Fadden
One of Fadden's most distinctive features is its concentration of large homes: 79.3% have four or more bedrooms and 96.8% are separate houses, while the median age is 43, 3.0 years above the national figure. Household income sits at the 98.6th percentile, helping explain the suburb's IRSAD decile 10 status and low 6.6% renting share. Compared with nearby Gowrie and Macarthur, Fadden reads as a settled, car-oriented Tuggeranong suburb, with 76.0% driving to work and a slow-growth outlook rather than a redevelopment-led profile.
Local council: Unincorporated ACT
Population
3,006
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,302/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Fadden suits buyers prioritising detached space over apartment choice. Separate houses account for 96.8% of dwellings, and 79.3% have four or more bedrooms, making the suburb more aligned with established family housing than compact formats. A monthly mortgage figure of $2,383 sits alongside a mortgage-to-income measure of 16.7%, with mortgage stress not flagged, while rent is $620 a week. Household income is at the 98.6th percentile and household size is 0.4 people above the national average, which helps support demand for larger homes. Compared with a smaller-home market, Fadden gives buyers less dwelling-format choice because detached stock dominates.
For Buyers
Fadden suits buyers prioritising detached space over apartment choice. Separate houses account for 96.8% of dwellings, and 79.3% have four or more bedrooms, making the suburb more aligned with established family housing than compact formats. A monthly mortgage figure of $2,383 sits alongside a mortgage-to-income measure of 16.7%, with mortgage stress not flagged, while rent is $620 a week. Household income is at the 98.6th percentile and household size is 0.4 people above the national average, which helps support demand for larger homes. Compared with a smaller-home market, Fadden gives buyers less dwelling-format choice because detached stock dominates.
For Investors
Fadden is a defensive, low-rental-share proposition rather than a high-yield growth play. Only 6.6% of households rent, with weekly rent at $620 and vacancy at 5.0%, so the tenant pool is smaller than in a rental-dominated suburb. The wider growth trend is below zero at -0.46% annually, migration is described as Balanced, and 6 development applications were recorded over 12 months. Rent growth of 24.0% sits alongside 84.9% of residents staying in place, suggesting a settled housing base. Compared with a growth corridor, investors should prioritise property quality, tenant retention and holding costs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
25
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+500.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Fadden
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Fadden Primary School
Demographics
Fadden's profile is older and more university-qualified than the national pattern: its median age is 43, or 3.0 years above national, while 53.2% hold university qualifications, 23.1 percentage points above the national comparison. English ancestry is recorded for 1,136 people, followed by Irish at 404 and Scottish at 369, giving the suburb a strong Anglo-Celtic imprint. Christianity counts 1,505 people and no religion 1,249, while overseas-born residents are 23.8%, 2.2 points above national. Household size is 2.9 people, 0.4 above the national average, because couples with children account for 49.9% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.8%
Houses
1.8%
Townhouse
1.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Fadden's tenure mix is strongly owner-oriented. Outright owners account for 44.8% of dwellings and mortgagors 47.6%, leaving just 6.6% renting. This aligns with household income at the 98.6th percentile and an IRSAD decile 10 result. Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 96.8% separate houses, 1.8% semi-detached homes and 1.3% apartments. Larger stock dominates: 79.3% has four or more bedrooms and 19.5% has three. Rent is $620 weekly, while mortgage-to-income is 16.7% and rent-to-income is 18.8%, with neither stress flag active. Compared with a compact inner-area housing mix, Fadden gives up format diversity for family-scale space.
Mortgage / mo
$2,383
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$620
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,415
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.0%
Unoccupied
55
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
49.9%
Couples with children
40.0%
Couples, no children
9.2%
Single parent
909
Total families
Economy & Employment
Fadden's economy is closely tied to Canberra's public-sector base. Public administration employs 478 people, or 38.9% of the listed industry mix, followed by healthcare at 13.4%, professional and technical services at 12.9%, education at 12.0% and construction at 5.8%. Occupations reinforce that pattern, with 518 professionals, 366 managers and 258 clerical and administrative workers. Labour-force participation is 67.9%, unemployment is 3.0% and 1,028 people work full time, supporting household income at the 98.6th percentile. All 4 SEIFA measures sit in decile 10: IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD. Compared with the national labour market, university attainment is 23.1 points higher because professional and government-linked roles dominate.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
1,649
Unemployed
49
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.2%
Part-time
30.1%
Participation
67.9%
Employed
1,600
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
53.2%
Postgraduate
19.0%
Born Overseas
23.8%
Dwellings
1,038
Transport to Work
Fadden is practical for households with cars and home offices. A high 76.0% drive to work, compared with 2.4% using public transport and 0.8% walking or cycling, so daily access is shaped more by road travel than local active or transit commuting. Another 15.3% work from home, which suits the suburb's large-house profile. Fadden Primary School is the local government primary option, giving families 1 nearby school within the suburb; secondary choices require checking enrolment zones across Tuggeranong. Social conditions are strong, with IRSAD and IRSD both at decile 10, while 22.7% volunteer. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, Fadden trades frequent public transport for space, parking and a settled residential setting.
Drive
76.0%
Public Transport
2.4%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
15.3%
Growth Outlook
Fadden is in an established, slow-growth phase. The annual trend is -0.46%, while population change across the wider area is -2.4% over 10 years, placing the trajectory below zero rather than in an expansion cycle. Migration is classified as Balanced, so no single inflow channel is carrying momentum. The shift label is Aging: the senior share has increased by 9.7 percentage points and the working share has fallen by 6.6 points, which helps explain the softer growth outlook. Rent growth of 24.0% sits alongside 84.9% of residents staying in place. Gentrification is Not gentrifying, with a score of 0. Compared with a new-release corridor, Fadden's changes are more demographic than construction-led.
Population trend: Unincorporated ACT council area
Fadden sits in the Unincorporated ACT council area. These are the council area's residents, not Fadden's.
Residents 2025
484,630
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.7%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.3%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Fadden compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fadden a good suburb to live in?
Fadden is well suited to households seeking established detached housing, high incomes and a car-based routine. The median age is 43, 96.8% of homes are separate houses and IRSAD is decile 10. Public transport use is limited at 2.4%, so the suburb suits buyers comfortable with driving.
What is the median house price in Fadden?
A current median house price is unavailable for Fadden. Its housing profile is 96.8% separate houses, 79.3% with four or more bedrooms and 6.6% renting. Buyers should compare recent sales for similar homes because a single suburb-wide figure would not reflect the mix of larger detached properties.
What schools are in Fadden?
Fadden Primary School is the local government primary option, so families have 1 identified school within the suburb. Check the exact enrolment zone and nearby Tuggeranong secondary options before signing a contract, because school access can change across suburb boundaries.
Is Fadden safe?
Safety should be checked using current ACT incident information and at different times of day rather than inferred from housing or income. Fadden has 3,006 residents, 76.0% drive to work and residential turnover is 15.1%, so prospective residents should inspect the immediate street and local amenities before deciding.
Is Fadden good for property investment?
Fadden can suit investors seeking established detached stock, but it is not a clear high-growth profile. Rent is $620 a week, vacancy is 5.0%, only 6.6% of households rent and annual growth is -0.46%. Balanced migration and 6 development applications in 12 months make property selection and tenant demand important.
How is Fadden's population changing?
Fadden's population is changing slowly and ageing. The suburb has 3,006 residents today, while the wider-area trend is -0.46% annually and -2.4% over 10 years. The senior share has risen 9.7 percentage points and the working share has fallen 6.6 points, so demand is likely to be shaped more by ageing households than rapid expansion.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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