Rosewater, SA: suburb profile

The population of Rosewater SA is 3,582 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Rosewater is $684 per week ($35,568 per year). Median rent in Rosewater is $260 per week ($1,127 per month). Rosewater has a median age of 39 years, older than the national median of 38. Rosewater has a population density of 2,685 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Rosewater is England. The most common religion is No religion (45.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Vietnamese. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Rosewater is $1,430.

There were 209 recorded offences in Rosewater in 2025-26, a rate of 58 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (134 offences).

Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au), 2025-26.

Rosewater Map

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Rosewater Population

3,582 residents at the 2021 Census.

Rosewater Median Income & Rent

Median Income

$684/wk

$35,568 per year

Ranked 5,766 of 14,663

Median Rent

$260/wk

$1,127 per month

Ranked 5,884 of 14,663

Median Age

39years

1 years older than the national median

Mortgage

$1,430/mo

Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.8 per bedroom

Rosewater Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.9% (1,788) Female 50.1% (1,795)

Population Density

2,685

people per km²

3,582 people · 1.3 km²

Households

2.3

Avg household size

0.8

Persons per bedroom

$1,740

Family income/wk

Rosewater 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 and Locality (SAL)

Rosewater Home Ownership

Of owner-occupied homes in Rosewater, 37.0% are owned outright and 63.0% have a mortgage.

Owned outright

37.0%

Owned with mortgage

63.0%

Rented homes are not included in this breakdown.

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
India
Greece
China
Germany
Croatia
France
Iran

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

Rosewater Religion

No religion

45.8%

Catholic

18.5%

Not stated

6.2%

Buddhism

4.7%

Anglican

3.5%

Christian (other)

3.4%

Eastern Orthodox

3.2%

Islam

2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Rosewater Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

60.8%

Year 11 or equivalent

17.5%

Year 10 or equivalent

16.5%

Year 9 or equivalent

5.3%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Vietnamese
Greek
Tagalog
Punjabi
Filipino
Russian

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

Rosewater Employment

Employed full-time

36.2% 1,005 people

Employed part-time

22.0% 612 people

Unemployed

5.2% 144 people

Not in labour force

36.7% 1,019 people

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

Rosewater Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

41.9%

Bachelor Degree

27.1%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

16.0%

Postgraduate Degree

8.1%

Certificate I/II

3.5%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

3.4%

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

Rosewater Occupation

Professionals

26.0%

Technicians & Trade Workers

17.7%

Community & Personal Service

15.7%

Clerical & Administrative

11.8%

Managers

10.6%

Labourers

7.2%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

6.3%

Sales Workers

4.6%

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

Rosewater Field of Study

Management & Commerce

18.9%

Society & Culture

18.3%

Engineering

17.5%

Health

11.8%

Education

9.1%

Architecture & Building

6.0%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

5.9%

Creative Arts

5.1%

Information Technology

3.7%

Natural & Physical Sciences

2.4%

Agriculture & Environment

1.2%

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

Rosewater Dwelling Types

Separate house

81.2%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

16.7%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Rosewater Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.5%

$1-$149/wk

0.5%

$150-$299/wk

2.0%

$300-$399/wk

5.1%

$400-$499/wk

9.2%

$500-$649/wk

5.6%

$650-$799/wk

8.6%

$800-$999/wk

7.5%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

7.9%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

8.5%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.8%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.4%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

11.4%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

6.5%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

6.3%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

2.6%

$4,000+/wk

3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Rosewater Marital Status

Married

34.5% 1,042

Separated

3.4% 102

Divorced

12.4% 374

Widowed

4.5% 135

Never married

45.3% 1,368

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Rosewater Ancestry

English

32.7%

Australian

28.3%

Irish

8.3%

Scottish

7.8%

German

5.8%

Vietnamese

5.8%

Italian

4.7%

Filipino

3.7%

Australian Aboriginal

3.5%

Indian

3.2%

Polish

3.0%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Rosewater School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

