Rochester
Rochester's most distinctive feature is its older, detached-home profile: 3,154 residents have a median age of 53, which is 13 years above the national comparison, while 92.4% of dwellings are separate houses. Growth is slow at -0.19% annually because the area is established and aging, even as overseas migration is the primary driver. Compared with larger nearby Echuca, Rochester presents a smaller-town market with household income at the 16.4th percentile nationally and a lower entry price point.
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
$478K
October to December 2025
Three-bedroom homes account for 51.3% of stock and four-bedroom-plus homes another 27.4%, so the housing mix is suited to families, downsizers wanting space and buyers seeking a conventional house rather than an apartment. Monthly mortgage costs are listed at $1,083, equal to 23.3% of household income, while rent takes 20.5%, both below common stress thresholds. The trade-off is that 92.4% of dwellings are separate houses, limiting apartment choice compared with larger regional centres.
For Buyers
Three-bedroom homes account for 51.3% of stock and four-bedroom-plus homes another 27.4%, so the housing mix is suited to families, downsizers wanting space and buyers seeking a conventional house rather than an apartment. Monthly mortgage costs are listed at $1,083, equal to 23.3% of household income, while rent takes 20.5%, both below common stress thresholds. The trade-off is that 92.4% of dwellings are separate houses, limiting apartment choice compared with larger regional centres.
For Investors
Only 19.8% of households rent, while 51.1% own outright and 27.8% have a mortgage, so demand is anchored more strongly by owner occupiers than by a large tenant base. Rents have grown 46.9%, supporting recent income momentum, yet the wider trend is -0.19% annually and the population trajectory is aging. Three recent planning applications were recorded, all involving two-lot subdivisions, which indicates some small-scale supply activity rather than a major development pipeline. Compared with a low-vacancy market, careful tenant and property selection matters more here.
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
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Rochester Primary School
St Joseph's School
Rochester Secondary College
Demographics
Rochester has an older and more settled population than the national profile. The median age is 53, or 13 years above the national comparison, and 82.8% of residents stayed at the same address over the reference period compared with a 17.2% turnover rate. University attainment is 15.5%, which is 14.6 percentage points below the national comparison, while 6.2% of residents were born overseas, 15.4 points below the national figure. English ancestry is recorded for 1,383 people, followed by Irish at 399 and Scottish at 346. Average household size is 2.2 people, 0.3 below the national comparison, because couples without children account for 52.6% of families. The pattern is consistent with an aging, lower-mobility service town rather than a high-growth migrant centre.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.4%
Houses
5.4%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Rochester is overwhelmingly detached and owner occupied. Separate houses represent 92.4% of dwellings, while 51.1% are owned outright, 27.8% are mortgaged and 19.8% are rented. Three-bedroom homes make up 51.3% of stock and four-bedroom-plus homes 27.4%, reinforcing a family-house format. Compared with nearby Echuca's larger regional-centre market, Rochester has a more clearly detached-oriented housing identity.
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$220
Census 2021
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
30.3%
Couples with children
52.6%
Couples, no children
15.2%
Single parent
835
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Rochester's leading industry, employing 158 people or 22.9% of the recorded industry workforce, followed by education at 79 people and 11.5%, agriculture at 65 and 9.4%, manufacturing at 64 and 9.3%, and construction at 60 and 8.7%. The main occupation groups are labourers at 195, managers at 181, trades workers at 174, community and personal service workers at 172, and professionals at 164. Unemployment is 3.6% among a labour force of 1,283, although participation is 47.5% and 1,223 people are outside the labour force, consistent with the median age of 53. Socioeconomic measures sit below national advantage levels: IEO is decile 2, IER decile 4, IRSD decile 3 and IRSAD decile 2. Compared with higher-ranked areas, the low advantage scores reflect modest incomes and educational attainment despite a relatively low unemployment rate.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
1,283
Unemployed
46
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.2%
Part-time
37.4%
Participation
47.5%
Employed
1,237
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.5%
Postgraduate
1.7%
Born Overseas
6.2%
Dwellings
1,309
Transport to Work
Rochester is practical for households with cars, but less convenient for residents relying on public transport. Car driving accounts for 79.8% of commuting, compared with only 0.3% using public transport, while 5.6% walk or cycle and 9.0% work from home. Three local schools provide a mix of two primary options and one secondary option across government and Catholic sectors; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Recorded crime totals 139 offences, or 44.1 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences accounting for 85 cases. The IRSAD score is in decile 2, below higher-advantage communities, while volunteering reaches 19.9% and 10.9% of residents report needing assistance. Compared with denser regional centres, Rochester offers lower transport choice but a simpler, low-density daily pattern.
Drive
79.8%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
5.6%
Work from Home
9.0%
Population Forecast
-0.19%/yr
(-7 people/yr)
EstablishedRochester's growth outlook is subdued and aging rather than expansionary. The annual trend is -0.19%, while population change across the wider area is forecast at 5.7% over 10 years. The primary migration driver is overseas migration, but that inflow has not overcome the established population structure: the trajectory is labelled Aging, with the senior share up 6.3 percentage points and the young share down 2.7 points. The forecast gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, so compared with faster-growing regional corridors, Rochester is more likely to see gradual renewal than rapid demographic change.
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 can suit buyers seeking a quieter, low-density town with 92.4% separate houses and three local schools. Its median age of 53 is above the national comparison, so the lifestyle is more established than in a younger growth suburb. Car access is important because 79.8% drive to work.
What schools are in Rochester?
Rochester has 3 listed schools: 2 primary schools and 1 secondary college. The sector mix includes 2 government schools and 1 Catholic school. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for a specific address before making a housing decision.
Is Rochester safe?
Rochester recorded 139 offences, equal to 44.1 offences per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category with 85 cases, followed by 29 justice procedure offences and 19 crimes against the person. Local conditions can vary by street and time.
How is Rochester's population changing?
Rochester has an aging trajectory: the senior share increased by 6.3 percentage points while the young share fell by 2.7 points. The wider area's 10-year population change is forecast at 5.7%, but annual growth is -0.19%. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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