West Rockhampton
A 10.7% vacancy rate is the standout feature of West Rockhampton, alongside a detached-home share of 88.8% and a population of 1,848 across 6.33 square kilometres. The suburb's median age is 36, which is 4.0 years below the national comparison, while 58.3% of homes have 3 bedrooms. Compared with nearby Wandal and The Range, the practical distinction is West Rockhampton's detached-home profile and established household base. Household income sits at $1,350 a week, at the 34.6th percentile nationally, so affordability and rental availability matter more than prestige pricing. Early gentrification signals are present, but the forecast trajectory remains Aging rather than rapid expansion.
Local council: Rockhampton
Population
1,848
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,350/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
For homebuyers, West Rockhampton is primarily a detached-house market: 88.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 58.3% contain 3 bedrooms and 19.6% have 4 or more. Compared with apartment-led locations, this mix suits buyers seeking conventional family layouts, while mortgage stress is not flagged at a 20.8% mortgage-to-income ratio. The recorded mortgage repayment is $1,215 a month, versus weekly rent of $258, and 34.3% of households have a mortgage. With no current house-price median available, buyers should compare recent settled sales by bedroom count, because dwelling condition can vary within a 6.33 square kilometre suburb.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, West Rockhampton is primarily a detached-house market: 88.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 58.3% contain 3 bedrooms and 19.6% have 4 or more. Compared with apartment-led locations, this mix suits buyers seeking conventional family layouts, while mortgage stress is not flagged at a 20.8% mortgage-to-income ratio. The recorded mortgage repayment is $1,215 a month, versus weekly rent of $258, and 34.3% of households have a mortgage. With no current house-price median available, buyers should compare recent settled sales by bedroom count, because dwelling condition can vary within a 6.33 square kilometre suburb.
For Investors
Investor conditions are mixed. The rental base is meaningful at 33.6%, almost level with outright ownership at 30.4% and slightly below mortgaged households at 34.3%, while weekly rent is $258. A 10.7% vacancy rate warrants careful property selection and realistic leasing assumptions, especially compared with a tightly supplied market. Development activity is modest at 4 applications in 12 months, including a 2-dwelling dual-occupancy and subdivision proposal, so near-term stock growth appears incremental. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the 0.61% annual trend argues for a yield-and-cash-flow approach rather than relying on rapid capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
4
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 West Rockhampton
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Crescent Lagoon State School
Demographics
West Rockhampton has a settled, lower-turnover profile: 75.9% of residents stayed at the same address, compared with 24.1% who moved, and the median age of 36 is 4.0 years below the national figure. University attainment is 22.0%, or 8.1 percentage points below national, while overseas-born residents account for 7.3%, 14.3 points lower than national. English ancestry is recorded for 756 people, followed by Irish at 202 and Scottish at 182. Couples without children represent 36.7% of families and one-parent families 26.8%, helping explain the average household size of 2.3. These patterns support an established household profile rather than a highly mobile or university-led one.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.8%
Houses
7.1%
Townhouse
4.1%
Apartment
Tenure
West Rockhampton's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached, with separate houses at 88.8%, semi-detached homes at 7.1% and apartments at 4.1%. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 58.3%, while 2-bedroom homes make up 20.6% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 19.6%. Compared with renting at 33.6%, outright ownership is 30.4% and mortgage ownership 34.3%, producing a fairly even tenure split. Weekly rent is $258 and rent stress is not flagged at 19.1% of household income; mortgage stress is also not flagged at 20.8%. With no median sale price available, compare each listing with recent settled sales, because dwelling condition and tenure mix can shift value across the 6.33 square kilometre area.
Mortgage / mo
$1,215
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $258.
