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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Rowville has an estimated 34,163 residents, up from 33,571 at the 2021 Census — a change of 592 people, or 1.8%. 291 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. That puts 1,566 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
In the suburb of Rowville, demographic evaluations integrating post-Census address validations by AreaSearch and updated ABS reporting place the community size at roughly 34,163 as of Aug 2026. Comparing this to the 33,571 residents recorded in the 2021 Census reveals a net gain of 592 people (1.8%). This current figure builds upon an Estimated Resident Population of 34,053 established from the June 2025 ABS ERP figures, alongside 291 validated new addresses confirmed following the Census. Consequently, population concentration stands at 1,566 persons per square kilometer, exceeding national averages recorded by AreaSearch.
Inflow from abroad served as the primary growth engine, accounting for approximately 73.0% of recent population additions. Projections for the suburb of Rowville apply the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 dataset based on 2022 benchmarks, supplemented where necessary by 2023 Victorian State Government LGA/Regional projections converted via weighted growth aggregation. These distributions also guide age-bracket growth trajectories across all locations for the 2032 to 2041 period. Based on these demographic models, growth in the suburb of Rowville is anticipated to track marginally beneath the national median of statistical areas assessed by AreaSearch. Long-term forecasts point to an expansion of 1,369 persons by 2041, representing an overall rise of 3.7% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
477 new dwellings have been approved in Rowville over the past five years, an average of 95 a year. That is 3.0 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 103 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 64% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 125, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Examining local ABS residential building permits, AreaSearch estimates that Rowville has maintained a building pipeline of roughly 95 residential dwellings per annum, amounting to approximately 477 dwellings across the prior 5 financial years. In FY-25 to date, records show 125 approvals. Given recent demographic contractions, this volume of construction represents a healthy supply balance that favors home purchasers. Expected construction costs average $640,000 per dwelling, highlighting an emphasis by builders on high-end, premium housing products. Concurrently, non-residential activity has seen $22.9 million in commercial permits logged during the current financial year, pointing to steady commercial building.
Residential building approvals comprise 64.0% detached dwellings alongside 36.0% medium and high-density formats. This expanding pipeline of townhouses and units introduces varied price points ranging from entry-level compact residences to traditional family accommodations. Such composition marks a clear departure from the existing built environment, where standalone houses account for 92.0% of the stock, illustrating site constraints and shifting community requirements toward diversified housing options. Overall, the local market exhibits low-density characteristics, registering around 253 people per dwelling approval. According to the latest quarterly forecasts from AreaSearch, residential numbers in Rowville are projected to increase by 1,259 residents by 2041. Under existing building approval volumes, upcoming residential supply appears well-positioned to satisfy incoming demand, fostering favorable buying conditions and potentially enabling demographic growth beyond baseline projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Rowville
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 8 current infrastructure and development projects inside Rowville, worth an estimated $912 million. A further 42 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $7.55 billion. 13 are already under construction and 12 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, sports & recreation and communities. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local capital works, major developments, and strategic urban planning exert a fundamental influence on district performance. AreaSearch has highlighted 12 key infrastructure projects expected to impact the surrounding area, with notable developments comprising Wellington Village Shopping Centre, The Rowville Plan, Scoresby Village Residential Estate, and Bankside Rowville.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Bankside Rowville
Bankside is a 68-hectare masterplanned community in Rowville, set alongside Corhanwarrabul Creek parklands and rejuvenated wetlands. Almost 40% of the site is dedicated to open space, with walking trails, a neighbourhood park, and a planned full-size soccer pitch. The development offers land, house and land packages, and architect-designed townhomes (Edition and Quartet ranges), forming a community of over 700 homes delivered across multiple stages. Located 35 minutes from the Melbourne CBD with easy access to the Mornington Peninsula.
Wellington Village Shopping Centre
Neighbourhood shopping centre in Rowville comprising two main precincts: the primary centre and The Corner. Anchored by Ritchies IGA and ALDI along with medical services, pharmacy, childcare, restaurants, cafes, gym, and specialty stores.
Stamford Park Redevelopment
A $138 million combined redevelopment featuring Stockland's $125M 190-dwelling 'Waterlea' sustainable community and Knox City Council's $13M transformation of 40-hectare parklands. It includes a 6-Star Green Star rating, expanded wetlands, walking trails, an adventure playground, and the restoration of the historic 19th-century Stamford Park Homestead.
The Rowville Plan (Amendment C131knox)
A 20-year strategic plan setting out a vision and direction for residential neighbourhoods, commercial areas, and community facilities in the Rowville Major Activity Centre. The plan guides decisions on population growth, housing, economic development, community services, infrastructure and transport, environment and open space, and amenity and urban design. Amendment C131knox implemented the plan recommendations into the Knox Planning Scheme, gazetted by the Minister for Planning in March 2016.
