Marleston vs Ashford

In both, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Ashford is closer to the city centre: 4 km, against 4.9 km.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Marleston has more separate houses rather than flats (51% vs 26%)
  • Ashford carries lower crime risk (47/100 vs 74/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Marleston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Ashford

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (47/100 vs 74/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (74% vs 49%)

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

Investors

Ashford

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (20.6% vs 6.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.0% vs 4.1%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Marleston Ashford
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.

Marleston Ashford
Walkability 72 / 75
Marleston — Walkability: 72/100 Ashford — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 26 / 53
Marleston — Safety: 26/100 Ashford — Safety: 53/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Marleston — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ashford — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 6 / 1
Marleston — Low flood risk: 6/100 Ashford — Low flood risk: 1/100

Demographics

Marleston has more residents (1,950 vs 1,157); Ashford has higher household incomes ($83,460 vs $73,736).

Marleston Ashford
Population 1,950
+41% vs other
 1,157
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.2% +20.6%
Median age 37 35
Median household income $73,736/yr $83,460/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $290/wk $320/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Marleston Ashford
0-4 5.4% / 5.4%
Marleston — 0-4: 5.4% Ashford — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 7.1% / 11.9%
Marleston — 5-14: 7.1% Ashford — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 3.8% / 3.0%
Marleston — 15-19: 3.8% Ashford — 15-19: 3.0%
20-24 9.6% / 8.4%
Marleston — 20-24: 9.6% Ashford — 20-24: 8.4%
25-34 20.1% / 20.5%
Marleston — 25-34: 20.1% Ashford — 25-34: 20.5%
35-44 16.3% / 17.3%
Marleston — 35-44: 16.3% Ashford — 35-44: 17.3%
45-54 10.6% / 7.9%
Marleston — 45-54: 10.6% Ashford — 45-54: 7.9%
55-64 8.9% / 6.3%
Marleston — 55-64: 8.9% Ashford — 55-64: 6.3%
65-74 6.8% / 6.7%
Marleston — 65-74: 6.8% Ashford — 65-74: 6.7%
75-84 5.8% / 6.8%
Marleston — 75-84: 5.8% Ashford — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 5.6% / 5.0%
Marleston — 85+: 5.6% Ashford — 85+: 5.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Marleston 47.9% lone person
Marleston — Lone Person: 47.9% Marleston — Couple Families: 26.1% Marleston — Group Household: 11.0% Marleston — One Parent Families: 11.5% Marleston — Other Families: 3.4%
Ashford 45.0% lone person
Ashford — Lone Person: 45.0% Ashford — Couple Families: 33.5% Ashford — Group Household: 10.6% Ashford — One Parent Families: 7.6% Ashford — Other Families: 3.3%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Marleston 47.2% renting
Marleston — Owned Outright: 22.4% Marleston — Mortgage: 30.5% Marleston — Renting: 47.2%
Ashford 53.1% renting
Ashford — Owned Outright: 19.8% Ashford — Mortgage: 27.1% Ashford — Renting: 53.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Marleston Ashford
Bachelor Degree 18.4% / 21.9%
Marleston — Bachelor Degree: 18.4% Ashford — Bachelor Degree: 21.9%
Certificate III & IV 12.4% / 8.4%
Marleston — Certificate III & IV: 12.4% Ashford — Certificate III & IV: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 7.5% / 11.2%
Marleston — Postgraduate Degree: 7.5% Ashford — Postgraduate Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 9.2%
Marleston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Ashford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 2.1%
Marleston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Ashford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.9%).

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.

