Rozelle
At 8,553 people in just 1.83 sq km, Rozelle reaches 4,664.3 residents per sq km, giving it a strongly inner-urban pattern. Household income sits at the 98.1 percentile and 63.3% of adults have university qualifications, both above national benchmarks. Housing is compact, with 38.9% semi-detached dwellings, 35.0% apartments and 40.0% renters; the 10.5% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly supplied market. Compared with nearby Balmain and Lilyfield, Rozelle's appeal is its concentrated mix of established homes, professional households and work-from-home residents. The profile points to affluence and convenience, but also slow demographic change rather than a fast-growth cycle.
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
126
Rozelle suits buyers who value inner-west access and a compact dwelling mix more than a large block. Only 24.6% of homes are separate houses, compared with 38.9% semi-detached dwellings and 35.0% apartments, so attached housing should dominate the search. Two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes each account for 35.3%, while 16.6% are 0 or 1 bedroom. Monthly mortgage cost is $3,500, with payments at 25.3% of household income and no mortgage-stress flag. Renting is more common than outright ownership, at 40.0% versus 26.3%, which broadens the resale audience but can increase competition for well-presented homes. Compared with detached-house suburbs, Rozelle prioritises compact urban living over land size.
For Buyers
Rozelle suits buyers who value inner-west access and a compact dwelling mix more than a large block. Only 24.6% of homes are separate houses, compared with 38.9% semi-detached dwellings and 35.0% apartments, so attached housing should dominate the search. Two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes each account for 35.3%, while 16.6% are 0 or 1 bedroom. Monthly mortgage cost is $3,500, with payments at 25.3% of household income and no mortgage-stress flag. Renting is more common than outright ownership, at 40.0% versus 26.3%, which broadens the resale audience but can increase competition for well-presented homes. Compared with detached-house suburbs, Rozelle prioritises compact urban living over land size.
For Investors
Rozelle presents a mixed investment case. The 40.0% renting share creates a substantial tenant pool, and weekly rent is $650, but the 10.5% vacancy rate points to more available stock than a low-vacancy market. That can lengthen letting periods or increase the need for competitive pricing, even in a high-income suburb where household income ranks at the 98.1 percentile. Development activity is material, with 130 applications in the past 12 months, including demolition, subdivision and dual-occupancy work, which may add supply and reshape individual streets. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but annual growth is only 0.24%, so the case is better suited to established inner-west demand than rapid capital-growth momentum. Compare each property against its immediate street, strata costs and vacancy exposure before committing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
714
Last 12 Months
126
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-2.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rozelle
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Rozelle has an older, highly educated inner-city profile: median age is 40, aligned with the national comparison, while 63.3% have university qualifications, 33.2 percentage points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 31.1%, 9.5 points above nationally. English, Irish, Scottish, Italian and other ancestry groups are prominent, while no religion is reported by 4,534 people versus 3,212 for Christianity. Average household size is 2.3, or 0.2 below the national comparison, consistent with 45.2% of families being couples without children. Compared with nearby Balmain and Lilyfield, Rozelle shares the established inner-west setting but has a notably concentrated, educated and internationally connected demand base. Turnover is 29.2%, while 70.8% stayed at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
24.6%
Houses
38.9%
Townhouse
35.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Rozelle's tenure pattern is split rather than dominated by one ownership path. Outright ownership is 26.3%, mortgages 32.7% and renting 40.0%, so the renter share is higher than the outright-owner share and remains a major influence on local turnover. The dwelling stock leans attached: 38.9% semi-detached, 35.0% apartments and 24.6% separate houses. Smaller formats are common, with 16.6% of homes containing 0 or 1 bedroom, while 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom homes each represent 35.3%. Housing costs appear manageable at an aggregate level, with rent at 20.3% of household income and mortgage payments at 25.3%, and neither stress flag is triggered. Compared with detached-house suburbs, Rozelle offers a more compact urban housing choice because its footprint is only 1.83 sq km. The 10.5% vacancy rate also gives renters more choice than a tightly supplied market.
Mortgage / mo
$3,500
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $650.
