Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Rockdale

Rockdale sits on the northern shore of Botany Bay, centred on a compact town centre around Rockdale railway station and a local shopping centre. Housing is a mix of older low-set weatherboard and brick homes on tree-lined streets and clusters of low- and medium-rise apartments near the station, and the suburb attracts families, established locals and younger professionals. The population is 15,475 with a median age of 34 and a median household income of $1,906 a week; homes are roughly split between owners (51.4%) and renters (48.6%).

Day-to-day life in Rockdale is shaped by the town shopping strip, cafes and nearby foreshore parks, and good rail and road links that put the airport and the inner southern suburbs within easy reach. The area is the focus of a draft Rockdale Centre Masterplan and related public-domain and civic projects, and recent local investment has included station public art, transport works with temporary bus stop relocations, a grant for the Barton Park Sporting Precinct and funding for a playground upgrade. Whether Rockdale suits you will depend on the mix of housing, amenities and planned changes that matter most to you.

In Rockdale a typical local household earned about $1,906 a week as recorded at the most recent Census. On the figures, renting a house at $850 a week would take roughly 44.6% of that weekly household income, while renting a unit at $725 a week would take about 38.0%.

The median unit price of $710,000 works out to about 7.2 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census (annual household income = $1,906 × 52 = $99,112), which sits well above local incomes. If you are renting rather than buying, the rent shares above are the immediate numbers that matter; whether that feels expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

If you're weighing Rockdale up as an investment, the past year shows solid gains on the price side for both dwelling types. House values rose 7.8% while unit values rose 7.0%, so house prices increased slightly more than units. On the income side, unit rents climbed 6.6% over the 12 months, meaning rental income for units moved broadly in line with their price change. Whether that balance suits you will depend on your own goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.