Fadden
Household income in the 98.6th percentile nationally sets the tone for Fadden, a 3.11 km2 suburb in the ACT where 96.8% of dwellings are separate houses and 45.3% of owners hold their property outright with no mortgage. With a median age of 43, three years above the national figure, and a senior share that rose 9.7 points over the decade, Fadden reads as a well-established, high-income suburb growing older. University qualifications reach 53.2%, which is 23.1 points above national, and Public Administration alone accounts for 38.9% of the local workforce, reflecting the suburb's proximity to Canberra's public service core.
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
5
Median House
$781K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $781,000 sits in the upper range for ACT suburbs, and with 96.8% of dwellings being separate houses, buyers are almost certainly purchasing a detached family home. Bedroom distribution skews large: 79.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 19.5% have 3, so the stock suits families rather than downsizers or singles. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold even at the high $3,302 household income. Outright owners at 45.3% outnumber mortgage holders at 48.1%, a sign that many long-term residents have paid off their loans. The 6.7% renter share is among the lowest compared to broader ACT averages, reinforcing this as an ownership suburb.
For Buyers
The median house price of $781,000 sits in the upper range for ACT suburbs, and with 96.8% of dwellings being separate houses, buyers are almost certainly purchasing a detached family home. Bedroom distribution skews large: 79.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 19.5% have 3, so the stock suits families rather than downsizers or singles. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold even at the high $3,302 household income. Outright owners at 45.3% outnumber mortgage holders at 48.1%, a sign that many long-term residents have paid off their loans. The 6.7% renter share is among the lowest compared to broader ACT averages, reinforcing this as an ownership suburb.
For Investors
Fadden's investment profile is cautious rather than speculative. Renter share of 6.7% is low, which narrows the tenant pool, though weekly rent of $620 against a $781,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, acceptable by ACT standards. The vacancy rate of 5.0% warrants monitoring. Net internal migration averages minus 26 residents a year while overseas arrivals add 16, leaving a net outflow that partly explains the 2.4% population decline over 10 years. Development activity is minimal at 5 applications in the past 12 months, all alterations or amendments rather than new dwellings, so supply pressure is not a factor. The population forecast projects a further decline to around 2,860 by 2031 from the current 3,006, which limits rental demand growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
23
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+400.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Fadden iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Fadden Primary School
K-6 · 229 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national average and the trajectory is firmly aging: the senior share climbed 9.7 points while the working-age share fell 6.6 points over the decade. English ancestry leads at 1,136 residents, followed by Irish at 404 and Scottish at 369, giving the suburb an Anglo-Celtic orientation. Overseas-born residents account for 23.8%, which is 2.2 points above national. University qualifications at 53.2% are 23.1 points above the national figure, one of the highest rates compared to Australian suburbs broadly. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, consistent with the large-home, family-with-children profile: couples with children account for 1,156 of 2,699 total families. The volunteering rate of 22.7% is notably high, above typical suburban levels.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.8%
Houses
1.8%
Townhouse
1.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Fadden's housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.8%, with apartments at just 1.3% and semi-detached at 1.8%, a uniformity that sets it apart compared to more mixed ACT suburbs. Large homes dominate: 79.3% have 4 or more bedrooms, the highest tier. Tenure splits between outright owners at 45.3% and mortgage holders at 48.1%, while renters make up just 6.7%. The high outright ownership rate reflects the aging, long-established resident base rather than recent turnover. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,383 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.7%, and rent-to-income sits at 18.8%, both comfortably below stress thresholds. Resident stability is high: 84.9% stayed in the suburb between census periods, against a turnover rate of only 15.1%.
Mortgage / mo
$2,383
Rent / wk
$620
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
26.5%
Couples, no children
2,699
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public Administration dominates Fadden's employment base at 38.9% (478 workers), far above the national average, which reflects the suburb's position within the ACT's public sector catchment. Healthcare follows at 13.4%, Professional and Technical Services at 12.9% and Education at 12.0%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 518 workers and Managers at 366, together accounting for the majority of the employed workforce. The unemployment rate of 3.1% is low, and the full-time employment rate of 68.1% is high. Fadden scores decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes: IRSD, IRSAD, IEO and IER, the highest advantage tier nationally, reflecting strong incomes, high qualifications and robust economic resources across the resident population. Real income grew 9.0% over the decade.
Unemployment
1.0%
Labour Force
1,651
Unemployed
17
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.1%
Part-time
28.8%
Participation
64.2%
Employed
1,510
Occupations
Top Industries
University
53.2%
Postgraduate
19.0%
Born Overseas
23.8%
Dwellings
1,038
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high in Fadden: 89.8% of residents drive to work, which is above the national average, while only 2.9% use public transport and 1.0% walk or cycle. This reflects the suburb's low-density, residential character and distance from Canberra's main activity centres. Fadden scores decile 10 on IRSAD, the top tier nationally, meaning very few residents face socioeconomic disadvantage. Only 4.2% of residents need daily assistance, and housing stress is absent on both rent and mortgage measures. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby institutions, a common pattern in smaller ACT suburbs. The combination of high incomes, low crime indicators implied by decile 10 SEIFA scores, and low-density housing makes Fadden one of the more livable residential environments in the ACT.
Drive
89.8%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.46%/yr
(-14 people/yr)
EstablishedFadden's population has been essentially flat, moving from 3,002 in 2023 to 3,014 in 2025 with minor year-to-year variation, but the long-run trend is negative at minus 0.46% annually, equivalent to a loss of around 14 residents per year. Over 10 years, the suburb recorded a 2.4% population decline. Medium forecasts project the population falling to approximately 2,860 by 2031 as the aging trajectory continues. The gentrification score of 11 and a classification of not gentrifying are consistent with a suburb already sitting at decile 10 on all SEIFA measures with little room to climb further. Affordability improved from 47.4% in 2011 to 43.8% in 2021 even as the suburb maintained top-decile income rankings, indicating that incomes rose faster than housing costs over the period.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+16
Net Internal / yr
-26
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
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 ranks in decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, the highest national advantage tier, with household income in the 98.6th percentile. University qualifications reach 53.2%, which is 23.1 points above the national figure. Housing stress is low, with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.7% and a rent-to-income ratio of 18.8%.
What is the median house price in Fadden?
The median house price is $781,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $620 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $2,383. With household income at the 98.6th percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio is a comfortable 16.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Fadden?
No schools are recorded inside the Fadden boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring ACT suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 53.2% holding university qualifications, which is 23.1 points above the national average.
Is Fadden safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Fadden in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, Fadden scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest national tier. Only 4.2% of its 3,006 residents need daily assistance, and socioeconomic conditions are among the strongest nationally.
Is Fadden good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $620 against a $781,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, reasonable by ACT standards, but the 6.7% renter share is low. A 5.0% vacancy rate and population forecast declining to around 2,860 by 2031 from 3,006 today mean rental demand growth is limited. The investment case rests on capital stability rather than yield or volume.
How is Fadden's population changing?
Fadden's population sits at 3,006 in 2025, down 2.4% over 10 years, with an annual trend of minus 0.46% or about 14 residents per year. Net internal migration averages minus 26 a year while overseas arrivals add 16. Medium forecasts project population falling to around 2,860 by 2031 as the suburb ages.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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