NSW 2259 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Mardi

At a median house price of $912,500 on a 9.5 km2 footprint 40 km north of Sydney, Mardi sits firmly in the mortgage-belt tier: 40.7% of dwellings carry a mortgage and households earn at the 73.4th percentile nationally. The suburb's 3,598 residents are younger than the national median at 37 versus the national 40, and the housing stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 78% separate houses and 58.4% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms. A 77.2% stay rate over five years indicates strong residential stability, unusual for a suburb where only 29.2% own outright.

Mardi urban fabric map

Population

3,598

Median Age

37.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,955/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

18

Median House

$912K

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

9.5 km²· 378.9 people/km²· Family income $2,157/wk

The $912,500 median house price rose 3.3% from $900,000 in 2024 to $930,000 in 2025, a modest but positive trajectory. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,913, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is heavily oriented toward families: 78% of dwellings are separate houses, and 58.4% have 4 or more bedrooms, higher than most comparable NSW coastal-fringe suburbs. Semi-detached homes account for 20.1%, while apartments are just 1.9%, so buyers seeking a freestanding family home will find deep supply. Outright owners at 29.2% are outnumbered by mortgage holders at 40.7%, a mortgage-belt signal that most of the base is still actively servicing debt.

For Buyers

The $912,500 median house price rose 3.3% from $900,000 in 2024 to $930,000 in 2025, a modest but positive trajectory. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,913, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is heavily oriented toward families: 78% of dwellings are separate houses, and 58.4% have 4 or more bedrooms, higher than most comparable NSW coastal-fringe suburbs. Semi-detached homes account for 20.1%, while apartments are just 1.9%, so buyers seeking a freestanding family home will find deep supply. Outright owners at 29.2% are outnumbered by mortgage holders at 40.7%, a mortgage-belt signal that most of the base is still actively servicing debt.

For Investors

Renters make up 30.1% of Mardi households, providing a steady tenant base, and weekly rent averages $440. The vacancy rate of 3.7% is slightly elevated compared to typical investment-grade benchmarks of under 3%, signalling modest softness in rental demand. Development activity logged 17 applications in the past 12 months, mostly structural works and subdivision rather than new dwelling supply. Rent-to-income sits at 22.5%, below the stress threshold, which means tenants are financially stable. The price growth of 3.3% over the most recent period is positive but below higher-growth corridors, making capital appreciation the medium-term thesis rather than yield, where $440 rent against a $912,500 median implies a gross yield near 2.5%.

Development Activity

Total DAs

75

Last 12 Months

18

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+100.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
8
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
5
Swimming Pool / Spa
4
Garage / Carport / Shed
2
Deck / Pergola / Patio
2
New Dwelling
2
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
1
Commercial / Industrial
1

Demographics

The median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure, consistent with a family-formation suburb drawing younger buyers. The overseas-born share at 20.5% is 1.1 points below the national average, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,486), Irish (390) and Scottish (369). Non-English languages are spoken by small numbers, with Mandarin, Korean, Cantonese, Hindi and Punjabi each recorded at 11 to 15 speakers, reflecting a predominantly English-speaking community. University qualifications reach 28.8%, 1.3 points below the national average. Average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above national, in line with the large family-oriented housing stock and the high share of couples with children at 1,304 families.

Age Distribution

0-14
21.0%
15-24
14.4%
25-44
24.7%
45-64
25.4%
65+
14.6%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.5%
2 bed
3.5%
3 bed
36.6%
4+ bed
58.4%

Dwelling Structure

78.0%

Houses

20.1%

Townhouse

1.9%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 29.2% Mortgage 40.7% Rent 30.1%

The tenure mix leans heavily toward mortgage holders: 40.7% carry a mortgage, 29.2% own outright, and 30.1% rent, a profile more leveraged than the national average. Separate houses dominate at 78%, with semi-detached at 20.1% and apartments at just 1.9%. Bedrooms skew large, with 58.4% of dwellings having 4 or more rooms, above the national norm, and only 5% having 2 or fewer. The median price tracked from $900,000 in 2024 to $930,000 in 2025, a 3.3% rise, and the current median sits at $912,500. Mortgage repayments of $1,913 per month against a household income at the 73.4th percentile keeps mortgage stress low, and neither rent nor mortgage stress flags are triggered in the data.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,913

