Rochester
At a median house price of $220,000 and household income in just the 16.4th percentile nationally, Rochester sits at the affordable end of the Victorian property spectrum, yet it carries structural pressures typical of slow-decline regional towns. The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, the highest signal of an aging resident base. SEIFA paints a picture of compound disadvantage: IRSAD decile 2 and IEO decile 2, placing Rochester in the bottom fifth of Australian suburbs on socioeconomic advantage. Population has been contracting at roughly 7 people per year, and forecast models hold that trajectory through 2031.
Population
3,154
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,073/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$220K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $220,000 median house price as of Apr-Jun 2024 is far below the Victorian state median, giving first-home buyers or downsizers access to full separate houses at low entry cost. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 92.4% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common type at 51.3% and four-plus bedroom homes at 27.4%. The price history shows significant volatility: a peak of $490,000 in Jan-Mar 2024 followed by a drop to $220,000 the next quarter suggests thin transaction volumes where individual sales can swing the median sharply. The long-run CAGR from 2013 is only 1.1% per annum over 14 years, well below inflation.
For Buyers
The $220,000 median house price as of Apr-Jun 2024 is far below the Victorian state median, giving first-home buyers or downsizers access to full separate houses at low entry cost. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 92.4% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common type at 51.3% and four-plus bedroom homes at 27.4%. The price history shows significant volatility: a peak of $490,000 in Jan-Mar 2024 followed by a drop to $220,000 the next quarter suggests thin transaction volumes where individual sales can swing the median sharply. The long-run CAGR from 2013 is only 1.1% per annum over 14 years, well below inflation.
For Investors
A 20.0% renter share provides a modest tenant pool, and weekly rent of $220 against a $220,000 median implies a gross yield near 5.2%, higher than most metropolitan markets. However, the 9.2% vacancy rate is elevated, signalling that demand is not absorbing available rental stock. Net internal migration runs at negative 70 people per year, meaning Rochester loses residents to other regions consistently. Development activity is low at 3 applications in 12 months, all subdivision works with no new dwelling construction recorded. The combination of high vacancy, population contraction, and an IRSAD decile of 2 means the investment case depends almost entirely on yield rather than capital growth, and that yield assumption is tested by the above-average vacancy.
Development Activity
Total DAs
15
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rochester iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's School
Prep-6 · 95 students
Rochester Primary School
Prep-6 · 181 students
Rochester Secondary College
7-12 · 343 students
Demographics
The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national average, making Rochester one of Victoria's oldest communities by this measure. Only 6.2% of residents were born overseas, which is 15.4 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly locally-born, Anglo-Celtic population. English ancestry leads at 1,383 residents, followed by Irish (399) and Scottish (346). University qualifications reach just 15.5%, which is 14.6 points below national, consistent with the IEO decile 2 score for education and occupation disadvantage. Couples without children account for 39.1% of families, above the national norm, which aligns with the older age profile. Volunteering runs at 19.9%, reasonably high given the demographic, suggesting civic engagement remains strong.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.4%
Houses
5.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership rates are notably high: 51.8% of Rochester households own their home outright, well above typical metropolitan levels, because the older resident base has had decades to pay off mortgages. A further 28.2% hold a mortgage and 20.0% rent. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 92.4%, with only 5.4% semi-detached and negligible apartments. Three-bedroom homes at 51.3% are the dominant configuration, with four-plus bedroom at 27.4%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3% and rent-to-income of 20.5% are both below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes despite low absolute income levels. The long-run price CAGR of 1.1% from $189,500 in 2013 to $220,000 in 2024 represents real-terms stagnation when adjusted for inflation.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wk
$220
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$583
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.2%
Unoccupied
131
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.1%
Couples, no children
2,232
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 22.9% of the local workforce (158 workers), followed by Education at 11.5% (79 workers), Agriculture at 9.4% (65), Manufacturing at 9.3% (64) and Construction at 8.7% (60). The occupation profile shows Labourers (195), Managers (181) and Community and Personal Service workers (172) as the three largest groups, which is unusual in that labourers outnumber professionals (164). This structure reflects a rural economy with farm, food processing and trade labour rather than knowledge-sector concentration. Weekly personal income averages $583, placing household income at the 16.4th percentile nationally. The unemployment rate is 3.9% but the participation rate is only 43.6%, well below national norms, primarily because 1,223 residents are not in the labour force, a direct consequence of the older age profile.
