NSW 2142 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Rosehill

An apartment-heavy, renter-led suburb beside Parramatta and near Harris Park, Rosehill has 4,047 residents across 3.67 square kilometres, creating a density of 1,102.6 people per square kilometre. The median age is 32, about 8 years below the national median, while 67.9% of residents were born overseas, 46.3 percentage points higher than the national share. Apartments account for 73.7% of dwellings and renters for 68.7%, helping explain the suburb's high 14.8% vacancy rate. The profile suits residents seeking an established inner-western Sydney setting, compact housing and access to diverse employment, while owner-occupiers should assess building quality, strata costs and street-level amenity carefully.

Rosehill urban fabric map

Population

4,047

Median Age

32.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,763/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

32

3.67 km²· 1,102.6 people/km²· Family income $2,011/wk

Rosehill is better suited to buyers seeking apartment or compact urban housing than to households wanting a detached family home. Apartments make up 73.7% of dwellings, compared with 17.3% separate houses and 8.7% semi-detached homes. Two-bedroom properties dominate at 52.2%, while 22.9% have 0 or 1 bedroom, so the local stock is concentrated in smaller formats. Weekly rent is $390 and the typical mortgage payment is $1,997 per month; mortgage costs equal 26.2% of household income, below the supplied stress threshold. Compared with a detached-house suburb, Rosehill offers more low-maintenance choice but less space, making inspections of noise, outlook, strata records and storage especially important.

For Buyers

Rosehill is better suited to buyers seeking apartment or compact urban housing than to households wanting a detached family home. Apartments make up 73.7% of dwellings, compared with 17.3% separate houses and 8.7% semi-detached homes. Two-bedroom properties dominate at 52.2%, while 22.9% have 0 or 1 bedroom, so the local stock is concentrated in smaller formats. Weekly rent is $390 and the typical mortgage payment is $1,997 per month; mortgage costs equal 26.2% of household income, below the supplied stress threshold. Compared with a detached-house suburb, Rosehill offers more low-maintenance choice but less space, making inspections of noise, outlook, strata records and storage especially important.

For Investors

Rosehill presents a rental-focused investment case, with 68.7% of occupied dwellings rented and weekly rent of $390. The 14.8% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly held rental market, so investors should allow for leasing competition, property presentation and possible periods between tenants. Apartment concentration at 73.7% can support a broad tenant pool, but it also increases exposure to strata fees and competing stock. Development activity reached 33 applications in 12 months, which may add to supply and make newer buildings more competitive. Growth is forecast at 1.16% annually, driven by overseas migration, giving Rosehill a demand base that is more migration-linked than owner-occupier suburbs. Compared with low-vacancy markets, the likely trade-off is stronger tenant diversity but less dependable rental scarcity.

Development Activity

Total DAs

144

Last 12 Months

32

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-17.9%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
36
Demolition
7
Signage / Advertising
6
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
4
Commercial / Industrial
4
Other
3
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
3
New Dwelling
3

Schools in Rosehill

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Rosehill Public School

Primary School Government
School website

Demographics

Rosehill has a young and internationally connected population. Its median age of 32 is 8 years below the national median, while 60.2% of residents hold a university qualification, 30.1 percentage points higher than the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 67.9%, which is 46.3 points above the national share. Indian ancestry is recorded for 1,046 residents, followed by Chinese ancestry at 423 and Lebanese ancestry at 324; Hinduism has 1,202 adherents and Christianity 1,145. Listed language groups include Guj at 217 people, Hindi at 159, Arabic at 148, Mandarin at 134 and Punjabi at 118. Compared with older, more settled suburbs around Parramatta, this profile helps explain Rosehill's apartment demand, household turnover of 33.1% and average household size of 2.5.

Age Distribution

0-14
19.1%
15-24
9.3%
25-44
50.3%
45-64
15.1%
65+
6.2%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
22.9%
2 bed
52.2%
3 bed
16.7%
4+ bed
8.2%

Dwelling Structure

17.3%

Houses

8.7%

Townhouse

73.7%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 9.1% Mortgage 20.3% Rent 68.7% Other 1.9%

Rosehill's housing stock is dominated by apartments, with 73.7% of dwellings in that form, compared with 17.3% separate houses and 8.7% semi-detached homes. Tenure is similarly distinctive: 68.7% of households rent, 20.3% have a mortgage and only 9.1% own their home outright. The bedroom mix reinforces the compact urban pattern, with 52.2% of dwellings containing 2 bedrooms and 22.9% containing 0 or 1 bedroom. Rent takes 22.1% of household income and mortgage payments take 26.2%, both below the recorded stress flags. Compared with neighbouring Parramatta's broader urban housing market, Rosehill's smaller and more rental-oriented stock makes building condition, strata levies, parking and ventilation more important to long-term value.

Mortgage / mo

$1,997

Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $390.

