Fadden vs Macarthur

Macarthur is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 43 in Fadden. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Fadden: a median of $1.15 million, against $1.02 million in Macarthur, and rent is higher there too.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Fadden

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Macarthur

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,017,500 vs $1,150,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Macarthur

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($520/wk vs $620/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Fadden

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (49/100 vs 35/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Fadden

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (49/100 vs 35/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Fadden and Macarthur drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Fadden Macarthur
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Fadden Macarthur
Walkability 49 / 35
Fadden — Walkability: 49/100 Macarthur — Walkability: 35/100
Safety 86 / 88
Fadden — Safety: 86/100 Macarthur — Safety: 88/100
Low fire risk 1 / 7
Fadden — Low fire risk: 1/100 Macarthur — Low fire risk: 7/100
Low flood risk 75 / 100
Fadden — Low flood risk: 75/100 Macarthur — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Fadden has more residents (3,006 vs 1,405); Fadden rents higher ($620/wk vs $520/wk).

Fadden Macarthur
Population 3,006
+53% vs other
 1,405
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.9% -1.5%
Median age 43 39
Median household income $171,704/yr
+8% vs other
 $157,924/yr
Median weekly rent $620/wk
+16% vs other
 $520/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fadden Macarthur
0-4 4.9% / 6.3%
Fadden — 0-4: 4.9% Macarthur — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 14.3% / 15.3%
Fadden — 5-14: 14.3% Macarthur — 5-14: 15.3%
15-19 6.1% / 5.3%
Fadden — 15-19: 6.1% Macarthur — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 4.8% / 4.6%
Fadden — 20-24: 4.8% Macarthur — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 7.8% / 11.3%
Fadden — 25-34: 7.8% Macarthur — 25-34: 11.3%
35-44 13.9% / 14.1%
Fadden — 35-44: 13.9% Macarthur — 35-44: 14.1%
45-54 13.4% / 13.1%
Fadden — 45-54: 13.4% Macarthur — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 15.5% / 14.1%
Fadden — 55-64: 15.5% Macarthur — 55-64: 14.1%
65-74 14.0% / 12.7%
Fadden — 65-74: 14.0% Macarthur — 65-74: 12.7%
75-84 4.1% / 2.5%
Fadden — 75-84: 4.1% Macarthur — 75-84: 2.5%
85+ 0.9% / 1.0%
Fadden — 85+: 0.9% Macarthur — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Fadden 65.8% couple families
Fadden — Couple Families: 65.8% Fadden — Lone Person: 19.3% Fadden — One Parent Families: 12.2% Fadden — Group Household: 1.9% Fadden — Other Families: 0.9%
Macarthur 66.1% couple families
Macarthur — Couple Families: 66.1% Macarthur — Lone Person: 19.0% Macarthur — One Parent Families: 14.0% Macarthur — Group Household: 0.9% Macarthur — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fadden 6.7% renting
Fadden — Owned Outright: 45.3% Fadden — Mortgage: 48.1% Fadden — Renting: 6.7%
Macarthur 10.0% renting
Macarthur — Owned Outright: 42.9% Macarthur — Mortgage: 47.1% Macarthur — Renting: 10.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Fadden Macarthur
Bachelor Degree 20.1% / 17.7%
Fadden — Bachelor Degree: 20.1% Macarthur — Bachelor Degree: 17.7%
Certificate III & IV 8.4% / 12.9%
Fadden — Certificate III & IV: 8.4% Macarthur — Certificate III & IV: 12.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 9.6%
Fadden — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Macarthur — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6%
Postgraduate Degree 11.1% / 6.5%
Fadden — Postgraduate Degree: 11.1% Macarthur — Postgraduate Degree: 6.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.1% / 4.5%
Fadden — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.1% Macarthur — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Fadden Macarthur
England 4.2% / 4.5%
Fadden — England: 4.2% Macarthur — England: 4.5%
India 1.7% / 1.7%
Fadden — India: 1.7% Macarthur — India: 1.7%
South Africa 1.0% / 0.9%
Fadden — South Africa: 1.0% Macarthur — South Africa: 0.9%
China 1.6% / —
Fadden — China: 1.6% Macarthur — China: not among its largest
New Zealand 0.7% / 0.7%
Fadden — New Zealand: 0.7% Macarthur — New Zealand: 0.7%
Sri Lanka — / 0.8%
Fadden — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Macarthur — Sri Lanka: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fadden 96.7% houses
Fadden — Houses: 96.7% Fadden — Townhouses: 1.8% Fadden — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Macarthur 97.3% houses
Macarthur — Houses: 97.3% Macarthur — Townhouses: 2.9% Macarthur — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Fadden Macarthur
Median house price $1,150,000 $1,017,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 28 sales
 23 days
from 17 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Fadden Macarthur
3 bed $980K / $918K
Fadden — 3 bed: $980K (9 sales) Macarthur — 3 bed: $918K (12 sales)

9 vs 12 sales

4 bed $1.15M / $1.16M
Fadden — 4 bed: $1.15M (29 sales) Macarthur — 4 bed: $1.16M (20 sales)

29 vs 20 sales

Development activity

Fadden Macarthur
New dwellings approved 3,750
across Unincorporated ACT
same for both
Approvals change year on year -48%
same for both

Ranking within ACT

Fadden Macarthur
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 93% of ACT Higher than 86% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 33% of ACT Higher than 21% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 24% of ACT Higher than 22% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 43% of ACT Higher than 12% of ACT

Liveability

Fadden is more walkable (49 vs 35).

Fadden Macarthur
Grade C B
Score 49/100 50/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Fadden carries more flood risk (25 vs 0).

Fadden Macarthur
Bushfire High
99/100
 High
93/100
Crime Low
14/100
 Low
12/100
Flood Low
25/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Fadden Macarthur
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Fadden

  • Fadden Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Macarthur

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Fadden Macarthur
Parks & reserves 3 0
Childcare 3 1
GPs 1 0

Mobility

Fadden Macarthur
Walkability score 49/100 35/100
Distance to Canberra 20.8 km 22.3 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 28 min 26 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 31/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 46.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 13 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 2904
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2904
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Fadden Macarthur
Car (driver) 75.4% / 77.9%
Fadden — Car (driver): 75.4% Macarthur — Car (driver): 77.9%
Worked from Home 15.2% / 13.6%
Fadden — Worked from Home: 15.2% Macarthur — Worked from Home: 13.6%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 6.0%
Fadden — Car (passenger): 5.4% Macarthur — Car (passenger): 6.0%
Bus 3.3% / 1.4%
Fadden — Bus: 3.3% Macarthur — Bus: 1.4%
Walked Only 0.4% / 0.6%
Fadden — Walked Only: 0.4% Macarthur — Walked Only: 0.6%
Bicycle 0.4% / 0.5%
Fadden — Bicycle: 0.4% Macarthur — Bicycle: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.9%).

Setting

Fadden Macarthur
Elevation 652 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 659 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Fadden Macarthur
Connectivity score 52/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
1,129 premises
 0%
513 premises

Climate

Fadden Macarthur
Annual rainfall 686 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.2°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 0.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Fadden Macarthur
PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.32 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Fadden Macarthur
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Fadden Macarthur
Division Bean
same for both
Member David Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Fadden Macarthur
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Fadden

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Professionals

Macarthur

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fadden

Fadden vs Wanniassa Fadden vs Chisholm Fadden vs Gowrie Fadden vs Richardson Fadden vs Gilmore

Other comparisons with Macarthur

Macarthur vs Chisholm Macarthur vs Gilmore
Full data on Fadden Full data on Macarthur
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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