Rockdale - Banksia is growing fast — but unemployment is higher
Rockdale - Banksia 2216 · Kogarah - Rockdale, Greater Sydney, NSW
Rockdale - Banksia is growing fast, up 2.28% in the latest year against 1.18% for New South Wales; still relatively affordable to rent, with a median of $690 a week (DCJ, 2026-Q1) — about $90 below the Greater Sydney median. The trade-offs: unemployment runs above the Sydney norm, at 6.7%; most of the growth is high-rise — over half the homes are now flats or units.
Mostly apartments, with a median age of 35 and households on a median $1,910 a week at the 2021 Census.
Compiled from ABS regional population (SA2), the 2021 Census, SEIFA 2021, NSW DCJ median rents, NSW DCJ median sale prices, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reported offences, NSW SES Georges River flood database, OpenStreetMap and ACARA Schools NSW / NSW Dept of Education · figures current to September 2026.
What it costs to buy
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2025-Q4Median sale price from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's recorded property sales. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2025-Q4 quarter
| Type | Median sale price |
|---|---|
| House | $1,880,000n=31 |
| Unit / flat | $799,000n=101 |
The median sale price across all dwellings in Rockdale - Banksia was $828,000, based on sales in postcode 2216, for the 2025-Q4 quarter. That is $372,000 below the Greater Sydney median. By type: a house $1,880,000 and a unit / flat $799,000.
This is the median price of properties recorded as sold this quarter — settlement can lag a purchase decision by weeks, so the most recent quarter can revise slightly as more sales are recorded.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median price | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-Q4 | $828,000 | — | $1,200,000 |
Sale price data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on sales in postcode 2216, December 2025 release. Figures are the median for properties sold in the quarter. DCJ suppresses a median where too few properties sold.
What it costs to rent
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2026-Q1Median weekly rent for new tenancies, from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's bond lodgements. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2026-Q1 quarter
| Type | Studio | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House | — | $510low sample | — | $900low sample | — |
| Unit / flat | — | $590n=68 | $710n=191 | $950low sample | — |
n is the number of new bonds behind each median — treat a figure marked low sample as indicative only.
The median weekly rent across all dwellings in Rockdale - Banksia was $690, based on new bonds lodged in postcode 2216, for the 2026-Q1 quarter. That is $90 a week below the Greater Sydney median. By type: a 3-bedroom house $900 and a 2-bedroom unit $710.
This is the median rent on new leases signed this quarter, not what existing tenants pay. It usually runs higher than the Census figure.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median rent | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q1 | $690 | — | $930 |
Rent data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on new bonds in postcode 2216, March 2026 release. Figures are the median for new bonds lodged in the quarter, not all tenancies. DCJ suppresses a median where too few bonds were lodged.
Rockdale - Banksia on the map
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area 2 outline for Rockdale - Banksia, NSW.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary: ABS SA2 (ASGS 2021), simplified — an SA2 can differ from the gazetted suburb, and detached parts such as islands may not all be shown.
How the population has changed
Rockdale - Banksia against the New South Wales average, both set to 100 in the first year shown so the growth rates compare.
Rockdale - Banksia population grew from 21,121 in 2016 to 23,103 in 2025, a change of 9.4% over the period, against the New South Wales average.
Show the data table
| Year | Rockdale - Banksia | New South Wales average |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 21,121 | 7,732,858 |
| 2017 | 21,298 | 7,855,316 |
| 2018 | 21,255 | 7,954,476 |
| 2019 | 20,996 | 8,046,748 |
| 2020 | 20,731 | 8,110,610 |
| 2021 | 20,010 | 8,097,062 |
| 2022 | 20,258 | 8,182,098 |
| 2023 | 21,642 | 8,356,387 |
| 2024 | 22,588 | 8,492,050 |
| 2025 | 23,103 | 8,592,524 |
Where the growth is coming from
Rockdale - Banksia gained 1,291 residents from internal migration and 1,343 from overseas in the year to June 2025, while 2,198 people moved away — a net addition of 436 before natural increase.
- Internal migration in+1,291
- Internal migration out+1,677
- Overseas migration in+1,343
- Natural increase+79
Components of population change over the sample year. Natural increase is shown apart from migration so the two are not read as one figure.
