Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Rottnest Island suburb profile
Rottnest Island, WA · Postcode 6161
This Rottnest Island suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Rottnest Island, WA (postcode 6161). 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 Rottnest Island with nearby suburbs.
Rottnest Island at a glance
Population
166
Median rent
$113/wk
Household income
$2,042/wk
Median age
33
Rottnest Island 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
+45.6% over 10 years
Population
166
was 334 in 2016
-168 · -50.3%
Median rent
$113/wk
was $95/wk in 2016
+$18 · +18.9%
Household income
$2,042/wk
was $1,949/wk in 2016
+$93 · +4.8%
Median age
33
was 34 in 2016
-1 · -2.9%
Dig deeper: Rottnest Island population growth · Rottnest Island then and now
Rottnest Island vs nearby & Greater Perth
Median Census 2021 figures for Rottnest Island, nearby suburbs (8), and the Perth metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-69% vs area
- Rottnest Island$113/wk
- Nearby$365/wk
- Perth$365/wk
Household income
+3% vs area
- Rottnest Island$2,042/wk
- Nearby$1,831/wk
- Perth$1,982/wk
Median age
-15.4% vs area
- Rottnest Island33
- Nearby41.5
- Perth39
Personal income
+25.5% vs area
- Rottnest Island$1,112/wk
- Nearby$846.5/wk
- Perth$886/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in WA. See Perth rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Rottnest Island compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Rottnest Island sits above average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 5997.4
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 81,032.3
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1778.3
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 5979.3
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Rottnest Island on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Rottnest Island, WA.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Rottnest Island people
- Population
- 166
- Median age
- 33
- Born overseas
- 39.8%
- Average household size
- 1.9
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Rottnest Island income
- Median household income
- $2,042/wk
- Median personal income
- $1,112/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Rottnest Island housing
- Median rent
- $113/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $0/mo
- Separate houses
- 36.1%
- Flats & apartments
- 0%
- Owned outright
- 0%
- Mortgaged
- 3.4%
- Rented
- 27.7%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 47.9%
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
Rottnest Island work
- Employment to population
- 82.1%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.1%
- Year 12 or above
- 67.1%
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 6161)
Compare Rottnest Island with nearby suburbs
Rottnest Island in numbers
Rottnest Island had 166 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 33, 17% below the typical WA suburb. The average household has 1.9 people. 39.8% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 0% own their home outright, 3.4% are paying a mortgage, 27.7% rent. Separate houses make up 36.1% of dwellings, with 0% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $113/wk, 67% below the typical WA suburb.
Median household income was $2,042/wk, 15% above the typical WA suburb. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 5 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 50.3% (from 334 to 166). Median rent moved from $95/wk to $113/wk (+18.9%).
Rottnest Island suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Rottnest Island, WA?
- The median weekly rent in Rottnest Island was $113/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Rottnest Island, WA?
- Rottnest Island had 166 residents at the 2021 Census, down 50.3% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Rottnest Island?
- Median household income in Rottnest Island was $2,042/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Rottnest Island?
- 27.7% of occupied homes in Rottnest Island were rented, 0% were owned outright and 3.4% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Rottnest Island suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Rottnest Island. 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 Perth