Rothwell
Need-assistance at 11.9% is the highest in this batch, yet 2 high-performing independent schools (ICSEA 1,078 and 1,080) sit within the suburb, creating a mismatch between resident disadvantage and institutional quality. SEIFA IRSAD decile 2 and IEO decile 2 confirm deep disadvantage, while 41.3% of residents rent and the senior share grew 6.5 points over the decade. Rothwell functions as an aging outer suburb where healthcare employment (24.2%) dominates, mortgage stress at 29.7% approaches the threshold, and real income grew just 2.9% over the decade, effectively going backwards after inflation.
Population
7,538
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,305/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
25
Median House
$474K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated $474,000 median is mid-range for the Moreton Bay region. Mortgage repayments of $1,676/month produce a 29.7% mortgage-to-income ratio, just under the 30% stress line. Separate houses at 69.5% lead, supplemented by 27.7% semi-detached and 2.8% apartments. Four-plus-bedroom homes at 46.4% are the largest segment, with 3-bedroom at 39.4%. Grace Lutheran College (Independent, ICSEA 1,080, 1,567 students) and Mueller College (Independent Combined, ICSEA 1,078, 1,867 students) both score well above the 1,000 benchmark. The 11.9% need-assistance rate is the highest in this batch.
For Buyers
The estimated $474,000 median is mid-range for the Moreton Bay region. Mortgage repayments of $1,676/month produce a 29.7% mortgage-to-income ratio, just under the 30% stress line. Separate houses at 69.5% lead, supplemented by 27.7% semi-detached and 2.8% apartments. Four-plus-bedroom homes at 46.4% are the largest segment, with 3-bedroom at 39.4%. Grace Lutheran College (Independent, ICSEA 1,080, 1,567 students) and Mueller College (Independent Combined, ICSEA 1,078, 1,867 students) both score well above the 1,000 benchmark. The 11.9% need-assistance rate is the highest in this batch.
For Investors
Renters at 41.3% provide a large tenant pool. Weekly rent of $380 against $474,000 gives a gross yield of approximately 4.2%, the highest in this batch. Vacancy is tight at 3.9%, below the metro average. Development activity at 22 DAs in 12 months includes a 192-dwelling relocatable home park application, signalling potential large-scale supply. Rent-to-income at 29.1% is near stress levels for tenants. The SEIFA IER decile 3 indicates limited economic resources, meaning tenant income capacity is constrained. Internal migration at -22/year and overseas at +109/year produce modest net growth. The aging trajectory (senior share +6.5pp) shifts the tenant profile toward retirees.
Development Activity
Total DAs
61
Last 12 Months
25
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-7.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rothwell iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Grace Lutheran College
7-12 · 1567 students
Mueller College
Prep-12 · 1867 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above national. University qualifications at 19.4% are 10.7 points below the national average. Overseas-born at 23.0% is 1.4 points above national: English (3,202), Scottish (830) and Irish (768) form a strongly Anglo-Celtic profile. Samoan (48 speakers) is the largest non-English language group, followed by Malayalam (18) and Hindi (16). Community/Personal (495) leads occupations, ahead of Professionals (453), an unusual inversion. The 6.2% unemployment rate and low 47.0% participation rate reflect the older demographic. The 14.0% volunteering rate is moderate.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.5%
Houses
27.7%
Townhouse
2.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Renters (41.3%) outnumber mortgage holders (27.5%) and outright owners (31.3%). Houses at 69.5% are supplemented by a substantial 27.7% semi-detached share. Four-plus-bedroom homes at 46.4% dominate, reflecting family-sized stock. No price history series is available. Mortgage stress at 29.7% is just under the threshold. Rent stress at 29.1% is the highest in this batch. The 76.5% residential stability rate is moderate. The combination of renter dominance and near-stress ratios on both mortgage and rent suggests the suburb is under financial pressure across tenure types, consistent with the IRSAD decile 2 positioning.
