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

Rockingham sits around a lively foreshore and marina on a sheltered bay, with sandy beaches and easy access to the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park and Penguin Island for wildlife viewing and boating. The centre is compact, with a shopping centre, cafes and family facilities, while housing ranges from older beach cottages and brick homes to newer low-rise apartments along the esplanade. Local schools, parkland and sports facilities are close by and there are regular road and public transport links into the wider metropolitan area.

About 15,312 people live in Rockingham, with a median age of 49, and the community is weighted towards couple families (49.0% without children, 30.6% with children). Most homes are owner-occupied (34.8% owned outright, 27.1% with a mortgage) while 38.2% are rented. Several council and state projects are focused on the waterfront, including foreshore upgrades, a proposed marina, a redesign of the Aqua Jetty stage and a proposed shared path from the station to the foreshore, plus a nearby road upgrade that will alter local connections. Those features mean Rockingham suits people who favour an outdoor, water-oriented lifestyle; whether it fits you depends on what you want locally.

Housing costs in Rockingham sit well above what a typical local household earned at the most recent Census. With the median household income at $1,169 a week at the last Census, the average house rent of $630 a week would take about 53.9% of that weekly income and the average unit rent of $540 a week about 46.2% — both large shares of a typical local household's income. On the buying side, the current median house price of $873,750 is about 14.4 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, and the median unit price of $601,000 is about 9.9 times. If you're renting rather than buying, the rent share is the number that matters; whether those figures feel 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.

Over the past 12 months, house and unit values in Rockingham rose strongly, up 20.3% and 20.9% respectively. Rents moved more quietly: house rents increased a solid 5.0% while unit rents edged up 1.9%. Put simply, capital growth was the clearer story this year, and the rent performance was noticeably stronger for houses than for units.

If you're weighing Rockingham as an investment, the value figures speak to capital growth and the rent figures speak to rental income. Which of those matters most depends 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.