Marsden
A 28-year median age makes Marsden much younger than the national norm by 12.0 years, while 54.0% of homes are rented and 79.4% are separate houses. That mix gives it a younger, renter-majority profile compared with nearby Loganlea and Crestmead, with more family-scale housing than an apartment market. Overseas-born residents are 39.4%, which is 17.8 percentage points above national, and forecast growth is high at 6.16% or 1,876 people a year because internal migration is the main driver.
Population
14,795
Median Age
28.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,409/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
207
Median House
$426K
Estimated from rent (2025)
For homebuyers, Marsden is mainly a detached and family-sized market: 79.4% of dwellings are separate houses, 20.4% are semi-detached and only 0.2% are apartments. Bedroom supply supports larger households, with 48.6% 3-bedroom homes and 42.3% at 4 or more bedrooms. No current median house price is available, so affordability is clearer through costs: mortgage payments take 23.9% of income, lower than rent at 24.8%, while household income sits at the 40.9 percentile nationally.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Marsden is mainly a detached and family-sized market: 79.4% of dwellings are separate houses, 20.4% are semi-detached and only 0.2% are apartments. Bedroom supply supports larger households, with 48.6% 3-bedroom homes and 42.3% at 4 or more bedrooms. No current median house price is available, so affordability is clearer through costs: mortgage payments take 23.9% of income, lower than rent at 24.8%, while household income sits at the 40.9 percentile nationally.
For Investors
Marsden has a renter-heavy base, with 54.0% of households renting, higher than mortgage households at 32.4% and outright owners at 13.5%. Weekly rent is $350 and vacancy is 5.7%, so investors need to compare achievable rent carefully against newer supply. Development is active, with 81 applications in 12 months, because growth and subdivision activity can add competition. Demand is supported by average net internal migration of 3,071 people a year, well above overseas migration at 209.
Development Activity
Total DAs
444
Last 12 Months
207
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+187.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Marsden iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Marsden State School
Prep-6 · 1411 students
Burrowes State School
Prep-6 · 890 students
Demographics
Marsden skews young and multicultural, with a median age of 28, which is 12.0 years below the national figure, and an average household size of 3.3, or 0.8 above national. Overseas-born residents account for 39.4%, 17.8 percentage points above national, while university attainment is 13.9%, 16.2 points below national. English ancestry is recorded for 3,809 people, Samoan for 1,112 and Maori for 838, with Christianity at 6,045 and Islam at 1,541.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.4%
Houses
20.4%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Marsden's housing is dominated by family stock rather than density, with separate houses at 79.4% and apartments at just 0.2%. Renting is the largest tenure at 54.0%, compared with 32.4% under mortgage and 13.5% owned outright, which points to a more mobile household base. The current median house price is not available, but weekly rent of $350 and mortgage payments of $1,457 a month sit below severe stress levels because rent-to-income is 24.8% and mortgage-to-income is 23.9%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,457
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
3.3
Personal Income / wk
$628
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.7%
Unoccupied
248
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
12.6%
Couples, no children
11,951
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the biggest employing industry at 23.3% or 621 workers, more than construction at 10.1%, manufacturing at 9.1%, education at 8.6% and retail at 8.4%. The occupation mix leans practical and service-based, with 1,022 labourers and 921 machinery or driver roles, compared with 563 clerical/admin workers. Unemployment is 11.3% and participation is 51.1%. SEIFA is low: IEO decile 1, IER decile 2, IRSD decile 1 and IRSAD decile 1, with resources slightly higher than education and occupation.
Unemployment
1.8%
Labour Force
16,721
Unemployed
309
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.9%
Part-time
24.8%
Participation
51.1%
Employed
4,841
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.9%
Postgraduate
3.1%
Born Overseas
39.4%
Dwellings
4,132
Transport to Work
Marsden is car-oriented, with 86.3% of commuters driving compared with 2.7% using public transport and 1.3% walking or cycling, so daily convenience depends heavily on road access. The school base is primary-focused: 2 government schools, led by Marsden State School with ICSEA 929 and 1,411 enrolments, and Burrowes State School with ICSEA 925 and 890 enrolments, giving an ICSEA range of 925 to 929. Crime rate per 1,000 is not available, while IRSAD decile 1 signals below-average socio-economic advantage.
Drive
86.3%
Public Transport
2.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+6.16%/yr
(+1,876 people/yr)
High GrowthMarsden is classified as high growth, with forecast annual growth of 6.16% or 1,876 people. Migration is led by internal movement, averaging 3,071 net internal arrivals a year compared with 209 net overseas arrivals, which explains why housing and services face local pressure. The medium forecast path reaches 36,413 people by 2031. Shift indicators describe a Rejuvenating trajectory, with young share up 13.6 points, senior share down 10.7 points, rent growth of 185.0% and a gentrification stage of Not gentrifying with score 0.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+209
Net Internal / yr
+3,071
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Marsden compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marsden a good suburb to live in?
Marsden can suit households wanting lower-density family housing, with 79.4% separate houses and an average household size of 3.3. It is younger than national norms, with a median age of 28, but daily life is car-dependent because 86.3% of commuters drive.
What is the median house price in Marsden?
A current median house price is not available for Marsden. The housing profile is still useful: 79.4% of dwellings are separate houses, 20.4% are semi-detached, weekly rent is $350 and mortgage costs equal 23.9% of income.
What schools are in Marsden?
Marsden has 2 local government primary schools. Marsden State School has ICSEA 929 and 1,411 enrolments, while Burrowes State School has ICSEA 925 and 890 enrolments, so local schooling is primary-focused.
Is Marsden safe?
A crime rate per 1,000 residents is not available, so safety should be checked at street level before choosing a home. For context, Marsden has 14,795 residents, 2 local schools and 86.3% of commuters driving, which shapes activity around roads and school peaks.
Is Marsden good for property investment?
Marsden has investor appeal through rental depth, with 54.0% of households renting and weekly rent at $350. Vacancy is 5.7%, so returns need careful checking, while 81 development applications in 12 months point to new supply and active change.
How is Marsden's population changing?
Marsden is on a high-growth path, forecast to add 1,876 people a year at 6.16% annual growth. Internal migration is the main driver, averaging 3,071 net internal arrivals a year, and the medium forecast reaches 36,413 residents by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Marsden?
Marsden has a strong overseas-born presence at 39.4%, which is 17.8 percentage points above national. Common non-English languages include Samoan with 314 speakers, Arabic with 168, Khmer with 122, Urdu with 104 and Hindi with 76.
Is there much development in Marsden?
Yes. Marsden recorded 81 development applications in the past 12 months, including building work and plan sealing activity. That level is higher than a quiet established market and fits the suburb's 6.16% annual growth forecast.
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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