$995
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,150 · units $875
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
41.7%
Couples with children
45.2%
Couples, no children
11.6%
Single parent
2,408
Total families
Economy & Employment
Rozelle's economy is led by Professional/Tech, which accounts for 21.9% of industry employment, followed by Finance at 12.7%, Healthcare at 11.7%, Education at 8.7% and Construction at 6.5%. The occupation mix reinforces that specialisation, with 2,050 Professionals and 1,313 Managers ahead of 527 Clerical/Admin workers, 307 Sales workers and 286 Trades workers. A 72.6% participation rate, 70.4% full-time employment rate and 3.3% unemployment rate indicate a strong labour-market base. Personal income is $1,652 per week and household income is $3,196, ranking at the 98.1 percentile and sitting above national norms. SEIFA places education and occupation at decile 10, economic resources at decile 8, IRSD at decile 10 and IRSAD at decile 10. The lower economic-resources decile compared with the other advantage measures suggests affluence is strong but not uniform.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
5,136
Unemployed
170
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.4%
Part-time
22.2%
Participation
72.6%
Employed
4,966
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.3%
Postgraduate
20.9%
Born Overseas
31.1%
Dwellings
3,594
Transport to Work
Rozelle's livability is strongest for residents who can use inner-west services and work from home. A very high 68.9% work-from-home share helps explain why only 3.0% nominate public transport and 21.4% drive as their main travel mode, while 5.4% walk or cycle. Two local government schools provide a practical mix of one primary and one secondary option, but families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross nearby streets. The suburb records an IRSAD decile of 10 and an IEO decile of 10, placing it above most areas on socioeconomic advantage; its IER decile is 8 and IRSD decile is 10. For safety decisions, check current NSW Police incidents and visit at different times because conditions can vary by street and hour. Compared with lower-SEIFA areas, Rozelle's strongest advantages are income, education and established inner-west amenity, while the 10.5% vacancy rate may mean more short-term rental choice.
Drive
21.4%
Public Transport
3.0%
Walk / Cycle
5.4%
Work from Home
68.9%
Population Forecast
+0.24%/yr
(+34 people/yr)
EstablishedRozelle is an established, slow-growth suburb. The forecast trend is 0.24% annually, lower than a high-growth corridor, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 6.2% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 4.4 percentage points and the working share has fallen 6.0 points. That pattern matters because demand is likely to be shaped more by established households and replacement of ageing residents than by a rapid influx of young families. Gentrification signals are mixed, with a score of 10 and a Not gentrifying rating alongside a broader shift score of 30 and Early signs stage. Rozelle also experienced a 5.1% COVID-era dip and has recovered only 2.1%, reinforcing a slower trajectory compared with faster-rebounding precincts.
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 can suit buyers and renters wanting inner-west access, professional employment and smaller households. It has 8,553 residents, a 40-year median age and 40.0% renters, while 35.0% of dwellings are apartments. Check the exact street, parking and enrolment zone before deciding.
What is the median house price in Rozelle?
Check recent settled sales for the current median house price. Rozelle's weekly rent is $650, and the stock includes 24.6% separate houses, 38.9% semi-detached dwellings and 35.0% apartments, so a single suburb-wide figure may hide major differences by dwelling type.
What schools are in Rozelle?
Rozelle has 2 nearby government schools: a primary school and a secondary campus. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact address, as school boundaries can affect access. The suburb's median age is 40 and average household size is 2.3, useful context when comparing family housing options.
Is Rozelle safe?
Safety varies by street, route and time, so check current NSW Police incidents and inspect the area at different hours. Rozelle has 8,553 residents and 2.8% of people need assistance, but those figures do not replace a current crime-rate check.
Is Rozelle good for property investment?
Rozelle can work for long-term investors, but the settings are mixed. Weekly rent is $650 and 40.0% of households rent, while vacancy is 10.5%, indicating more available stock than a tight market. There were 130 development applications in 12 months, so assess property type, strata costs and future supply before buying.
How is Rozelle's population changing?
Rozelle has 8,553 residents today. Growth across the wider area is forecast at 0.24% a year, driven primarily by overseas migration; the trajectory is Aging and 10-year population change is 6.2%. That points to gradual change rather than a rapid increase in resident numbers.
What languages are spoken in Rozelle?
English ancestry is the largest recorded category at 3,407 people, while overseas-born residents make up 31.1%. Reported languages include Mandarin with 46 speakers, Canton with 34, Greek with 34, Italian with 34 and French with 24. These counts are small relative to the 8,553 population.
What development is happening in Rozelle?
Development activity is high, with 130 applications recorded over 12 months. Recent examples include demolition, a 2-dwelling subdivision with alterations and additions, and a semi-detached dwelling. Buyers should review each property's planning history because additional supply can affect privacy, construction disruption and future resale competition.
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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