Rockyview
Household income in the 96.7th percentile nationally tells the first story about Rockyview: this low-density rural fringe suburb, covering 30 square kilometres south of Rockhampton, earns at a level that most Australian suburbs cannot match. The population of 1,735 is almost entirely owner-occupiers, with renters making up just 3.2%, and every single dwelling is a separate house. The SEIFA IER score places the suburb in decile 10 for economic resources, the top tier nationally, while IRSD at decile 9 confirms very low disadvantage. Mining and construction together employ 16.4% of workers, which partly explains the high income relative to state averages.
Population
1,735
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,897/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$604K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $604,000 sits below national capital city medians, making Rockyview an affordable entry point for high-income buyers in QLD. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and at 17.3% of income the mortgage-to-income ratio is well below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is exclusively separate houses, with 87.9% having four or more bedrooms. A notable 62.4% of homes carry a mortgage rather than being owned outright, reflecting active accumulation. The renter share of 3.2% is far below the national average, confirming the owner-occupier character of the suburb.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $604,000 sits below national capital city medians, making Rockyview an affordable entry point for high-income buyers in QLD. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and at 17.3% of income the mortgage-to-income ratio is well below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is exclusively separate houses, with 87.9% having four or more bedrooms. A notable 62.4% of homes carry a mortgage rather than being owned outright, reflecting active accumulation. The renter share of 3.2% is far below the national average, confirming the owner-occupier character of the suburb.
For Investors
With only 3.2% of dwellings rented, the tenant pool is very thin compared to broader QLD suburban markets. Weekly rent of $480 against a $604,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.1%. The vacancy rate of 4.3% indicates limited rental demand. Rent growth ran at 16.7% over the measured period, and net internal migration averages 138 arrivals per year. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months. Investors relying on rental income face a structurally thin base, and returns depend more on capital growth from Rockhampton's regional demand than on yield.
Demographics
The median age of 39 is 1.0 year below the national figure. The overseas-born share of 6.3% is 15.3 percentage points below the national average, giving Rockyview one of the more Anglo-Celtic profiles in regional QLD. English (751), Irish (195) and Scottish (193) ancestries dominate. University qualifications at 28.3% sit 1.8 points below national. Average household size of 3.2 is 0.7 above national, reflecting the 790 couples-with-children families and the four-plus-bedroom housing stock. The volunteering rate of 18.6% indicates active community involvement.
Age Distribution
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
All dwellings are separate houses, ranking far above state and national norms, and 87.9% have four or more bedrooms. Owner-occupiers dominate: 34.4% own outright, 62.4% carry a mortgage, and just 3.2% rent, a renter share far below the national average. Mortgage repayments sit at 17.3% of income, well under the 30% stress threshold. The median price of $604,000 reflects large-lot rural residential living near Rockhampton. The four-plus-bedroom prevalence means the market is consistently driven by family-sized demand rather than entry-level turnover.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$480
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,141
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.3%
Unoccupied
24
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.8%
Couples, no children
1,554
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education (16.4%) and Healthcare (15.0%) lead employment, followed by Public Administration (9.0%), Mining (8.2%) and Construction (8.2%). By occupation, Professionals (181) come first, then Clerical/Admin (160), Managers (111) and Sales (98). The unemployment rate is 2.9%, below state averages, and full-time employment runs at 70.0%. Household weekly income of $2,897 places Rockyview at the 96.7th percentile nationally. The SEIFA IEO score is decile 4, below income expectations, because resource-sector roles generate high wages without requiring the qualifications that drive IEO scores higher.
Unemployment
0.9%
Labour Force
2,948
Unemployed
26
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.0%
Part-time
27.1%
Participation
69.5%
Employed
899
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.3%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
6.3%
Dwellings
526
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total: 91.8% drive to work, public transport use is 1.0%, and walking or cycling is 0.4%, well below national averages. This reflects the 30 square kilometre footprint typical of low-density QLD fringe areas. No schools are recorded inside the boundary. IRSD decile 9 places Rockyview above most national benchmarks for relative advantage. Housing stress is absent: rent-to-income at 16.6% and mortgage-to-income at 17.3% are both below the 30% threshold. Only 3.3% of residents need daily assistance. The volunteering rate of 18.6% sits above the national average.
Drive
91.8%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
0.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.52%/yr
(+91 people/yr)
EstablishedThe SA2 population grew 16.5% over the decade and 31% since 2011, placing Rockyview in the active gentrification stage, above most regional QLD suburbs at comparable density. Annual trend growth is 1.52%, adding roughly 91 residents per year, with medium forecasts reaching 6,367 by 2031 from 6,002 in 2025. Internal migration drives expansion at 138 net arrivals annually, well above the 12 from overseas. The senior share rose 4.4 points while the young adult share fell 3.4 points, indicating an aging trajectory. Affordability improved from 42.0% in 2011 to 35.6% in 2021, and real income grew 11.9%, both supporting continued owner-occupier demand.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+12
Net Internal / yr
+138
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +31% since 2011, Net internal migration +138/yr, Accelerating: 11% → 18%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rockyview compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rockyview a good suburb to live in?
Rockyview rates in the top tier nationally for economic resources, with SEIFA IER at decile 10 and household income in the 96.7th percentile. Housing stress is low, with mortgage repayments at 17.3% of income. The trade-offs are near-total car dependence at 91.8%, no public transit, and no recorded schools inside the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Rockyview?
The estimated median house price is $604,000 as of 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $480, implying a gross yield around 4.1%.
What schools are in Rockyview?
No schools are recorded inside the Rockyview suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the broader Rockhampton area. The suburb's university qualification rate of 28.3% is 1.8 points below the national figure, consistent with a workforce-oriented regional community.
Is Rockyview safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Rockyview in this dataset. As a proxy, the IRSD score places the suburb in decile 9 nationally for relative disadvantage, indicating very low deprivation. Only 3.3% of residents, approximately 54 people, need daily assistance with core activities.
Is Rockyview good for property investment?
Rental demand is limited, with just 3.2% of dwellings rented versus state averages, and the vacancy rate sits at 4.3%. Weekly rent of $480 against a $604,000 median gives a gross yield around 4.1%. Rent grew 16.7% over the measured period and net internal migration adds 138 residents annually, providing moderate long-term demand support.
How is Rockyview's population changing?
The SA2 population reached 6,002 in 2025 and grew 16.5% over the prior decade. Annual trend growth runs at 1.52%, or about 91 persons per year. Medium forecasts project 6,367 residents by 2031. Internal migration is the primary driver at 138 net arrivals annually, while the suburb follows an aging trajectory with the senior share up 4.4 points over 10 years.
What industries employ people in Rockyview?
Education is the largest sector at 16.4% of employed residents, followed by Healthcare at 15.0%, Public Administration at 9.0%, Mining at 8.2% and Construction at 8.2%. The employment profile reflects Rockyview's position on the fringe of Rockhampton, a regional hub that draws workers in services and resources. The unemployment rate is low at 2.9%.
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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