Rent / wk

$440

HH Size

2.8

Personal Income / wk

$790

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

3.7%

Unoccupied

47

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

22.5%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

22.6%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
15
Korean
12
Canton
11
Hindi
11
Punjabi
11

Ancestry

English
1,486
Irish
390
Scottish
369
Other
289
Ancestry NS
173
German
137

Household Composition

20.1%

Couples, no children

3,044

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the dominant industry, employing 20.3% of local workers (231 residents), followed by Education at 10.4% (119) and Construction at 9.6% (110). Public Admin and Professional/Tech each contribute around 8-9% of employment. By occupation, Professionals (334) lead, followed by Clerical/Admin (250), Community/Personal service (216), Managers (204) and Sales (169). The full-time employment rate is 63.9% and the unemployment rate sits at 4.6%, slightly above low-risk benchmarks. Weekly personal income averages $790 and household income $1,955, placing Mardi at the 73.4th percentile nationally. Participation at 56.0% is moderate, with 904 residents not in the labour force, likely reflecting the age structure and parenting cohort.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

63.9%

Part-time

31.5%

Participation

56.0%

Employed

1,519

Occupations

Professionals 334
Clerical/Admin 250
Community/Personal 216
Managers 204
Sales 169
Labourers 166
Machinery/Drivers 128

Top Industries

Healthcare 20.3%
Education 10.4%
Construction 9.6%
Public Admin 8.9%
Professional/Tech 8.5%

University

28.8%

Postgraduate

5.3%

Born Overseas

20.5%

Dwellings

1,229

Transport to Work

Car dependency is high, with 89.1% of residents driving to work and only 2.4% using public transport, lower than the state average, which reflects Mardi's position as a lower-density coastal-fringe suburb. Walking or cycling accounts for 2.9% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in adjoining areas such as Tumbi Umbi and Wyong. Crime data is not available for Mardi at the suburb level. Community engagement is moderate, with 12.2% of residents volunteering, and 6.6% (226 people) require daily assistance, a share consistent with the age profile. Rent-to-income at 22.5% and mortgage-to-income at 22.6% both sit well below stress thresholds, giving residents of all tenure types financial headroom.

Drive

89.1%

Public Transport

2.4%

Walk / Cycle

2.9%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Mardi compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 15%
Household Income
Top 27%
Rent Level
Top 10%
Apartments
Bottom 34%
Renters
Top 28%
Uni Educated
Top 37%
Public Transport
Bottom 39%
Born Overseas
Top 29%
Density
Top 21%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mardi a good suburb to live in?

Mardi suits families prioritising space and affordability relative to Sydney. Household income sits at the 73.4th percentile nationally, mortgage stress is below the threshold at 22.6% of income, and 77.2% of residents stayed over five years, indicating broad satisfaction. The trade-off is high car dependency, with 89.1% commuting by car, and limited public transport at 2.4%.

What is the median house price in Mardi?

The median house price is $912,500. Prices rose from $900,000 in 2024 to $930,000 in 2025, a 3.3% gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,913, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6% is below the 30% stress threshold, making Mardi relatively accessible for its price point.

What schools are in Mardi?

No schools are recorded inside the Mardi suburb boundary in this dataset. Residents rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs including Tumbi Umbi and the broader Wyong area. The local university qualification rate is 28.8%, close to the national average, reflecting a broad mix of educational backgrounds.

Is Mardi safe?

Suburb-level crime statistics are not available for Mardi in this dataset. As context, housing stress is low, with both rent-to-income at 22.5% and mortgage-to-income at 22.6% below stress thresholds. Residential stability is high, with 77.2% of residents remaining in place over 5 years, typically associated with lower community disruption.

Is Mardi good for property investment?

Renters account for 30.1% of households with weekly rent at $440, implying a gross yield near 2.5% against the $912,500 median. The vacancy rate of 3.7% is slightly above the sub-3% benchmark preferred by investors. Price growth of 3.3% over 2024 to 2025 is positive, so the investment case depends on capital growth over time rather than yield.

How is Mardi's population changing?

Mardi has 3,598 residents with a median age of 37, which is 3 years below the national figure, pointing to a younger, family-oriented inflow. The turnover rate is 22.8% with 77.2% of residents staying, indicating stable but not stagnant population dynamics. Development applications of 17 in 12 months suggest modest structural growth rather 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 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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