Marleston Ashford
India 7.6% / 13.2%
Marleston — India: 7.6% Ashford — India: 13.2%
China 4.4% / 4.8%
Marleston — China: 4.4% Ashford — China: 4.8%
Nepal 2.8% / 3.7%
Marleston — Nepal: 2.8% Ashford — Nepal: 3.7%
England 2.6% / 2.7%
Marleston — England: 2.6% Ashford — England: 2.7%
Greece 2.3% / —
Marleston — Greece: 2.3% Ashford — Greece: not among its largest
Bangladesh — / 1.6%
Marleston — Bangladesh: not among its largest Ashford — Bangladesh: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Marleston 50.8% houses
Marleston — Houses: 50.8% Marleston — Townhouses: 31.7% Marleston — Flats / Apartments: 17.5%
Ashford 25.8% houses
Ashford — Houses: 25.8% Ashford — Townhouses: 34.6% Ashford — Flats / Apartments: 39.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Marleston Ashford
Median house price $950,000 $997,500
Median unit price $581,500 $622,500
Median land price $1,041,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 18 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Marleston has more industrially zoned land (44% vs 0%); Ashford has more commercially zoned land (41% vs 3%).

Marleston Ashford
Residential 53% 58%
Industrial 44% 0%
Commercial 3% 41%
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

Marleston Ashford
New dwellings approved 578
across West Torrens
same for both
Approvals change year on year +103%
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.

Marleston Ashford
Houses 3.9%
$750/wk on $1.01M
 —
Units 4.1%
$522/wk on $655K
 5.0%
$555/wk on $575K

Ranking within SA

Marleston Ashford
House price Higher than 38% of SA Higher than 65% of SA
Income Higher than 48% of SA Higher than 59% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of SA Higher than 90% of SA
Affordability Higher than 51% of SA Higher than 31% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 60% of SA Higher than 98% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 46% of SA —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 21% of SA Higher than 73% of SA

Liveability

Ashford scores higher overall (61 vs 46).

Marleston Ashford
Grade C B
Score 46/100 61/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Marleston carries more crime risk (74 vs 47).

Marleston Ashford
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 Moderate
47/100
Flood High
94/100
 High
99/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Marleston Ashford
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 4.0 km
 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 3.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.9% 4.1%

Schools in Marleston

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

Schools in Ashford

  • Aspect Treetop School Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Marleston Ashford
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 1 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 2
Hospitals 0 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Marleston Ashford
Walkability score 72/100 75/100
Distance to Adelaide 4.9 km
+18% vs other
 4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 8 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 57.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 54.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 5033
 2.7%
postcode 5035
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 42
postcode 5033
 40
postcode 5035

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.

Marleston Ashford
Car (driver) 67.4% / 60.9%
Marleston — Car (driver): 67.4% Ashford — Car (driver): 60.9%
Bus 9.8% / 15.1%
Marleston — Bus: 9.8% Ashford — Bus: 15.1%
Worked from Home 10.0% / 11.4%
Marleston — Worked from Home: 10.0% Ashford — Worked from Home: 11.4%
Car (passenger) 6.5% / 4.1%
Marleston — Car (passenger): 6.5% Ashford — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 3.8% / 5.9%
Marleston — Walked Only: 3.8% Ashford — Walked Only: 5.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.4%).

Setting

Marleston Ashford
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 32 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.3 km 6.3 km

NBN connectivity

Marleston Ashford
Connectivity score 76/100 73/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 5%
1,128 premises
 7%
782 premises

Climate

Marleston Ashford
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)

Marleston Ashford
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 1.12 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Marleston Ashford
Average residential rate $1,532/yr
same for both
Council West Torrens
same for both

Federal electorate

Marleston Ashford
Division Adelaide
same for both
Member Steve Georganas
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Marleston Ashford
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Marleston

Inner Multicultural Parks Townhouses

Ashford

Apartments Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals River Townhouses Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Marleston

Marleston vs North Plympton Marleston vs Richmond Marleston vs Kurralta Park Marleston vs Netley Marleston vs West Richmond Marleston vs Keswick

Other comparisons with Ashford

Ashford vs Kurralta Park Ashford vs Glandore Ashford vs Forestville Ashford vs Everard Park Ashford vs Keswick
Full data on Marleston Full data on Ashford
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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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