Rosedale
At 42.3% outright ownership, Rosedale carries one of the stronger debt-free homeowner rates in rural Victoria, which makes sense given a median age of 45, five years above the national figure. The 1,729-person township covers 203 square kilometres at a density of 8.5 people per km2, a profile typical of a service centre for surrounding farmland. House prices have grown 162.8% since 2013 from $215,000 to $565,000, a 7.1% CAGR over 14 years that outpaces most comparable inland towns. Income sits in the 26.7th percentile nationally, so affordability has gradually worsened, with the mortgage-to-income ratio rising from 28.5% in 2011 to 32.6% in 2021.
Population
1,729
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,224/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median House
$565K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $565,000 as of April to June 2024 sits 3.4% below the recent peak of $585,000 recorded in January to March 2024, offering buyers a small discount from the top. Separate houses dominate at 96.1% of dwellings, so the market is almost entirely detached housing with very little apartment or semi-detached competition. Three-bedroom homes account for 52.5% of stock and four-plus bedroom homes 30.4%, meaning the average home is larger than in most metropolitan suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,200, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, below the 30% stress threshold and lower than the national average for comparable price points. Over 14 years, prices have risen from $215,000 to $565,000, a compound annual growth rate of 7.1%.
For Buyers
The median house price of $565,000 as of April to June 2024 sits 3.4% below the recent peak of $585,000 recorded in January to March 2024, offering buyers a small discount from the top. Separate houses dominate at 96.1% of dwellings, so the market is almost entirely detached housing with very little apartment or semi-detached competition. Three-bedroom homes account for 52.5% of stock and four-plus bedroom homes 30.4%, meaning the average home is larger than in most metropolitan suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,200, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, below the 30% stress threshold and lower than the national average for comparable price points. Over 14 years, prices have risen from $215,000 to $565,000, a compound annual growth rate of 7.1%.
For Investors
The vacancy rate of 6.7% is elevated compared to the national rental market, suggesting supply exceeds current tenant demand and putting modest downward pressure on rents. Weekly rent of $250 against a $565,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.3%, below what investors typically target in regional markets. The renter share of 17.2% is low, which means the bulk of occupants are owners rather than tenants, limiting the tenant pool size. Net overseas migration adds approximately 12 residents a year while internal migration averages a net loss of 3, providing balanced but thin population growth of 23 persons per year or 0.46% annually. Development activity is modest at 5 applications in the past 12 months, mostly boundary adjustments and subdivisions rather than new dwellings, so investor supply pressure is minimal.
Development Activity
Total DAs
15
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+500.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rosedale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Rosedale Primary School
Prep-6 · 99 students
Demographics
The median age of 45 is 5.0 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory is confirmed by a 6.1 point increase in the senior share over the decade, while the working-age share fell 2.4 points. Only 9.2% of residents were born overseas, which is 12.4 percentage points below the national average, making Rosedale one of the more Anglo-Celtic communities in Victoria. Ancestry is led by English (749), Scottish (193), Irish (156) and German (64). University qualifications sit at 12.0%, which is 18.1 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a town where trade and service occupations dominate over knowledge-based roles. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national figure of 2.5.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.1%
Houses
1.9%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits clearly towards ownership: 42.3% own outright, 40.5% carry a mortgage and only 17.2% rent, a distribution that skews well above the national owner-occupier share. The outright ownership rate of 42.3% is particularly notable because it reflects the older resident base, with many households having paid off mortgages over decades. Stock is overwhelmingly detached at 96.1% separate houses, with semi-detached at just 1.9%. From a 2013 base of $215,000, the median has grown to $565,000 as of April to June 2024, peaking at $585,000 in January to March 2024 before pulling back 3.4%. The rent-to-income ratio of 20.4% keeps renters below the 30% stress threshold, indicating housing costs remain manageable relative to local incomes in the 26.7th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,200
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$620
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.7%
Unoccupied
49
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.5%
Couples, no children
1,279