Mortgage / mo
$1,676
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$647
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
116
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.1%
Couples, no children
5,857
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 24.2% (455 workers), well above the national average of approximately 13%. Education follows at 13.5% (255), Construction at 10.3% (194), Retail at 7.8% (146) and Manufacturing at 6.0% (112). Community/Personal (495) leads occupations, reflecting the aged-care and disability-service employment base. Professionals (453) and Clerical/Admin (423) follow. The 6.2% unemployment rate is above the national average. Participation at 47.0% is low, with 2,640 not in the labour force. Real income grew just 2.9% over the decade, effectively negative after inflation. IRSAD decile 2 confirms bottom-quintile socioeconomic positioning.
Unemployment
5.6%
Labour Force
8,300
Unemployed
461
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.1%
Part-time
31.7%
Participation
47.0%
Employed
2,705
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.4%
Postgraduate
2.8%
Born Overseas
23.0%
Dwellings
2,823
Transport to Work
Car driving at 86.7% dominates, with public transport at 2.8% and walking/cycling at 3.1%. Two high-performing independent schools are a standout: Grace Lutheran College (ICSEA 1,080, 1,567 students) and Mueller College (ICSEA 1,078, 1,867 students, Combined). Both score well above the 1,000 benchmark, attracting students from across the region. IRSAD decile 2 places the suburb in the lowest advantage tier. The 11.9% need-assistance rate is the highest in this batch. Mortgage stress at 29.7% and rent stress at 29.1% are both near the threshold, indicating financial pressure across tenure types.
Drive
86.7%
Public Transport
2.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.62%/yr
(+109 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth at 0.62% per year (109 persons) is modest. The ERP was 17,562 in 2025, with medium forecasts projecting 18,690 by 2031. Overseas migration at +109/year is the primary driver, with internal migration at -22/year roughly flat. The 10-year population change of 4.7% is well below the QLD average. The aging trajectory is pronounced: the senior share rose 6.5 points while the young and working shares each fell 2.3 points. Affordability improved slightly from 62.9% in 2011 to 56.8% in 2021. The gentrification score of 3 (not gentrifying) confirms no upward demographic shift is occurring.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+109
Net Internal / yr
-22
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rothwell compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rothwell a good suburb to live in?
Rothwell has 2 high-performing independent schools (ICSEA 1,078 and 1,080) but IRSAD decile 2 places it in the lowest 20% nationally. Need-assistance at 11.9% is the highest in this batch, and mortgage stress at 29.7% is near the threshold. The estimated $474,000 median is mid-range for Moreton Bay.
What is the median house price in Rothwell?
The estimated median is $474,000 (2025). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,676 and weekly rent is $380. Gross yield is approximately 4.2%, the highest in this batch. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.7% is near the 30% stress threshold, as household incomes rank at the 31st percentile.
What schools are in Rothwell?
Two independent schools serve the suburb: Grace Lutheran College (Secondary, ICSEA 1,080, 1,567 students) and Mueller College (Combined B-12, ICSEA 1,078, 1,867 students). Both score well above the 1,000 ICSEA benchmark. Their combined enrolment of 3,434 draws from a wide catchment beyond the suburb.
Is Rothwell safe?
Suburb-specific crime data is not available. SEIFA IRSD decile 2 and the 6.2% unemployment rate are factors associated with elevated crime in comparable QLD suburbs. The 11.9% need-assistance rate and 31st-percentile household incomes indicate a community under financial stress.
Is Rothwell good for property investment?
Gross yield of 4.2% ($380/week on $474,000) is the highest in this batch, and vacancy at 3.9% is tight. Renters at 41.3% provide a large pool. However, rent stress at 29.1% and SEIFA IER decile 3 mean tenants are financially stretched. A 192-dwelling relocatable home park DA could add significant supply. Real income grew just 2.9% over the decade.
How is Rothwell's population changing?
Growth is modest at 0.62% per year (109 persons), with medium projections of 18,690 by 2031. The aging trajectory is pronounced: the senior share rose 6.5 points while the working share fell 2.3 points over the decade. Overseas migration at +109/year is the primary driver. The 10-year population change of 4.7% is well below the QLD average.
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 Rothwell on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map