Rosewood
With a $373,000 median house price and household incomes in the 27th percentile nationally, Rosewood is one of the most affordable entry points in South-East Queensland. The suburb scores IRSAD decile 3, placing it in the lower third nationally for advantage, yet the gentrification score of 53 signals active change, with population up 40% since 2011 and net internal migration running at 471 people per year. Separate houses account for 92.1% of dwellings, renter share sits at 42.6%, and the vacancy rate is elevated at 9.4%, a combination that reflects genuine affordability pressure attracting renters alongside a still-thin owner-occupier market.
Population
3,263
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,233/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$373K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $373,000 median makes Rosewood far more accessible than the state average, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3% sits below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers on typical local incomes are not yet stretched. Monthly repayments average $1,349. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 92.1%, with apartments making up just 0.4%. Bedroom distribution favours three-bedroom homes at 46.0%, with four-plus bedrooms at 34.8%, so most available stock is family-scale. Outright owners represent 29.4% compared to 28.0% on a mortgage, a split that reflects an established but modest-income base. First-home buyers benefit from the affordability, though the household income percentile of 27.1 nationally means wage growth may constrain future repayment capacity.
For Buyers
The $373,000 median makes Rosewood far more accessible than the state average, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3% sits below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers on typical local incomes are not yet stretched. Monthly repayments average $1,349. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 92.1%, with apartments making up just 0.4%. Bedroom distribution favours three-bedroom homes at 46.0%, with four-plus bedrooms at 34.8%, so most available stock is family-scale. Outright owners represent 29.4% compared to 28.0% on a mortgage, a split that reflects an established but modest-income base. First-home buyers benefit from the affordability, though the household income percentile of 27.1 nationally means wage growth may constrain future repayment capacity.
For Investors
Rosewood's 42.6% renter share is above the Queensland average, providing a broad tenant pool, and weekly rents of $295 against a $373,000 median imply a gross yield around 4.1%, higher than many coastal QLD markets. The vacancy rate of 9.4% is elevated and warrants caution, as it suggests some oversupply relative to current rental demand. The longer-term demand signal is strong: net internal migration averages 471 people per year, the SA2 population grew 40% since 2011, and the medium forecast projects growth from 16,825 in 2025 to 17,936 by 2031. Development activity was minimal at 1 application in 12 months, suggesting new supply is not compressing returns. The affordability trend improved from 44.7% in 2011 to 39.5% in 2021, which supports steady rental demand rather than a speculative cycle.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rosewood iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Brigid's Primary School
Prep-6 · 214 students
Rosewood State High School
7-12 · 485 students
Rosewood State School
Prep-6 · 316 students
Demographics
The median age of 39 sits 1 year below the national figure. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,347), Scottish (397), Irish (329) and German (288) dominate, with just 9.2% of residents born overseas, which is 12.4 percentage points below the national average. University qualifications reach 12.0%, a gap of 18.1 points below national, consistent with the SEIFA IEO (education and occupation) decile 2 score. Average household size is 2.4, close to the national figure. The volunteering rate of 14.0% is meaningful for a small community of 3,263 people. Couples with children make up the largest family type at 817 households, with couples without children at 660, reflecting a working-age family profile rather than a retirement-skewed one.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.1%
Houses
7.3%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split almost evenly between outright owners (29.4%), mortgagees (28.0%) and renters (42.6%), with renters forming the largest single group, unusual for a low-density suburb. The stock is 92.1% separate houses with semi-detached dwellings at 7.3% and apartments at just 0.4%, making Rosewood one of the most house-dominant suburbs in the region. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.0% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms for 34.8%, meaning 80.8% of stock is family-sized. Mortgage repayments of $1,349 per month produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3%, below the stress level, while rent-to-income is 23.9%, also comfortable. The $373,000 median is estimated from rent data for 2025, and the vacancy rate of 9.4% is higher than typical rental markets, indicating some slack in supply.
