Rosewood (Qld)

Rosewood 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 per ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Rosewood's population is estimated at around 4081 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 818 people (25.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3263 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3834, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 143 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 130 persons per square kilometer. Rosewood's growth of 25.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 9.9%. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 78.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. Exceptional growth is predicted over the period to 2041, with the suburb expected to expand by 5801 persons, reflecting an increase of 133.1% in total over the 17 years.

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

Rosewood has recorded approximately 46 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 230 homes. As of FY-26, 15 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 has resulted in 2.8 new residents per year. The average construction cost value for new homes is $379,000.

This financial year, $8.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Rosewood records 56.0% more development activity per person, indicating robust developer interest and offering buyers greater choice. Recent development has consisted entirely of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes. With around 85 people per dwelling approval, Rosewood shows characteristics of a growth area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Rosewood is projected to add 5,431 residents by 2041.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Rosewood has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project expected to affect this region: South East Queensland Intermodal Terminal Capacity. Other key projects include Ebenezer Regional Industrial Area, Cunningham Highway Upgrade from Yamanto Interchange to Ebenezer Creek (including Amberley Interchange), and Ipswich Better Bus Network. The following 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 Rosewood recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Rosewood's workforce comprises both white and blue-collar jobs, with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 7.2% in the past year, showing an employment growth of 4.0%. As of September 2025, there are 1,567 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 3.2%, higher than Greater Brisbane's 4.0%.

Workforce participation is lower at 56.1% compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. Only 9.9% of residents work from home. Key industries include health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and public administration & safety. Manufacturing is particularly strong with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 5.3% versus the regional average of 8.9%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on resident population counts. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.0%, labour force grew by 3.0%, reducing unemployment by 0.9 percentage points. In Greater Brisbane, employment rose by 3.8%, labour force grew by 3.3%, and unemployment fell by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Rosewood's employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released in financial year 2023, Rosewood had a median taxpayer income of $45,435 and an average income of $52,257. These figures are below the national averages of $58,236 and $72,799 for Greater Brisbane respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes in Rosewood as of September 2025 would be approximately $49,938 and $57,436 respectively. Census 2021 income data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Rosewood fall between the 15th and 16th percentiles nationally. The largest segment of residents, comprising 30.9% or 1,261 people, earn $1,500-$2,999 weekly, similar to the surrounding region where 33.3% fall within this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Rosewood, with only 82.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 15th percentile nationally.

Rosewood is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Rosewood's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.1% houses and 8.0% other dwellings. In Brisbane metro, this was 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rosewood stood at 29.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.2% and rented ones at 42.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,349, lower than Brisbane metro's $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was $295, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Rosewood's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,349 against Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 68.3 percent of all households, including 23.2 percent couples with children, 26.0 percent couples without children, and 17.9 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 31.7 percent, with lone person households at 28.3 percent and group households comprising 3.9 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Rosewood faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 10.2%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 45.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 9.9% and certificates at 35.9%. Educational participation is high, with 32.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 13.5% in primary, 9.4% in secondary, and 2.8% in tertiary education.

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

Rosewood has five operational public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 35 unique routes, collectively facilitating 872 weekly passenger trips. Residents' accessibility to transport is limited, with an average distance of 734 meters to the nearest stop. In this predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward, primarily by car (88%), with train usage at 7%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.3. According to the 2021 Census, 9.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 124 trips daily across all routes, translating to roughly 174 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Rosewood is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Rosewood faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Multiple health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of Rosewood's total population (around 1,955 people), compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 12.1 and 10.4% of residents respectively. However, 57.7% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. The working-age population experiences notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. Rosewood has a higher proportion of seniors (22.1%, around 901 people) than Greater Brisbane (15.2%). While national rankings for senior health outcomes are generally similar to those of the broader population, some challenges exist among seniors in Rosewood.

The latest Census data sees Rosewood placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Rosewood had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 88.5% of its population being citizens, 90.8% born in Australia, and 97.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Rosewood, with 50.5%, compared to 47.8% across Greater Brisbane. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (31.3%), English (30.6%), and Scottish (9.0%).

Notably, German ancestry was higher than average at 6.5%, while New Zealand was slightly lower at 0.9%. Australian Aboriginal ancestry was also higher than the regional average at 4.3%.

Rosewood's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Rosewood is 39 years, slightly higher than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years and close to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Rosewood has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (10.9%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.3%). Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 increased from 6.7% to 8.0%. During this period, the percentage of residents aged 15 to 24 decreased from 13.0% to 11.5%, and the percentage of those aged 25 to 34 dropped from 11.4% to 10.3%. By 2041, Rosewood's age composition is projected to experience significant shifts. The 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 221%, reaching 1,048 people from the current 326.