Rocky Point
Household income at the 97.5th percentile nationally makes Rocky Point one of Far North Queensland's wealthiest postcodes, yet 64.4% of residents rent and the vacancy rate sits at 18.6%, both signals of a transient workforce economy. Mining employs 42.1% of the local workforce, far above any national average for a suburb this size, which explains the income paradox: high wages without the owner-occupier stability typical of high-income areas. Population grew 23.1% over the decade to 2,214 residents, and the median age of 29 is 11 years below the national figure, pointing to a young, mobile labour cohort rather than a settled residential community.
Population
2,214
Median Age
29.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,055/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$629K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $629,000, reflecting limited price data for a suburb where 64.4% of residents rent. Separate houses dominate at 71.2% of dwellings, with semi-detached homes at 25.4% and apartments at just 3.4%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 44.2%, and 4-plus bedroom properties account for 29.9%, suggesting families and sharehouses catering to the mining workforce. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,063, and mortgage-to-income sits at 15.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold relative to the 97.5th-percentile household incomes. Only 8.2% of homes are owned outright, lower than the national average, consistent with a younger demographic still in the wealth-building phase.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $629,000, reflecting limited price data for a suburb where 64.4% of residents rent. Separate houses dominate at 71.2% of dwellings, with semi-detached homes at 25.4% and apartments at just 3.4%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 44.2%, and 4-plus bedroom properties account for 29.9%, suggesting families and sharehouses catering to the mining workforce. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,063, and mortgage-to-income sits at 15.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold relative to the 97.5th-percentile household incomes. Only 8.2% of homes are owned outright, lower than the national average, consistent with a younger demographic still in the wealth-building phase.
For Investors
A 64.4% renter share runs substantially higher than the national rental proportion, and weekly rent of $530 reflects the mining-wage tenant base. The 18.6% vacancy rate is a significant caution: that level indicates cyclical oversupply tied to project activity rather than structural demand. Net internal migration averages negative 52 per year, meaning more residents leave than arrive domestically, partially offset by overseas arrivals of 16 annually. With no recorded development applications in the past 12 months, new supply is not a near-term risk, but tenant turnover at 34.7% underscores transient demand. Returns depend heavily on mining sector continuity rather than amenity-driven appreciation.
Schools in Rocky Point iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Western Cape College
Prep-12 · 1010 students
Demographics
At a median age of 29, Rocky Point sits 11 years below the national median, making it one of the younger suburban cohorts in regional Queensland. The working-age share is dominant, with 78.7% of employed residents working full time, well above typical rates nationally. Overseas-born residents account for 11.7%, which is 9.9 percentage points below the national figure, while ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (653), Irish (186) and Scottish (142) lead the tally. Average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 above the national average, consistent with couples-with-children families accounting for 59.5% of all family households. The volunteering rate of 20.2% is notable for a resource-industry suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.2%
Houses
25.4%
Townhouse
3.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Rocky Point's tenure structure is unusual for a high-income suburb: only 8.2% own outright, 27.5% carry a mortgage and 64.4% rent, a split that mirrors a mining-workforce demographic rather than a conventional residential market. Separate houses account for 71.2% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 25.4% and apartments at 3.4%. Bedroom distribution centres on three-bedroom homes at 44.2%, with 4-plus at 29.9% and two-bedroom at 22.1%. The estimated $629,000 median combined with monthly mortgage repayments of $2,063 gives a mortgage-to-income ratio of 15.6%, low compared to most capital city markets. Rent-to-income at 17.3% also stays below the 30% stress threshold despite the rental-majority tenure mix.
