Rooty Hill
More than half of Rooty Hill's 16,176 residents were born overseas, at 53.2%, which is 31.6 percentage points above the national comparison. The suburb is predominantly detached housing, with 76.7% separate houses and 41.0% mortgaged, so its identity is shaped by family households and owner occupiers rather than apartment living. Median age is 37, or 3.0 years below national, while household income sits at the 75.1 percentile. Compared with nearby Doonside and Blacktown, Rooty Hill reads as a practical mortgage-belt suburb with a strong migrant profile, established services and an aging trajectory.
Population
16,176
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,001/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
73
Rooty Hill suits buyers who prioritise a conventional family floorplan over apartment density. Separate houses account for 76.7% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 19.7% and apartments 3.2%; 48.3% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 41.5% have 4 or more. The $420 weekly rent and $2,167 monthly mortgage reference make holding costs easier to compare, while mortgage-to-income is 25.0% and rent-to-income is 21.0%, with neither housing stress flag active. Compared with apartment-heavy parts of western Sydney, the larger-house mix gives families more choice, but buyers should check lot size, renovation needs and settled sales rather than relying on suburb-wide averages.
For Buyers
Rooty Hill suits buyers who prioritise a conventional family floorplan over apartment density. Separate houses account for 76.7% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 19.7% and apartments 3.2%; 48.3% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 41.5% have 4 or more. The $420 weekly rent and $2,167 monthly mortgage reference make holding costs easier to compare, while mortgage-to-income is 25.0% and rent-to-income is 21.0%, with neither housing stress flag active. Compared with apartment-heavy parts of western Sydney, the larger-house mix gives families more choice, but buyers should check lot size, renovation needs and settled sales rather than relying on suburb-wide averages.
For Investors
Rental demand has a sizeable base: 32.9% of households rent, weekly rent is $420 and vacancy is 4.9%. Compared with an owner-occupier-only market, the renter share gives landlords a clearer tenant pool, although vacancy means leasing competition still matters. Development activity is material, with 74 applications or modifications in 12 months, which can add amenity but may increase competing supply. Overseas migration is the primary forecast growth driver, while 76.7% separate houses and 19.7% semi-detached homes point to a family-rental niche. Compare each purchase against settled sales, maintenance and achievable rent because yield cannot be judged from weekly rent alone.
Development Activity
Total DAs
384
Last 12 Months
73
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+10.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rooty Hill
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Rooty Hill has 16,176 residents and a median age of 37, which is 3.0 years below the national comparison. The overseas-born share is 53.2%, 31.6 percentage points above national, and the university-qualified share is 40.8%, 10.7 points higher. Household size averages 3.2 people, 0.7 above national, helping explain why couples with children account for 56.5% of families and why 3 and 4-plus bedroom homes dominate. Filipino ancestry numbers 3,395, while Indian ancestry is 1,341; Christianity counts 8,904 and Islam 2,003. Compared with nearby Blacktown and Doonside, the suburb's profile is especially shaped by overseas migration, larger households and long-term family settlement, with 83.4% staying at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.7%
Houses
19.7%
Townhouse
3.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing is the defining physical pattern: 76.7% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 19.7% semi-detached homes and 3.2% apartments. Tenure is split between 41.0% with a mortgage, 24.5% owned outright and 32.9% renting, so the suburb carries both repayment exposure and a substantial tenant segment. The typical home has 3 bedrooms in 48.3% of cases or 4-plus in 41.5%, matching an average household size of 3.2 people, 0.7 above national. At 6.81 square kilometres and 2,376.3 people per square kilometre, Rooty Hill is denser than a low-density outer-fringe area while remaining more house-led than apartment-oriented precincts. Buyers should compare lot size and dwelling condition, not just bedroom count.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $420.
$650
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $680
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$742
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
237
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
56.5%
Couples with children
24.7%
Couples, no children
17.2%
Single parent
4,020
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the standout industry, employing 996 people and representing 22.6% of jobs, followed by manufacturing at 9.6%, retail at 8.8%, transport at 8.3% and professional or technical work at 7.1%. This mix links local employment to care services, logistics and practical trades, while occupations include 1,300 professionals, 1,040 clerical and administrative workers and 999 machinery or driver roles. Household income is $2,001 weekly at the 75.1 percentile, but unemployment is 7.0% and participation is 55.3%, so prosperity is uneven. SEIFA places education and occupation at decile 4, economic resources at decile 6, disadvantage at decile 4 and advantage or disadvantage at decile 5. Compared with the national midpoint, income is higher, yet lower education and occupation rankings point to mixed access to qualifications and professional work.