$630

Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $720 · units $605

HH Size

2.5

Personal Income / wk

$899

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

14.8%

Unoccupied

266

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

22.1%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

26.2%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Guj
217
Hindi
159
Arabic
148
Mandarin
134
Punjabi
118
Urdu
85

Ancestry

Other
1,197
Indian
1,046
Chinese
423
English
421
Lebanese
324
Ancestry NS
281

Household Composition

51.0%

Couples with children

33.6%

Couples, no children

13.1%

Single parent

994

Total families

Economy & Employment

Rosehill's employment base combines professional services with essential and practical industries. Professional and technology work accounts for 15.6% of industry employment, or 237 people, followed by healthcare at 15.2% and 230 people, retail at 9.7% and 147, transport at 8.7% and 132, and construction at 7.3% and 110. The participation rate is 65.1%, full-time employment is 58.5% and unemployment is 6.7%. Professionals number 534, while clerical and administrative workers number 248. Rosehill's education and occupation decile is 7, above the midpoint, but its relative socioeconomic disadvantage decile is 3 and its advantage and disadvantage decile is 5. This contrast suggests a suburb where university-qualified and professional residents coexist with more constrained household resources than the occupation profile alone would imply.

Unemployment

6.7%

Labour Force

2,132

Unemployed

142

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
5
Disadvantage
3
Economic resources
1
Education & occupation
7

Full-time

58.5%

Part-time

28.4%

Participation

65.1%

Employed

1,990

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 534
Clerical/Admin 248
Machinery/Drivers 218
Trades 212
Managers 201
Community/Personal 197
Labourers 181
Sales 145

Top Industries

Professional/Tech 15.6%
Healthcare 15.2%
Retail 9.7%
Transport 8.7%
Construction 7.3%

University

60.2%

Postgraduate

23.5%

Born Overseas

67.9%

Dwellings

1,520

Transport to Work

Rosehill offers a dense, practical urban environment, covering 3.67 square kilometres at 1,102.6 residents per square kilometre. One local government primary school, Rosehill Public School, is identified, so families seeking secondary or non-government options should check nearby catchments against the exact address. Transport patterns show 7.8% using public transport, 43.2% driving a car, 4.6% walking or cycling and 40.3% working from home. Compared with lower-density suburbs, the apartment setting can reduce private outdoor space but may support easier access to shops and services. A suburb-level crime rate is not available, so safety decisions should include current police information, an evening inspection and checks on lighting, entrances and building management. The IRSAD decile is 5, placing Rosehill near the middle nationally on this measure.

Drive

43.2%

Public Transport

7.8%

Walk / Cycle

4.6%

Work from Home

40.3%

Population Forecast

+1.16%/yr

(+119 people/yr)

Established

Rosehill has an established growth outlook, with annual growth forecast at 1.16% and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 17.2% over 10 years, while the trajectory is labelled Stable, indicating measured expansion rather than a sudden development surge. Gentrification signals are mixed: the forecast gentrification score is 28 with a stage of Early signs, while the separate shift measure records a score of 45 and an Active stage. Rent growth is 17.2%, and the affordability measure moved from 60.8 in 2011 to 44.9 in 2021 alongside real income growth of 29.2%. Compared with a rapid-growth corridor, Rosehill's stable trajectory suggests gradual change, with migration and redevelopment likely to reshape demand before large-scale tenure change becomes dominant.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+771

Net Internal / yr

-606

28

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Population +25% since 2011, Net internal outflow -606/yr, Strong overseas inflow +771/yr, COVID recovered (-10% dip → full recovery)

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Rosehill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 14%
Household Income
Top 38%
Rent Level
Top 19%
Apartments
Top 1%
Renters
Top 2%
Uni Educated
Top 4%
Public Transport
Top 12%
Born Overseas
Top 0%
Density
Top 14%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rosehill a good suburb to live in?

Rosehill can suit residents who prefer apartment living, access to established urban services and a younger, migrant-majority setting. The median age is 32, 73.7% of homes are apartments and 40.3% of residents work from home. Compare the exact building and street because vacancy is 14.8% and apartment quality can vary.

What is the median house price in Rosehill?

A current median house price is not available. Rosehill's housing is 73.7% apartments, 17.3% separate houses and 68.7% renter occupied, so recent settled sales should be compared by dwelling type rather than using one suburb-wide figure. Weekly rent is $390.

What schools are in Rosehill?

Rosehill Public School is a government primary school. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address, then review nearby secondary and non-government options. Rosehill has 4,047 residents, and school access can depend on neighbouring catchments, transport and available places.

Is Rosehill safe?

No suburb-level crime rate is available to quote for Rosehill. Check current NSW Police information and inspect the exact street at different times, particularly in a dense apartment setting of 1,102.6 residents per square kilometre. The 14.8% vacancy rate also makes building management and common-area security worth checking.

Is Rosehill good for property investment?

Rosehill may suit investors targeting rental demand, with 68.7% of households renting and weekly rent of $390. The 14.8% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly held market, while 33 development applications in 12 months may increase competition. Overseas migration and 1.16% annual growth support demand, but apartment and strata risks require careful screening.

How is Rosehill's population changing?

Growth is forecast at 1.16% annually, primarily driven by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 17.2% over 10 years, although the trajectory is Stable. Gentrification is assessed at 28 and Early signs, while another shift measure records 45 and Active, suggesting gradual change with mixed signals.

What languages are spoken in Rosehill?

The largest listed language groups are Guj with 217 speakers, Hindi with 159, Arabic with 148, Mandarin with 134 and Punjabi with 118. Overseas-born residents represent 67.9% of the population, so multilingual services and culturally familiar local businesses are relevant considerations for residents and investors.

What development is occurring in Rosehill?

Rosehill recorded 33 development applications over 12 months. The sampled proposals include dwelling houses and residential accommodation, including applications for 1 dwelling. This level of activity can improve housing choice but may also add competing rental stock, so investors should check each building's completion date, strata position and surrounding construction impacts.

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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