Rozelle
Walking and cycling at 17.2% is the highest commute-mode share in this batch, reflecting Rozelle's inner-west density at 4,664 people per km2. Household income at the 98th percentile ($3,196/week) and university qualifications at 63.3% (33.2 points above national) place it among Sydney's most affluent and credentialed suburbs. Semi-detached housing at 38.9% exceeds both apartments (35.0%) and houses (24.6%), an unusual terrace-dominated stock. The $1,933,000 median grew just 1.8% from $1,910,000 in 2024 to $1,945,000 in 2025, near-flat growth that contrasts with the suburb's wealth indicators.
Population
8,553
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,196/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
127
Median House
$1.9M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,933,000 median (PSI-derived) rose 1.8% from $1,910,000 to $1,945,000 in one year. Semi-detached at 38.9% is the dominant form (terraces), with apartments at 35.0% and detached houses at 24.6%. Two-bedrooms (35.3%) and 3-bedrooms (35.3%) split evenly as the most common types. Monthly mortgage of $3,500 against $3,196/week income gives a 25.3% mortgage-to-income ratio, manageable at 98th-percentile incomes but tight by absolute standards. Walking/cycling at 17.2% and public transport at 9.6% significantly reduce car dependency (68.7% drive). Two schools score above ICSEA 1,112.
For Buyers
The $1,933,000 median (PSI-derived) rose 1.8% from $1,910,000 to $1,945,000 in one year. Semi-detached at 38.9% is the dominant form (terraces), with apartments at 35.0% and detached houses at 24.6%. Two-bedrooms (35.3%) and 3-bedrooms (35.3%) split evenly as the most common types. Monthly mortgage of $3,500 against $3,196/week income gives a 25.3% mortgage-to-income ratio, manageable at 98th-percentile incomes but tight by absolute standards. Walking/cycling at 17.2% and public transport at 9.6% significantly reduce car dependency (68.7% drive). Two schools score above ICSEA 1,112.
For Investors
The 40.4% renter share is well above national, providing a deep tenant pool. Weekly rent of $650 on a $1,933,000 median produces roughly 1.7% gross yield, characteristic of inner Sydney. The 10.5% vacancy rate is high, partly reflecting the COVID recovery lag (population still 3.1% below pre-COVID peak of 14,623). Rent grew 20.0% over the decade. With 125 DAs in 12 months, the development pipeline is very active. Overseas migration of 203 per year drives demand, but internal outflow of 215 per year means net population growth is near flat (0.24% annually).
Development Activity
Total DAs
679
Last 12 Months
127
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+6.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rozelle iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Rozelle Public School
P-6 · 507 students
Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus
7-10 · 854 students
Demographics
University qualifications at 63.3% are 33.2 points above national, consistent with IEO decile 10. English ancestry dominates (3,407), with Irish (1,428), Scottish (1,041) and Italian (466) forming a British-Celtic core. Born-overseas at 31.1% is 9.5 points above national. Mandarin (46), Cantonese (34), Greek (34), Italian (34) and French (24) are the top non-English languages, all with small speaker counts. The median age of 40 sits at the national average, and average household size of 2.3 is below national. Couples without children at 33.1% exceed the family share, reflecting the inner-city professional composition.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
24.6%
Houses
38.9%
Townhouse
35.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Renting at 40.4% is the dominant tenure, followed by mortgaged at 33.1% and owned outright at 26.6%. Semi-detached (38.9%) is the most common form, ahead of apartments (35.0%) and houses (24.6%), a terrace-row pattern characteristic of Sydney's inner west. Two-bedrooms (35.3%) and 3-bedrooms (35.3%) dominate equally. The median rose from $1,910,000 to $1,945,000 (1.8% in one year). The 25.3% mortgage-to-income ratio is manageable at 98th-percentile incomes. Affordability improved from 44.8% to 38.9% over the decade, driven by 12.2% real income growth. IRSAD decile 10 confirms top-tier advantage.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,500
Rent / wk
$650
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,652
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.5%
Unoccupied
421
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.1%
Couples, no children
6,553
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Tech (21.9%, 885 workers) leads employment, the highest single-sector share after Gungahlin's public admin. Finance (12.7%, 515), Healthcare (11.7%, 475), Education (8.7%, 354) and Construction (6.5%, 263) follow. Professionals (2,050) and Managers (1,313) comprise 73% of occupations, the highest combined rate in this batch. Full-time employment at 76.0% is well above national, and the participation rate of 67.3% is strong. Unemployment at 3.6% is below national. The IER decile 8 is lower than expected for 98th-percentile incomes, depressed by the high renter share in SEIFA methodology.
