Rockdale

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

As of November 2025, Rockdale's population is estimated at approximately 17,120 people. This figure represents a 10.6% increase from the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,475 people. The current population estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, which estimated the resident population at 17,089. An additional 103 validated new addresses since the Census date contributed to this figure. This results in a population density ratio of 6,931 persons per square kilometer, placing Rockdale in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 88.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth in the suburb's population.

Rockdale's growth rate exceeded both the SA4 region (5.5%) and the state level since the 2021 Census, marking it as a growth leader within its region. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2-level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, Rockdale is projected to experience above median population growth based on aggregated SA2-level projections, with an expected increase of 3,049 persons to reach a total population of approximately 20,169 by 2041, reflecting a 21.3% increase over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis shows Rockdale recorded approximately 64 residential properties approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 322 homes were approved, with an additional 12 approved in FY26 so far. Each year, about 3.9 people moved to the area per dwelling built during these five years.

This high demand relative to new supply typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction cost of new properties was $410,000, below the regional average, indicating more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY26, commercial approvals totaled $14.5 million, suggesting moderate commercial development levels. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rockdale has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks in the 61st percentile nationally among assessed areas.

Recent construction consists of 16% standalone homes and 84% medium and high-density housing, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers seeking accessible entry options. Rockdale's population growth is projected to add 3,645 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If current construction levels continue, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 54 projects likely to affect the area. Notable projects include Fox Lane Rockdale, 588-592 Princes Highway Mixed-Use Development, Rockdale Community and Cultural Centre, and 570 Princes Highway Co-Living Development. The following list details 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.

Rockdale ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Rockdale has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 2.6% as of June 2025.

This rate is lower than Greater Sydney's 4.2%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.2%. As of June 2025, 11,805 residents were employed. Workforce participation in Rockdale was 62.5%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 60.0%.

Leading employment industries among Rockdale residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area has a notably high concentration in accommodation & food, with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average. However, education & training is under-represented, with only 5.5% of Rockdale's workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 8.9%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.2%, labour force increased by 2.4%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within Rockdale. Over five years, national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6%. Over ten years, it is projected to increase by 13.7%. Applying these projections to Rockdale's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

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

Rockdale had a median taxpayer income of $50,329 and an average of $63,671 according to AreaSearch's postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. This was slightly below the national average, compared to Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. By September 2025, based on a 12.61% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, estimated incomes would be approximately $56,675 (median) and $71,700 (average). Rockdale's household, family, and personal incomes clustered around the 54th percentile nationally, with the predominant income cohort being 37.9% of locals (6,488 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category. This pattern is similar to the surrounding region where 30.9% also occupied this range. High housing costs consumed 19.1% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 56th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

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

Rockdale's latest Census data shows 24.4% houses and 75.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 39.8% houses and 60.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rockdale was 23.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.3% and rented ones at 48.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, below Sydney metro's $2,383. Median weekly rent was $460, similar to Sydney metro's $480. Nationally, Rockdale's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Rockdale features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 66.6% of all households, including 28.4% couples with children, 26.9% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 33.4%, consisting of 23.7% lone person households and 9.7% group households. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Sydney average.

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

Rockdale's educational attainment is notably higher than national and state averages. 42.1% of residents aged 15 and above have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. The area has a strong focus on tertiary education, with 27.9% holding bachelor degrees and 12.5% postgraduate qualifications. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 25.4% of residents having trade or technical skills, including advanced diplomas (13.1%) and certificates (12.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 31.8% currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 9.1% in tertiary, 6.4% in primary, and 4.5% in secondary education. Rockdale's four schools have a combined enrollment of 592 students, serving distinct age groups with three primary and one secondary school. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1067). However, local school capacity is limited (3.5 places per 100 residents vs 11.4 regionally), leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Rockdale has 57 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 29 different routes, carrying out 5,898 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 114 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency stands at 842 trips per day across all routes, translating to around 103 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Rockdale's health outcomes data shows exceptional results with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52%, leading that of the average SA2 area, covering about 8,924 people. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 4.7% and 4.2% of residents respectively. A total of 81.5% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 77.5% in Greater Sydney. Rockdale has 11.9% of its population aged 65 and over (2,037 people), which is lower than the 16.4% in Greater Sydney. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors require particular attention.

Rockdale 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 has a high level of cultural diversity, with 70.0% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 64.6% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Rockdale, accounting for 39.2% of the population. Hinduism is notably overrepresented, comprising 19.6% compared to the Greater Sydney average of 6.6%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups are Other at 34.5%, Chinese at 11.6%, and Australian at 8.5%. Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Macedonian is overrepresented at 5.4% (vs regional 3.8%), Spanish at 1.0% (vs regional 0.9%), and Russian at 0.9% (vs regional 0.6%).

Rockdale hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Rockdale's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and Australia's average of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Rockdale has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (25.4%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.2%). This concentration 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 13.2% to 14.7%, while the population aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 10.1% to 9.4%. By 2041, Rockdale's population is projected to experience significant demographic changes. The 45 to 54 age group is expected to grow by 41%, adding 656 residents to reach a total of 2,266. In contrast, the 0 to 4 age group is projected to have minimal growth of just 7% (an increase of 70 people).