Rhodes
Rhodes packs 11,453 residents into just 1.01 sqkm, making its 11,384.7 people per sqkm density the defining fact. It reads more like Wentworth Point than lower rise Concord West: 95.3% of homes are apartments and 60.8% of households rent. The suburb is also younger and more global than the national norm, with a median age of 32, 75.4% born overseas and university attainment 41.8 percentage points above national. Household income sits at the 83rd percentile, so demand is supported by high earning professionals rather than only affordability.
Population
11,453
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,183/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
66
Median House
$1.1M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers are mostly buying into strata living rather than land, because separate houses are only 3.2% of stock while apartments are 95.3%. The median house price is $1,080,000, only 1.5% higher than the 2024 figure of $1,065,530, so recent price movement has been steadier than the suburb's population growth. Running costs look manageable for local earners: mortgage repayments equal 26.4% of income, below common stress thresholds, and the typical dwelling mix favours 2 bedroom homes at 60.1% over 4 plus bedroom homes at 2.1%.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are mostly buying into strata living rather than land, because separate houses are only 3.2% of stock while apartments are 95.3%. The median house price is $1,080,000, only 1.5% higher than the 2024 figure of $1,065,530, so recent price movement has been steadier than the suburb's population growth. Running costs look manageable for local earners: mortgage repayments equal 26.4% of income, below common stress thresholds, and the typical dwelling mix favours 2 bedroom homes at 60.1% over 4 plus bedroom homes at 2.1%.
For Investors
Investors get a renter-heavy market, with 60.8% renting compared with 28.4% paying a mortgage and 10.8% owned outright. Weekly rent is $560 and rent absorbs 25.7% of income, below stress territory, which helps tenant capacity even though the 11.5% vacancy rate is high. Supply risk matters: 61 development items in 12 months point to ongoing apartment churn, and overseas migration adds an average 574 people a year while internal moves subtract 358. That mix supports demand, but rent growth was 0.0%, so yield gains may lag population growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
360
Last 12 Months
66
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-5.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Rhodes is markedly younger, more educated and more overseas born than Australia overall. The median age of 32 is 8.0 years below the national figure, while 71.9% university attainment is 41.8 percentage points above national. Overseas born residents account for 75.4%, led by Chinese ancestry at 4,951 people, Korean at 1,325 and Indian at 842. Mandarin is used by 1,532 residents, with Korean at 571 and Canton recorded at 427. Average household size is 2.2, below the national comparison by 0.3, matching the apartment-heavy profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
3.2%
Houses
1.5%
Townhouse
95.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is almost entirely vertical, with 95.3% apartments compared with 3.2% separate houses and 1.5% semi detached dwellings. Outright ownership is lower than renting: 10.8% own outright, 28.4% have a mortgage and 60.8% rent. The median price moved from $1,065,530 in 2024 to $1,081,500 in 2025, a 1.5% rise, with the latest price also the peak and 0.0% below peak. Bedrooms reinforce the compact pattern, as 60.1% are 2 bedroom dwellings and 23.9% are 0 or 1 bedroom homes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wk
$560
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,119
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.5%
Unoccupied
653
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
44.8%
Couples, no children
8,249
Total families
Economy & Employment
Rhodes has a white-collar employment base, led by Professional/Tech at 19.8% or 1,093 workers, Finance at 14.2% and Healthcare at 11.9%. Professionals count 2,890 residents, above Managers at 1,011 and Clerical/Admin at 863, which explains the high household income percentile of 83.0. Labour force conditions are mixed: full-time work is 74.0% of employed residents, participation is 62.0% and unemployment is 6.4%. SEIFA shows the split clearly: IEO and IRSAD are decile 10, IRSD is decile 8, while IER sits lower in decile 3 because many residents rent rather than hold housing wealth.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
8,525
Unemployed
194
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
74.0%
Part-time
19.6%
Participation
62.0%
Employed
5,841
Occupations
Top Industries
University
71.9%
Postgraduate
28.6%
Born Overseas
75.4%
Dwellings
5,002
Transport to Work
Daily life in Rhodes is shaped by rail, waterfront paths and apartment convenience rather than large blocks. Public transport takes 24.6% of commuters, above many car-led suburbs, while 8.2% walk or cycle and 62.9% drive. Density of 11,384.7 people per sqkm supports shops and services within a 1.01 sqkm footprint, because more residents live close to the station and foreshore. Safety figures are not available, so the strongest liveability anchors are access and affluence: IRSAD is decile 10 and IRSD is decile 8, both higher than average disadvantage settings.
Drive
62.9%
Public Transport
24.6%
Walk / Cycle
8.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+3.38%/yr
(+443 people/yr)
High GrowthRhodes is in a high growth phase, with population trending up 3.38% a year, or about 443 people, above the pace of many established inner ring suburbs. The medium scenario reaches 16,380 residents by 2031, compared with 13,094 in 2025. Overseas migration is the primary driver, adding an average 574 people annually, while internal migration is negative at -358, suggesting local churn rather than broad domestic inflow. The 10 year population change was 101.6%, and the gentrification score is 0 with the stage listed as New development, so growth is more about new apartments than classic reinvestment.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+574
Net Internal / yr
-358
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rhodes compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rhodes a good suburb to live in?
Yes, if you want high density apartment living with strong transport access. Apartments make up 95.3% of homes, public transport is used by 24.6% of commuters and household income sits at the 83rd percentile.
What is the median house price in Rhodes?
The median house price is $1,080,000. The latest price series records $1,081,500 in 2025, up 1.5% from $1,065,530 in 2024, so recent movement has been modest rather than rapid.
What schools are in Rhodes?
Rhodes itself has 0 schools within the suburb boundary, so families usually assess nearby campuses in Canada Bay and adjoining suburbs. The local boundary is only 1.01 sqkm, which helps explain why schooling choices sit just outside the suburb.
Is Rhodes safe?
A suburb crime rate per 1,000 is not available for Rhodes, so safety should be checked against current NSW crime maps. For context, the area is very active and dense, with 11,384.7 residents per sqkm and 24.6% using public transport.
Is Rhodes good for property investment?
Rhodes has clear investor appeal because 60.8% of households rent and weekly rent is $560. The caution is supply: vacancy is 11.5% and there were 61 development items in 12 months, so tenant demand and new stock need watching together.
How is Rhodes's population changing?
Rhodes is growing quickly. The trend is 3.38% a year, or about 443 extra people annually, and the medium scenario reaches 16,380 residents by 2031. Overseas migration is the main driver, adding an average 574 people a year.
What languages are spoken in Rhodes?
Rhodes has a large multilingual population, with 75.4% of residents born overseas. Mandarin is the largest listed language with 1,532 speakers, followed by Korean at 571, Canton at 427, Hindi at 195 and Arabic at 136.
Is there much development in Rhodes?
Yes. Rhodes recorded 61 development items in the past 12 months, which is high for a 1.01 sqkm suburb. That fits the apartment-led market, but it also means buyers and investors should factor in future supply.
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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