Rowville Mixed Use Development
Completed mixed use development featuring 30 modern apartments and 8 executive townhouses with ground floor commercial spaces including medical facilities, pharmacy, restaurant, and childcare centre. Total building area of 4,050m2 with secure basement parking and convenient location opposite Stud Park Shopping Centre.
Keyton Waterford Valley Lakes
Waterford Valley Lakes is an established over 55s retirement village in Rowville, operated by Keyton. The village provides around 185 independent living villas in a mix of 2 and 3 bedroom homes, some with studies, around landscaped lakes. Residents have access to a community centre, bowling green, gym, library, communal gardens and a village bus, with ongoing refurbishments and resale of villas rather than major new construction.
Scoresby Village Residential Estate
Large master planned residential community in Scoresby delivering more than 450 new dwellings in a mix of townhouses and apartments, with internal streets, pocket parks and integrated community open space directly adjoining the Knoxfield activity area and Scoresby Village shopping precinct.
Waterlea Sustainable Community
Waterlea is a sustainable townhouse community in Rowville delivered by Stockland in partnership with Knox City Council. The 6 Star Green Star communities rated project delivered 175 townhouses across about 6.3 hectares within the Stamford Parklands. Homes feature solar PV, rainwater harvesting and EV charging readiness, and the community hosted Australia's first Green Star Home offered to market. The project is now completed and largely sold out.
19,767 residents of Rowville are employed, from a labour force of 20,437. Unemployment sits at 3.3%, with participation at 70.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 29,810, about 87% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Workforce analysis indicates an educated local talent pool in Rowville alongside strong industrial and manufacturing activity. AreaSearch statistical area aggregations record an unemployment rate of 3.3% and an annual employment uptick of 1.4%. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 19,767, while joblessness sat 1.5% below the Greater Melbourne benchmark of 4.8%. Labor force participation closely mirrors the metropolitan benchmark of 70.1%. Furthermore, Census records revealed that 28.7% of working locals operated from home, though pandemic-related lockdown measures during that period must be noted. Primary employment fields for local residents comprise construction, retail trade, and health care & social assistance.
Rowville shows a pronounced specialization in manufacturing, where its employment concentration reaches 1.4 times regional levels. Conversely, the professional & technical sector accounts for 8.0% of local jobs compared to the metropolitan standard of 10.1%. As demonstrated by Census comparisons between the resident and local workforce, the district functions mainly as a residential community with modest local job capacity. Review of ABS and SALM metrics demonstrates that annual employment grew by 1.4% while the resident workforce expanded by 1.8%, lifting the local unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. Across Greater Melbourne over the matching timeframe, employment increased by 2.1%, labor pool numbers grew by 2.3%, and unemployment edged upward by 0.2 percentage points. Forward-looking national projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 outline a wider workforce expansion of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, with performance varying by sector. Aligning these sectoral models with local industry weighting suggests Rowville employment could rise by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, noting this represents an unadjusted proportional weighting for illustrative reference.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Rowville is $2,205 a week (about $115,000 a year), with median personal income at $839 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $55,389 a year against an average of $67,088. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Postcode taxation statistics from the ATO for financial year 2023 indicate that earnings in the suburb of Rowville align closely with national medians, registering a median of $55,389 and an average of $67,088. For comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded a median of $57,688 and an average of $75,164. Factoring in the 9.62% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated figures for March 2026 are modeled at approximately $60,717 for the median and $73,542 for the average. In the Census, local household earnings reached the 78th percentile ($2,205 weekly), with personal earnings at the 57th percentile.
The predominant earnings cohort comprises 11,512 residents (33.7%) receiving between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, tracking the regional rate of 32.8%. Strong financial capacity is underscored by 32.3% of earners making over $3,000/week. Residents retain 86.8% of income after paying for accommodation, while the local SEIFA income metric places the area in the 7th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Rowville had 11,398 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 92% detached houses and 1% apartments. 47% are owned with a mortgage, 16% rented and 38% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $441 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,055 a month. Rent absorbs 20.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, the residential landscape in Rowville was dominated by separate houses at 91.9%, while units, apartments, and semi-detached homes made up 8.1%, contrasting with Greater Melbourne where separate houses formed 67.9% and alternative dwellings 32.1%. Outright ownership reached 37.5%, considerably higher than regional averages, while mortgaged properties accounted for 46.9% and private rentals represented 15.7%. Median housing expenses were elevated relative to greater metropolitan levels, with monthly mortgage commitments at $2,055 and weekly rents at $441, compared to Melbourne metro benchmarks of $2,000 and $390.
Across Australia, Rowville stands well above the national median mortgage of $1,863 and the national rental rate of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Rowville counted 11,398 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.9 people each. 46% are couples with children, more than in 90% of areas nationally, against 26% couples without children. 15% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the vast majority of local homes at 83.3%, comprising couples with children (46.0%), couples without children (26.2%), and single-parent households (10.1%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 16.7%, split between single-occupant households at 15.0% and shared group residences at 1.6%. Household size averages 2.9 people, exceeding the Greater Melbourne median of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
31.0% of adults in Rowville hold a university qualification, including 21.1% with a bachelor degree and 7.4% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 18.6% hold a vocational qualification. 7 schools serve the area, with 3,942 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,069 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary educational attainment in Rowville sits below metropolitan averages, with 31.0% of residents aged 15+ holding a higher education degree versus 37.0% throughout Greater Melbourne, indicating scope for continuing skills growth. Among degree holders, bachelor qualifications comprise 21.1%, postgraduate awards represent 7.4%, and graduate diplomas account for 2.5%. Vocational training is well established, with 30.9% of residents aged 15+ holding technical credentials, broken down into certificates (18.6%) and advanced diplomas (12.3%). Active participation in education is strong throughout the area, with 27.8% of the community undertaking formal studies. This total includes 8.5% attending primary schools, 8.2% in secondary education, and 5.5% enrolled in higher education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Rowville reaches 138 stops on 19 routes, timetabled for about 7,100 services a week. The typical home sits about 260 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.9 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Local public transit infrastructure in Rowville comprises 138 active bus stops across 19 separate lines, generating a combined total of 7,099 weekly scheduled services. Network access is favorable, with residents living an average of 261 meters from their closest transit point. Due to the predominantly suburban residential character, outward commuting dominates and private vehicle travel represents 93% of journeys. Vehicle ownership stands at 1.9 cars per household, surpassing metropolitan norms. Census data from 2021 also indicated that 28.7% of workers worked from home, reflecting conditions during COVID-19. Transit route frequency averages 1,014 trips daily across the broader network, providing roughly 51 departures per stop on a weekly basis.
The nearest 100 transport stops relative to the center of the locality are illustrated on the accompanying map.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
71.9% of residents in Rowville report no long-term health condition. 4.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 53.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators across Rowville remain positive, as measured by AreaSearch evaluations of mortality statistics and chronic disease rates. Both younger cohorts and older demographics record low incidence of major chronic conditions. Private health insurance coverage covers approximately 53% of the populace (~18,229 people), slightly exceeding the typical SA2 average, compared with 56.7% across Greater Melbourne. Asthma and arthritis represent the two most common diagnosed ailments, affecting 7.6 and 6.8% of the local population, while 71.9% of residents report no chronic health conditions, closely aligning with the Greater Melbourne figure of 72.6%.
General wellness among residents aged under 65 is favorable. People aged 65 and over make up 19.6% of the locality (6,695 people), higher than the Greater Melbourne share of 15.1%, with senior health outcomes tracking solidly above national averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
35.8% of Rowville residents were born overseas and 32.4% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 78% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are English (20.1%) and Australian (19.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity is well represented across Rowville, where 35.8% of inhabitants were born overseas and 32.4% speak a non-English language at home. Christianity forms the largest faith group at 49.9% of the population. Notably, Buddhism exhibits distinct representation, comprising 5.2% of residents compared to 4.2% across Greater Melbourne. Looking at parental ancestry, the leading heritage backgrounds in Rowville are English at 20.1%, Australian at 19.5%, and Other lineages at 12.5%. Relative to metropolitan distributions, several communities exhibit elevated representation, including Chinese ancestry at 10.4% (vs 6.5% regionally), Sri Lankan at 2.1% (vs 0.8%), and Hungarian at 0.5% (vs 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Rowville is 41. 24.4% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Rowville features a demographic profile that is older than the Greater Melbourne average. AreaSearch figures from August 2026 place 28.2% of locals in the mature working and early retirement age bracket (45 - 64), against 22.3% across Greater Melbourne. Younger adults (25 - 44) account for 23.9%, compared with 32.1% across the wider metropolitan area. The local median age stands at an estimated 41, unchanged from the 2021 Census and exceeding the metropolitan median of 37 recorded during that Census by 4 years. Seniors aged 65+ expanded from 15.7% at the Census to an estimated 19.6% of the population.
By 2041, the 65+ age group is forecast to add 2,234 residents (33%), reaching 8,930, whereas populations of young adults, children, and early-career adults are expected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Rowville
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2026 3 months ago all 8 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 291 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (33,571 at the 2021 Census → 34,163 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL22207). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.