Rockdale - Banksia

An assessment of population growth drivers in Rockdale - Banksia reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Rockdale - Banksia's population is approximately 22,952 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 3,099 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 19,853. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 22,574 in June 2024 and an additional 106 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 6,411 persons per square kilometer, placing Rockdale - Banksia among the top 10% of locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 15.6% between the 2021 Census and November 2025 exceeds both the SA4 region (7.5%) and the state average, indicating its status as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 88.5% of overall population gains during this period.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 using the 2021 Census as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest annual ERP population numbers, Rockdale - Banksia is projected to grow by an above median rate, with an expected increase of 4,392 persons by 2041, reflecting a total growth of 17.5% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Rockdale - Banksia among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Rockdale - Banksia has seen approximately 85 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years, totalling 428 homes. As of FY-26, 22 approvals have been recorded. On average, 3.7 people per year have moved to the area for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating significant demand exceeding new supply. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $312,000.

This financial year has seen $14.7 million in commercial approvals, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rockdale - Banksia records about three-quarters the building activity per person and places among the 70th percentile nationally, with recent intensification in construction activity. New building activity comprises 15.0% standalone homes and 85.0% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles. With around 197 people per dwelling approval, Rockdale - Banksia exhibits characteristics of a growth area.

Future projections estimate an addition of 4,014 residents by 2041, which could lead to housing supply lagging population growth if current construction levels persist, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Rockdale - Banksia has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 59 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Northern Georges River Submain Upgrade, Fox Lane Rockdale, 588-592 Princes Highway Mixed-Use Development, and Rockdale Community and Cultural Centre. Below is a list of those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Rockdale - Banksia significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Rockdale-Banksia has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Unemployment is low at 2.4%, with estimated employment growth of 4.4% in the past year. As of September 2025, there are 15,238 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 1.8% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation is high at 79.9%. Home workership is notable at 32.1%, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food, with strong specialization in the latter. Education & training shows lower representation than regional averages.

Local employment opportunities appear limited based on resident population vs working population count. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.4%, labour force grew by 4.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's respective increases of 2.1%, 2.4%, and 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across sectors. Applying these projections to Rockdale-Banksia's employment mix suggests local growth should be around 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Rockdale - Banksia SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $55,076 and an average income of $66,508. These figures are slightly below the national averages of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively for Greater Sydney. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $59,956 and $72,401 respectively. Census 2021 data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Rockdale - Banksia are at the 53rd percentile nationally. The largest income segment comprises 36.3% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (8,331 residents), similar to surrounding regions where 30.9% fall into this range. High housing costs consume 18.6% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 57th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Rockdale - Banksia features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Rockdale - Banksia's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 33.9% houses and 66.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rockdale - Banksia was 25.8%, with the rest being mortgaged (29.8%) or rented (44.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,185, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent was $460, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Rockdale - Banksia's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,185 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Rockdale - Banksia features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 68.5% of all households, including 29.8% couples with children, 26.5% couples without children, and 10.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 31.5%, with lone person households at 23.0% and group households comprising 8.7%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Rockdale - Banksia exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 39.7% for residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and NSW's rate of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 26.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 25.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas comprise 12.5% and certificates make up 13.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.4% in tertiary education, 6.7% in primary education, and 5.1% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Rockdale - Banksia has 114 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 29 routes, facilitating 6,447 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 140 meters from the nearest stop. In this primarily residential region, most commuters travel outward using various modes of transportation, with cars being dominant at 52%, followed by trains at 32% and buses at 9%. On average, there are 0.8 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents work from home, at 32.1%, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 921 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 56 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies the analysis, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

The level of general health in Rockdale - Banksia is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Rockdale - Banksia shows superior health outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age groups have low prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is slightly lower than the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the total population (~11,957 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (5.1%) and asthma (4.6%). 79.6% of residents report no medical ailments, higher than the 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The area has 13.7% of residents aged 65 and over (3,137 people), lower than Greater Sydney's 15.3%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Rockdale - Banksia is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Rockdale-Banksia has a high level of cultural diversity, with 66.6% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 60.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Rockdale-Banksia, accounting for 42.6%. Hinduism is notably overrepresented, comprising 16.0%, compared to Greater Sydney's average of 5.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (30.7%), Chinese (11.0%), and English (9.3%). Notably, Macedonian (6.2%) and Lebanese (4.3%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Rockdale-Banksia compared to regional averages of 0.4% and 2.6%, respectively. Spanish ethnicity is also slightly higher at 1.0%.

Rockdale - Banksia's population is younger than the national pattern

Rockdale-Banksia's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rockdale-Banksia has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (23.0%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.9%). This proportion of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15 to 24 has increased from 12.9% to 14.4%, while the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 10.9% to 10.2%. By 2041, Rockdale-Banksia's population is projected to change significantly demographically. The 45 to 54 age cohort is expected to grow by 35%, adding 825 residents to reach a total of 3,167. Conversely, the 0 to 4 age cohort is projected to have minimal growth of just 3% (34 people).