Unemployment
2.0%
Labour Force
1,721
Unemployed
34
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.1%
Part-time
37.0%
Participation
43.6%
Employed
1,133
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.5%
Postgraduate
1.7%
Born Overseas
6.2%
Dwellings
1,309
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total at 87.7% of workers driving to work, with public transport used by only 0.3%, reflecting the rural setting where no rail service operates and bus routes are limited. Walking and cycling account for 6.1%, reasonable for a small town. Safety data shows 139 recorded offences, giving a crime rate of 44.1 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences make up the majority at 85 incidents, compared to 19 crimes against persons. The IRSAD decile of 2 indicates significant socioeconomic disadvantage relative to national benchmarks, which typically correlates with higher rates of assistance need. Consistent with that, 10.9% of residents (321 people) need daily assistance, above average. No schools are recorded in this dataset for the Rochester boundary, though the town has government schooling options in the broader area.
Drive
87.7%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
6.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.19%/yr
(-7 people/yr)
EstablishedRochester's population has been gently declining at 0.19% per year, equivalent to roughly 7 fewer residents annually. Historical data shows 3,769 residents in 2023, falling to 3,683 by 2024 and recovering fractionally to 3,691 in 2025. Medium forecast scenarios project a continued slow contraction to approximately 3,765 by 2031. The dominant driver of movement is net internal outflow of negative 70 per year, with overseas migration contributing only 2 net arrivals annually. The 10-year population change was just 5.7%, below any meaningful growth threshold. The gentrification score sits at 0 with no active signals, though a separate shift indicator shows an aging trajectory: the senior share rose 6.3 points and young adult share fell 2.7 points over the decade.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+2
Net Internal / yr
-70
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
139
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
44.1
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rochester compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rochester a good suburb to live in?
Rochester suits retirees, rural lifestyle seekers and those prioritising affordability over metropolitan access. The $220,000 median house price and mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3% make ownership accessible, and the high 51.8% outright ownership rate reflects long-term community stability. Trade-offs include IRSAD decile 2 disadvantage, limited public transport with only 0.3% using it, and a 9.2% rental vacancy rate signalling weak demand pressure.
What is the median house price in Rochester?
The median house price in Rochester was $220,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3%. Weekly rent averages $220. The long-run price CAGR since 2013 is just 1.1% per annum over 14 years, well below inflation.
What schools are in Rochester?
No schools are recorded inside the Rochester boundary in this dataset. The broader township area contains government primary and secondary schooling options, consistent with a regional town of roughly 3,154 residents. University qualification rates locally are 15.5%, which is 14.6 points below the national average.
Is Rochester safe?
Rochester recorded 139 total offences in the reference period, giving a crime rate of 44.1 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 85 of those incidents, crimes against persons for 19. For comparison, the IRSAD decile of 2 places Rochester in the lower disadvantage tier nationally, which typically correlates with somewhat elevated crime rates versus higher-decile suburbs.
Is Rochester good for property investment?
Gross yield is approximately 5.2% based on $220 weekly rent against a $220,000 median price, which is above most metropolitan benchmarks. However, the 9.2% vacancy rate is high and net internal migration is negative 70 people per year, meaning population is contracting. The long-run price CAGR of 1.1% over 14 years offers little capital growth, so the investment case rests on yield alone, tempered by vacancy risk.
How is Rochester's population changing?
Rochester's population is declining at 0.19% per year, equivalent to roughly 7 fewer residents annually. The population fell from 3,769 in 2023 to 3,683 in 2024, then edged back to 3,691 in 2025. Net internal migration of negative 70 per year is the main driver. Medium forecasts project the population to reach approximately 3,765 by 2031, continuing the gradual contraction.
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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