Harden
At a median house price of $375,000, Harden sits well below the NSW state median, making it one of the more affordable regional centres in the Hilltops local government area. The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure, which shapes almost every other number here: low household income at the 11.9th percentile nationally, a participation rate of just 42.5%, and 49.2% of homes owned outright. Despite the modest incomes, mortgage and rent stress are both absent, with mortgage repayments consuming 21.6% of income and rent just 22.6%. The town has 23 development applications in the past 12 months, signalling ongoing activity for its 1,900 residents.
Population
1,900
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$973/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
23
Median House
$375K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $375,000 places Harden well below the NSW average, and monthly mortgage repayments of around $910 consume only 21.6% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold. Prices eased from $375,000 in 2024 to $370,000 in 2025, a 1.3% decline. Separate houses dominate at 93.6% of stock, with 50.7% three-bedroom and 25.8% with four or more bedrooms. Outright ownership at 49.2% is notably high compared to national norms, reflecting a long-settled resident base. Buyers seeking affordable, low-debt, house-dominated entry well below comparable regional NSW towns will find Harden structurally suited.
For Buyers
The median house price of $375,000 places Harden well below the NSW average, and monthly mortgage repayments of around $910 consume only 21.6% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold. Prices eased from $375,000 in 2024 to $370,000 in 2025, a 1.3% decline. Separate houses dominate at 93.6% of stock, with 50.7% three-bedroom and 25.8% with four or more bedrooms. Outright ownership at 49.2% is notably high compared to national norms, reflecting a long-settled resident base. Buyers seeking affordable, low-debt, house-dominated entry well below comparable regional NSW towns will find Harden structurally suited.
For Investors
The rental market in Harden is thin. Only 19.4% of dwellings are rented, and weekly rent of $220 against a $375,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.0%, which is higher than many metro suburbs. However, the 15.9% vacancy rate is elevated, signalling limited tenant demand because the older, owner-occupier resident base keeps renter numbers low. Price CAGR is negative at -1.3% over the past year, so capital growth expectations should be conservative. Development activity of 23 applications in 12 months shows modest confidence. Household income at the 11.9th percentile nationally constrains both rent growth and purchasing power.
Development Activity
Total DAs
137
Last 12 Months
23
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-4.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Harden iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Murrumburrah High School
7-12 · 148 students
Demographics
The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure, placing Harden among older regional NSW communities. Only 8.5% of residents were born overseas, well below the national rate of around 29%. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (843), Irish (242), and Scottish (155). University qualifications at 15.8% are 14.3 points below national, consistent with an economy driven by healthcare, trades, and agriculture rather than knowledge industries. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national, reflecting the older couples-without-children profile, where 36.9% of families have no dependent children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.6%
Houses
2.3%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Harden's housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 93.6%, well above the national average, with semi-detached at 2.3% and apartments at just 1.6%. Three-bedroom homes account for 50.7% and 4-plus bedroom for 25.8%, meaning larger homes are the norm. Tenure tells a settled story: 49.2% own outright, 31.5% are paying a mortgage, and only 19.4% rent. The median house price moved from $375,000 in 2024 to $370,000 in 2025, a slight 1.3% decline from peak. The vacancy rate of 15.9% is high, suggesting some homes sit empty or are used as holiday or transitional accommodation. Housing stress is absent on both measures, with mortgage costs at 21.6% and rent at 22.6% of respective incomes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$910
Rent / wk
$220
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$550
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.9%
Unoccupied
153
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.9%
Couples, no children
1,366
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 21.3% of local workers, followed by Education (12.6%) and Public Administration (11.6%). Agriculture employs 8.5%, consistent with the Hilltops farming region. By occupation, Community and Personal Services (106 workers) and Labourers (99) top the list, with Professionals at 97. The participation rate of 42.5% is low compared to national norms because the median age of 52 means a large share are retired. Unemployment is 4.8% and the full-time rate is 64.4%. Weekly household income of $973 sits at just the 11.9th percentile nationally, a function of the older, regionally-based workforce rather than structural unemployment.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.4%
Part-time
30.8%
Participation
42.5%
Employed
648
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.8%
Postgraduate
2.1%
Born Overseas
8.5%
Dwellings
810
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 84.2% driving to work, typical of a regional town with minimal public transport: only 0.7% use transit, well below the national average. Walking and cycling accounts for 9.6%, reasonable for a compact 14.2 km2 footprint. The need-for-assistance rate of 8.4% (150 residents out of 1,900) is notable and likely tied to the aging profile at median age 52. Housing costs are low pressure: rent-to-income at 22.6% and mortgage-to-income at 21.6% are both below the 30% stress threshold, meaning residents manage day-to-day affordability better than many NSW markets despite incomes sitting at just the 11.9th percentile nationally.
Drive
84.2%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
9.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Harden compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harden a good suburb to live in?
Harden suits buyers and retirees seeking affordable, low-stress housing. At a median house price of $375,000 and mortgage costs consuming 21.6% of income, financial pressure is lower than in most NSW markets. The median age of 52 reflects a settled community. The main trade-offs are limited employment diversity and a high 15.9% vacancy rate.
What is the median house price in Harden?
The median house price is $375,000 as of 2024, down slightly to $370,000 in 2025, a 1.3% decline. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $910, which is well below the NSW state median. Weekly rent is $220, giving a gross yield near 3.0% for landlords.
What schools are in Harden?
No schools are recorded inside the Harden suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the area access schools across the broader Harden LGA. The suburb's university qualification rate of 15.8% is 14.3 points below the national figure, reflecting regional educational patterns.
Is Harden safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Harden in this dataset. The suburb has a volunteering rate of 20.9% and 85.9% of residents stayed at the same address the previous year, both indicators of a stable and engaged community. Housing stress is absent on both mortgage and rent measures.
Is Harden good for property investment?
Investment fundamentals are mixed. Weekly rent of $220 against a $375,000 median implies around 3.0% gross yield, above many city suburbs, but the 15.9% vacancy rate is high and the price trend is slightly negative at -1.3% over the past year. Household income at the 11.9th percentile nationally limits rent growth prospects.
How is Harden's population changing?
Harden has 1,900 residents with a very stable base: 85.9% did not move in the past year. The median age of 52, which is 12 years above the national figure, suggests natural attrition may gradually reduce the population unless inward migration increases. No significant gentrification or growth pressures are evident.
How much development is happening in Harden?
There were 23 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including a subdivision, a new garage structure, and alterations to a service station. For a town of 1,900 people this represents ongoing, if modest, activity rather than a development boom.
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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