Rockingham
Rockingham skews older than many Perth coastal centres, with a median age of 49, which is 9 years above the national benchmark. Its 15,312 residents include 37.4% born overseas, 15.8 percentage points above national, yet household income sits at the 23.2 percentile. Compared with nearby Shoalwater and Safety Bay, Rockingham plays more of a central services role, but the 13.9% vacancy rate and 2.0 average household size show a market shaped by retirees, smaller households and rental turnover.
Population
15,312
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,169/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$381K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Homebuyers should treat Rockingham as a mixed-density coastal market rather than a pure detached-house suburb. Separate houses make up 65.6% of dwellings, but semi-detached homes are a sizeable 20.2% and apartments 14.2%, giving more choice below a typical family-house format. A current median house price is not recorded, so buyers should compare recent sales carefully. The $1,517 monthly mortgage and 30.0% mortgage-to-income ratio matter because local household income is $1,169 a week.
For Buyers
Homebuyers should treat Rockingham as a mixed-density coastal market rather than a pure detached-house suburb. Separate houses make up 65.6% of dwellings, but semi-detached homes are a sizeable 20.2% and apartments 14.2%, giving more choice below a typical family-house format. A current median house price is not recorded, so buyers should compare recent sales carefully. The $1,517 monthly mortgage and 30.0% mortgage-to-income ratio matter because local household income is $1,169 a week.
For Investors
Rockingham has a large tenant base, with 38.2% of homes rented and median rent at $300 a week. That demand is tempered by a 13.9% vacancy rate, which is higher than a tight rental market and means asset selection is critical. With 0 recorded developments over 12 months, supply pressure looks limited, but the 20.0% rent growth signal suggests rents have already moved. Investors need to price for leasing risk because smaller 2.0-person households may turn over more often.
Schools in Rockingham iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kolbe Catholic College
7-12 · 1270 students
Star of the Sea Primary School
PP-6 · 638 students
Rockingham Montessori School
PP-12 · 272 students
Rockingham Beach Primary School
K-6 · 406 students
Rockingham Senior High School
7-12 · 1035 students
Demographics
Rockingham's population is older, more overseas-born and less degree-qualified than the national average. The median age is 49, which is 9 years above national, while university attainment is 17.0%, or 13.1 percentage points below national. Overseas-born residents make up 37.4%, 15.8 points above national, led by English ancestry at 7,251 people, Scottish at 1,724 and Irish at 1,551. Household size is 2.0, 0.5 below national, because retirees and couples without children are prominent.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
65.6%
Houses
20.2%
Townhouse
14.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing tenure is unusually balanced between owners and renters. Outright ownership is 34.8%, mortgage ownership 27.1% and renting 38.2%, so Rockingham has both long-held homes and a sizeable rental pool. The lack of a current median house price means affordability is better read through payments: rent-to-income is 25.7% and mortgage-to-income is 30.0%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 42.1%, compared with 30.7% for 4 or more bedrooms, suiting downsizers as well as smaller families.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$671
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.9%
Unoccupied
1,115
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.6%
Couples, no children
10,234
Total families
Economy & Employment
Rockingham's economy leans on essential services and public-sector linked work. Healthcare is the largest industry at 15.9%, followed by Public Admin at 14.4%, Education at 10.5%, Construction at 9.8% and Manufacturing at 8.5%. The area ranks in decile 2 for IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD, which is lower than more advantaged Perth markets. That reflects an 8.7% unemployment rate, 48.6% participation and 5,363 people outside the labour force, despite 65.0% of employed residents working full time.
Unemployment
9.7%
Labour Force
1,952
Unemployed
190
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.0%
Part-time
26.3%
Participation
48.6%
Employed
5,930
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.0%
Postgraduate
3.4%
Born Overseas
37.4%
Dwellings
6,896
Transport to Work
Rockingham is car-oriented, with 85.1% of commuters driving, compared with just 5.2% using public transport and 3.2% walking or cycling. Families have 6 local schools across Catholic, Independent and Government sectors, with ICSEA scores ranging from 927 to 1046. Kolbe Catholic College leads at 1046 with 1,270 students, followed by Star of the Sea Primary at 1041 and Rockingham Montessori at 1033. IRSAD decile 2 is below higher-income Perth areas, so local amenity varies by pocket.
Drive
85.1%
Public Transport
5.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.35%/yr
(+254 people/yr)
EstablishedRockingham is forecast to keep growing, but on an aging trajectory. The trend rate is 1.35% a year, equal to about 254 people annually, with the medium scenario rising from 18,713 in 2026 to 19,981 in 2031. Migration is balanced, with average net internal migration of 264 people a year compared with 240 from overseas. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 56, because population momentum and rent growth of 20.0% are occurring alongside a 4.0 point lift in the senior share.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+240
Net Internal / yr
+264
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +19% since 2011, Net internal migration +264/yr, Strong overseas inflow +240/yr, Accelerating: 1% → 18%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rockingham compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rockingham a good suburb to live in?
Rockingham can suit buyers wanting coastal access, schools and services at a lower income profile than many Perth beach suburbs. The median age is 49, 6 schools operate locally and 65.6% of dwellings are separate houses, but car dependence is high at 85.1%.
What is the median house price in Rockingham?
A current median house price is not recorded for Rockingham, so recent settled sales should be checked before pricing an offer. Affordability can still be benchmarked against the $1,517 monthly mortgage figure and $1,169 weekly household income.
What schools are in Rockingham?
Rockingham has 6 schools covering Catholic, Independent and Government sectors. Kolbe Catholic College has an ICSEA of 1046 and 1,270 students, Star of the Sea Primary has 1041 and 638 students, and Rockingham Montessori has 1033 and 272 students.
Is Rockingham safe?
Safety varies by street and activity area, so buyers should inspect around shops, beach parking and transport stops at different times. A suburb crime rate per 1,000 is not quoted, but Rockingham has 15,312 residents and 6 schools, so local context matters.
Is Rockingham good for property investment?
Rockingham has investor appeal because 38.2% of homes are rented and median rent is $300 a week. The caution is vacancy at 13.9%, which is high, so investors should prioritise well-located stock and avoid assuming every property will lease quickly.
How is Rockingham's population changing?
Rockingham is forecast to grow at 1.35% a year, or about 254 people annually. The medium scenario rises from 18,713 people in 2026 to 19,981 in 2031, supported by balanced migration of 264 internal and 240 overseas net arrivals a year.
What languages are spoken in Rockingham?
English-speaking ancestry is prominent, with 7,251 residents reporting English ancestry, but Rockingham also has overseas-born depth at 37.4%. Recorded non-English languages include Serbian with 61 speakers, Mandarin with 35 and Italian with 32.
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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