Rosebery
Rosebery’s most distinctive feature is its combination of 2,184.9 people per square kilometre and household income in the 90.6th percentile, despite a renter share of 52.8%. The suburb has 4,127 residents, a median age of 30 that is 10 years below the national age benchmark, and forecast growth of 3.33% annually. Compared with nearby Bellamack and Zuccoli, Rosebery presents as a more established Palmerston choice, with 86.6% of workers driving and 68.4% of dwellings being separate houses. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while an IRSAD score in decile 7 indicates stronger relative advantage than many Australian locations.
Population
4,127
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,397/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Rosebery suits buyers who value larger dwellings and access to a working household base, although a current median house price is not available. Separate houses account for 68.4% of homes, while 45.1% have four or more bedrooms and 35.8% have three bedrooms, giving families more choice than a strongly apartment-led market. The indicative mortgage cost is $2,128 monthly, equal to 20.5% of household income, while rent is $420 weekly or 17.5% of income. That mortgage burden is above the rent share, so buyers should compare loan costs with the exact property, deposit and maintenance requirements.
For Buyers
Rosebery suits buyers who value larger dwellings and access to a working household base, although a current median house price is not available. Separate houses account for 68.4% of homes, while 45.1% have four or more bedrooms and 35.8% have three bedrooms, giving families more choice than a strongly apartment-led market. The indicative mortgage cost is $2,128 monthly, equal to 20.5% of household income, while rent is $420 weekly or 17.5% of income. That mortgage burden is above the rent share, so buyers should compare loan costs with the exact property, deposit and maintenance requirements.
For Investors
Rosebery offers a rental-focused investment profile, with 52.8% of occupied dwellings rented and weekly rent of $420. The 7.0% vacancy rate is a key factor because it can soften competition between landlords, even where tenant demand remains supported by employment and migration. Compared with an owner-dominated market, the renter base creates a wider leasing audience, but investors should allow for vacancy and property-management costs. Forecast growth is 3.33% annually and is driven primarily by overseas migration, while the development count over the past 12 months is 0, limiting evidence of a current construction surge.
Demographics
Rosebery has a young resident base, with a median age of 30, or 10 years below the national benchmark. University attainment is 24.3%, which is 5.8 percentage points below the national comparison, while 22.8% of residents were born overseas, 1.2 points above the national figure. English ancestry is the largest reported group at 1,300 people, followed by Irish at 318 and Scottish at 307. No religion is reported by 1,881 residents, compared with 1,480 identifying with Christianity and 103 with Hinduism. Compared with nearby established Palmerston suburbs, Rosebery’s profile is younger and more mobile, with 36.6% turnover and 63.4% staying at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
68.4%
Houses
20.8%
Townhouse
10.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Rosebery is primarily a family-house market, with 68.4% separate houses, 20.8% semi-detached dwellings and 10.8% apartments. Four or more bedrooms account for 45.1% of homes, while three-bedroom dwellings represent 35.8%, so the housing mix is larger than a compact unit market. Renting is the dominant tenure at 52.8%, followed by mortgages at 36.8% and outright ownership at only 8.6%. Compared with a mature owner-occupier suburb, this tenure pattern points to a younger and more leveraged market. Vacancy is 7.0%, and the indicative mortgage burden of 20.5% is higher than the 17.5% rent-to-income share.
Mortgage / mo
$2,128
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$420
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,205
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.0%
Unoccupied
98
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
53.6%
Couples with children
28.7%
Couples, no children
16.6%
Single parent
1,034
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration is Rosebery’s largest industry at 25.7% and 382 workers, followed by healthcare at 14.0% and 208, construction at 9.8% and 146, education at 9.5% and 141, and retail at 6.5% and 96. The occupational mix is similarly broad, led by trades at 379, professionals at 371, community and personal services at 364, clerical and administrative roles at 364, and managers at 256. Labour-force participation is 75.4%, unemployment is 3.0% and full-time employment is 69.6%. Household income sits in the 90.6th percentile, while SEIFA deciles range from 6 for education and occupation to 8 for relative socioeconomic disadvantage, suggesting income strength alongside a less university-heavy workforce than the national comparison.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
2,284
Unemployed
68
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.6%
Part-time
22.9%
Participation
75.4%
Employed
2,216
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.3%
Postgraduate
6.3%
Born Overseas
22.8%
Dwellings
1,300
Transport to Work
Rosebery’s compact 1.89 square kilometre footprint and density of 2,184.9 people per square kilometre support a neighbourhood format, but daily travel is strongly car dependent. Some 86.6% of workers drive, compared with 1.4% using public transport, 1.4% walking or cycling and 3.4% working from home. Families should check school enrolment zones against the exact address and confirm sector, year-level availability and travel times across the Palmerston area rather than assuming proximity guarantees access. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, Rosebery requires more transport planning. An IRSAD decile of 7 indicates above-midpoint relative advantage, while 3.8% need assistance and a 15.0% volunteering rate help describe local support needs and participation.
Drive
86.6%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
3.4%
Population Forecast
+3.33%/yr
(+466 people/yr)
EstablishedRosebery has a forecast annual growth trend of 3.33%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Compared with its current young-resident profile, the wider area is classified as having a “Declining young” trajectory, with the young share down 3.5 percentage points and the working share up 5.6 points. Population change across the wider area is forecast at 85.7% over 10 years, signalling strong expansion pressure without relying on a future suburb head count. Gentrification signals are mixed: one measure records a score of 25 at the “Early signs” stage, while the shift measure records 52 at the “Active” stage. Rent growth of 17.6% adds pressure to this transition.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+395
Net Internal / yr
-141
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -141/yr, Strong overseas inflow +395/yr, Accelerating: 26% → 57%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rosebery compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rosebery a good suburb to live in?
Rosebery can suit households seeking a young, established Palmerston setting, with 4,127 residents, a median age of 30 and household income in the 90.6th percentile. Compared with the national age benchmark, residents are 10 years younger. The trade-off is car dependence, with 86.6% driving and only 1.4% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Rosebery?
A current median house price for Rosebery is unavailable. As practical cost indicators, weekly rent is $420 and the indicative mortgage cost is $2,128 monthly. Compare those carrying costs with recent settled sales, the dwelling’s condition and the 68.4% separate-house share before making an offer.
What schools are in Rosebery?
School access should be checked by exact address because enrolment zones can cross suburb boundaries. Rosebery households are part of the wider Palmerston school network, and the suburb’s 86.6% car-driver share compared with 1.4% public transport means many families will plan school travel by car. Confirm sector, year levels and places directly.
Is Rosebery safe?
A confident safety assessment requires current local crime information rather than relying on socioeconomic measures. Rosebery records an IRSAD decile of 7 and a need-assistance rate of 3.8%, but those figures are not crime ratings. Compare recent police information, street conditions and the exact property location before deciding, especially where household routines involve travel after dark.
Is Rosebery good for property investment?
Rosebery has a renter-majority profile, with 52.8% renting, $420 weekly rent and a 7.0% vacancy rate. Compared with an owner-heavy suburb, that can provide a broader tenant pool, but vacancy risk needs attention. Forecast growth is 3.33% annually and overseas migration is the main driver, while development activity is recorded at 0 over 12 months.
How is Rosebery's population changing?
Rosebery has 4,127 residents today and a median age of 30, but its growth outlook is stronger than its young-share trend suggests. Forecast annual growth is 3.33%, driven by overseas migration, while population change across the wider area is 85.7% over 10 years. The trajectory is labelled “Declining young”, with the young share down 3.5 percentage points.
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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