Rossmore
A $4.8 million median house price for a suburb of 2,241 people signals that Rossmore operates in a different tier to most of greater Sydney. Every dwelling is a separate house, 100% detached, and 62.2% have four or more bedrooms, reflecting the large rural residential lots that define this semi-rural pocket of the south-west. Household income sits in the 65.9th percentile nationally, below what the property values might imply, because residents are long-term landholders rather than income-wealthy newcomers. The suburb spans 16.35 km2 at a density of 137 people per km2, well below average, and 84.8% of residents have not moved in five years, pointing to a stable, rooted community.
Population
2,241
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,827/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Median House
$4.8M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $4,800,000 makes Rossmore one of NSW's most expensive suburbs by headline figure, though the 2025 data point of $4,300,000 sits 10.9% below the 2024 peak of $4,825,000. All dwellings are separate houses, with 62.2% carrying four or more bedrooms, consistent with large acreage properties. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, well below what the headline median would imply, because the owner-outright share is high at 48.8% and many properties trade without conventional finance. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6% remains below the 30% stress threshold, which is lower than many comparable Sydney fringe markets. Buyers effectively compete for one property type on one lot style, meaning supply constraints are structural rather than cyclical.
For Buyers
The median house price of $4,800,000 makes Rossmore one of NSW's most expensive suburbs by headline figure, though the 2025 data point of $4,300,000 sits 10.9% below the 2024 peak of $4,825,000. All dwellings are separate houses, with 62.2% carrying four or more bedrooms, consistent with large acreage properties. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, well below what the headline median would imply, because the owner-outright share is high at 48.8% and many properties trade without conventional finance. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6% remains below the 30% stress threshold, which is lower than many comparable Sydney fringe markets. Buyers effectively compete for one property type on one lot style, meaning supply constraints are structural rather than cyclical.
For Investors
With a weekly rent of $500 and a $4,800,000 median, the gross yield is near 0.5%, making rental return the weakest argument for buying here. The 33.6% renter share is the main demand signal, higher than the 48.8% who own outright, but vacancy at 9.0% is elevated compared to tighter Sydney markets. Development activity is low at 10 applications in 12 months, mostly sheds and rural additions rather than new dwellings, limiting speculative opportunity. Annual net internal migration averages 44 persons and overseas migration adds 15, giving modest but positive demand growth. The population is forecast to grow from 3,147 in 2025 to 3,385 by 2031 under the medium scenario, a trajectory that supports gradual demand without creating rapid turnover.
Development Activity
Total DAs
87
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-26.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rossmore iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Bellfield College
K-12 · 704 students
Rossmore Public School
K-6 · 113 students
Demographics
Rossmore has a median age of 40, equal to the national median with 0.0 years difference. The overseas-born share of 30.9% runs 9.3 percentage points above national, driven by English (374), Italian (350) and Lebanese (306) ancestry communities. Arabic is the most spoken non-English language at 162 speakers, followed by Italian (61) and Cantonese (48), which reflects the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern heritage concentrated here. University qualifications at 18.5% are 11.6 percentage points below national, pointing to a trades and industry-oriented workforce rather than a professional one. Average household size of 3.4 persons is 0.9 above national, consistent with the large family dwellings where couples with children (735 families) outnumber couples without children (397 families) by nearly two to one.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Every dwelling in Rossmore is a separate house, an unusual 100% concentration that eliminates the unit and apartment options found in most comparable suburbs. Tenure leans toward outright ownership: 48.8% own without a mortgage, while 17.6% carry a mortgage and 33.6% rent. The 4-plus bedroom category accounts for 62.2% of dwellings, and 3-bedroom properties make up another 31.4%, confirming the large-lot, family-compound character. The median dropped from $4,825,000 in 2024 to $4,300,000 in 2025, a 10.9% fall that represents a meaningful correction at the top of the market. By comparison, the average monthly mortgage repayment of $1,950 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6% suggest that existing borrowers are not under stress, but new buyers face extreme entry costs well above most state benchmarks.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$500
HH Size
3.4
Personal Income / wk
$611
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.0%
Unoccupied
60
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.9%
Couples, no children
1,895
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction dominates local employment at 17.2% of workers (77 people), followed by Education and Healthcare both at 10.3% (46 each), with Retail at 9.2% and Professional/Tech at 8.9%. By occupation, Managers lead at 165 workers, with Clerical/Admin (119) and Professionals (110) filling the next two positions. The unemployment rate of 5.3% is above average, partly explained by a participation rate of only 37.8%, because 837 residents are not in the labour force. SEIFA deciles show a mid-range picture: IRSD decile 4 and IRSAD decile 5 indicate below-average advantage relative to state and national benchmarks, despite the high property values. Real income growth of 6.9% over the decade and a household income at the 65.9th percentile nationally confirm a comfortable but not affluent income base.
