Marden vs Vale Park

Marden is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 42 in Vale Park. In both, most households own their home. In Marden, about half of households are people living alone. In Vale Park, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Marden tends to suit young adults and people living alone, while Vale Park suits couples.

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

Vale Park

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (83% vs 44%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (63% vs 41%)
  • carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 77/100)

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

First-home buyers

Vale Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($1,020,000 vs $1,370,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Marden

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($305/wk vs $410/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Marden

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 60/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Marden

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (56% vs 17%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 60/100)
  • But Vale Park carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 77/100)

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

Investors

Marden

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.6% vs 9.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Marden Vale Park
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.

Marden Vale Park
Walkability 83 / 60
Marden — Walkability: 83/100 Vale Park — Walkability: 60/100
Safety 23 / 47
Marden — Safety: 23/100 Vale Park — Safety: 47/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Marden — Low fire risk: 100/100 Vale Park — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 17 / 49
Marden — Low flood risk: 17/100 Vale Park — Low flood risk: 49/100

Demographics

Vale Park rents higher ($410/wk vs $305/wk); Vale Park has higher household incomes ($105,612 vs $78,936).

Marden Vale Park
Population 2,645
+7% vs other
 2,452
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.6% +9.2%
Median age 36 42
Median household income $78,936/yr $105,612/yr
+34% vs other
Median weekly rent $305/wk $410/wk
+34% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Marden Vale Park
0-4 5.0% / 5.2%
Marden — 0-4: 5.0% Vale Park — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 9.0% / 11.0%
Marden — 5-14: 9.0% Vale Park — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 3.9% / 5.9%
Marden — 15-19: 3.9% Vale Park — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 7.1% / 6.2%
Marden — 20-24: 7.1% Vale Park — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 22.0% / 11.5%
Marden — 25-34: 22.0% Vale Park — 25-34: 11.5%
35-44 14.8% / 13.3%
Marden — 35-44: 14.8% Vale Park — 35-44: 13.3%
45-54 10.8% / 13.2%
Marden — 45-54: 10.8% Vale Park — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 10.8% / 12.4%
Marden — 55-64: 10.8% Vale Park — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 8.0% / 11.0%
Marden — 65-74: 8.0% Vale Park — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 6.2% / 7.4%
Marden — 75-84: 6.2% Vale Park — 75-84: 7.4%
85+ 3.0% / 3.4%
Marden — 85+: 3.0% Vale Park — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Marden 51.5% lone person
Marden — Lone Person: 51.5% Marden — Couple Families: 28.3% Marden — One Parent Families: 12.6% Marden — Group Household: 5.7% Marden — Other Families: 1.9%
Vale Park 30.0% lone person
Vale Park — Lone Person: 30.0% Vale Park — Couple Families: 48.9% Vale Park — One Parent Families: 13.8% Vale Park — Group Household: 5.3% Vale Park — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Marden 43.9% renting
Marden — Owned Outright: 26.0% Marden — Mortgage: 30.0% Marden — Renting: 43.9%
Vale Park 21.5% renting
Vale Park — Owned Outright: 43.0% Vale Park — Mortgage: 35.5% Vale Park — Renting: 21.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Marden Vale Park
Bachelor Degree 22.6% / 19.9%
Marden — Bachelor Degree: 22.6% Vale Park — Bachelor Degree: 19.9%
Postgraduate Degree 10.1% / 10.0%
Marden — Postgraduate Degree: 10.1% Vale Park — Postgraduate Degree: 10.0%
Certificate III & IV 9.7% / 9.6%
Marden — Certificate III & IV: 9.7% Vale Park — Certificate III & IV: 9.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 7.9%
Marden — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Vale Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 3.3%
Marden — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Vale Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.6%).

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.

Marden Vale Park
India 6.1% / 4.6%
Marden — India: 6.1% Vale Park — India: 4.6%
China 5.9% / 3.2%
Marden — China: 5.9% Vale Park — China: 3.2%
England 3.3% / 3.8%
Marden — England: 3.3% Vale Park — England: 3.8%
Italy 3.3% / 2.0%
Marden — Italy: 3.3% Vale Park — Italy: 2.0%
Vietnam 1.3% / 1.7%
Marden — Vietnam: 1.3% Vale Park — Vietnam: 1.7%
Nepal 1.6% / —
Marden — Nepal: 1.6% Vale Park — Nepal: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Marden 44.1% houses
Marden — Houses: 44.1% Marden — Townhouses: 33.4% Marden — Flats / Apartments: 22.5%
Vale Park 83.0% houses
Vale Park — Houses: 83.0% Vale Park — Townhouses: 13.7% Vale Park — Flats / Apartments: 3.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Marden Vale Park
Median house price $1,325,000 $1,400,000
Median unit price $638,750 $700,000
Median land price $1,370,000 $1,020,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 16 sales
 25 days
from 12 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.