How it has changed
Census · five-yearlyThe 2016 Census against 2021. Older figures are mapped onto today's boundaries via the ABS Time Series Profile, so comparisons are approximate where borders moved.
| Measure | 2016 | 2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,960 | 19,853 | -0.5% |
| Median age | 33 | 35 | +2 yrs |
| Median household income | $1,639/wk | $1,910/wk | +17% |
| Median weekly rent | $480/wk | $460/wk | -4.2% |
| Born overseas | 63.1% | 60.9% | -2.3 pts |
Who lives here
Census · five-yearlyFrom the 2021 Census — the most recent available; 2026 Census data isn't expected until mid-2027. Each figure carries its definition, so you know what is being counted.
People
Income
Housing
Work
Household
Country of birth
Language at home
How homes are held
- Owned outright 25.0%
- Mortgaged 28.9%
- Rented 43.1%
- Other / not stated 3.1%
How well-off the area is
Census · five-yearlyThe ABS SEIFA indexes rank every area by relative advantage and disadvantage. Decile 1 is the lowest tenth of Australia; decile 10 is the highest.
- Relative disadvantage (IRSD)Lower decile means more relative disadvantageDecile 4score 974
- Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)Higher decile means more relative advantageDecile 6score 1,013
- Economic resources (IER)Income and housing capacityDecile 2score 932
- Education & occupation (IEO)Education and occupational skill levelsDecile 7score 1,028
Safety context
NSW BOCSAR · June 2026How much crime is reported in Rockdale - Banksia, from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
Most-reported offences · Rockdale - Banksia, last 12 months
- Intimidation, stalking and harassment359 /100k+15% vs Greater Sydney↑ 22%
- Malicious damage to property338 /100k+18% vs Greater Sydney↓ 21%
- Assault277 /100k+425% vs Greater Sydney↑ 7%
- Theft156 /100k+305% vs Greater Sydney↑ 6%
- Drug offences91 /100k+455% vs Greater Sydney↑ 24%
- Robbery13 /100k+357% vs Greater Sydney↓ 0%
Rate per 100,000 people in Rockdale - Banksia; the arrow compares the last 12 months with the 12 before.
Of these categories, intimidation, stalking and harassment is reported most in Rockdale - Banksia over the last 12 months, running 15% above the Greater Sydney rate and up on the year before.
Show the data table
| Offence category | Suburb | Greater Sydney | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 359 per 100k | 312 per 100k | ↑ 22% vs prior year |
| Malicious damage to property | 338 per 100k | 287 per 100k | ↓ 21% vs prior year |
| Assault | 277 per 100k | 53 per 100k | ↑ 7% vs prior year |
| Theft | 156 per 100k | 38 per 100k | ↑ 6% vs prior year |
| Drug offences | 91 per 100k | 16 per 100k | ↑ 24% vs prior year |
| Robbery | 13 per 100k | 3 per 100k | ↑ 0% vs prior year |
Crime statistics © State of New South Wales (NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research), used under CC BY 4.0, updated June 2026. Matched to this suburb from BOCSAR’s own locality-level data — see the safest/highest-crime rankings’ methodology for the locality-to-suburb matching used. Monthly counts are volatile — the 12-month figures above smooth that noise.
Flood risk
NSW SES · Georges River catchment · updated September 2026How much of this suburb sits inside NSW SES's modelled flood extents for the Georges River catchment? These are predicted extents at different probability levels, not a record of floods that have actually happened here.
Modelled flood extents
NSW SES models three flood-extent scenarios for the Georges River catchment, from the standard flood-planning benchmark to a worst-case extent. None of these say a flood has actually occurred — they mark land that modelling puts inside each scenario’s reach.
- 1% AEP (1-in-100-year): the standard NSW flood-planning benchmark — a flood with a 1-in-100 chance of being reached or exceeded in any given year.
- Flood potential: a broader strategic extent of land that could be affected under any of the modelled flood scenarios.
- Probable Maximum Flood: the most severe flood NSW SES models as physically possible for this catchment — rare, but the outer limit of what's possible.
NSW SES's Georges River flood modelling puts about 19% of Rockdale - Banksia inside the 1% AEP (1-in-100-year) flood extent — the standard NSW flood-planning benchmark. In NSW SES's worst-case Probable Maximum Flood scenario, that grows to about 34% of the suburb.
This data only covers the Georges River catchment (southern and south-western Sydney) — NSW SES hasn’t published an equivalent modelled-extent map for Sydney’s other catchments, and a suburb rollup can’t tell you about an individual property. Explore the mapped extents on NSW SES’s Georges River flood map →
Show the data table
| Measure | Share |
|---|---|
| 1% AEP (1-in-100-year) | 19% of the suburb |
| Flood potential | 33% of the suburb |
| Probable Maximum Flood | 34% of the suburb |
Flood data: NSW State Emergency Service – Geospatial Intelligence (Georges River flood database), used for attribution as published, updated September 2026. Covers the Georges River catchment only. This is a modelling tool, not a substitute for professional flood advice on a specific address.
