New South Wales · Suburb Profile

Rockdale NSW — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Rockdale, New South Wales. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Rockdale NSW is 15,475 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Rockdale is $801 per week ($41,652 per year). Median rent in Rockdale is $460 per week ($1,993 per month). Rockdale has a median age of 34 years, younger than the national median of 38. Rockdale has a population density of 6336.0 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Rockdale is China. The most common religion is No Religion (23% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is IAL Nepali. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Rockdale is $2,167.

There were 257 recorded offences in Rockdale in 2025-26, a rate of 17 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (99 offences).

Rockdale Map

📍

Loading map…

Rockdale Population

residents (Census 2021)

Rockdale Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$801/wk

$41,652 per year

#3609 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$460/wk

$1,993 per month

#939 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

34years

4 years younger than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$2,167/mo

Avg household size: 2.6 · 1.1 per bedroom

Rockdale Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.6% (7,988) Female 48.4% (7,487)

Population Density

6336.0

people per km²

15,475 people · 2.4 km²

Households

2.6

Avg household size

1.1

Persons per bedroom

$2,024

Family income/wk

Rockdale Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Rockdale Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

44.9% 1,248 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

55.1% 1,533 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Rockdale Country of Birth

Australia

63.0%

China

10.0%

Bangladesh

8.4%

India

5.9%

Brazil

3.8%

England

2.2%

Greece

2.0%

Indonesia

2.0%

Hong Kong

1.6%

Egypt

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Rockdale Religion

No Religion

22.7%

Hinduism

19.7%

Catholic

17.7%

Islam

11.5%

Eastern Orthodox

10.7%

Not stated

7.8%

Buddhism

6.2%

Christian (other)

3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Rockdale Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

83.5%

Year 10 or equivalent

10.1%

Year 11 or equivalent

4.1%

Year 9 or equivalent

2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Rockdale Languages Spoken at Home

IAL Nepali

38.4%

Macedon

10.9%

Mandarin

10.2%

Bengali

10.2%

Arabic

9.3%

Cantonese

7.9%

SAL Tot

7.4%

Greek

5.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Rockdale Employment

💼

Employed full-time

35.1% 4,077 people

⏰

Employed part-time

24.3% 2,830 people

🔍

Unemployed

4.9% 575 people

🏠

Not in labour force

35.6% 4,142 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Rockdale Qualifications

Bachelor Degree

42.5%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

19.9%

Postgraduate Degree

19.2%

Certificate III/IV

14.4%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

2.6%

Certificate I/II

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Rockdale Occupation

Professionals

28.7%

Community & Personal Service

13.6%

Clerical & Administrative

11.9%

Technicians & Trade Workers

11.7%

Managers

10.5%

Labourers

10.3%

Sales Workers

8.8%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

4.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Rockdale Field of Study

Management & Commerce

34.8%

Information Technology

12.6%

Engineering

11.1%

Society & Culture

10.5%

Health

10.5%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

5.5%

Creative Arts

4.0%

Education

3.8%

Natural & Physical Sciences

3.3%

Architecture & Building

3.1%

Agriculture & Environment

0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Rockdale Dwelling Types

Separate house

86.1%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

10.3%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Rockdale Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

2.3%

$1-$149/wk

0.6%

$150-$299/wk

1.0%

$300-$399/wk

1.9%

$400-$499/wk

4.5%

$500-$649/wk

3.5%

$650-$799/wk

5.5%

$800-$999/wk

5.3%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

7.4%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.3%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.7%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.5%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

15.9%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

8.8%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

7.6%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

4.2%

$4,000+/wk

11.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Rockdale Marital Status

💍

Married

47.6% 6,357

↔️

Separated

3.1% 415

📋

Divorced

7.6% 1,008

🕊️

Widowed

3.6% 483

👤

Never married

38.1% 5,087

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Rockdale Ancestry

Other

38.4%

Chinese

12.9%

Australian

9.5%

English

9.4%

Macedonian

6.0%

Lebanese

4.0%

Greek

4.0%

Filipino

3.9%

Indian

3.6%

Italian

3.2%

Irish

3.1%

Scottish

2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Rockdale School & University Attendance