$550
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $550 · units $410
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$724
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.7%
Unoccupied
87
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.1%
Couples with children
36.7%
Couples, no children
26.8%
Single parent
496
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employment engine, accounting for 31.2% and 149 workers, followed by Education at 13.8% and 66, Construction at 9.4% and 45, Public Administration at 7.9% and 38, and Retail at 5.2% and 25. This service concentration gives the suburb a steadier local employment base than a single-industry location, although household income is $1,350 a week, only at the 34.6th percentile nationally. Occupations span 162 Professionals, 129 Trades workers, 129 Community and Personal Service workers, 106 Clerical and Administrative workers and 98 Labourers. Unemployment is 4.8% with 58.8% participation. SEIFA results are high, with IEO decile 10, IRSAD decile 10, IRSD decile 9 and IER decile 8, so relative advantage scores rank higher than the income percentile alone might suggest.
Unemployment
4.8%
Labour Force
876
Unemployed
42
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.2%
Part-time
31.8%
Participation
58.8%
Employed
834
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.0%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
7.3%
Dwellings
733
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented: 82.5% travel as car drivers, compared with 1.0% using public transport, 4.7% walking or cycling and 3.8% working from home. That makes private vehicle access important for commuting and errands, while families have access to 1 government state school, Crescent Lagoon State School. Enrolment zones, year levels and transport arrangements should be checked against the exact address. Street-level safety should also be reviewed through current Queensland Police information before choosing a property. Socioeconomic indicators are comparatively strong, with IRSAD decile 10 and IRSD decile 9, while 8.7% of residents need assistance. The 291.9 persons-per-square-kilometre density and 6.33 square kilometre footprint mean amenity can vary by street.
Drive
82.5%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
4.7%
Work from Home
3.8%
Growth Outlook
West Rockhampton follows an established growth pattern rather than a high-speed expansion cycle. The forecast annual trend is 0.61%, while population change across the wider area is 7.8% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, and the shift trajectory is labelled Aging, with the young share down 4.0% and the senior share up 3.3%. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 23, while the shift gentrification score is 39 and also sits at Early signs. Compared with a rapid-growth corridor, this points to gradual renewal shaped by existing housing and small-scale redevelopment. The COVID dip was 2.7%, followed by 4.0% recovery, so momentum has returned without a sudden expansion.
Population trend: Rockhampton council area
West Rockhampton sits in the Rockhampton council area. These are the council area's residents, not West Rockhampton's.
Residents 2025
85,794
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.8%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.7%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How West Rockhampton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Rockhampton a good suburb to live in?
West Rockhampton can suit buyers wanting detached housing, established streets and car-based access. About 88.8% of dwellings are separate houses, the median age is 36, and 82.5% commute as car drivers. Its 10.7% vacancy rate and modest 0.61% growth trend are worth weighing against your preferred services and transport.
What is the median house price in West Rockhampton?
No current median house price is available for West Rockhampton. Compare recent settled sales by bedroom count and condition, because 58.3% of local dwellings have 3 bedrooms, 88.8% are separate houses and the suburb also includes 7.1% semi-detached homes.
What schools are in West Rockhampton?
One local government state school is identified: Crescent Lagoon State School. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone, year levels and transport arrangements before signing a contract, because West Rockhampton covers 6.33 square kilometres and access can differ by street.
Is West Rockhampton safe?
Use current Queensland Police information and inspect the specific street before deciding. Consider recent incidents, lighting, traffic and evening activity rather than relying on a suburb label. West Rockhampton has 1,848 residents and a density of 291.9 persons per square kilometre, so conditions may differ across streets.
Is West Rockhampton good for property investment?
West Rockhampton may suit an investor prioritising an established housing base, but vacancy risk matters. Weekly rent is $258, vacancy is 10.7%, and 33.6% of households rent. Only 4 development applications were recorded over 12 months, including a proposed 2-dwelling dual occupancy, while the annual growth trend is 0.61%.
How is West Rockhampton's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 7.8% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 0.61%. The trajectory is Aging: the young share fell 4.0% and the senior share rose 3.3%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 23.
How much is rent in West Rockhampton?
Weekly rent is $258, and 33.6% of households rent, compared with 30.4% owning outright and 34.3% with a mortgage. Rent stress is not flagged at 19.1% of household income, while vacancy is 10.7%. Compare individual properties carefully, since 88.8% of dwellings are separate houses and condition can vary.
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).
Explore West Rockhampton on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map