Marulan
With 99.4% of dwellings being separate houses spread across 190 square kilometres, Marulan is one of NSW's most land-intensive small communities, home to just 1,428 residents. The median house price of $360,750 sits well below the NSW state median, attracting buyers who find coastal and metro markets out of reach. A 14% vacancy rate is high for a settlement this size, pointing to seasonal or investment-held stock rather than steady occupier demand. Owner-occupation (outright plus mortgaged) reaches 78.2%, compared to the national average of around 66%, making this a predominantly owner-occupier community. Construction is the leading employment sector at 13.4%, consistent with a mortgage-belt outer suburb where tradespersons commute to nearby growth corridors.
Population
1,428
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,484/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
75
Median House
$361K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At a median house price of $360,750, Marulan costs considerably less than regional NSW centres, making it accessible for buyers priced out of larger markets. Prices rose from $317,500 in 2024 to $390,000 in 2025, a 22.8% gain in one year, though the dataset covers just two data points so this should be read as indicative rather than a sustained trend. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.3%, just above the standard stress threshold relative to household income. Almost all homes are separate houses at 99.4%, with 51.8% having 4 or more bedrooms, a higher proportion of larger homes than most metropolitan areas. First-home buyers and families seeking space will find Marulan's stock profile well-suited, though the 14% vacancy rate signals that resale liquidity can be slower than in denser markets.
For Buyers
At a median house price of $360,750, Marulan costs considerably less than regional NSW centres, making it accessible for buyers priced out of larger markets. Prices rose from $317,500 in 2024 to $390,000 in 2025, a 22.8% gain in one year, though the dataset covers just two data points so this should be read as indicative rather than a sustained trend. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.3%, just above the standard stress threshold relative to household income. Almost all homes are separate houses at 99.4%, with 51.8% having 4 or more bedrooms, a higher proportion of larger homes than most metropolitan areas. First-home buyers and families seeking space will find Marulan's stock profile well-suited, though the 14% vacancy rate signals that resale liquidity can be slower than in denser markets.
For Investors
The 14% vacancy rate is the central challenge for investors in Marulan, well above the 3% threshold considered a balanced rental market. Weekly rent of $380 against a $360,750 median implies a gross yield around 5.5%, attractive on paper, but high vacancy erodes effective returns significantly. Development activity is active at 72 applications lodged in the past 12 months, including new dwelling houses and a service station, indicating that supply is expanding even as demand remains thin. The renter share is 21.8%, lower than the national average, reflecting the owner-occupier character of the area. Price growth of 22.8% from 2024 to 2025 is encouraging, though driven by a small transaction volume; investors should treat this as a high-yield, higher-risk regional play rather than a liquid capital-growth market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
321
Last 12 Months
75
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+44.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Marulan iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Marulan Public School
K-6 · 140 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, younger than many regional towns of similar size. Overseas-born residents account for only 11.8% of the population, which is 9.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born community. English ancestry leads at 534 residents, followed by Irish (131) and Scottish (105), a strongly Anglo-Celtic profile. University qualifications reach 15.7%, which is 14.4 points below the national rate, consistent with the blue-collar occupational base led by machinery operators and labourers. Average household size of 2.6 is marginally above the national figure of 2.5. Couples with children (466 families) outnumber couples without children (297), reinforcing the younger family demographic. Volunteering reaches 13.7% of the population, a moderate rate reflecting community engagement in a small rural setting.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.4%
Houses
0.6%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupiers dominate Marulan, with 35.1% owning outright and 43.1% carrying a mortgage, together reaching 78.2%, above the national owner-occupier rate. Renters comprise 21.8%, below the national average. The detached house share is 99.4%, with semi-detached dwellings making up the remaining 0.6% and no apartments recorded. Bedroom distribution skews large: 51.8% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 35.9% have 3 bedrooms, giving buyers above-average space relative to urban markets. The median house price moved from $317,500 in 2024 to $390,000 in 2025, a 22.8% rise over one year. Rent-to-income sits at 25.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, while mortgage-to-income at 30.3% just breaches it, suggesting purchase affordability is tighter than renting in this market.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$739
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.0%
Unoccupied
79
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.3% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.9%
Couples, no children
1,066
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction is the dominant industry at 13.4% of workers (48 people), followed by Healthcare at 9.5% (34), Education at 8.6% (31), Manufacturing at 8.4% (30) and Retail at 8.4% (30). The occupational mix is trade-skewed: Machinery and Drivers lead with 95 workers, then Labourers (74), Clerical and Admin (72), Managers (71) and Sales (58). Full-time employment accounts for 67.1% of employed residents, above the national full-time rate. The unemployment rate is 5.4%, modestly above the national average, which is expected for a small regional town with limited local employment depth. Household weekly income averages $1,484, placing Marulan in the 46.3rd income percentile nationally, below the median household, consistent with a blue-collar, trades-oriented workforce. Participation at 52.8% reflects a working-age population with a sizeable cohort not in the labour force.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.1%
Part-time
27.5%
Participation
52.8%
Employed
557
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.7%
Postgraduate
2.6%
Born Overseas
11.8%
Dwellings
479
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high at 90.6% of commuters driving, above the national average, because public transport options in rural NSW are limited and the suburb spans 190 square kilometres. Walking and cycling account for 2.4% of commuters. No schools are recorded within the Marulan boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby towns for schooling. The need-for-assistance rate is 4.4% (56 residents), broadly in line with national levels for a suburb with a median age of 38. Mortgage stress affects some households, with the mortgage-to-income ratio at 30.3%, just above the stress threshold. Rent stress is absent, with rent-to-income at 25.6%, lower than many NSW regional towns. The construction-led local economy and large-lot housing stock give the area a practical, working-family character rather than an amenity-driven lifestyle destination.
Drive
90.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Marulan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marulan a good suburb to live in?
Marulan suits buyers and families seeking large homes at affordable prices, with a median house price of $360,750, well below the NSW median. Owner-occupiers make up 78.2% of households. The trade-offs are high car dependence at 90.6% and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary, requiring travel to nearby towns.
What is the median house price in Marulan?
The median house price is $360,750, which rose from $317,500 in 2024 to $390,000 in 2025, a 22.8% gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, and weekly rent averages $380. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.3% is just above the standard 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Marulan?
No schools are recorded within the Marulan boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby towns along the Hume Highway corridor. University qualifications in Marulan reach 15.7%, which is 14.4 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the trade-oriented workforce base.
Is Marulan safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Marulan in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has a 78.2% owner-occupier rate and a stable residential base with 75.2% of residents having lived there for 5 or more years, both factors generally associated with lower crime rates in small regional communities.
Is Marulan good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $380 against a $360,750 median implies a gross yield around 5.5%, higher than most capital city markets. However, the 14% vacancy rate signals thin rental demand for a 1,428-person town. Price growth reached 22.8% from 2024 to 2025, but small sample sizes mean investors should treat this as a high-risk, higher-yield regional play.
How is Marulan's population changing?
Marulan's population of 1,428 spans a 190 square kilometre area, giving a low density of 7.5 people per km2. Residential turnover shows 24.8% of residents moved in the past 5 years while 75.2% stayed, indicating a stable core. The suburb's position on the Sydney to Canberra corridor provides modest long-term growth support.
How much development is happening in Marulan?
There were 72 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, a significant number relative to the population of 1,428. Recent applications include new dwelling houses, a retail premises and a service station, indicating mixed residential and commercial activity. This level of development activity is higher than many comparable small NSW towns.
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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