Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Rockdale suburb profile
Rockdale, NSW · Postcode 2216
This Rockdale suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Rockdale, NSW (postcode 2216). 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 Rockdale with nearby suburbs.
Rockdale at a glance
Population
15,475
Median rent
$460/wk
Household income
$1,906/wk
Median age
34
Rockdale 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
+10.2% over 10 years
Population
15,475
was 15,534 in 2016
-59 · -0.4%
Median rent
$460/wk
was $470/wk in 2016
$10 · -2.1%
Household income
$1,906/wk
was $1,635/wk in 2016
+$271 · +16.6%
Median age
34
was 32 in 2016
+2 · +6.3%
Dig deeper: Rockdale population growth · Rockdale then and now
Rockdale vs nearby & Greater Sydney
Median Census 2021 figures for Rockdale, nearby suburbs (8), and the Sydney metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-6.1% vs area
- Rockdale$460/wk
- Nearby$490/wk
- Sydney$490/wk
Household income
-10.1% vs area
- Rockdale$1,906/wk
- Nearby$1,844/wk
- Sydney$2,119.5/wk
Median age
-15% vs area
- Rockdale34
- Nearby43.5
- Sydney40
Personal income
-11.3% vs area
- Rockdale$801/wk
- Nearby$842/wk
- Sydney$903.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW. See Sydney rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Rockdale compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Rockdale sits above average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 3972.4
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 71,012.2
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1913
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 81,030.2
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Rockdale on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Rockdale, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Rockdale people
- Population
- 15,475
- Median age
- 34
- Born overseas
- 61.3%
- Average household size
- 2.6
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Rockdale income
- Median household income
- $1,906/wk
- Median personal income
- $801/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Rockdale housing
- Median rent
- $460/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,167/mo
- Separate houses
- 21.8%
- Flats & apartments
- 62.3%
- Owned outright
- 20%
- Mortgaged
- 24.6%
- Rented
- 42.1%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 10.4%
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
Rockdale work
- Employment to population
- 58.2%
- Unemployment rate
- 6.8%
- Year 12 or above
- 72.9%
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 2216)
Compare Rockdale with nearby suburbs
Rockdale in numbers
Rockdale had 15,475 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 82nd most populous suburb or locality in NSW out of 4,347. The median age is 34, 17% below the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.6 people. 61.3% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 20% own their home outright, 24.6% are paying a mortgage, 42.1% rent. Flats and apartments make up 62.3% of dwellings, with 21.8% separate houses. Median rent was $460/wk, 15% above the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,906/wk, 6% above the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 6.8%. 72.9% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 3 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 0.4% (from 15,534 to 15,475). Median rent moved from $470/wk to $460/wk (-2.1%).
Rockdale suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Rockdale, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Rockdale was $460/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Rockdale, NSW?
- Rockdale had 15,475 residents at the 2021 Census, down 0.4% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Rockdale?
- Median household income in Rockdale was $1,906/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Rockdale?
- 42.1% of occupied homes in Rockdale were rented, 20% were owned outright and 24.6% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Rockdale suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Rockdale. 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 · Richest suburbs in Sydney