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 18.6% of workers, followed by Public Administration at 12.6% and Construction at 11.2%, reflecting Rosedale's role as a regional service centre rather than a purely agricultural town. Education accounts for 9.0% and Manufacturing 8.5%. By occupation, Community and Personal Service workers (104) lead, ahead of Professionals (88), Labourers (83), Managers (79) and Clerical workers (77). The SEIFA IRSD decile of 4 places Rosedale in the lower advantage tier nationally, while the IER (economic resources) decile of 7 is notably higher, because the high outright ownership rate inflates asset-based measures. Unemployment stands at 8.1%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 48.7% is low, partly because the aging population includes many retirees already out of the labour force.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
2,256
Unemployed
73
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.1%
Part-time
26.8%
Participation
48.7%
Employed
648
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.0%
Postgraduate
2.0%
Born Overseas
9.2%
Dwellings
673
Transport to Work
Transport in Rosedale is almost entirely car-dependent: 88.4% of residents drive to work and only 1.1% use public transport, below the state average, which reflects the absence of significant rail or bus services in a low-density rural setting. Walkability is limited, though 4.7% walk or cycle, a reasonable figure for a small town. The crime rate of 143.4 incidents per 1,000 residents is elevated compared to many Victorian suburbs, with property and deception offences (116 incidents) the largest category. The IRSAD decile of 4 places Rosedale in the lower-middle range nationally for overall advantage, consistent with below-median income and education levels. No schools are recorded in the dataset for this suburb boundary, so families rely on facilities elsewhere in the Latrobe Valley region. Volunteering at 16.1% is solid relative to comparable rural communities.
Drive
88.4%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.46%/yr
(+23 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth of 0.46%, or 23 persons per year, is slow but positive. The medium forecast projects the broader SA2 reaching 5,116 by 2031, above the 2025 base of 5,020. Migration is balanced: overseas arrivals average 12 per year and internal outflow averages 3, giving thin but positive net migration. Rent grew 57.3% over the period compared to real income growth of only 11.7%, which explains why the mortgage-to-income ratio rose from 28.5% in 2011 to 32.6% in 2021. The gentrification score of 54, classified as Active, signals some lifestyle-driven price pressure that is typical for accessible rural towns within commuting range of Latrobe Valley employment.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+12
Net Internal / yr
-3
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
248
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
143.4
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 Rosedale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rosedale a good suburb to live in?
Rosedale suits buyers who value affordable detached housing and a quieter rural lifestyle. The median house price of $565,000 is accessible relative to metropolitan Victoria, and mortgage repayments average $1,200 a month, keeping the mortgage-to-income ratio at 22.6%. The main trade-offs are an elevated crime rate of 143.4 per 1,000 residents, limited public transport and income in the 26.7th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Rosedale?
The median house price is $565,000 as of April to June 2024, down 3.4% from the recent peak of $585,000 in January to March 2024. Since 2013 the median has grown from $215,000, a compound annual growth rate of 7.1% over 14 years. Weekly rent averages $250 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,200.
What schools are in Rosedale?
No schools are recorded inside the Rosedale suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in the broader Latrobe Valley region. University qualifications among residents sit at 12.0%, which is 18.1 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting the trade and service employment base of the town rather than knowledge-sector work.
Is Rosedale safe?
Rosedale recorded 248 total criminal incidents, giving a crime rate of 143.4 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 116 of those incidents, the largest single category, followed by justice procedures offences at 63 and crimes against the person at 48. This rate is above the average for smaller Victorian towns and worth considering.
Is Rosedale good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $250 against a $565,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.3%, below what most investors seek in regional markets. The 6.7% vacancy rate is elevated compared to tighter regional markets, indicating current supply exceeds tenant demand. The longer-term capital growth story is stronger: prices grew at a 7.1% compound annual rate since 2013, and rent growth of 57.3% over the period shows sustained income pressure.
How is Rosedale's population changing?
Population is growing at 0.46% per year, adding roughly 23 people annually. The 10-year historical change is 8.2%. The broader SA2 is forecast to reach 5,116 by 2031 under the medium scenario. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 6.1 percentage points over the decade, and the working-age share falling 2.4 points over the same period.
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 Rosedale on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map