Mortgage / mo
$1,349
Rent / wk
$295
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$636
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.4%
Unoccupied
124
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.7%
Couples, no children
2,386
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 18.6% of local workers (136 people), followed by Public Administration at 12.7% (93) and Education at 12.3% (90), with Manufacturing at 8.2% and Construction at 7.9%. By occupation, Community and Personal Services workers lead (206), followed by Labourers (172) and Clerical/Admin (156), a profile consistent with IRSD decile 3, placing Rosewood in the lower third nationally for relative socioeconomic advantage. Unemployment is 8.6%, above the national norm, and the participation rate of 44.6% is low, with 1,020 residents not in the labour force. Personal weekly income averages $636. Real income grew 10.4% over the decade, a positive signal, but the household income percentile of 27.1 nationally shows wages remain well below median.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
8,218
Unemployed
317
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
26.3%
Participation
44.6%
Employed
1,062
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.0%
Postgraduate
2.4%
Born Overseas
9.2%
Dwellings
1,185
Transport to Work
Transport in Rosewood is car-dependent: 86.8% of residents drive to work, public transport accounts for only 3.9%, and 3.1% walk or cycle. The suburb covers 31.39 square kilometres with a density of 104 people per square kilometre, so distances between destinations are significant. No schools are recorded in this dataset for Rosewood itself, so families rely on schools in neighbouring towns. The IRSAD decile 3 score places the suburb in the lower third nationally for advantage, yet the housing stress metrics show a more comfortable picture than that index implies: rent-to-income at 23.9% and mortgage-to-income at 25.3% are both below the 30% stress threshold. The need-assistance rate of 9.9% (288 people) is higher than the national average, reflecting the lower-income demographic profile rather than an aging spike.
Drive
86.8%
Public Transport
3.9%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.94%/yr
(+326 people/yr)
EstablishedRosewood is in an active gentrification stage with a score of 53, driven by three concurrent signals: population up 40% since 2011, net internal migration of 471 people per year, and the owner-occupier share rising from 39% to its current level. Annual population growth runs at 1.94%, adding approximately 326 people per year. The SA2 historical population grew from 15,442 in 2023 to 16,825 in 2025, and the medium forecast projects 17,936 by 2031. The young adult share fell 1.9 points while the senior share rose 4.5 points over the decade, an aging trajectory consistent with families settling and staying. Internal migration is the primary growth driver at 471 net annually, compared to just 37 net overseas arrivals, making Rosewood a destination for domestic movers seeking affordability within commuting range.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+37
Net Internal / yr
+471
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +40% since 2011, Net internal migration +471/yr, Accelerating: 0% → 39%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rosewood compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rosewood a good suburb to live in?
Rosewood offers genuine affordability with a $373,000 median house price and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3%, below the stress threshold. The trade-offs are an IRSAD decile 3 score, placing it in the lower third nationally for socioeconomic advantage, an 8.6% unemployment rate, and limited public transport with 86.8% of residents relying on cars.
What is the median house price in Rosewood?
The median house price is approximately $373,000, estimated from rental data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $295 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,349, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3%, one of the lower stress levels in the region. The vacancy rate is 9.4%, reflecting some rental market softness.
What schools are in Rosewood?
No schools are recorded inside the Rosewood suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby towns. The local university qualification rate is 12.0%, which is 18.1 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the SEIFA IEO decile 2 score reflecting lower educational attainment in the workforce.
Is Rosewood safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Rosewood in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 3, placing it in the lower third nationally for relative socioeconomic advantage. The need-assistance rate is 9.9% (288 people), above the national average, and the unemployment rate is 8.6%, both suggesting some socioeconomic pressure on the community.
Is Rosewood good for property investment?
The investment case is supported by a gross yield around 4.1% (weekly rent $295 vs $373,000 median), a 42.6% renter share above the state average, and net internal migration of 471 people annually. The main risk is a 9.4% vacancy rate, above the level that signals healthy demand. Medium forecasts project the SA2 population growing from 16,825 to 17,936 by 2031, underpinning long-term demand.
How is Rosewood's population changing?
The SA2 population grew from 15,442 in 2023 to 16,825 in 2025 and is forecast to reach 17,936 by 2031. Annual growth runs at 1.94%, adding around 326 people per year. The primary driver is internal migration at 471 net arrivals per year, well above overseas migration of 37. The suburb population grew 40% since 2011, placing it in the active gentrification stage with a score of 53.
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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