23.0%

Secondary — Government

16.6%

Vocational Education

16.4%

Primary — Catholic

14.7%

Secondary — Catholic

10.9%

Pre-school

9.1%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

5.5%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

3.8%

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

Rosewater Need for Assistance

Needs assistance

7.7%

No need for assistance

92.3%

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

Rosewater Volunteering

Volunteer

12.3% 354

Not a volunteer

87.7% 2,516

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Rosewater Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

4.1%

$300-$449/mo

3.9%

$450-$599/mo

1.4%

$600-$799/mo

6.8%

$800-$999/mo

6.6%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

24.2%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

28.5%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

19.9%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

3.2%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Rosewater How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

74.0%

Did not go to work

10.8%

Car (passenger)

4.5%

Train

3.5%

Bus

3.0%

Walked only

1.7%

Bicycle

0.8%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.8%

Other

0.4%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.3%

Truck

0.3%

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

Rosewater Car Ownership

0 vehicles

11.3%

1 vehicle

39.8%

2 vehicles

33.9%

3 vehicles

10.2%

4+ vehicles

4.8%

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

Rosewater Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

4.3%

2 bedrooms

29.7%

3 bedrooms

51.9%

4 bedrooms

11.4%

5 bedrooms

2.3%

6+ bedrooms

0.4%

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

Rosewater Population Mobility

11.4%

moved in the last year

36.5%

moved in the last 5 years

7.8%

unemployment rate (Census)

61.3%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Rosewater Indigenous Population

3.9%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Rosewater Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

422

Asthma

146

Arthritis

134

Diabetes

108

Lung condition

Heart disease

Cancer

Stroke

Kidney disease

Dementia

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

Rosewater Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

11.5%

$1-$149/wk

3.3%

$150-$299/wk

7.5%

$300-$399/wk

6.0%

$400-$499/wk

6.2%

$500-$649/wk

3.1%

$650-$799/wk

9.3%

$800-$999/wk

13.6%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

12.9%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

8.9%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.7%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

4.1%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

5.8%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

0.5%

$3,500+/wk

0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

Rosewater Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

36.5%

Couple — no children

24.6%

Couple — no children under 15

17.2%

One parent — no children under 15

11.5%

One parent — children under 15

10.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Rosewater Military Service

Current ADF — Regular

0.1% 4

Current ADF — Reserves

0.2% 6

Previously served

2.5% 73

Never served

97.1% 2,802

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Rosewater Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance

13.9% 397

Did not provide

86.1% 2,463

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Rosewater Children Ever Born

No children

38.3%

1 child

17.7%

2 children

24.8%

3 children

12.2%

4 children

6.1%

5+ children

1.0%

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

Rosewater When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

115

1971–1980

1981–1990

159

1991–2000

2001–2010

167

2011–2015

140

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

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

Rosewater Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

20.8%

5–14 hours

30.2%

15–29 hours

12.8%

30+ hours

6.9%

Did not do domestic work

29.4%

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

Rosewater Household Size

1 person

33.2%

2 persons

31.0%

3 persons

15.9%

4 persons

12.8%

5 persons

4.5%

6+ persons

2.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Rosewater Where Residents Moved From

Same address

2,986

Moved from SA

302

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from NSW

Moved from VIC

Moved from overseas

Moved from NT

Moved from QLD

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

Rosewater Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

81.0%

Step family — no other children

12.2%

Blended family — no other children

3.8%

Intact family — other children present

1.9%

Other couple — children only

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Rosewater Crime Statistics

209 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft

134

Assault

Property Damage

Break & Enter

Fraud

Other Against Person

Total offences by year

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au).

