Rose Bay
Rose Bay scores decile 10 on all four SEIFA indices, placing it in the top tier nationally across education, economic resources, advantage, and low disadvantage. The $2,950,000 median masks a 17.2% price decline from $3,020,000 in 2024 to $2,500,000 in 2025, the steepest correction in this batch. Judaism (2,875 adherents) nearly matches Christianity (3,160), creating one of Australia's most concentrated Jewish communities. Apartments dominate at 69.1%, and 42.3% were born overseas, 20.7 points above the national average. With 153 DAs in 12 months and an 11.3% vacancy rate, Rose Bay is simultaneously one of Sydney's most actively redeveloped and most oversupplied premium markets.
Population
9,911
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,539/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
161
Median House
$3.0M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $2,950,000 median dropped 17.2% from $3,020,000 in 2024 to $2,500,000 in 2025, presenting the sharpest correction in this cohort. Apartments at 69.1% dominate, with two-bedrooms (41.3%) the most common configuration. Houses (20.7%) are scarce and command significant premiums above the median. Mortgage-to-income at 29.6% sits just below the stress threshold despite the high absolute prices, because household incomes at the 92.7th percentile ($2,539/week) provide servicing capacity. All 4 schools exceed ICSEA 1,145: Kambala (1,169), McAuley Catholic (1,168), Kincoppal (1,160) and Rose Bay Public (1,145), forming an elite cluster.
For Buyers
The $2,950,000 median dropped 17.2% from $3,020,000 in 2024 to $2,500,000 in 2025, presenting the sharpest correction in this cohort. Apartments at 69.1% dominate, with two-bedrooms (41.3%) the most common configuration. Houses (20.7%) are scarce and command significant premiums above the median. Mortgage-to-income at 29.6% sits just below the stress threshold despite the high absolute prices, because household incomes at the 92.7th percentile ($2,539/week) provide servicing capacity. All 4 schools exceed ICSEA 1,145: Kambala (1,169), McAuley Catholic (1,168), Kincoppal (1,160) and Rose Bay Public (1,145), forming an elite cluster.
For Investors
Renters at 44.1% provide a large tenant pool, and median weekly rent of $630 is among the highest in this dataset. Against a $2,950,000 median, gross yield is approximately 1.1%. The 11.3% vacancy rate is a structural concern that limits income reliability. Rent-to-income at 24.8% keeps tenants below stress, but the turnover rate of 29.6% means nearly a third of residents move within 5 years. Development activity is intense with 153 DAs in 12 months, the highest count in this batch, adding ongoing supply pressure. The 17.2% price correction over one year introduces capital-loss risk for recent entrants.
Development Activity
Total DAs
827
Last 12 Months
161
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-5.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rose Bay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kambala
K-12 · 986 students
McAuley Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 273 students
Kincoppal - Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart
K-12 · 851 students
Rose Bay Public School
K-6 · 377 students
Demographics
University qualifications at 58.5% are 28.4 points above the national average, consistent with the IEO decile 10. South African ancestry (685) ranks unusually high at 4th place, reflecting a distinct migration pattern. With 42.3% born overseas (20.7 points above national), the suburb draws an international professional class. Judaism at 2,875 adherents is nearly equal to Christianity (3,160), creating one of Australia's most concentrated Jewish communities outside Caulfield. Average household size of 2.3 is below national, and couples without children (31.1%) outnumber any other family structure. Russian (82) and Mandarin (91) lead non-English languages.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
20.7%
Houses
8.7%
Townhouse
69.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Apartments dominate at 69.1%, with houses at 20.7% and semi-detached at 8.7%. Two-bedroom units (41.3%) lead bedroom distribution, with studios/one-bedrooms at 12.2%. Ownership is split: 31.2% own outright, 24.7% carry mortgages and 44.1% rent. The $2,950,000 median fell 17.2% from $3,020,000 in 2024 to $2,500,000 in 2025, the steepest single-year correction in this cohort. Mortgage-to-income at 29.6% sits just below stress, while rent-to-income at 24.8% is moderate. The 11.3% vacancy rate suggests meaningful oversupply, likely amplified by short-stay accommodation dynamics in the harbourside location.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,250
