Bexley vs Rockdale

Rockdale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 40 in Bexley. In Bexley, most households own their home 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, Bexley tends to suit couples, while Rockdale suits renters, young adults, and share households.

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

Bexley

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (4 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (22 vs 9)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (53% 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 the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (49% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

Rockdale

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (22% vs 6%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 80/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Rockdale

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 3)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (76% vs 47%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 80/100)
  • But Bexley carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

Rockdale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.5% vs 4.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Bexley 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.

Bexley 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.

Bexley Rockdale
Walkability 80 / 96
Bexley — Walkability: 80/100 Rockdale — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 63 / 32
Bexley — Safety: 63/100 Rockdale — Safety: 32/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bexley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rockdale — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Bexley has more residents (19,646 vs 15,475); Bexley skews older (40 vs 34).

Bexley Rockdale
Population 19,646
+21% vs other
 15,475
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.4%
same for both
Median age 40 34
Median household income $97,240/yr $99,112/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $470/wk
+2% vs other
 $460/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bexley Rockdale
0-4 6.0% / 5.9%
Bexley — 0-4: 6.0% Rockdale — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 11.9% / 7.8%
Bexley — 5-14: 11.9% Rockdale — 5-14: 7.8%
15-19 5.4% / 3.3%
Bexley — 15-19: 5.4% Rockdale — 15-19: 3.3%
20-24 6.3% / 9.9%
Bexley — 20-24: 6.3% Rockdale — 20-24: 9.9%
25-34 12.8% / 24.9%
Bexley — 25-34: 12.8% Rockdale — 25-34: 24.9%
35-44 13.9% / 16.7%
Bexley — 35-44: 13.9% Rockdale — 35-44: 16.7%
45-54 12.5% / 10.1%
Bexley — 45-54: 12.5% Rockdale — 45-54: 10.1%
55-64 11.6% / 9.2%
Bexley — 55-64: 11.6% Rockdale — 55-64: 9.2%
65-74 9.4% / 6.7%
Bexley — 65-74: 9.4% Rockdale — 65-74: 6.7%
75-84 6.0% / 3.9%
Bexley — 75-84: 6.0% Rockdale — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 4.1% / 1.7%
Bexley — 85+: 4.1% Rockdale — 85+: 1.7%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bexley 52.7% couple families
Bexley — Couple Families: 52.7% Bexley — Lone Person: 26.0% Bexley — One Parent Families: 16.5% Bexley — Group Household: 3.2% Bexley — Other Families: 1.7%
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.

Bexley 26.8% renting
Bexley — Owned Outright: 36.5% Bexley — Mortgage: 36.7% Bexley — Renting: 26.8%
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.

Bexley Rockdale
Bachelor Degree 15.1% / 20.7%
Bexley — Bachelor Degree: 15.1% Rockdale — Bachelor Degree: 20.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 9.7%
Bexley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Rockdale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Certificate III & IV 8.9% / 7.0%
Bexley — Certificate III & IV: 8.9% Rockdale — Certificate III & IV: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 5.4% / 9.3%
Bexley — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4% Rockdale — Postgraduate Degree: 9.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.3%
Bexley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% 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.

Bexley Rockdale
Nepal 1.2% / 15.8%
Bexley — Nepal: 1.2% Rockdale — Nepal: 15.8%
China 6.7% / 6.5%
Bexley — China: 6.7% Rockdale — China: 6.5%
Lebanon 5.3% / 1.8%
Bexley — Lebanon: 5.3% Rockdale — Lebanon: 1.8%
Philippines 1.8% / 3.2%
Bexley — Philippines: 1.8% Rockdale — Philippines: 3.2%
Bangladesh — / 3.4%
Bexley — Bangladesh: not among its largest Rockdale — Bangladesh: 3.4%
India — / 3.0%
Bexley — India: not among its largest Rockdale — India: 3.0%
Greece 2.9% / —
Bexley — Greece: 2.9% Rockdale — Greece: not among its largest
Italy 1.7% / —
Bexley — Italy: 1.7% Rockdale — Italy: 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.

