Rockbank - Mount Cottrell

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

Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's population was around 39,399 as of May 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 21,846 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,553 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 37,540 in June 2025 and an additional 7,382 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 313 persons per square kilometer. Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's growth rate of 124.5% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state (9.3%) and national averages, making it a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 78.1% of overall population gains during recent periods, although natural growth and overseas migration also played positive roles.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell is predicted to experience exceptional growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of national areas. The area is expected to increase by 55,344 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 131.5% over the 16-year period.

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

Rockbank - Mount Cottrell has seen approximately 1,916 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 9,584 homes were approved, with an additional 1,243 approved so far in FY-26. Over the past five financial years, on average, about 2.2 people have moved to the area per new home constructed, indicating solid demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $248,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. This financial year has seen $587.2 million in commercial approvals registered, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell records 290.0% more development activity per person. However, development activity has moderated in recent periods. The new development consists of 90.0% detached dwellings and 10.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

Currently, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell reflects a developing area with around 18 people per approval. Looking ahead, based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections. By 2041, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell is expected to grow by approximately 51,801 residents according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate.

Rockbank - Mount Cottrell has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 156 potential impact projects in total. Key projects include Melton Line Upgrade, Thornhill Park, Woodlea Active Open Space Precinct, and Kororoit Part 2 Precinct Structure Plan. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Rockbank - Mount Cottrell remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Rockbank - Mount Cottrell has an educated workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate is 5.4%, with estimated employment growth of 3.2% over the past year as of December 2025. There are 15,047 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 6% compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.8%.

Workforce participation stands at 57.9%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 23.5% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, transport, postal & warehousing, and construction sectors. Transport, postal & warehousing has an employment share 2.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services are under-represented at 6.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. The ratio of workers per resident is 0.7, indicating local employment opportunities above average. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 3.2% while labour force grew by 5.1%, leading to an unemployment rise of 1.7 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 2.4%, labour force growth of 2.8%, and a 0.3 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Rockbank - Mount Cottrell SA2 is lower than average nationally. The median income is $55,864 and the average income stands at $63,076. In Greater Melbourne, the median income is $57,688 and the average income is $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Rockbank - Mount Cottrell would be approximately $61,238 (median) and $69,144 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census indicates that household, family and personal incomes in Rockbank - Mount Cottrell cluster around the 73rd percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 46.4% of locals (18,281 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category. High housing costs consume 19.1% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 68th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Rockbank - Mount Cottrell is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.3% houses and 3.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rockbank - Mount Cottrell was at 9.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 66.3% and rented ones at 24.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,017, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $400, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 84.3% of all households, including 53.5% couples with children, 20.8% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 15.7%, consisting of 13.6% lone person households and 2.1% group households. The median household size is 3.2 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Rockbank - Mount Cottrell exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Rockbank - Mount Cottrell is notably higher than broader benchmarks, with 34.7% of residents aged 15 years and over holding university qualifications compared to the SA3 area average of 24.3%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 22.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 27.9% of residents aged 15 years and over holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 12.6% while certificates make up 15.3%. Educational participation is significantly high in the area, with 42.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 16.6% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 5.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Rockbank - Mount Cottrell has 45 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus routes. These stops are covered by 13 individual routes, facilitating 4,180 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is limited, with residents typically located 1034 meters from the nearest stop. The area, predominantly residential, sees most residents commuting outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 88%, while trains account for 8%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 23.5% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 597 trips per day, translating to approximately 92 weekly trips per stop.

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

Rockbank - Mount Cottrell demonstrates excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Approximately 50% of the total population (~19,857 people) has private health cover, compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (6.0%) and mental health issues (4.0%). 84.6% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Only 4.0% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,583 people), lower than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are strong but rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

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

Rockbank-Mount Cottrell is among the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, with 48.1% of its population born overseas and 62.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 39.5% of people in Rockbank-Mount Cottrell. The 'Other' category comprises 17.4%, substantially higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 2.3%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups are Other (31.5%), Indian (15.9%), and Australian (10.6%). Notably, Filipino (6.4%), Maltese (4.2%), and Samoan (1.2%) populations are overrepresented compared to regional averages.

Rockbank - Mount Cottrell hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Rockbank-Mount Cottrell has a median age of 31 years, which is lower than the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and significantly below the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Rockbank-Mount Cottrell has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (25.2%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (4.6%). This concentration of 35-44 year-olds is notably above the national average of 14.3%. Between 2021 and present, the 5-14 age group has increased from 13.8% to 17.2%, while the 35-44 cohort has risen from 21.9% to 25.2%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has decreased from 26.4% to 20.1%, and the 0-4 age group has dropped from 10.8% to 9.7%. Demographic projections suggest that Rockbank-Mount Cottrell's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 35-44 age cohort expected to expand substantially, growing by 11,532 people (116%) from 9,920 to 21,453.