Unemployment
7.0%
Labour Force
7,138
Unemployed
500
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.7%
Part-time
26.4%
Participation
55.3%
Employed
6,638
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.8%
Postgraduate
9.1%
Born Overseas
53.2%
Dwellings
4,589
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 56.9% travel as car drivers, compared with 5.9% using public transport and 1.3% walking or cycling. That pattern can suit households with multiple errands, while 30.1% working from home may reduce some commuting pressure. Two local government schools cover primary and secondary years, but families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across nearby streets. An IRSAD decile of 5 places Rooty Hill around the middle of the socioeconomic scale, below the top deciles, while 2,376.3 people per square kilometre indicates an established urban setting. For safety, review current incident data for the exact streets and compare the last 12 months with surrounding suburbs, since a suburb-wide label can hide local variation.
Drive
56.9%
Public Transport
5.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
30.1%
Population Forecast
+0.95%/yr
(+220 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than rapid, with the forecast trend at 0.95% annually and the wider area's 10-year population change at 16.3%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, which fits the suburb's 53.2% overseas-born share, but the trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 4.6 percentage points while the young share has fallen 1.4 points. Gentrification signals are mixed, with a shift score of 30 labelled Early signs but a separate gentrification score of 15 labelled Not gentrifying. The 74 development applications or modifications in 12 months may refresh local housing and services. Compared with faster-growth corridors, Rooty Hill is below 1% annual growth, so its appeal is likely to come from gradual renewal and established demand rather than sudden change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+298
Net Internal / yr
-264
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +15% since 2011, Net internal outflow -264/yr, Strong overseas inflow +298/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rooty Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rooty Hill a good suburb to live in?
Yes, Rooty Hill can suit households seeking detached housing, schools and established urban access. Separate houses make up 76.7% of dwellings, median age is 37 and 30.1% work from home. Compare the exact street, school zone and transport needs before deciding, because car use at 56.9% is much higher than public transport use at 5.9%.
What is the median house price in Rooty Hill?
Use recent settled sales to establish the current median by bedroom, lot size and condition. The local cost references are $420 per week for rent and $2,167 per month for a mortgage, but those figures should be compared with actual sale prices rather than treated as a house-price median.
What schools are in Rooty Hill?
Rooty Hill has 2 government schools: Rooty Hill Public School for primary students and Rooty Hill High School for secondary students. Check the exact address for enrolment zones, because a nearby school is not always the assigned school and boundaries can affect access.
Is Rooty Hill safe?
Review current NSW Police incident data for the exact streets and compare the latest 12 months with nearby suburbs before signing a contract. Rooty Hill covers 6.81 square kilometres and has 16,176 residents, so street-level conditions can differ across the suburb.
Is Rooty Hill good for property investment?
Rooty Hill may suit investors seeking family-oriented rentals: 32.9% of households rent, weekly rent is $420 and vacancy is 4.9%. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while 74 development matters in 12 months may change competing supply. Compare achievable rent with settled sales, rates, insurance and maintenance before judging yield.
How is Rooty Hill's population changing?
Population change is gradual rather than explosive. Forecast growth is 0.95% a year, and population change across the wider area is 16.3% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is Aging, with senior share up 4.6 points and young share down 1.4 points.
What languages are spoken in Rooty Hill?
Commonly recorded languages include Urdu with 421 speakers, Hindi with 293, Arabic with 195, Nepali with 190 and Punjabi with 142. The overseas-born share is 53.2%, which is 31.6 percentage points above the national comparison, so language access can matter when choosing local services.
What development is occurring in Rooty Hill?
Development activity includes 74 applications or modifications in 12 months, with examples involving centre-based childcare, a dwelling house and a shed. Check approval status, conditions, construction timing and any impact on parking or traffic before relying on a proposal. Proposal counts do not guarantee completion.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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