Banksia vs Rockdale

Rockdale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 41 in Banksia. In Banksia, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. In Rockdale, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. On these figures, Banksia tends to suit couples, while Rockdale suits renters, young adults, and people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Rockdale

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 3)
  • But Banksia has more separate houses rather than flats (78% vs 24%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Rockdale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (49% vs 23%)
  • has cheaper rent ($460/wk vs $500/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Rockdale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (22% vs 9%)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Rockdale

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (76% vs 22%)
  • But Banksia has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 12%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Banksia

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.5% vs 2.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Banksia and Rockdale drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Banksia Rockdale
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Banksia Rockdale
Walkability 92 / 96
Banksia — Walkability: 92/100 Rockdale — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 38 / 32
Banksia — Safety: 38/100 Rockdale — Safety: 32/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Banksia — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rockdale — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Rockdale has more residents (15,475 vs 3,277); Banksia skews older (41 vs 34).

Banksia Rockdale
Population 3,277 15,475
+372% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.3% -0.4%
Median age 41 34
Median household income $104,936/yr
+6% vs other
 $99,112/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+8% vs other
 $460/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Banksia Rockdale
0-4 5.6% / 5.9%
Banksia — 0-4: 5.6% Rockdale — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 11.5% / 7.8%
Banksia — 5-14: 11.5% Rockdale — 5-14: 7.8%
15-19 4.9% / 3.3%
Banksia — 15-19: 4.9% Rockdale — 15-19: 3.3%
20-24 5.9% / 9.9%
Banksia — 20-24: 5.9% Rockdale — 20-24: 9.9%
25-34 13.6% / 24.9%
Banksia — 25-34: 13.6% Rockdale — 25-34: 24.9%
35-44 14.4% / 16.7%
Banksia — 35-44: 14.4% Rockdale — 35-44: 16.7%
45-54 14.3% / 10.1%
Banksia — 45-54: 14.3% Rockdale — 45-54: 10.1%
55-64 11.3% / 9.2%
Banksia — 55-64: 11.3% Rockdale — 55-64: 9.2%
65-74 9.8% / 6.7%
Banksia — 65-74: 9.8% Rockdale — 65-74: 6.7%
75-84 6.6% / 3.9%
Banksia — 75-84: 6.6% Rockdale — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 2.3% / 1.7%
Banksia — 85+: 2.3% Rockdale — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Banksia 50.3% couple families
Banksia — Couple Families: 50.3% Banksia — Lone Person: 22.9% Banksia — One Parent Families: 18.7% Banksia — Group Household: 6.2% Banksia — Other Families: 1.9%
Rockdale 39.2% couple families
Rockdale — Couple Families: 39.2% Rockdale — Lone Person: 31.9% Rockdale — One Parent Families: 12.8% Rockdale — Group Household: 13.1% Rockdale — Other Families: 3.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Banksia 23.1% renting
Banksia — Owned Outright: 39.2% Banksia — Mortgage: 37.7% Banksia — Renting: 23.1%
Rockdale 48.6% renting
Rockdale — Owned Outright: 23.1% Rockdale — Mortgage: 28.3% Rockdale — Renting: 48.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Banksia Rockdale
Bachelor Degree 16.2% / 20.7%
Banksia — Bachelor Degree: 16.2% Rockdale — Bachelor Degree: 20.7%
Certificate III & IV 10.2% / 7.0%
Banksia — Certificate III & IV: 10.2% Rockdale — Certificate III & IV: 7.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 9.7%
Banksia — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Rockdale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 5.2% / 9.3%
Banksia — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2% Rockdale — Postgraduate Degree: 9.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 1.3%
Banksia — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Rockdale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.7%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Banksia Rockdale
Nepal 1.5% / 15.8%
Banksia — Nepal: 1.5% Rockdale — Nepal: 15.8%
China 3.4% / 6.5%
Banksia — China: 3.4% Rockdale — China: 6.5%
Philippines 2.3% / 3.2%
Banksia — Philippines: 2.3% Rockdale — Philippines: 3.2%
Lebanon 3.0% / 1.8%
Banksia — Lebanon: 3.0% Rockdale — Lebanon: 1.8%
Bangladesh — / 3.4%
Banksia — Bangladesh: not among its largest Rockdale — Bangladesh: 3.4%
India — / 3.0%
Banksia — India: not among its largest Rockdale — India: 3.0%
England 2.0% / —
Banksia — England: 2.0% Rockdale — England: not among its largest
Greece 1.8% / —
Banksia — Greece: 1.8% Rockdale — Greece: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Banksia 77.6% houses
Banksia — Houses: 77.6% Banksia — Flats / Apartments: 13.6% Banksia — Townhouses: 8.9%
Rockdale 24.3% houses
Rockdale — Houses: 24.3% Rockdale — Flats / Apartments: 71.7% Rockdale — Townhouses: 4.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Banksia Rockdale
Median house price $1,777,000 $1,837,500
Median unit price $660,000 $720,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 21 sales
 24 days
from 51 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Banksia Rockdale
2 bed $1.5M / $1.5M
Banksia — 2 bed: $1.5M (8 sales) Rockdale — 2 bed: $1.5M (7 sales)