Vocational Education

32.2%

Primary — Government

23.6%

Secondary — Government

16.3%

Pre-school

10.8%

Primary — Catholic

7.6%

Secondary — Catholic

4.9%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

2.6%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Rockdale Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

4.7% 1,371

✅

No need for assistance

95.3% 27,677

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Rockdale Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

7.4% 925

—

Not a volunteer

92.6% 11,504

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Rockdale Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

5.5%

$300-$449/mo

1.8%

$450-$599/mo

1.2%

$600-$799/mo

3.2%

$800-$999/mo

2.5%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

9.8%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

12.5%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

28.4%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

20.7%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

14.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Rockdale How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

44.7%

Train

20.4%

Did not go to work

19.5%

Walked only

4.9%

Car (passenger)

4.3%

Bus

3.3%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.9%

Other

0.8%

Truck

0.6%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.4%

Bicycle

0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Rockdale Car Ownership

0 vehicles

19.7%

1 vehicle

52.1%

2 vehicles

21.1%

3 vehicles

4.8%

4+ vehicles

2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Rockdale Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

10.0%

2 bedrooms

58.0%

3 bedrooms

19.9%

4 bedrooms

8.2%

5 bedrooms

2.7%

6+ bedrooms

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Rockdale Population Mobility

23.5%

moved in the last year

52.2%

moved in the last 5 years

6.8%

unemployment rate (Census)

62.5%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Rockdale Indigenous Population

0.5%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

136

Indigenous residents

29,351

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Rockdale Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

645

Diabetes

334

Asthma

302

Arthritis

244

Heart disease

224

Lung condition

122

Cancer

120

Kidney disease

108

Stroke

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Rockdale Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

11.8%

$1-$149/wk

2.4%

$150-$299/wk

4.1%

$300-$399/wk

4.3%

$400-$499/wk

4.3%

$500-$649/wk

4.8%

$650-$799/wk

10.7%

$800-$999/wk

12.8%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

14.1%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

8.7%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.6%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

4.4%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

7.6%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

1.5%

$3,500+/wk

1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Rockdale Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

40.9%

Couple — no children

31.2%

Couple — no children under 15

15.7%

One parent — no children under 15

7.2%

One parent — children under 15

4.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Rockdale Military Service

🎖️

Current ADF — Regular

0.1% 12

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

0.0% 4

🏅

Previously served

0.5% 61

👤

Never served

99.4% 12,415

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Rockdale Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

8.5% 1,051

—

Did not provide

91.5% 11,320

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Rockdale Children Ever Born

No children

47.8%

1 child

18.4%

2 children

21.9%

3 children

7.9%

4 children

2.8%

5+ children

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Rockdale When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

135

1961–1970

477

1971–1980

541

1981–1990

790

1991–2000

1,043

2001–2010

1,776

2011–2015

1,421

2016

478

2017

654

2018

804

2019

878

2020

208

2021

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Rockdale Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

16.6%

5–14 hours

23.0%

15–29 hours

9.6%

30+ hours

7.6%

Did not do domestic work

43.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Rockdale Household Size

1 person

23.7%

2 persons

32.2%

3 persons

20.1%

4 persons

14.5%

5 persons

6.0%

6+ persons

3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Rockdale Where Residents Moved From

Same address

11,024

Moved from NSW

1,971

Moved — same area (SA2)

1,049

Moved from overseas

233

Moved from QLD

Moved from VIC

Moved from TAS

Moved from SA

Moved from NT

Moved from WA

Moved from ACT

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Rockdale Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

92.2%

Step family — no other children

4.6%

Blended family — no other children

1.4%

Intact family — other children present

0.9%

Other couple — children only

0.4%

Step family — other children present

0.2%

Blended family — other children present

0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Rockdale Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 257 total