Rent / wk
$630
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,398
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.3%
Unoccupied
513
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.1%
Couples, no children
7,372
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Tech leads at 20.6% (829 workers), followed by Healthcare (13.5%, 544), Finance (11.7%, 473) and Education (9.6%, 386). This knowledge-economy concentration is consistent with the decile 10 SEIFA readings across all four indices. Professionals (1,930) and Managers (1,225) together account for over 60% of all workers. Unemployment at 3.8% is below the national average, and the full-time rate of 67.3% is strong. Construction at 6.0% (240) reflects the ongoing development activity visible in the 153 DAs. The IER decile 10 confirms exceptional accumulated economic resources, including both income and asset wealth.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.3%
Part-time
28.9%
Participation
58.1%
Employed
4,640
Occupations
Top Industries
University
58.5%
Postgraduate
15.8%
Born Overseas
42.3%
Dwellings
3,992
Transport to Work
Car driving at 77.7% is moderate for suburban Sydney, with walking/cycling at 11.0% and public transport at 5.6%. The school offering is exceptional: Kambala (ICSEA 1,169, 986 students), McAuley Catholic Primary (1,168, 273), Kincoppal-Rose Bay (1,160, 851) and Rose Bay Public (1,145, 377) all rank well above the national benchmark. All four SEIFA deciles sit at 10, the highest possible reading. The 18.0% volunteering rate and low need-for-assistance (3.4%) confirm strong community resilience. The 11.3% vacancy rate and 17.2% price correction are the primary livability headwinds.
Drive
77.7%
Public Transport
5.6%
Walk / Cycle
11.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rose Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rose Bay a good suburb to live in?
Rose Bay ranks at the top of national advantage indices with SEIFA decile 10 across all four measures. The 4 schools all exceed ICSEA 1,145, and 58.5% hold university qualifications. The $2,950,000 median limits access, but walking/cycling at 11.0% provides good harbour-side transport options. The 17.2% price correction may benefit new buyers.
What is the median house price in Rose Bay?
The median is $2,950,000 (PSI-derived), but dropped 17.2% from $3,020,000 in 2024 to $2,500,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments of $3,250 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.6%, just below stress. Median weekly rent is $630, the highest in this batch.
What schools are in Rose Bay?
Rose Bay has 4 elite schools. Kambala (ICSEA 1,169, 986 students) and McAuley Catholic Primary (1,168, 273) lead, followed by Kincoppal-Rose Bay (1,160, 851) and Rose Bay Public (1,145, 377). All exceed the national benchmark by at least 145 points, ranking in the top tier nationally.
Is Rose Bay safe?
Crime data is not available for Rose Bay in the current dataset. The IRSD decile 10 (lowest disadvantage nationally) and 3.8% unemployment rate are strong safety indicators. The 3.4% need-for-assistance rate is well below average. High-value harbourside properties may attract property crime, but no data confirms this.
Is Rose Bay good for property investment?
Gross yield is roughly 1.1% ($630/week on $2,950,000), very low. The 17.2% price decline in 2025 and 11.3% vacancy rate present near-term risk. However, decile 10 SEIFA readings and 153 DAs in 12 months signal long-term premium-suburb demand. The 44.1% renter share provides a tenant pool, though the 29.6% turnover rate means frequent re-letting.
How is Rose Bay's population changing?
Rose Bay grows slowly at 0.53% per year, constrained by its 2.53 km2 footprint. With 42.3% born overseas (20.7 points above national), international arrivals drive demographic change. The 29.6% turnover rate signals moderate churn. With 153 DAs in 12 months, active redevelopment is reshaping the built environment.
What languages are spoken in Rose Bay?
With 42.3% born overseas (20.7 points above national), Rose Bay is highly cosmopolitan. Mandarin (91 speakers), Russian (82), Italian (68), Portuguese (57) and French (50) lead. The European-language dominance contrasts with South and East Asian patterns in other Sydney suburbs, reflecting the established professional migrant profile.
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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