Rockdale
Density, migration and apartments define Rockdale more than detached-family suburbia. In 2.44 sq km it holds 15,475 people, with density at 6,336 residents per sq km and apartments making up 69.8% of dwellings. The overseas-born share is 64.6%, 43.0 percentage points above national, and university attainment is 51.6%, 21.5 points above national. Compared with nearby Bexley and Kogarah, Rockdale reads as a station-centred, renter-heavy hub because 48.6% of households rent and public transport use reaches 30.4%.
Population
15,475
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,906/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
64
Median House
$740K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
For buyers, Rockdale is more apartment-led than family-home-led: 69.8% of dwellings are apartments, while separate houses are only 24.4%. The median house price is $740,000 in 2025, just 1.0% higher than 2024, with no fall from the $740,000 peak. Repayments are 26.3% of household income, below a common stress threshold, because household income sits in the 71.1 percentile. The trade-off is space: 57.8% of homes have 2 bedrooms, so larger 4 plus bedroom options at 12.0% are scarcer.
For Buyers
For buyers, Rockdale is more apartment-led than family-home-led: 69.8% of dwellings are apartments, while separate houses are only 24.4%. The median house price is $740,000 in 2025, just 1.0% higher than 2024, with no fall from the $740,000 peak. Repayments are 26.3% of household income, below a common stress threshold, because household income sits in the 71.1 percentile. The trade-off is space: 57.8% of homes have 2 bedrooms, so larger 4 plus bedroom options at 12.0% are scarcer.
For Investors
Investors see a deep tenant base, with 48.6% renting and median rent at $460 a week, higher demand supported by 30.4% public transport commuting. The warning sign is vacancy at 10.4%, well above a tight market, so leasing assumptions need conservatism. Development is active with 55 applications in 12 months, which can refresh stock but also add competition. Forecast migration is led by overseas inflow, because average net overseas migration is +1,036 people a year despite -380 internal movement.
Development Activity
Total DAs
341
Last 12 Months
64
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-11.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rockdale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 204 students
Kyeemagh Public School
K-6 · 204 students
St Dominic Savio School
K-6 · 41 students
Rockdale Public School
K-6 · 321 students
Demographics
Rockdale skews younger and more global than the national average. Median age is 34, 6.0 years below national, while 64.6% of residents were born overseas, 43.0 percentage points above national. University attainment is 51.6%, 21.5 points above national, supporting a professional commuter base. Chinese ancestry accounts for 1,984 people and Macedonian ancestry 933, while Nepali is spoken by 1,445 residents. The mix exists because Rockdale combines rail access, apartments and established migrant networks.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
24.4%
Houses
4.0%
Townhouse
69.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing stock is concentrated in smaller formats compared with detached-house suburbs: apartments are 69.8%, separate houses 24.4% and semi-detached homes 4.0%. Prices have been flat rather than speculative, moving from $732,500 in 2024 to $740,000 in 2025, a 1.0% rise and equal to the current peak. Tenure is balanced toward mobility, with 23.1% owned outright, 28.3% mortgaged and 48.6% renting. A 2-bedroom share of 57.8% explains why downsizers and renters are prominent, while 4 plus bedroom homes sit at 12.0%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$460
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$801
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.4%
Unoccupied
652
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.5%
Couples, no children
11,010
Total families
Economy & Employment
Rockdale's workforce is broad, with healthcare the largest industry at 18.5% or 1,042 workers, above professional and tech at 10.5%, retail at 10.0%, hospitality at 9.8% and finance at 6.8%. Professionals are the biggest occupation group at 1,749, but labourers at 1,062 and community or personal service workers at 1,007 show a mixed labour market. SEIFA is uneven: education and occupation sits in decile 7, yet economic resources are lower in decile 2, because renters and service workers dilute income security despite solid qualifications.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
15,729
Unemployed
356
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.0%
Part-time
33.4%
Participation
55.9%
Employed
6,899
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.6%
Postgraduate
16.1%
Born Overseas
64.6%
Dwellings
5,570
Transport to Work
Livability is strongest for commuters and primary school families. Public transport commuting is 30.4%, while 57.4% still drive and 6.7% walk or cycle, so the station matters because it reduces car dependence for a sizable minority. Four local primary schools span Government, Catholic and Independent sectors, with ICSEA scores from 1053 to 1092; St Joseph's Catholic Primary School leads at 1092 and Kyeemagh Public School follows at 1057. IRSAD decile 6 points to above-average advantage, while need for assistance is 4.7%, supporting everyday service access.
Drive
57.4%
Public Transport
30.4%
Walk / Cycle
6.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.97%/yr
(+225 people/yr)
EstablishedRockdale's growth outlook is steady rather than explosive. The trend rate is 0.97% a year, or about 225 extra people annually, taking the medium scenario from 22,583 in 2026 to 23,709 in 2031. Migration is the key driver because overseas migration averages +1,036 people a year while internal movement averages -380. The gentrification score is 26 and the stage is Early signs, below a mature upgrade cycle; rent growth of 15.0% and real income growth of 21.7% point to gradual change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+1,036
Net Internal / yr
-380
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +18% since 2011, Net internal outflow -380/yr, Strong overseas inflow +1036/yr, COVID recovered (-5% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rockdale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rockdale a good suburb to live in?
Yes for people who value rail access, apartments and cultural mix. Rockdale has 30.4% public transport commuting, 69.8% apartments and a median age of 34, which is 6.0 years below national. It suits urban convenience more than large detached-house living.
What is the median house price in Rockdale?
The median house price is $740,000 for 2025, up 1.0% from $732,500 in 2024 and equal to the recorded peak. Because apartments make up 69.8% of dwellings, house buyers are competing for a smaller 24.4% separate-house segment.
What schools are in Rockdale?
Rockdale has 4 local primary schools: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Kyeemagh Public School, St Dominic Savio School and Rockdale Public School. Sectors include Catholic, Government and Independent, with ICSEA scores from 1053 to 1092.
Is Rockdale safe?
Crime should be assessed at street and station level because the strongest suburb-wide indicators are socioeconomic: IRSAD decile 6 and IRSD decile 4. Those point to mixed to above-average advantage, not a direct crime-rate ranking.
Is Rockdale good for property investment?
Rockdale has investor appeal because 48.6% of households rent and median rent is $460 a week. The main caution is vacancy at 10.4%, which is higher than a tight rental market, while 55 development applications in 12 months may add competing supply.
How is Rockdale's population changing?
Rockdale is forecast to grow at 0.97% a year, or about 225 people annually. The medium scenario moves from 22,583 residents in 2026 to 23,709 in 2031, driven by overseas migration averaging +1,036 people a year against -380 internal movement.
What languages are spoken in Rockdale?
Languages other than English are prominent because 64.6% of residents were born overseas, 43.0 percentage points above national. The largest language counts are Nepali 1,445, Macedonian 412, Mandarin 383, Bengali 382 and Arabic 349.
Is there much development in Rockdale?
Yes. Rockdale recorded 55 development applications in 12 months, which is a notable level of activity compared with quiet established suburbs. Recent examples include dwelling-house works, an indoor recreation facility and a 1-dwelling certificate.
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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