Mortgage / mo
$2,063
Rent / wk
$530
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,576
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.6%
Unoccupied
141
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
18.0%
Couples, no children
1,639
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is the engine of Rocky Point, employing 42.1% of all workers (342 people), a concentration that is extraordinary compared to the national industry mix where mining typically accounts for under 2% of employment. Education and Healthcare each contribute 12.4% (101 workers apiece), followed by Manufacturing at 5.7% and Retail at 4.2%. By occupation, Machinery and Drivers leads at 232 workers, consistent with the extraction-industry base, while Professionals number 185. The unemployment rate of 3.0% is low, and the participation rate of 67.6% reflects a workforce-oriented community. SEIFA IRSD decile 8 and IRSAD decile 7 indicate moderate-to-low disadvantage nationally, a higher standing than the IEO decile 4 would suggest, because mining income lifts economic resources despite lower educational attainment.
Unemployment
1.0%
Labour Force
2,783
Unemployed
27
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
78.7%
Part-time
18.3%
Participation
67.6%
Employed
1,047
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.4%
Postgraduate
3.0%
Born Overseas
11.7%
Dwellings
617
Transport to Work
Car use dominates transport at 79.6%, reflecting a regional location where public transport options are minimal at just 1.9% of commuters. A notable 10.0% walk or cycle, above average for a regional suburb, which may reflect short distances within the compact 3.74 km2 footprint at 592 residents per km2. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on facilities in neighbouring areas. Crime data is not available for Rocky Point in this dataset. The IRSAD decile 7 score places the suburb in the upper-middle range nationally for socio-economic advantage and disadvantage, consistent with the mining-income base. Only 2.1% of residents (41 people) need daily assistance, below the national average rate, reflecting the young and working-age population profile with a median age of 29.
Drive
79.6%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
10.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.54%/yr
(+66 people/yr)
EstablishedRocky Point's population grew 23.1% over the decade, with historical counts of 4,241 in 2023 and 4,268 in 2024 at the broader area level. Annual growth runs at 1.54%, adding approximately 66 people per year. Medium forecasts project growth continuing to 4,814 by 2031, compared to 4,297 in 2025. The primary migration driver is overseas arrivals, though net overseas migration averages only 16 per year while internal migration registers negative 52, meaning the suburb loses more residents domestically than it gains. The gentrification score of 9 and classification of not gentrifying reflect an economy driven by resources rather than amenity-led change. Rent growth of 85.9% over the period outpaced real income growth of 2.5%, worsening affordability from 21.8% in 2011 to 32.1% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+16
Net Internal / yr
-52
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +26% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rocky Point compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rocky Point a good suburb to live in?
Rocky Point suits mining workers and young families, with household income at the 97.5th percentile nationally and a median age of 29. The 18.6% vacancy rate and 64.4% renter share reflect a transient workforce rather than a settled community, and the lack of schools within the suburb boundary means families rely on neighbouring areas for education.
What is the median house price in Rocky Point?
The median house price is estimated at $629,000 based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $530 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,063, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 15.6%, well below the 30% stress level despite the suburb's remote regional location.
What schools are in Rocky Point?
No schools are recorded within the Rocky Point suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. University qualifications are held by 18.4% of residents, which is 11.7 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the trade and machinery-focused workforce where 42.1% work in mining.
Is Rocky Point safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Rocky Point in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb scores IRSD decile 8 and IRSAD decile 7 nationally, placing it in the upper-middle range for socio-economic advantage. Only 2.1% of residents (41 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a low-disadvantage, working-age community with an unemployment rate of 3.0%.
Is Rocky Point good for property investment?
The 64.4% renter share provides a large tenant pool, and weekly rent of $530 is supported by mining wages with household income at the 97.5th percentile nationally. The key risk is the 18.6% vacancy rate, indicating cyclical demand tied to project activity. Net internal migration of negative 52 per year and a tenant turnover rate of 34.7% add further volatility to rental income.
How is Rocky Point's population changing?
Population grew 23.1% over the decade, with annual growth of 1.54% adding about 66 residents per year. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching 4,814 by 2031, compared to 4,297 in 2025. Overseas migration is the primary driver at 16 net arrivals annually, as internal migration averages negative 52, reflecting the mobile mining workforce typical of resource-dependent suburbs.
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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