Bexley 21.4% flats / apartments
Bexley — Flats / Apartments: 21.4% Bexley — Houses: 53.1% Bexley — Townhouses: 25.5%
Rockdale 71.7% flats / apartments
Rockdale — Flats / Apartments: 71.7% Rockdale — Houses: 24.3% Rockdale — Townhouses: 4.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Bexley Rockdale
Median house price $1,870,000 $1,837,500
Median unit price $705,000 $720,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 101 sales
 24 days
from 51 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Bexley Rockdale
1 bed $542K / $560K
Bexley — 1 bed: $542K (10 sales) Rockdale — 1 bed: $560K (38 sales)

10 vs 38 sales

2 bed $705K / $735K
Bexley — 2 bed: $705K (68 sales) Rockdale — 2 bed: $735K (215 sales)

68 vs 215 sales

3 bed $1.11M / $913K
Bexley — 3 bed: $1.11M (9 sales) Rockdale — 3 bed: $913K (15 sales)

9 vs 15 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.

Bexley Rockdale
2 bed $1.6M / $1.5M
Bexley — 2 bed: $1.6M (19 sales) Rockdale — 2 bed: $1.5M (7 sales)

19 vs 7 sales

3 bed $1.65M / $1.68M
Bexley — 3 bed: $1.65M (54 sales) Rockdale — 3 bed: $1.68M (20 sales)

54 vs 20 sales

4 bed $1.99M / $2M
Bexley — 4 bed: $1.99M (48 sales) Rockdale — 4 bed: $2M (18 sales)

48 vs 18 sales

5 bed $2.1M / $2.25M
Bexley — 5 bed: $2.1M (29 sales) Rockdale — 5 bed: $2.25M (5 sales)

29 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Bexley Rockdale
Residential 84% 61%
Parks and recreation 11% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 12%
Industrial 1% 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

Bexley 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.

Bexley Rockdale
Houses 2.7%
$950/wk on $1.8M
 2.5%
$850/wk on $1.8M
Units 4.8%
$638/wk on $690K
 5.5%
$728/wk on $685K

Ranking within NSW

Bexley Rockdale
House price Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Income Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Schools Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 2% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 12% of NSW Higher than 6% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW

Liveability

Bexley scores higher overall (77 vs 57); Rockdale is more walkable (96 vs 80).

Bexley Rockdale
Grade A B
Score 77/100 57/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Rockdale carries more crime risk (68 vs 37).

Bexley Rockdale
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
37/100
 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 3
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Bexley Rockdale
Inside the suburb 9 4
Rated above peers 4 0
Rated at peers 2
same for both
Rated below peers 2 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Western Sydney University - Bankstown City, 8.9 km
 3
The University of Sydney, 8.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.0% 3.8%

Schools in Bexley

  • Bethany College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • St Gabriel's Catholic Primary School Bexley Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St Mary and St Mina's Coptic Orthodox College Independent · Primary above peers
  • Sydney Technical High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Marist College Kogarah Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

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

Bexley Rockdale
Supermarkets 0 6
Cafes & restaurants 0 19
Parks & reserves 13 6
Childcare 22 9
GPs 3 7
Pharmacies 3 5
Banks & Bank@Post 3
same for both
Fuel stations 5
same for both
Waterways 7 3

Mobility

Bexley Rockdale
Walkability score 80/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 19.2 km
+10% vs other
 17.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 23 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 338.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 244.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2207
 0.9%
postcode 2216
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 21
postcode 2207
 10
postcode 2216

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.

Bexley Rockdale
Car (driver) 47.1% / 35.6%
Bexley — Car (driver): 47.1% Rockdale — Car (driver): 35.6%
Worked from Home 39.4% / 31.7%
Bexley — Worked from Home: 39.4% Rockdale — Worked from Home: 31.7%
Train 6.3% / 22.4%
Bexley — Train: 6.3% Rockdale — Train: 22.4%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 3.4%
Bexley — Car (passenger): 4.0% Rockdale — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Walked Only 2.1% / 3.9%
Bexley — Walked Only: 2.1% Rockdale — Walked Only: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (47.1%).

Setting

Bexley Rockdale
Elevation 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.5 km 1.7 km

NBN connectivity

Bexley Rockdale
Connectivity score 87/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 39%
7,629 premises
 23%
7,527 premises

Climate

Bexley 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)

Bexley 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Bexley

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Townhouses Urban

Rockdale

Apartments Coastal Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bexley

Bexley vs Hurstville Bexley vs Kogarah Bexley vs Kingsgrove Bexley vs Arncliffe Bexley vs Carlton Bexley vs Bexley North

Other comparisons with Rockdale

Rockdale vs Kogarah Rockdale vs Arncliffe Rockdale vs Brighton-Le-Sands Rockdale vs Monterey Rockdale vs Banksia Rockdale vs Kyeemagh
Full data on Bexley 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