Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Rochester suburb profile
Rochester, VIC · Postcode 3561
This Rochester suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Rochester, VIC (postcode 3561). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Rochester with nearby suburbs.
Rochester at a glance
Population
3,154
Median rent
$220/wk
Household income
$1,073/wk
Median age
53
Rochester trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+5% over 10 years
Population
3,154
was 3,113 in 2016
+41 · +1.3%
Median rent
$220/wk
was $170/wk in 2016
+$50 · +29.4%
Household income
$1,073/wk
was $945/wk in 2016
+$128 · +13.5%
Median age
53
was 51 in 2016
+2 · +3.9%
Dig deeper: Rochester population growth · Rochester then and now
Rochester vs nearby & VIC
Median Census 2021 figures for Rochester, nearby suburbs (8), and the VIC state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-39.9% vs area
- Rochester$220/wk
- Nearby$250.5/wk
- VIC$366/wk
Household income
-40.8% vs area
- Rochester$1,073/wk
- Nearby$1,301.5/wk
- VIC$1,813/wk
Median age
+32.5% vs area
- Rochester53
- Nearby44
- VIC40
Personal income
-27.4% vs area
- Rochester$583/wk
- Nearby$679/wk
- VIC$803/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC.
Socio-economic profile
How Rochester compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Rochester sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 2928.5
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 2898.7
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 2954.3
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 2885.1
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Rochester on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Rochester, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Rochester people
- Population
- 3,154
- Median age
- 53
- Born overseas
- 5.7%
- Average household size
- 2.2
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Rochester income
- Median household income
- $1,073/wk
- Median personal income
- $583/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Rochester housing
- Median rent
- $220/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,083/mo
- Separate houses
- 84.6%
- Flats & apartments
- 0%
- Owned outright
- 45.4%
- Mortgaged
- 24.7%
- Rented
- 17.6%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 9.2%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Rochester work
- Employment to population
- 45.7%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.6%
- Year 12 or above
- 30.3%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 3561)
Compare Rochester with nearby suburbs
Rochester in numbers
Rochester had 3,154 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 461st most populous suburb or locality in VIC out of 2,835. The median age is 53, 29% above the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.2 people. 5.7% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 45.4% own their home outright, 24.7% are paying a mortgage, 17.6% rent. Separate houses make up 84.6% of dwellings, with 0% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $220/wk, 37% below the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $1,073/wk, 40% below the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 3.6%. 30.3% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 2 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 1.3% (from 3,113 to 3,154). Median rent moved from $170/wk to $220/wk (+29.4%).
Rochester suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Rochester, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Rochester was $220/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Rochester, VIC?
- Rochester had 3,154 residents at the 2021 Census, up 1.3% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Rochester?
- Median household income in Rochester was $1,073/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Rochester?
- 17.6% of occupied homes in Rochester were rented, 45.4% were owned outright and 24.7% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Rochester suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Rochester (Vic.). Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology