Rosanna
The suburb contains 8,616 people, with a median age of 41 and household income at the 84.1 percentile. Its 81.2% separate-house share and 51.6% couples-with-children share point to a settled family market rather than a high-density renter base. Compared with the denser apartment pockets around Heidelberg, Rosanna has a more detached suburban form, although its density of 2,553.9 people per square kilometre still reflects compact Melbourne living.
Population
8,616
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,213/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$1.4M
October to December 2025
Buying in Rosanna requires a substantial deposit and careful budgeting. Compared with a lower-priced outer-market purchase, the upfront commitment is higher, although the household income percentile of 84.1 provides some purchasing support. Housing is predominantly detached, with 81.2% separate houses, 50.6% three-bedroom homes and 29.1% with four or more bedrooms. That family-sized stock suits buyers seeking space because couples with children account for 51.6% of families.
For Buyers
Buying in Rosanna requires a substantial deposit and careful budgeting. Compared with a lower-priced outer-market purchase, the upfront commitment is higher, although the household income percentile of 84.1 provides some purchasing support. Housing is predominantly detached, with 81.2% separate houses, 50.6% three-bedroom homes and 29.1% with four or more bedrooms. That family-sized stock suits buyers seeking space because couples with children account for 51.6% of families.
For Investors
Rosanna presents as an established, capital-led investment market rather than a high-turnover rental precinct. Median rent is $421 per week, 22.6% of households rent, and the vacancy rate is 7.4%. Compared with a tightly constrained rental market, that vacancy level provides a larger leasing buffer, but the relatively low renter share can also limit tenant depth for highly specialised properties. There were 13 development records in the past 12 months, mainly indicating incremental subdivision activity rather than a large apartment pipeline. Demand is supported by a 1.05% annual growth trend and overseas migration as the primary driver, because established homes near services can appeal to both long-term residents and new arrivals.
Development Activity
Total DAs
27
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+71.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rosanna
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Banyule Primary School
Rosanna Golf Links Primary School
Rosanna Primary School
St Martin of Tours School
Demographics
Rosanna has an older and more highly educated population than the national profile. The median age is 41, which is 1.0 year above the national comparison, while 55.9% of residents hold a university qualification, 25.8 percentage points higher than nationally. Overseas-born residents account for 27.1%, or 5.5 points above the national measure. English ancestry is most common at 2,712 people, followed by Italian at 1,134 and Irish at 1,120. Christianity accounts for 3,928 residents and no religion for 3,739, showing substantial representation in both groups. Household size averages 2.6 people, only 0.1 above the national comparison, while 81.8% stayed at the same address and turnover was 18.2%. Compared with more transient inner-city areas, this points to a settled population with strong family and professional foundations.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.2%
Houses
16.4%
Townhouse
2.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Rosanna's housing market has risen substantially over the long term but softened after a recent peak. Compared with higher-density suburbs, Rosanna is strongly detached, with 81.2% separate houses, 16.4% semi-detached homes and only 2.2% apartments. Ownership is split between 41.2% outright owners, 34.5% mortgage holders and 22.6% renters. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.6%, followed by four-plus-bedroom properties at 29.1%, while the 25.9% mortgage-to-income share indicates that affordability remains important even in a relatively affluent market.
Mortgage / mo
$2,482
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$421
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$974
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.4%
Unoccupied
257
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
51.6%
Couples with children
35.5%
Couples, no children
12.2%
Single parent
2,346
Total families
Economy & Employment
Rosanna's economy is anchored by knowledge, care and public-facing services. Healthcare is the largest industry at 18.5%, or 637 workers, followed by Professional and Technical services at 14.8% and 509 workers, Education at 13.8% and 474, Public Administration at 8.6% and 294, and Construction at 7.4% and 253. Professionals number 1,630 and managers 734, ahead of clerical and administrative workers at 543. The labour-force participation rate is 65.1%, unemployment is 3.9%, and 59.2% of employed residents work full time. Socioeconomic rankings sit above the middle: education and occupation reach decile 9, disadvantage is decile 9, and advantage is also decile 9, while economic resources are lower at decile 7. That gap suggests strong qualifications and employment, but housing costs may constrain economic capacity compared with the suburb's education profile.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
4,536
Unemployed
176
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.2%
Part-time
34.4%
Participation
65.1%
Employed
4,360
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
55.9%
Postgraduate
18.0%
Born Overseas
27.1%
Dwellings
3,197
Transport to Work
Rosanna is practical for households that value established homes, local primary schools and a home-based work pattern. Four nearby primary schools include 3 government schools and 1 Catholic school, so families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Transport is more car-oriented than a strongly transit-based inner suburb: 43.3% travel as car drivers, compared with 4.6% using public transport, while 46.8% work from home and 2.8% walk or cycle. Recorded crime totals 275 incidents, or 31.9 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences accounting for 189 and crimes against the person for 48. Compared with a lower-risk assessment based only on household affluence, street-level conditions still matter. IRSAD and IRSD both sit at decile 9, and volunteering is 16.6%, supporting a generally advantaged setting with useful local participation.
Drive
43.3%
Public Transport
4.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
46.8%
Population Forecast
+1.05%/yr
(+177 people/yr)
EstablishedRosanna's growth outlook is established rather than speculative. The annual trend is 1.05%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 17.8% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Stable, supported by 24.1% rent growth and 26.1% real income growth. Gentrification signals are mixed: one reading records a score of 16 and stage Not gentrifying, while shift indicators record a score of 45 and stage Active. Compared with a fast-redevelopment corridor, the 13 development records in 12 months suggest incremental change, mostly through subdivision, rather than wholesale redevelopment. That pattern fits an established suburb because demand is being absorbed through existing detached housing and small-scale land changes instead of a major apartment pipeline.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+284
Net Internal / yr
-100
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +19% since 2011, Net internal outflow -100/yr, Strong overseas inflow +284/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
275
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
31.9
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rosanna compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rosanna a good suburb to live in?
Rosanna suits households seeking established detached housing, primary schools and a settled atmosphere. The median age is 41, 81.2% of homes are separate houses and 46.8% of residents work from home. Public transport use is 4.6%, so car access remains important for many daily trips.
What schools are in Rosanna?
Rosanna has 4 nearby primary schools, comprising 3 government schools and 1 Catholic school. The local options include Rosanna, Banyule and Rosanna Golf Links primary schools, along with St Martin of Tours School. Confirm enrolment zones and availability for the exact address.
Is Rosanna safe?
Rosanna recorded 275 offences at a rate of 31.9 incidents per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 189 incidents, followed by 48 crimes against the person. Check recent street-level conditions because incident patterns can vary across 3.37 square kilometres.
How is Rosanna's population changing?
Rosanna has 8,616 residents today. Population change across the wider area is 17.8% over 10 years, with an annual growth trend of 1.05%. The trajectory is labelled Stable, and overseas migration is the primary driver, indicating measured growth rather than a rapid redevelopment surge.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), 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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