Rosebud
An older, house-heavy coastal profile defines Rosebud more than a commuter suburb profile. The median age is 49, which is 9.0 years above the national benchmark, while 88.7% of dwellings are separate houses and only 2.7% are apartments. Compared with nearby Dromana and Rye, Rosebud functions as a larger service centre on the southern peninsula, with 14,381 residents, a household income percentile of 23.7 and a high recorded crime rate of 114.0 per 1,000. A 28.0% vacancy rate also points to a market shaped by non-permanent occupancy.
Population
14,381
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,183/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
37
Median House
$732K
Apr-Jun 2024
Homebuyers get a detached housing market at a lower entry point than many beachside Mornington Peninsula pockets, with the median house price at $732,500 in Apr-Jun 2024. Prices remain 10.7% below the 2022 peak of $820,500, giving buyers more room than at the cycle high. Affordability still needs care because the median mortgage is $1,755 per month and mortgage costs sit at 34.3% of income. Family practicality is strong, with 52.4% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 24.4% having 4 or more.
For Buyers
Homebuyers get a detached housing market at a lower entry point than many beachside Mornington Peninsula pockets, with the median house price at $732,500 in Apr-Jun 2024. Prices remain 10.7% below the 2022 peak of $820,500, giving buyers more room than at the cycle high. Affordability still needs care because the median mortgage is $1,755 per month and mortgage costs sit at 34.3% of income. Family practicality is strong, with 52.4% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 24.4% having 4 or more.
For Investors
Rosebud's rental case is mixed rather than simple. Renting households make up 27.2% of tenure and the median rent is $350 per week, but the 28.0% vacancy rate is far higher than a tight rental market and can weaken pricing power. Demand is supported by 32 development applications in 12 months and forecast rent growth of 42.9%, yet investors need to allow for seasonal or non-permanent stock because vacancy is the standout risk. The median house price of $732,500 is still below the 2022 peak by 10.7%.
Development Activity
Total DAs
66
Last 12 Months
37
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+184.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rosebud iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Rosebud Primary School
Prep-6 · 561 students
Our Lady of Fatima School
Prep-6 · 172 students
Rosebud Secondary College
7-12 · 965 students
Demographics
Rosebud skews older and more locally rooted than the national profile. The median age is 49, 9.0 years above national, while only 17.5% of residents were born overseas, 4.1 percentage points below national. University attainment is 19.8%, 10.3 points lower than national, which aligns with a workforce weighted toward services, trades and care roles. English ancestry is the largest group at 6,213 people, followed by Irish at 1,703 and Scottish at 1,587, while Italian is the largest non-English home language count at 87.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.7%
Houses
8.4%
Townhouse
2.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Rosebud is overwhelmingly a separate-house market: 88.7% of dwellings are detached, compared with just 2.7% apartments and 8.4% semi-detached homes. Ownership is mature, with 42.8% owned outright, higher than the 30.0% with a mortgage and 27.2% renting. The latest median house price of $732,500 is 99.6% above the 2013 level of $367,000, but still 10.7% below the 2022 peak. Bedrooms are practical rather than compact, led by 3-bedroom homes at 52.4% and 4-plus bedrooms at 24.4%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,755
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$624
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
28.0%
Unoccupied
2,313
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.3% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.2%
Couples, no children
10,438
Total families
Economy & Employment
Rosebud's economy leans toward local services, with Healthcare the largest industry at 21.1% and 778 workers, above Construction at 15.5% and 573. Education adds 11.7%, Retail 8.0% and Professional/Tech 5.8%. Professionals are the biggest occupation group at 970, but Community/Personal roles at 797 and Sales at 663 show the importance of care, tourism and retail spending. The unemployment rate is 4.1%, yet participation is only 43.8% because 5,244 people are not in the labour force. SEIFA sits below average, with IRSAD decile 3 and IEO, IER and IRSD all decile 4.
Unemployment
6.2%
Labour Force
10,306
Unemployed
639
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.2%
Part-time
40.7%
Participation
43.8%
Employed
5,131
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.8%
Postgraduate
3.3%
Born Overseas
17.5%
Dwellings
5,953
Transport to Work
Rosebud suits car-based daily life more than public-transport commuting. Car drivers account for 91.6% of travel to work, while public transport is only 0.6% and walking or cycling is 1.9%, so access depends heavily on roads. Schooling is local and mixed sector, with 3 schools across Government and Catholic options; ICSEA ranges from 989 to 1012, led by Rosebud Primary School at 1012 and 561 enrolments, with Rosebud Secondary College at 989 and 965 enrolments. The caution is safety: crime is 114.0 per 1,000, and IRSAD decile 3 is below average.
Drive
91.6%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.96%/yr
(+226 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than speculative. The forecast trend is 0.96% a year, equal to about 226 extra people annually, and the 2026 to 2031 medium path rises from 23,877 to 25,009. Migration is balanced, with average net internal migration of 144 people a year and overseas migration of 110, so growth is not reliant on 1 source. The shift trajectory is Stable, while gentrification is only at Early signs with a score of 24. Rent growth of 42.9% is higher than the population growth rate, suggesting housing demand pressures can still build despite modest demographic change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+110
Net Internal / yr
+144
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +17% since 2011, Net internal migration +144/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,639
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
114.0
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 Rosebud compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rosebud a good suburb to live in?
Rosebud can suit buyers who want a coastal, car-based suburb with mostly houses, because 88.7% of dwellings are separate homes. The trade-off is that the median age is 49 and crime is 114.0 per 1,000, so lifestyle fit and local street choice matter.
What is the median house price in Rosebud?
The median house price in Rosebud is $732,500 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is 10.7% below the 2022 peak of $820,500, but 99.6% above the 2013 level of $367,000, showing long-term growth after a recent pullback.
What schools are in Rosebud?
Rosebud has 3 local schools: Rosebud Primary School with ICSEA 1012 and 561 enrolments, Our Lady of Fatima School with ICSEA 999 and 172 enrolments, and Rosebud Secondary College with ICSEA 989 and 965 enrolments.
Is Rosebud safe?
Rosebud recorded 1,639 offences and a crime rate of 114.0 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 835, so buyers should compare individual streets and security features rather than rely on the suburb average alone.
Is Rosebud good for property investment?
Rosebud has investor appeal through a $350 median weekly rent, 27.2% renting households and 32 development applications in 12 months. The main caution is the 28.0% vacancy rate, which is high and may reduce leasing certainty compared with tighter markets.
How is Rosebud's population changing?
Rosebud's forecast growth is stable at 0.96% a year, or about 226 people annually. The medium population path rises from 23,877 in 2026 to 25,009 in 2031, with balanced migration from 144 net internal and 110 net overseas arrivals each year.
Is there much development happening in Rosebud?
Yes. Rosebud recorded 32 development applications over 12 months, including planning permits and a 2 lot subdivision sample. That level of activity is meaningful for an established suburb, although it sits within a market where 88.7% of dwellings are still separate houses.
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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