Unemployment
4.9%
Labour Force
8,947
Unemployed
434
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
76.0%
Part-time
20.4%
Participation
67.3%
Employed
4,597
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.3%
Postgraduate
20.9%
Born Overseas
31.1%
Dwellings
3,594
Transport to Work
Two schools serve the suburb: Rozelle Public School (Government Primary, ICSEA 1,162, 507 students) and Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus (Government Secondary, ICSEA 1,112, 854 students). Both score well above the national benchmark, with Rozelle Public at 162 points above. Walking/cycling at 17.2% is the highest in this batch, with public transport at 9.6% also strong. Only 68.7% drive, the lowest car dependency in this analysis. Need-for-assistance at 2.8% is well below national. IRSAD decile 10 confirms top-tier advantage. The 125 DAs in 12 months include renovation and new-build activity.
Drive
68.7%
Public Transport
9.6%
Walk / Cycle
17.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.24%/yr
(+34 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew just 6.2% over the decade, and the COVID dip of 5.1% (from 14,623 to 13,870) has only recovered 2.1%, with the current 14,167 still 3.1% below pre-COVID peak. Annual growth of 0.24% (34 persons) is near flat. Internal outflow of 215 per year is offset by overseas inflow of 203, producing a wash. The medium forecast projects 14,511 by 2031, minimal growth. The aging trajectory shows the senior share rising 4.4 points and working-age share falling 6.0 points, though this may partly reflect the COVID-era departure of younger professionals who have not fully returned.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+203
Net Internal / yr
-215
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -215/yr, Strong overseas inflow +203/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rozelle compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rozelle a good suburb to live in?
Rozelle suits professionals who value walkability (17.2% walk/cycle, highest in this batch) and inner-city access. IRSAD decile 10 and 63.3% university qualifications (33.2 points above national) confirm top-tier conditions. Both schools score ICSEA above 1,112. The tradeoff is the $1,933,000 median and 10.5% vacancy rate.
What is the median house price in Rozelle?
The median is $1,933,000 (PSI-derived, 2024-2025), rising 1.8% from $1,910,000 to $1,945,000. Monthly mortgage of $3,500 produces a 25.3% mortgage-to-income ratio at 98th-percentile household income ($3,196/week). Weekly rent sits at $650. Semi-detached terraces (38.9%) dominate the market.
What schools are in Rozelle?
Rozelle has 2 schools. Rozelle Public School (Government Primary, ICSEA 1,162, 507 students) scores 162 points above the national benchmark. Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus (Government Secondary, ICSEA 1,112, 854 students) also sits well above baseline. Both are government schools.
Is Rozelle safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Rozelle in the current dataset. All 4 SEIFA indices rank in the top deciles (IRSAD 10, IRSD 10, IEO 10, IER 8), indicating minimal disadvantage. Unemployment at 3.6% is below national, and need-for-assistance at 2.8% is well below average.
Is Rozelle good for property investment?
The 40.4% renter share provides a deep tenant pool, but gross yield of roughly 1.7% ($650/week on $1,933,000) is very low. The 10.5% vacancy rate is elevated. Capital growth was just 1.8% over the latest year. Population growth of 0.24% per year is near flat. The 125 DAs in 12 months add supply pressure.
How is Rozelle's population changing?
Population grew just 6.2% over the decade, and the COVID dip of 5.1% has only recovered 2.1%. The current 14,167 remains 3.1% below the pre-COVID peak of 14,623. Internal outflow of 215 per year is nearly offset by overseas inflow of 203, producing near-flat growth of 34 persons annually.
What development is happening in Rozelle?
Rozelle logged 125 development applications in 12 months, an active pipeline for a 1.83 km2 suburb. Applications include swimming pools, new dwelling houses, office-premise conversions and complying development certificates. The volume reflects the high lot values that justify renovation and rebuild economics on inner-west terraces.
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 Rozelle on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map