Marden Vale Park
3 bed $1.26M / $1.4M
Marden — 3 bed: $1.26M (19 sales) Vale Park — 3 bed: $1.4M (22 sales)

19 vs 22 sales

4 bed $1.5M / $1.51M
Marden — 4 bed: $1.5M (9 sales) Vale Park — 4 bed: $1.51M (13 sales)

9 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Marden Vale Park
Residential 69% 87%
Parks and recreation 19% 8%
Commercial 6% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 3%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Marden Vale Park
New dwellings approved 227
across Norwood Payneham and St Peters
 27
across Walkerville
Approvals change year on year +141% -50%

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.

Marden Vale Park
Houses 3.2%
$700/wk on $1.15M
 3.2%
$798/wk on $1.31M
Units 4.5%
$530/wk on $612K
 —

Ranking within SA

Marden Vale Park
House price Higher than 84% of SA Higher than 74% of SA
Income Higher than 54% of SA Higher than 83% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 94% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Affordability Higher than 9% of SA Higher than 45% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 86% of SA Higher than 99% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of SA Higher than 98% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 20% of SA Higher than 19% of SA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 44% of SA —

Liveability

Marden is more walkable (83 vs 60); Vale Park scores higher overall (74 vs 57).

Marden Vale Park
Grade B A
Score 57/100 74/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Marden carries more flood risk (83 vs 51); Marden carries more crime risk (77 vs 53).

Marden Vale Park
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
77/100
 Moderate
53/100
Flood High
83/100
 Moderate
51/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Marden Vale Park
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Magill Campus, 4.1 km
 3
Adelaide University, Magill Campus, 5.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.7% 3.5%

Schools in Marden

  • Open Access College Government · Combined above peers
  • Marden Senior College Government · Secondary

Schools in Vale Park

  • Vale Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Marden Vale Park
Supermarkets 1 0
Parks & reserves 1 2
Childcare 1 2
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0

Mobility

Marden Vale Park
Walkability score 83/100 60/100
Distance to Adelaide 6.3 km 6.9 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 12 min 13 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 46.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 45.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 5070
 2.8%
postcode 5081
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 5070
 53
postcode 5081

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.

Marden Vale Park
Car (driver) 66.4% / 70.3%
Marden — Car (driver): 66.4% Vale Park — Car (driver): 70.3%
Worked from Home 11.4% / 14.5%
Marden — Worked from Home: 11.4% Vale Park — Worked from Home: 14.5%
Bus 12.7% / 7.1%
Marden — Bus: 12.7% Vale Park — Bus: 7.1%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 5.6%
Marden — Car (passenger): 6.0% Vale Park — Car (passenger): 5.6%
Bicycle 1.9% / 1.7%
Marden — Bicycle: 1.9% Vale Park — Bicycle: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.3%).

Setting

Marden Vale Park
Elevation 47 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.3 km 11.2 km

NBN connectivity

Marden Vale Park
Connectivity score 86/100 95/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 36%
1,481 premises
 73%
1,102 premises

Climate

Marden Vale Park
Annual rainfall 457 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Marden Vale Park
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ 0.51 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Marden Vale Park
Average residential rate $1,995/yr $2,674/yr
Council Norwood Payneham and St Peters Walkerville

Federal electorate

Marden Vale Park
Division Sturt Adelaide
Member Claire Clutterham Steve Georganas
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Marden Vale Park
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Marden

Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses

Vale Park

Inner Premium Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Marden

Marden vs Klemzig Marden vs Walkerville Marden vs Felixstow Marden vs Payneham Marden vs Royston Park

Other comparisons with Vale Park

Vale Park vs Klemzig Vale Park vs Walkerville Vale Park vs Hampstead Gardens Vale Park vs Manningham Vale Park vs Royston Park
Full data on Marden Full data on Vale Park
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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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