Fadden vs Richardson

Richardson is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 43 in Fadden. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Fadden, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Fadden: a median of $1.15 million, against $830,000 in Richardson, and rent is higher there too. Fadden is closer to the city centre: 20.8 km, against 24.8 km. On these figures, Fadden tends to suit couples, while Richardson suits buyers on a tighter budget.

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 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 73/100)
  • has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (78% vs 65%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Fadden leaves households under less mortgage stress (17% vs 23%)
  • Richardson has cheaper houses ($830,000 vs $1,150,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Richardson

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (26% vs 7%)
  • has cheaper rent ($391/wk vs $620/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Fadden sits closer to the CBD (20.8 km vs 24.8 km)
  • Richardson is more walkable (63/100 vs 49/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Fadden

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 73/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 12%)
  • But Richardson is more walkable (63/100 vs 49/100)

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 Richardson 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 Richardson
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 Richardson
Walkability 49 / 63
Fadden — Walkability: 49/100 Richardson — Walkability: 63/100
Safety 86 / 27
Fadden — Safety: 86/100 Richardson — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 1 / 10
Fadden — Low fire risk: 1/100 Richardson — Low fire risk: 10/100
Low flood risk 75 / 62
Fadden — Low flood risk: 75/100 Richardson — Low flood risk: 62/100

Demographics

Fadden has higher household incomes ($171,704 vs $106,236); Fadden rents higher ($620/wk vs $391/wk).

Fadden Richardson
Population 3,006 3,058
+2% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.9% +1.7%
Median age 43 36
Median household income $171,704/yr
+38% vs other
 $106,236/yr
Median weekly rent $620/wk
+37% vs other
 $391/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fadden Richardson
0-4 4.9% / 6.2%
Fadden — 0-4: 4.9% Richardson — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 14.3% / 13.9%
Fadden — 5-14: 14.3% Richardson — 5-14: 13.9%
15-19 6.1% / 6.6%
Fadden — 15-19: 6.1% Richardson — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 4.8% / 6.0%
Fadden — 20-24: 4.8% Richardson — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 7.8% / 15.4%
Fadden — 25-34: 7.8% Richardson — 25-34: 15.4%
35-44 13.9% / 14.1%
Fadden — 35-44: 13.9% Richardson — 35-44: 14.1%
45-54 13.4% / 13.2%
Fadden — 45-54: 13.4% Richardson — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 15.5% / 12.7%
Fadden — 55-64: 15.5% Richardson — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 14.0% / 8.6%
Fadden — 65-74: 14.0% Richardson — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 4.1% / 2.8%
Fadden — 75-84: 4.1% Richardson — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 0.9% / 0.8%
Fadden — 85+: 0.9% Richardson — 85+: 0.8%

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%
Richardson 43.3% couple families
Richardson — Couple Families: 43.3% Richardson — Lone Person: 29.6% Richardson — One Parent Families: 21.7% Richardson — Group Household: 3.2% Richardson — Other Families: 2.2%
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%
Richardson 26.0% renting
Richardson — Owned Outright: 26.3% Richardson — Mortgage: 47.7% Richardson — Renting: 26.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fadden Richardson
Bachelor Degree 20.1% / 10.2%
Fadden — Bachelor Degree: 20.1% Richardson — Bachelor Degree: 10.2%
Certificate III & IV 8.4% / 15.4%
Fadden — Certificate III & IV: 8.4% Richardson — Certificate III & IV: 15.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 8.5%
Fadden — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Richardson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 11.1% / 3.5%
Fadden — Postgraduate Degree: 11.1% Richardson — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.1% / 1.8%
Fadden — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.1% Richardson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

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 Richardson
England 4.2% / 2.7%
Fadden — England: 4.2% Richardson — England: 2.7%
India 1.7% / 2.3%
Fadden — India: 1.7% Richardson — India: 2.3%
China 1.6% / 0.8%
Fadden — China: 1.6% Richardson — China: 0.8%
New Zealand 0.7% / 1.2%
Fadden — New Zealand: 0.7% Richardson — New Zealand: 1.2%
Philippines — / 1.1%
Fadden — Philippines: not among its largest Richardson — Philippines: 1.1%
South Africa 1.0% / —
Fadden — South Africa: 1.0% Richardson — South Africa: not among its largest
Iraq — / 1.0%
Fadden — Iraq: not among its largest Richardson — Iraq: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.2%).

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%
Richardson 96.1% houses
Richardson — Houses: 96.1% Richardson — Townhouses: 4.1% Richardson — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Fadden Richardson
Median house price $1,150,000 $830,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 28 sales
 13 days
from 21 sales

Development activity

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

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Fadden Richardson
Houses — 4.7%
$750/wk on $829K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within ACT

Fadden Richardson
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 93% of ACT Higher than 13% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 33% of ACT Higher than 53% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 24% of ACT Higher than 5% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 43% of ACT Higher than 38% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 79% of ACT

Liveability

Fadden scores higher overall (49 vs 13); Richardson is more walkable (63 vs 49).

Fadden Richardson
Grade C D
Score 49/100 13/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Richardson carries more crime risk (73 vs 14); Richardson carries more flood risk (38 vs 25).

Fadden Richardson
Bushfire High
99/100
 High
90/100
Crime Low
14/100
 High
73/100
Flood Low
25/100
 Low
38/100
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
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Fadden Richardson
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
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 Richardson

  • Richardson Primary School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Fadden Richardson
Parks & reserves 3 0
Childcare 3
same for both
GPs 1 0

Mobility

Richardson sits further from the CBD (24.8 km vs 20.8 km).

Fadden Richardson
Walkability score 49/100 63/100
Distance to Canberra 20.8 km 24.8 km
+19% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 28 min 30 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 46.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 78.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 2904
 1.4%
postcode 2905
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2904
 47
postcode 2905

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 Richardson
Car (driver) 75.4% / 79.7%
Fadden — Car (driver): 75.4% Richardson — Car (driver): 79.7%
Worked from Home 15.2% / 8.2%
Fadden — Worked from Home: 15.2% Richardson — Worked from Home: 8.2%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 6.9%
Fadden — Car (passenger): 5.4% Richardson — Car (passenger): 6.9%
Bus 3.3% / 4.6%
Fadden — Bus: 3.3% Richardson — Bus: 4.6%
Walked Only 0.4% / 0.4%
Fadden — Walked Only: 0.4% Richardson — Walked Only: 0.4%
Bicycle 0.4% / 0.3%
Fadden — Bicycle: 0.4% Richardson — Bicycle: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.7%).

Setting

Fadden Richardson
Elevation 652 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 609 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Fadden Richardson
Connectivity score 52/100 50/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
1,129 premises
 6%
1,198 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Fadden Richardson
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

Richardson

Affordable Large Blocks Middle-Ring Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fadden

Fadden vs Wanniassa Fadden vs Chisholm Fadden vs Gowrie Fadden vs Gilmore Fadden vs Macarthur

Other comparisons with Richardson

Richardson vs Calwell Richardson vs Monash Richardson vs Chisholm Richardson vs Isabella Plains Richardson vs Theodore Richardson vs Gowrie
Full data on Fadden Full data on Richardson
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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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