Rochedale

Rochedale lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of Rochedale is around 10,072, reflecting a 32.0% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 7,633 people. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 9,825 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 608 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 655 persons per square kilometer. Rochedale's growth exceeded the SA3 area average (9.8%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 55.00000000000001% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections for years post-2032 based on 2021 data.

A significant population increase is forecast in Rochedale, with an expected growth of 3,750 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 26.5% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Rochedale was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Rochedale has seen approximately 260 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 1,303 homes. As of FY-26, 55 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling accommodates around two residents per year between FY-21 and FY-25, reflecting strong demand that supports property values. New homes are being constructed at an average cost of $530,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upscale properties.

This financial year has seen $162.6 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Rochedale exhibits 424.0% more development activity per person, significantly above the national average, suggesting robust developer interest in the area. Building activity shows 45.0% standalone homes and 55.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a trend towards denser development that caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This shift contrasts with the area's existing housing composition of 92.0% houses, suggesting decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 32 people per dwelling approval, Rochedale displays characteristics of a growth area. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Rochedale to add approximately 2,671 residents by 2041. Current construction levels should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Future projections show Rochedale adding 2,671 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Rochedale has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 31 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Shafston College Rochedale Campus and Mixed-Use Development, Gardner Road Extension, Rochedale Terrace Masterplan, and Rochedale Road and Ford Road Stormwater Project. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Rochedale significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Rochedale has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 2.3% as of the latest data. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 0.7%.

As of September 2025, 4,958 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.7%, below Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation was 67.7%, slightly lower than Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. According to Census responses, 21.1% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade.

Professional & technical services have notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, public administration & safety shows lower representation at 4.3%, compared to the regional average of 7.0%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 0.7% while labour force grew by 1.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Brisbane saw employment growth of 3.8%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rochedale's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

In AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Rochedale had a median income among taxpayers of $56,179 and an average income of $77,038. These figures are higher than the national averages of $58,236 and $72,799 respectively for Greater Brisbane. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% from financial year ended June 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $61,746 and average income is around $84,672. According to the Census conducted in August 2021, incomes in Rochedale rank highly nationally, between the 76th and 90th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. Income analysis shows that 32.1% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, similar to the regional average of 33.3%. Notably, 40.0% of residents earn over $3,000 per week, indicating significant affluence in the area. However, high housing costs consume 18.4% of income. Despite this, disposable income ranks at the 87th percentile nationally, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Rochedale is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Rochedale's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.6% houses and 8.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rochedale was at 23.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 54.8% and rented ones at 21.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,600, higher than Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Rochedale was $600, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Rochedale's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,600 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $600 compared to the national figure of $375.

Rochedale features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 87.7% of all households, including 56.5% couples with children, 21.4% couples without children, and 8.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 12.3%, with lone person households at 8.9% and group households making up 3.4%. The median household size is 3.3 people, which is larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Rochedale shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Rochedale is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 56.0% hold university qualifications compared to 25.7% in Queensland (QLD) and 30.4% nationally as of the latest data from 2021. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 34.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 18.8%. Vocational pathways account for 19.1% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 9.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 34.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the latest available data from 2022. This includes 12.9% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 6.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Rochedale has 42 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 30 different routes that together facilitate 3,594 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically living 359 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily. Car remains the primary mode of transportation, used by 86% of residents, while 11% opt for buses. On average, there are 1.8 vehicles per dwelling in Rochedale, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 21.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 513 trips per day, equating to approximately 85 weekly trips per individual stop.

Rochedale's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Rochedale's health outcomes show exceptional results based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 58% of Rochedale's total population (~5,814 people) have private health cover, which is very high. Asthma and mental health issues are the most prevalent medical conditions in Rochedale, affecting 4.1 and 3.5% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 86.6%, report being completely free of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Rochedale has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 9.0% (906 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's 15.2%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Rochedale are notably strong, closely aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Rochedale has one of the highest cultural diversities in Australia, with 64.2% speaking a language other than English at home and 58.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Rochedale, accounting for 35.1%. However, Buddhism is significantly higher here compared to Greater Brisbane, making up 5.8% versus 2.0%.

In terms of ancestry, Chinese people are most represented at 34.4%, which is much higher than the regional average of 3.4%. English ancestry stands at 12.7%, notably lower than the regional average of 26.8%. Other ancestry comprises 12.2% of Rochedale's population. There are notable differences in other ethnic groups: Korean (4.6% vs 0.5%), Indian (7.3% vs 2.0%), and Sri Lankan (0.7% vs 0.2%).

Rochedale's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Rochedale's median age is 33 years, which is slightly younger than the Greater Brisbane average of 36 and significantly lower than the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Rochedale has a higher concentration of 35-44 year-olds at 23.1%, but fewer 55-64 year-olds at 7.1%. This concentration of 35-44 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.3%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the percentage of residents aged 35 to 44 has increased from 20.8% to 23.1%, while those aged 45 to 54 have risen from 9.9% to 11.5%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 25 to 34 has declined from 18.1% to 13.9%, and the 0-4 age group has dropped from 9.2% to 7.6%. Demographic modeling suggests that Rochedale's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 45-54 cohort projected to grow by 59%, adding 685 residents to reach a total of 1,844. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow at a more modest rate of 2%, adding only 27 residents.