Rose Bay
Rose Bay's most distinctive feature is its unusually high homeownership rate: 48.0% of households own outright, with only 22.9% renting, pointing to a settled, long-established resident base rather than a transient population. The median age of 49 sits 9 years above the national figure, reinforcing an aging profile where 80% of residents stayed in the same address over the prior five-year period. University qualifications reach 45.2%, which is 15.1 percentage points above the national average, yet the suburb occupies SEIFA IRSD decile 7, above average on disadvantage nationally. The suburb spans just 0.66 km2 at a density of 1,813 people per km2, making it a compact, owner-dominated pocket within Hobart's eastern corridor.
Population
1,188
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,757/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
No current median sale price is recorded for Rose Bay, so buyers should reference the monthly mortgage figure as an indirect guide: median mortgage repayments run $1,717 per month, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability, compared to many mainland markets, is the clearest entry-point signal. The stock is strongly detached-house dominated at 89.5% of dwellings, with only 4.3% apartments and 6.2% semi-detached, so buyers seeking a standalone home will find the supply profile accommodating. Bedrooms skew toward larger dwellings: 47.2% have three bedrooms and 28.1% have four or more, suggesting the suburb suits families or those seeking room. Outright owners at 48.0% outnumber mortgage holders at 29.1%, indicating a low-leverage ownership base that tends to reduce forced-sale risk.
For Buyers
No current median sale price is recorded for Rose Bay, so buyers should reference the monthly mortgage figure as an indirect guide: median mortgage repayments run $1,717 per month, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability, compared to many mainland markets, is the clearest entry-point signal. The stock is strongly detached-house dominated at 89.5% of dwellings, with only 4.3% apartments and 6.2% semi-detached, so buyers seeking a standalone home will find the supply profile accommodating. Bedrooms skew toward larger dwellings: 47.2% have three bedrooms and 28.1% have four or more, suggesting the suburb suits families or those seeking room. Outright owners at 48.0% outnumber mortgage holders at 29.1%, indicating a low-leverage ownership base that tends to reduce forced-sale risk.
For Investors
The rental market in Rose Bay is narrow: only 22.9% of households rent, compared to the national average of around 30%, which limits the tenant pool for investors. Weekly rent averages $420, and rent-to-income sits at 23.9%, below the 30% stress level, meaning tenants are not under pressure but rents have limited room to grow without straining affordability. The vacancy rate is 8.0%, elevated compared to a healthy market rate of 2-3%, which suggests potential oversupply or low demand pressure in the rental segment. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, consistent with an established, stable stock with little new supply entering. Income is above average nationally at household income percentile 61.7, which supports owner-occupier demand more than rental demand in this suburb.
Schools in Rose Bay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Rose Bay High School
7-10 · 533 students
Demographics
The median age of 49 is 9 years above the national figure, placing Rose Bay squarely in the aging-resident profile tier. The 80.0% residential stability rate, meaning 80% of residents stayed put over five years, reflects strong community attachment rather than a high-churn population. University qualifications stand at 45.2%, which is 15.1 percentage points above the national average, a notably educated base for a suburb with only 1,188 residents. Overseas-born residents at 17.3% sit 4.3 points below the national rate, consistent with a predominantly Australian-born, Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile led by English (565), Irish (144) and Scottish (118). Household size averages 2.3, which is 0.2 below the national figure, reflecting the older couples-without-children composition where 42.2% of families are couples with no dependent children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.5%
Houses
6.2%
Townhouse
4.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock in Rose Bay is definitively detached-house dominated: 89.5% of dwellings are separate houses, far above the national average, with just 4.3% apartments and 6.2% semi-detached. Tenure strongly favours ownership: 48.0% own outright, 29.1% carry a mortgage and only 22.9% rent, a structure typical of established, lower-turnover suburbs. Bedroom distribution skews larger, with 47.2% three-bedroom and 28.1% four-plus bedroom homes, while two-bedroom dwellings account for 21.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,717, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, which is below the stress threshold of 30% and lower than most capital city comparisons. Rent-to-income at 23.9% is similarly comfortable. The 8.0% vacancy rate is the main housing market signal to monitor, as it sits well above normal equilibrium levels.
Mortgage / mo
$1,717
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$862
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.0%
Unoccupied
42
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.2%
Couples, no children
889
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education and Healthcare together employ 35.3% of the local workforce, with Education at 18.5% (77 workers) and Healthcare at 16.8% (70), followed by Public Administration at 13.7% (57). This public-sector concentration reflects Hobart's broader economic structure and correlates with the suburb's SEIFA IEO decile 7 score for education and occupation advantage, above the national median. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 169 workers, followed by Managers at 84, broadly in line with the 45.2% university qualification rate. The unemployment rate is 4.9%, moderate rather than low, with a participation rate of 51.8% that partly reflects the 49-year median age drawing a significant share of residents out of the labour force. Household income sits at the 61.7th percentile nationally, above average but not in the top tier.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.5%
Part-time
37.6%
Participation
51.8%
Employed
508
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.2%
Postgraduate
13.3%
Born Overseas
17.3%
Dwellings
484
Transport to Work
Rose Bay has a car-reliant commuting pattern with 77.6% of residents driving to work, while 8.2% use public transport and 4.6% walk or cycle. The suburb scores IRSAD decile 6 and IRSD decile 7 nationally, placing it above the national median on both advantage and low-disadvantage measures. SEIFA IEO decile 7 reflects the 45.2% university qualification rate, well above the national average. Volunteering is notably high at 24.1%, more than 1 in 4 residents, suggesting active civic participation that correlates with the stable, long-tenured community. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on nearby Hobart schools. At 7.2%, the share needing daily assistance is moderate relative to the 49-year median age, and housing stress is low with both rent-to-income (23.9%) and mortgage-to-income (22.6%) comfortably below the 30% stress threshold.
Drive
77.6%
Public Transport
8.2%
Walk / Cycle
4.6%
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 IRSAD decile 6 and IRSD decile 7 nationally, above the national median on both advantage and low-disadvantage measures. The volunteering rate of 24.1% and an 80% residential stability rate point to a settled community. Housing affordability is strong, with mortgage-to-income at 22.6% and rent-to-income at 23.9%, both below the 30% stress threshold.
What is the median house price in Rose Bay?
No current median sale price is recorded for Rose Bay in this dataset. As a proxy, median monthly mortgage repayments are $1,717, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, which is below the national stress threshold and indicates relative affordability compared to major capital cities. Weekly rent averages $420.
What schools are in Rose Bay?
No schools are recorded inside the Rose Bay suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb's 1,188 residents, with a median age of 49, skew older, but the 45.2% university qualification rate, which is 15.1 points above the national average, reflects a highly educated community that relies on Hobart schools in neighbouring areas.
Is Rose Bay safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Rose Bay in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 7 nationally, above the national median on the index of relative disadvantage, and only 7.2% of its 1,188 residents need daily assistance. Low housing stress, with rent-to-income at 23.9%, also correlates with lower social strain.
Is Rose Bay good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Rental yield potential is limited by a 22.9% renter share, which is lower than the national average of around 30%, and a vacancy rate of 8.0%, well above the 2-3% equilibrium. Weekly rent of $420 reflects modest returns. The low mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6% supports owner-occupier demand, but thin rental demand reduces yield prospects.
How is Rose Bay's population changing?
No forward forecast data is available for Rose Bay. The current population of 1,188 is spread across 0.66 km2, with zero development applications in the past 12 months and an 80% residential stability rate. The median age of 49, which is 9 years above the national figure, indicates the resident base is aging, suggesting gradual natural decline without significant new in-migration.
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.
Explore Rose Bay on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map