Moving to Rockdale NSW 2216
What the official numbers say about living in Rockdale — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $460 a week, against a median household income of $1,906 a week.
About 51% of homes are owner-occupied and 48% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the apartment.
Who you'll be living with
Rockdale grew 12% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (13,859 → 15,475 people).
Around 67% of households are families, averaging 2.6 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: Nepal, China, North Macedonia; most spoken languages besides English: Nepali, Mandarin, Macedonian.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Rockdale scores a little above the national average (decile 7 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (42% of workers), while 34% work from home.
Nearest train station: Rockdale, 250 m north-west.
Nearest metro station: Marrickville, 4.6 km north.
Nearest light rail stop: Dulwich Hill, 4.8 km north.
Nearest bus interchange: UTS Shuttle Bus, 5.9 km east.
Nearest airport: Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, 3.9 km east.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 11 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 72 schools · 95 cafes & restaurants · 15 supermarkets · 79 parks · 2 beaches — see them all on the Rockdale profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Rockdale Primary School 250 m · St Mary and St Mina's Coptic Orthodox College - Rockdale Campus 350 m · St George Girls High School 700 m · Marist College Kogarah 950 m · Kogarah High School 950 m · Kogarah Public School 1000 m · St Dominic Savio School 1000 m · Bexley Primary School 1.1 km
Groceries: WCA Supermarket 150 m · Aldi 250 m · Four Square Seven Day Food 950 m · ALDI 1.1 km · Woolworths 1.1 km · Coles 1.6 km · IGA 1.9 km · Mayalu Mini Market 2.1 km
Parks and reserves: Chapel Street Reserve 200 m · Hogben Park 650 m · Rockdale Park 750 m · McCarthy Reserve 750 m · Fry's Reserve 850 m · Victory Reserve 850 m · Seaforth Park 900 m · Yamba Woora Reserve 950 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Rockdale, most often seen first: Australian White Ibis · Rainbow Lorikeet · Common Myna · Noisy Miner · Magpie-lark · Australian Raven.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Rockdale, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockdale here | 15,475 | — | 7/10 | 10% |
| Banksia | 3,277 | — | 8/10 | 10% |
| Kogarah | 16,416 | — | 8/10 | 9% |
| Bexley | 19,646 | — | 7/10 | 12% |
| Brighton-le-sands | 8,336 | — | 7/10 | 8% |
| Arncliffe | 12,023 | — | 8/10 | 13% |
| Bardwell Valley | 2,344 | — | 9/10 | 15% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Bayside — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Barton — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2216 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Rockdale profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $460 a week, and about 48% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 12% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 13,859 people to 15,475. It sits about 11 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Rockdale station is roughly 0.3 km away. Local government is Bayside council, and the federal seat is Barton.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Rockdale vs Kogarah · Rockdale vs Bexley.
Nearby guides: Banksia · Kogarah · Bexley · Brighton-le-sands · Arncliffe · Bardwell Valley.
Keep an eye on Rockdale
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