Theft

Traffic

Other Against Property

Other Against Person

Drug Offences

Property Damage

Assault

Sexual Offences

Weapons

Robbery

Offence trend by year:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR — bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Rockdale Schools

schools nearby

government

1072

avg ICSEA score

17,503

total students

St George Christian School Independent

Combined · K-12 · 845 students

1159

ICSEA

St George Girls High School Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 908 students

1148

ICSEA

Sydney Technical High School Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 907 students

1136

ICSEA

St Raphael's Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 210 students

1130

ICSEA

St Mary and St Mina's Coptic Orthodox College Independent

Primary · K-12 · 372 students

1123

ICSEA

St Patrick's Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 416 students

1117

ICSEA

St Francis Xavier's Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 292 students

1116

ICSEA

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 374 students

1110

ICSEA

Earlwood Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 600 students

1107

ICSEA

Hurstville Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 1,048 students

1102

ICSEA

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 204 students

1092

ICSEA

St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School Brighton Le Sands Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 198 students

1090

ICSEA

St Gabriel's Catholic Primary School Bexley Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 179 students

1089

ICSEA

St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 408 students

1088

ICSEA

Bardwell Park Infants School Government

Primary · K-2 · 33 students

1088

ICSEA

Showing 15 of 42 schools

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Rockdale with map →

Rockdale Rent Prices & Affordability

24%

of income

Affordable

Household Income $1,906/wk

Median Rent $460/wk

Rent-to-Income 24.1%

Rent is under 25% of household income — generally considered affordable.

If you earn X in Rockdale

Your weekly income

≈ $8,259/month

Median rent $460/wk

Left after rent $1,446/wk

Rent share 24.1%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Tolland

Income: $666/wk Rent: $220/wk Save: $240/wk

Bellbird

Income: $643/wk Rent: $323/wk Save: $137/wk

Kingswood (Penrith - NSW)

Income: $747/wk Rent: $355/wk Save: $105/wk

South Windsor

Income: $763/wk Rent: $360/wk Save: $100/wk

Thurgoona

Income: $906/wk Rent: $360/wk Save: $100/wk

St Marys (NSW)

Income: $754/wk Rent: $365/wk Save: $95/wk

Mayfield West

Income: $808/wk Rent: $370/wk Save: $90/wk

Rosemeadow

Income: $703/wk Rent: $380/wk Save: $80/wk

Rockdale vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

Pendle Hill

Pop: 7,743 Income: $773/wk Rent: $400/wk

Berkeley

Pop: 7,798 Income: $568/wk Rent: $290/wk

Chippendale

Pop: 7,803 Income: $882/wk Rent: $520/wk

Beacon Hill

Pop: 7,814 Income: $982/wk Rent: $730/wk

Mount Colah

Pop: 7,816 Income: $1,032/wk Rent: $525/wk

Cabramatta West

Pop: 7,822 Income: $481/wk Rent: $380/wk

Compare Rockdale

Rockdale vs Pendle Hill →Rockdale vs Berkeley →Rockdale vs Chippendale →Rockdale vs Beacon Hill →

Frequently Asked Questions About Rockdale

What is the population of Rockdale NSW?

The population of Rockdale NSW is 15,475 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 6336.0 people per km².Rockdale is ranked #255 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Rockdale?

The median personal income in Rockdale NSW is $801 per week, or $41,652 per year.The median household income is $1,906 per week.Family income is $2,024 per week.Rockdale is ranked #3,609 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Rockdale?

Median rent in Rockdale NSW is $460 per week ($1,993 per month).Rent represents 24.1% of household income, which is considered affordable.Rockdale ranks #939 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Rockdale?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Rockdale NSW is $2,167. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Rockdale?

The median age in Rockdale NSW is 34 years.This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Rockdale a good suburb to live in?

Rockdale is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 15,475.The median income is $801/wk, which is above the NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (24.1% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

📊 Australian Average Salary 🏘️ Australian House Prices 🌆 Sydney Cost of Living

Looking for schools, childcare centres, and playgrounds in this area? See kid.com.au for family facilities data.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 13394. All dollar figures in AUD.