those aged 65 to 74 has decreased from 6.8% to 5.8%. By 2041, Marleston's population is projected to experience significant changes in its age distribution. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 19%, increasing from 458 to 545 residents.