Marion
A $1,080,000 median house price alongside a household income in the 35th percentile nationally tells you something about Marion: long-term owners dominate, and purchase affordability for newcomers is stretched well beyond the local wage base. The suburb spans just 2.0 km2 yet houses 4,101 people at a density of 2,046 per km2, with 38.3% owning outright, the highest tenure segment. University qualifications reach 42.4%, which is 12.3 percentage points above the national figure, and the median age of 43 is 3 years above national. Healthcare and Education together employ more than 40% of Marion's working residents, anchoring the economy in public-sector services.
Population
4,101
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,366/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
48
Median House
$1.1M
Median 1Q 2026
Marion's $1,080,000 median house price as of 1Q 2026 has eased 7.0% from $1,161,500 a year earlier. The dwelling mix is predominantly separate houses at 68.0%, with semi-detached at 30.8% and apartments just 1.2%. Three-bedroom homes account for 56.9% of stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,712 and mortgage-to-income at 28.9% sits just below the 30% stress threshold, though household income ranks at the 35th percentile nationally, so the price-to-income gap is real. Outright owners at 38.3% outnumber mortgage holders at 33.7%, indicating a long-tenure resident base rather than active churn.
For Buyers
Marion's $1,080,000 median house price as of 1Q 2026 has eased 7.0% from $1,161,500 a year earlier. The dwelling mix is predominantly separate houses at 68.0%, with semi-detached at 30.8% and apartments just 1.2%. Three-bedroom homes account for 56.9% of stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,712 and mortgage-to-income at 28.9% sits just below the 30% stress threshold, though household income ranks at the 35th percentile nationally, so the price-to-income gap is real. Outright owners at 38.3% outnumber mortgage holders at 33.7%, indicating a long-tenure resident base rather than active churn.
For Investors
The rental market in Marion is relatively thin: only 28.0% of dwellings are rented, below the national average, and weekly rent sits at $355. A vacancy rate of 5.8% is higher than the SA median, signalling some softness in tenant demand. Against a $1,080,000 median, the $355 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 1.7%, low by suburban standards. Development activity is moderate at 45 applications in the past 12 months, dominated by ancillary accommodation, pool additions and internal alterations rather than new supply. The 7.0% price decline from 1Q 2025 to 1Q 2026 suggests the market is still correcting from its 2025 peak, so entry timing matters more than it did in prior years.
Development Activity
Total DAs
262
Last 12 Months
48
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+9.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Marion iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Westminster School
R-12 · 1401 students
Sunrise Christian School Marion
R-9 · 320 students
Marion Primary School
R-6 · 149 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, and 32.2% of families are couples without children, shaping a settled, older household profile. University qualifications at 42.4% run 12.3 percentage points above national, an education premium that coexists with household incomes at the 35th percentile nationally. Overseas-born residents make up 29.4%, which is 7.8 percentage points above national, with Nepali (67 speakers) and Mandarin (63) the top non-English languages. English ancestry leads at 1,553 residents. The volunteering rate is 17.8% and 76.8% stayed at the same address over the prior year.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
68.0%
Houses
30.8%
Townhouse
1.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Marion is weighted toward ownership: 38.3% own outright, 33.7% carry a mortgage, and 28.0% rent, a lower renter share than the national baseline. The price peak of $1,161,500 in 1Q 2025 has pulled back 7.0% to $1,080,000 in 1Q 2026, the only two data points available, so trend direction is clearly downward over this period. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 56.9% of dwellings, with two-bedroom at 19.2% and four-plus at 19.0%. Rent-to-income at 26.0% stays below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 28.9% is also just under, though both ratios are meaningful for a suburb where household incomes rank in the lower third nationally at the 35th percentile.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,712
Rent / wk
$355
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$659
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.8%
Unoccupied
102
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.2%
Couples, no children
2,859
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare accounts for 27.5% of employed residents (352 workers), the dominant industry because Marion's older median age of 43 generates sustained local demand and proximity to SA health facilities. Education at 12.7% and Public Administration at 8.5% follow, making public-sector services collectively dominant. By occupation, Professionals lead at 491 and Community/Personal workers at 305. The unemployment rate is 5.1% and the full-time rate is 57.3%. Participation at 49.4% is constrained by 1,561 residents not in the labour force, consistent with a suburb where the median age exceeds the national figure by 3 years.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.3%
Part-time
37.6%
Participation
49.4%
Employed
1,681
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.4%
Postgraduate
10.8%
Born Overseas
29.4%
Dwellings
1,636
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high at 79.6% driving to work, with only 10.1% using public transport and 4.6% walking or cycling, typical of suburban Adelaide compared to inner-city patterns. Crime sits at 69.5 incidents per 1,000 residents; no schools are recorded inside the 2.0 km2 boundary, so families depend on neighbouring suburbs. Housing stress indicators are manageable: rent-to-income at 26.0% and mortgage-to-income at 28.9% both sit below the 30% stress threshold. At 9.2%, the share of residents needing daily assistance is above what the income rank of 35th percentile nationally would predict.
Drive
79.6%
Public Transport
10.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
285
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
69.5
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Marion compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marion a good suburb to live in?
Marion suits established residents with long ownership tenures: 38.3% own outright and 76.8% stayed at the same address over the prior year. University qualifications reach 42.4%, which is 12.3 percentage points above national. Housing stress indicators are manageable, with rent-to-income at 26.0% and mortgage-to-income at 28.9%, both below the 30% stress threshold.
What is the median house price in Marion?
The median house price is $1,080,000 as of 1Q 2026, down 7.0% from $1,161,500 in 1Q 2025. Weekly rent sits at $355 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,712. Household incomes rank at the 35th percentile nationally, making the price-to-income ratio elevated for local buyers.
What schools are in Marion?
No schools are recorded inside Marion's 2.0 km2 boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring suburbs. Marion's resident population has a high education rate, with 42.4% holding university qualifications, which is 12.3 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Marion safe?
Marion records 69.5 crime incidents per 1,000 residents based on the latest available data. For context, 9.2% of the suburb's 4,101 residents require daily assistance, and the resident base is largely stable, with 76.8% living at the same address over the prior year. Detailed breakdown by crime category is not available in this dataset.
Is Marion good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent of $355 against a $1,080,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.7%, which is low. The vacancy rate of 5.8% is elevated compared to tighter SA markets. Prices declined 7.0% from 1Q 2025 to 1Q 2026, indicating the market is correcting from its recent peak. The 28.0% renter share is below national average.
How is Marion's population changing?
Marion's population of 4,101 is settled and low-turnover: 76.8% of residents stayed at the same address in the prior year, compared to the national average. The suburb spans 2.0 km2 at a density of 2,046 per km2 and has a median age of 43, which is 3 years above the national figure, suggesting limited organic growth from young family formation.
How much development is happening in Marion?
There were 45 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including ancillary accommodation, pool additions and internal alterations. This level of activity is moderate for a 2.0 km2 suburb and reflects renovation demand from existing owners rather than significant new supply. Outright owners at 38.3% dominate tenure, consistent with a renovate-rather-than-sell trend.
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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