Rosewater Schools

schools nearby

government

992

avg ICSEA score

6,484

total students

Whitefriars School Catholic

Primary · R-6 · 603 students

1076

ICSEA

Portside Christian College Independent

Combined · R-12 · 626 students

1067

ICSEA

Our Lady Queen of Peace School Catholic

Primary · R-6 · 278 students

1043

ICSEA

Woodville Primary School Government

Primary · R-6 · 204 students

1020

ICSEA

Largs Bay School Government

Primary · R-6 · 418 students

1018

ICSEA

Mount Carmel College Catholic

Secondary · R-12 · 1,204 students

1008

ICSEA

Alberton Primary School Government

Primary · R-6 · 262 students

1002

ICSEA

The Grove Education Centre Government

Combined · U · 63 students

992

ICSEA

St Joseph's School Catholic

Primary · R-6 · 154 students

990

ICSEA

Woodville Gardens School Birth-6 Government

Primary · U, R-6 · 478 students

983

ICSEA

Woodville High School Government

Secondary · U, 7-12 · 1,170 students

973

ICSEA

Hendon Primary School Government

Primary · U, R-6 · 270 students

965

ICSEA

Pennington School R-6 Government

Primary · U, R-6 · 262 students

934

ICSEA

Ngutu College Independent

Combined · R-11 · 260 students

909

ICSEA

Le Fevre Peninsula Primary School Government

Primary · U, R-6 · 232 students

902

ICSEA

Showing 15 of 18 schools.

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

All schools near Rosewater, with a map

Rosewater Rent Prices & Affordability

20% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,314/wk

Median rent $260/wk

Rent to income 19.8%

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

Median rent in Rosewater against your income

Your weekly income

About $5,694 a month

Median rent $260/wk

Left after rent $1,054/wk

Rent share 19.8%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Whyalla Norrie

Income: $596/wk Rent: $180/wk $80/wk less rent

Port Augusta

Income: $635/wk Rent: $194/wk $66/wk less rent

Noarlunga Downs

Income: $648/wk Rent: $250/wk $10/wk less rent

Taperoo

Income: $585/wk Rent: $250/wk $10/wk less rent

Port Augusta West

Income: $720/wk Rent: $213/wk $47/wk less rent

Bordertown

Income: $819/wk Rent: $220/wk $40/wk less rent

Naracoorte

Income: $758/wk Rent: $230/wk $30/wk less rent

Risdon Park South

Income: $713/wk Rent: $185/wk $75/wk less rent

Rosewater vs the typical SA suburb

The median personal income in Rosewater is $684 a week, 10% below the typical SA suburb ($759). That ranks 464th of 710 SA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $260 a week, $40 less than the typical SA suburb. Rent takes 19.8% of the median household income here, against 19.5% in the typical SA suburb. The median resident is 39, 4 years younger than in the typical SA suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
Measure	Rosewater	Typical SA	Typical Australia
Personal income	$684/wk	$759/wk	$766/wk
Household income	$1,314/wk	$1,494/wk	$1,637/wk
Rent	$260/wk	$300/wk	$330/wk
Mortgage repayment	$1,430/mo	$1,534/mo	$1,733/mo
Median age	39	43	42
Rent share of household income	19.8%	19.5%	20.3%

Suburbs near Rosewater

The closest suburb to Rosewater is Alberton (SA), 0.9 km away.

Alberton (SA)

0.9 km away · income $779/wk · rent $279/wk

Pennington

1.1 km away · income $568/wk · rent $250/wk

Queenstown (SA)

1.4 km away · income $623/wk · rent $270/wk

Ottoway

1.5 km away · income $555/wk · rent $275/wk

Cheltenham (SA)

1.8 km away · income $766/wk · rent $290/wk

Athol Park

2.0 km away · income $650/wk · rent $320/wk

Compare Rosewater

Frequently Asked Questions About Rosewater

What is the population of Rosewater SA?

The population of Rosewater SA is 3,582 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 2,685 people per km².Rosewater is ranked #2,111 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Rosewater?

The median personal income in Rosewater SA is $684 per week, or $35,568 per year.The median household income is $1,314 per week.Family income is $1,740 per week.Rosewater is ranked #5,766 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Rosewater?

Median rent in Rosewater SA is $260 per week ($1,127 per month).Rent represents 19.8% of household income, which is considered affordable.Rosewater ranks #5,884 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Rosewater?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Rosewater SA is $1,430. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Rosewater?

The median age in Rosewater SA is 39 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Rosewater a good suburb to live in?

Rosewater is a suburb in South Australia with a population of 3,582.The median income is $684/wk, which is below the typical SA suburb ($759/wk).Rent affordability is rated as affordable (19.8% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 41276. All dollar figures in AUD.