Getting around, and what's nearby
OpenStreetMap · quarterlyWhat OpenStreetMap records inside the suburb boundary. Counts reflect what is tagged in OSM and can undercount a real but less-mapped area. The park count here is OpenStreetMap green space of any kind, including privately held land — it is a different measure from the council parks below.
Within the Rockdale - Banksia SA2, OpenStreetMap records 4 schools, 2 childcare and kindergarten centres, 2 GP or clinic locations, 7 supermarkets and 16 green spaces. For families: 1 library and 9 playgrounds. Eating out and socialising: 12 cafés, 9 restaurants and 1 pub or bar. Staying active: 3 gyms and 46 sports fields. Also 2 shopping centres. The nearest train station, Rockdale, is about 400 m from the suburb centre. OpenStreetMap also maps 65 bus stops here.
List every mapped place
Schools
- Rockdale Primary School
- St Mary and St Mina's Coptic Orthodox College - Rockdale Campus
- St Dominic Savio School
- Bexley Primary School
Childcare & kindergartens
- Integricare Rockdale Early Learning Centre
- Integricare Rockdale Plaza Early Learning Centre
Libraries
- Rockdale Library
Gyms & fitness
- Crunch Fitness
- Anytime Fitness
- Fernwood Fitness
Shopping centres
- Big W
- Rockdale Plaza
GPs & clinics
- Bay Healthcare Medical Centre
- Dr Francis Chung
Supermarkets
- Foodworks
- WCA Supermarket
- Rockdale Express Mart
- Grocery Hub
- Four Square Seven Day Food
- ALDI
- Woolworths
Green spaces
- Chapel Street Reserve
- Rockdale Park
- McCarthy Reserve
- Fortescue Reserve
- Rockdale Womens Sportsfields
- Beehag Reserve
- Yamba Woora Reserve
- Gardiner Park
Train stations
- Rockdale
- Banksia
Schools
Every open NSW school whose campus sits inside the SA2 boundary, with the average ICSEA across them. Open a school for its own ICSEA, student background and a link to My School.
The Rockdale - Banksia SA2 contains 5 schools — 4 primary schools and 1 secondary school, of which 2 are government and 3 non-government. Its 4 schools with a published ICSEA average 1051 (1000 is the national average); each school's own figure and student background are on its page. NAPLAN results for each school are on its My School profile (ACARA). For area context, Rockdale - Banksia sits in decile 7 of the ABS SEIFA index of education and occupation nationally and 76% of adults here completed Year 12 (Census 2021).
The centre of this SA2 is zoned for Rockdale Public School (primary), Kogarah High School (secondary).
Parts of this SA2 also fall in the catchment of Brighton-Le-Sands Public School (primary), Kogarah Public School (primary), Bexley Public School (primary), Ramsgate Public School (primary), Athelstane Public School (primary), Arncliffe Public School (primary), Kyeemagh Public School (primary), Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus (secondary).
Catchments can divide a suburb — confirm your address on EdMap.
Want another suburb? Search the catchment finder.
Show school list
- Bexley Public School · State
- Rockdale Public School · State
- St Dominic Savio School · Non-Government
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School · Non-Government
- St Mary and St Mina's Coptic Orthodox College, Rockdale campus · Non-Government
School list: NSW Government open data — ACARA Schools NSW, via the NSW data portal, CC BY 4.0. Catchments: NSW Department of Education “School intake zones” dataset, CC BY 4.0. ICSEA: ACARA School Profile. NAPLAN: myschool.edu.au (ACARA).
Nearby, in Kogarah - Rockdale
Others in the same ABS district, by population growth. If this one doesn't fit, one of these might.
- HereRockdale - Banksia+2.3%
- 01Kogarah+2.5%
- 02Kogarah Bay - Carlton - Allawah+2.0%
- 03Wolli Creek+1.9%
- 04Arncliffe - Bardwell Valley+1.8%
- 05Kingsgrove (South) - Bardwell Park+0.9%
- 06Bexley - South+0.9%
- 07Sans Souci - Ramsgate+0.8%
- 08Bexley - North+0.2%
- 09Monterey - Brighton-le-Sands - Kyeemagh-0.4%
Dots place each suburb's growth on the same scale, slowest at left.
Rockdale - Banksia: common questions
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Is Rockdale - Banksia at risk of flooding?
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