Rockbank - Mount Cottrell
Statistical Area - sa2

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 is approximately 37,418 as of Aug 2025. Between the 2021 Census and Jun 2024, the population increased by 19,865 people (113.2%), from 17,553 to 31,598. This growth is attributed to an estimated 6,809 new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density is around 297 persons per square kilometer. The area's growth rate exceeded both national (8.6%) and state averages, driven primarily by interstate migration (84.8%). AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 are used, adjusted via weighted aggregation to SA2 levels. By 2041, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell is projected to grow by 59,698 persons, a 143.4% increase over the 17 years.

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 1255 new homes approved annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 6278 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-20 to FY-25, including 350 approvals so far in FY-26. On average, around 2.2 people have moved to the area per new home constructed each year over these five financial years, suggesting strong demand for housing which supports property values. New homes are being built at an average construction cost of $373000, below the regional average, indicating more affordable housing options for buyers.

In FY-26, $587.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting robust commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell has seen 1134% more new home approvals per person, providing buyers with greater choice and indicating strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 90% detached dwellings and 10% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character and focusing on family homes that appeal to those seeking space. With around 18 people moving in per approval, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell reflects a growing area. Looking ahead, the area is expected to grow by approximately 53669 residents through to 2041, with current construction rates appearing balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Looking ahead, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell is expected to grow by 53,669 residents through to 2041. Present construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 150 projects likely to impact the region. Notable ones include Western Rail Plan - Melton Electrification, Woodlea Estate, Woodlea Active Open Space Precinct, and Willow Springs. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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

Rockbank - Mount Cottrell has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, with an estimated employment growth of 4.3% over the past year as of June 2025. The area has 13,559 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is 0.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate.

Workforce participation is at 60.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, transport, postal & warehousing, and construction sectors. The area specializes in transport, postal & warehousing with an employment share of 2.5 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services are under-represented at 6.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%.

There is a ratio of 0.7 workers for each resident, indicating higher than normal local employment opportunities. Over the past year, employment increased by 4.3% while labour force grew by 5.8%, leading to an unemployment rise of 1.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5%. As of Sep-25, Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

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 2022 shows that Rockbank - Mount Cottrell has lower income compared to the national average. The median income is $54,315 and the average is $61,820. In contrast, Greater Melbourne has a median income of $54,892 and an average of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of March 2025 would be approximately $59,806 (median) and $68,070 (average). The 2021 Census reveals that household, family, and personal incomes in Rockbank - Mount Cottrell are at the 73rd percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 46.4% of locals earn between $1,500 to $2,999, reflecting regional patterns where 32.8% fall within this range. 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 a higher proportion of rental properties than 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), contrasting Melbourne metro's 90.9% houses and 9.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rockbank - Mount Cottrell stood at 9.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 66.3% and rented ones at 24.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,017, higher than Melbourne metro's $1,800. The median weekly rent was $400, compared to Melbourne metro's $351. Nationally, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 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 account for the remaining 15.7%, with lone person households at 13.6% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 3.2 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 3.0.

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 high, with 34.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to the broader SA3 area's 24.3%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 27.9% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 12.6% and certificates at 15.3%. Educational participation is notable, 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. There are 7 schools operating within Rockbank - Mount Cottrell, educating approximately 2,473 students. The area has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1031) with balanced educational opportunities, including 4 primary, 1 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. However, local school capacity is limited at 6.7 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 16.4, resulting in many families travelling to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Rockbank - Mount Cottrell has 43 active public transport stops operating, with a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 18 individual routes, providing a total of 7,007 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as limited, with residents typically located 1,034 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 1,001 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 162 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Rockbank - Mount Cottrell, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

Approximately 51% (~18,933 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low compared to other areas. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.0 and 4.0% of residents respectively. 84.6% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 73.7% across Greater Melbourne. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 3.6% (1,365 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to their particular needs.

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 dominant religion in Rockbank-Mount Cottrell, comprising 39.5% of the population. However, the figure for 'Other' religions is substantially higher at 17.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 5.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (31.5%), Indian (15.9%), and Australian (10.6%). Notably, Filipino (6.4%) and Maltese (4.2%) populations in Rockbank-Mount Cottrell are higher than regional averages, while Samoan representation is slightly over the regional average at 1.2%.

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 Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Rockbank-Mount Cottrell has a higher percentage of residents aged 35-44 (25.1%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (4.6%). This concentration of 35-44 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.2%. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 5-14 has grown from 13.8% to 17.4%, while the 35-44 age group increased from 21.9% to 25.1%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group declined from 26.4% to 20.8%, and the 0-4 age group dropped from 10.8% to 9.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Rockbank-Mount Cottrell's age profile, with the 35-44 age cohort expected to expand substantially, increasing by 12,262 people (131%) from 9,395 to 21,658.