Rockville
Household income in the 22nd percentile nationally and a median house price around $351,000 tell the same story: Rockville is one of Toowoomba's most affordable pockets, drawing residents on modest wages into detached-house ownership. Nearly 42% of its 3,204 residents rent, which is higher than a typical low-income suburb, because the $280 weekly rent sits well below Queensland's coastal averages. Healthcare dominates the local workforce at 27.3%, reflecting Toowoomba's role as a regional medical hub. Overseas-born residents account for just 12.2%, which is 9.4 points below the national average, and English-origin ancestry leads by a wide margin.
Population
3,204
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,157/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$351K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $351,000 is well below state and national medians, making entry-level purchase accessible for households on average wages. Monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,250, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25% sits below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers here carry less financial pressure than in capital-city markets. Separate houses make up 81.1% of dwellings, apartments 13.7%, and semi-detached 5.2%, giving buyers genuine choice in a detached-dominant market. Three-bedroom homes lead at 57.3% of stock, followed by four-plus bedroom at 22.1%, suggesting the suburb caters to families rather than singles. Outright owners account for 28.5% and mortgage holders 30.0%, a relatively balanced split compared to wealthier owner-occupier-heavy suburbs.
For Buyers
The median house price of $351,000 is well below state and national medians, making entry-level purchase accessible for households on average wages. Monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,250, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25% sits below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers here carry less financial pressure than in capital-city markets. Separate houses make up 81.1% of dwellings, apartments 13.7%, and semi-detached 5.2%, giving buyers genuine choice in a detached-dominant market. Three-bedroom homes lead at 57.3% of stock, followed by four-plus bedroom at 22.1%, suggesting the suburb caters to families rather than singles. Outright owners account for 28.5% and mortgage holders 30.0%, a relatively balanced split compared to wealthier owner-occupier-heavy suburbs.
For Investors
A 41.6% renter share is a core attraction, meaning landlords face a consistently large tenant pool. Weekly rent of $280 against the $351,000 median implies a gross yield in the range of 4%, meaningfully higher than most capital-city markets. The vacancy rate of 6.8% is elevated, signalling some competition among landlords, so strong yields depend on keeping properties occupied rather than premium pricing. Development activity was modest at 6 applications in the past 12 months, including a warehouse material change of use, so new residential supply is not a near-term pressure. Income levels are in the 22nd percentile nationally, which caps rent growth upside, so the investment case here rests on affordable entry and steady occupancy rather than rapid capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
33
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+75.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rockville iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Rockville State School
Prep-6 · 189 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, pointing to a younger-skewing population, likely driven by families and working-age residents attracted by affordable housing. Overseas-born residents at 12.2% run 9.4 percentage points below the national average, making this one of the more Anglo-heritage areas in Queensland. English ancestry leads at 1,194 residents, followed by Irish (410), German (382) and Scottish (289). University qualifications reach only 16.2%, which is 13.9 points below the national figure, consistent with the suburb's blue-collar and service-sector employment base. Average household size of 2.3 is marginally below national, and 27.8% of families are couples without children. Christianity is the dominant religion at 1,620 residents out of 3,204.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.1%
Houses
5.2%
Townhouse
13.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses dominate at 81.1% of all dwellings, higher than many suburban averages, with apartments at 13.7% and semi-detached at 5.2%. Three-bedroom homes make up 57.3% of the stock and four-plus bedroom 22.1%, so the market skews family-scale. Tenure splits into 28.5% outright owned, 30.0% mortgaged and 41.6% renting, with the rental share notably high for a suburb at this income level, suggesting many residents who could buy still prefer or need to rent. Rent-to-income at 24.2% stays below the 30% stress threshold, so tenants here retain reasonable affordability compared to coastal Queensland markets. Mortgage-to-income at 25.0% is similarly comfortable, below the stress boundary, which is a direct consequence of the $351,000 median price being low relative to incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,250
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$614
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.8%
Unoccupied
92
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.8%
Couples, no children
2,302
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the standout industry at 27.3% of employed residents (206 workers), well above the national sector weight, reflecting Toowoomba Base Hospital and associated services anchoring local employment. Retail and Education each account for 9.1%, followed by Construction at 8.6% and Manufacturing at 7.9%. By occupation, Community and Personal Service leads (209), then Labourers (194), Sales (142) and Professionals (138), a profile skewed toward service delivery rather than knowledge work. Unemployment sits at 8.6%, higher than the national average, and full-time employment at 62.2% suggests part-time and casual work is common. The participation rate of 50.1% is low, with 1,050 residents not in the labour force, partly explained by the suburb's older retiree component and 12.1% needing daily assistance.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.2%
Part-time
29.2%
Participation
50.1%
Employed
1,176
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.2%
Postgraduate
3.2%
Born Overseas
12.2%
Dwellings
1,253
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high, with 86.9% of residents driving to work, while public transport use is minimal at 0.7%, below even most regional-city averages. Walking and cycling account for 4.5%, a modest but non-trivial active commute share. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in the dataset, so families depend on facilities in adjacent Toowoomba suburbs. Rent-to-income at 24.2% and mortgage-to-income at 25.0% both remain below the 30% stress threshold, meaning residents here face lower housing cost pressure than the national average. Volunteering runs at 13.0% and 12.1% of residents require daily assistance, a relatively high assistance rate compared to typical mid-age suburbs, suggesting some concentration of elderly or disabled residents.
Drive
86.9%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
4.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rockville compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rockville a good suburb to live in?
Rockville suits residents who prioritise affordability and detached housing. At a $351,000 median price and $280 weekly rent, housing costs sit well below state averages, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25% is below the 30% stress threshold. The trade-offs are limited public transport at just 0.7% usage and an unemployment rate of 8.6%, above the national figure.
What is the median house price in Rockville?
The median house price is approximately $351,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $280 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,250. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 25% is below the 30% stress boundary, making purchase accessible for households on modest wages.
What schools are in Rockville?
No schools are recorded inside the Rockville suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Toowoomba suburbs. The local population has a university qualification rate of 16.2%, which is 13.9 percentage points below the national average, consistent with the area's trade and service employment base.
Is Rockville safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Rockville are not available in this dataset. As a proxy indicator, the suburb's household income sits in the 22nd percentile nationally, which is associated with higher crime exposure in comparable regional areas. The volunteering rate of 13.0% and community-oriented workforce (27.3% in Healthcare) suggest reasonable social cohesion.
Is Rockville good for property investment?
A 41.6% renter share and $280 weekly rent against a $351,000 median imply a gross yield around 4%, higher than most capital-city markets. The vacancy rate of 6.8% is elevated, so investor returns depend on occupancy management. Income levels in the 22nd percentile nationally cap rent growth, making yield rather than capital appreciation the primary return driver.
How is Rockville's population changing?
Rockville covers only 1.94 square kilometres with a density of 1,655 residents per square kilometre, suggesting the suburb is largely built out with limited room for residential expansion. The annual turnover rate of 27.2% indicates meaningful resident churn while 72.8% remain stable. Only 6 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, none residential, confirming consolidation rather than growth as the dominant trend.
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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