8 vs 7 sales

3 bed $1.79M / $1.68M
Banksia — 3 bed: $1.79M (40 sales) Rockdale — 3 bed: $1.68M (20 sales)

40 vs 20 sales

4 bed $1.88M / $2M
Banksia — 4 bed: $1.88M (14 sales) Rockdale — 4 bed: $2M (18 sales)

14 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Banksia Rockdale
Residential 67% 61%
Other and special use 21% 0%
Parks and recreation 5% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 12%
Industrial 2% 10%
Commercial 1% 5%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Banksia Rockdale
New dwellings approved 857
across Bayside (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +98%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Banksia Rockdale
Houses 3.5%
$1,025/wk on $1.52M
 2.5%
$850/wk on $1.8M
Units — 5.5%
$728/wk on $685K

Ranking within NSW

Banksia Rockdale
House price Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Income Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 2% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 76% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 6% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 85% of NSW

Liveability

Banksia scores higher overall (73 vs 57).

Banksia Rockdale
Grade A B
Score 73/100 57/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Banksia Rockdale
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
62/100
 Moderate
68/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Banksia Rockdale
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Sydney, 7.3 km
 3
The University of Sydney, 8.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 3.8%

Schools in Banksia

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Rockdale

  • Rockdale Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • St Dominic Savio School Independent · Primary below peers
  • St Mary and St Mina's Coptic Orthodox College, Rockdale campus Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Banksia Rockdale
Supermarkets 1 6
Cafes & restaurants 2 19
Parks & reserves 3 6
Childcare 0 9
GPs 1 7
Pharmacies 1 5
Banks & Bank@Post 1 3
Fuel stations 1 5
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Banksia Rockdale
Walkability score 92/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 16.9 km 17.3 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 23 min
Public transport score 75/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 23.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 244.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2216
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 10
postcode 2216
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Banksia Rockdale
Car (driver) 44.5% / 35.6%
Banksia — Car (driver): 44.5% Rockdale — Car (driver): 35.6%
Worked from Home 40.1% / 31.7%
Banksia — Worked from Home: 40.1% Rockdale — Worked from Home: 31.7%
Train 8.8% / 22.4%
Banksia — Train: 8.8% Rockdale — Train: 22.4%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 3.4%
Banksia — Car (passenger): 3.9% Rockdale — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Walked Only 1.1% / 3.9%
Banksia — Walked Only: 1.1% Rockdale — Walked Only: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (44.5%).

Setting

Banksia Rockdale
Elevation 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km
same for both

NBN connectivity

Banksia Rockdale
Connectivity score 88/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
1,282 premises
 23%
7,527 premises

Climate

Banksia Rockdale
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Banksia Rockdale
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.79 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Banksia Rockdale
Average residential rate $1,217/yr
same for both
Council Bayside (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Banksia Rockdale
Division Barton
same for both
Member Ash Ambihaipahar
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Banksia Rockdale
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Banksia

Coastal Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Trains Urban

Rockdale

Apartments Coastal Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Banksia

Banksia vs Arncliffe Banksia vs Brighton-Le-Sands Banksia vs Kyeemagh

Other comparisons with Rockdale

Rockdale vs Bexley Rockdale vs Kogarah Rockdale vs Arncliffe Rockdale vs Brighton-Le-Sands Rockdale vs Monterey Rockdale vs Kyeemagh
Full data on Banksia Full data on Rockdale
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or