Unemployment
1.9%
Labour Force
2,108
Unemployed
41
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.0%
Part-time
33.7%
Participation
37.8%
Employed
659
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.5%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
30.9%
Dwellings
594
Transport to Work
Transport access is overwhelmingly car-dependent: 85.2% drive to work, while only 1.8% use public transport, lower than most Sydney suburbs. Walking or cycling accounts for 8.2% of trips, higher than expected for a low-density rural setting, but likely reflects short intra-suburb movements. No schools are recorded within the Rossmore boundary, so families depend on neighbouring suburbs for education. Safety data is not available for this suburb, but SEIFA IRSD decile 4 places it in a below-average disadvantage position relative to national norms. The need-for-assistance rate of 7.8% (165 residents) is moderate. Housing stress indicators are benign: rent-to-income at 27.4% stays below the 30% threshold and mortgage-to-income at 24.6% is comfortable by Sydney standards, giving existing residents more financial headroom than many comparable fringe areas.
Drive
85.2%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
8.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.37%/yr
(+43 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 17.4% over the decade and annual growth now runs at 1.37%, adding roughly 43 persons per year. The medium forecast projects expansion from 3,147 in 2025 to 3,385 by 2031, compounding at the current rate. Net internal migration averages 44 persons a year and overseas migration adds 15, giving a balanced growth driver rather than dependence on one channel. The gentrification score sits at 22 with a stage of early signs, supported by signals including population growth of 22% since 2011 and an accelerating trend. Affordability has worsened from 21.2% in 2011 to 29.5% in 2021, and rent grew 83% over the period, both indicators that holding costs have risen faster than incomes. Resident turnover is low at 15.2%, with 84.8% staying, which limits short-term capital recycling but signals durable community attachment.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+15
Net Internal / yr
+44
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Accelerating: -0% → 22%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rossmore compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rossmore a good suburb to live in?
Rossmore suits buyers who want large detached homes with 4 or more bedrooms, away from high-density living. Housing stress is low, with rent-to-income at 27.4% and mortgage-to-income at 24.6%. The trade-offs are very limited public transport at 1.8% and no schools recorded within the boundary, so car ownership and school proximity planning are essential.
What is the median house price in Rossmore?
The median house price was $4,800,000 based on recent data, with the 2024 figure at $4,825,000 and the 2025 figure at $4,300,000, a 10.9% fall over one year. All dwellings are separate houses, and 62.2% have 4 or more bedrooms, reflecting the large acreage property character of the suburb.
What schools are in Rossmore?
No schools are recorded inside the Rossmore boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. University qualifications among residents are 18.5%, which is 11.6 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a trades and industry-oriented local workforce.
Is Rossmore safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Rossmore. As an indirect measure, SEIFA IRSD decile 4 places the suburb below average on the national disadvantage index. Housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 24.6% and rent-to-income at 27.4%, both below the 30% stress threshold, which is a favourable indicator for community stability.
Is Rossmore good for property investment?
The investment case is limited by very low yield. Weekly rent of $500 against a $4,800,000 median implies a gross yield near 0.5%, well below comparable markets. Vacancy at 9.0% is elevated. The 33.6% renter share and population forecast growth to 3,385 by 2031 provide some demand support, but rental returns are unlikely to be the primary motive for buyers here.
How is Rossmore's population changing?
Population has grown 17.4% over the decade and is forecast to increase from 3,147 in 2025 to 3,385 by 2031, adding roughly 43 residents per year. Net internal migration averages 44 persons annually and overseas migration contributes 15 more. Resident stability is high, with 84.8% of residents not moving in five years, indicating a settled rather than transient community.
What languages are spoken in Rossmore?
About 30.9% of residents were born overseas, which is 9.3 percentage points above the national figure. Arabic is the most common non-English language with 162 speakers, followed by Italian (61) and Cantonese (48). The ancestry mix is led by English (374), Italian (350), Lebanese (306) and Maltese (177) communities.
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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