Rocklea vs Salisbury

In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Rocklea, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Salisbury, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Salisbury: a median of $1.33 million, against $795,000 in Rocklea, and rent is higher there too. Salisbury is closer to the city centre: 12 km, against 14.2 km. On these figures, Rocklea tends to suit renters, people living alone, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Salisbury suits families with children and couples.

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

Salisbury

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • is already more of a family suburb (61% vs 39%)

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

First-home buyers

Rocklea

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($795,000 vs $1,332,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Rocklea

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (49% vs 30%)
  • has cheaper rent ($335/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Salisbury

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 23/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (16 min vs 22 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (12 km vs 14.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Salisbury

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 23/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (70/100 vs 96/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Rocklea Salisbury
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.

Rocklea Salisbury
Walkability 23 / 92
Rocklea — Walkability: 23/100 Salisbury — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 4 / 30
Rocklea — Safety: 4/100 Salisbury — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Rocklea — Low fire risk: 100/100 Salisbury — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Salisbury has more residents (6,790 vs 1,672); Salisbury has higher household incomes ($110,916 vs $77,636).

Rocklea Salisbury
Population 1,672 6,790
+306% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.8% +7.9%
Median age 34 35
Median household income $77,636/yr $110,916/yr
+43% vs other
Median weekly rent $335/wk $400/wk
+19% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rocklea Salisbury
0-4 5.7% / 7.0%
Rocklea — 0-4: 5.7% Salisbury — 0-4: 7.0%
5-14 10.0% / 13.1%
Rocklea — 5-14: 10.0% Salisbury — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 3.8% / 5.1%
Rocklea — 15-19: 3.8% Salisbury — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 9.9% / 6.4%
Rocklea — 20-24: 9.9% Salisbury — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 21.6% / 17.3%
Rocklea — 25-34: 21.6% Salisbury — 25-34: 17.3%
35-44 17.0% / 16.9%
Rocklea — 35-44: 17.0% Salisbury — 35-44: 16.9%
45-54 10.4% / 12.4%
Rocklea — 45-54: 10.4% Salisbury — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 8.9% / 9.6%
Rocklea — 55-64: 8.9% Salisbury — 55-64: 9.6%
65-74 6.3% / 5.5%
Rocklea — 65-74: 6.3% Salisbury — 65-74: 5.5%
75-84 3.0% / 3.9%
Rocklea — 75-84: 3.0% Salisbury — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 4.1% / 2.7%
Rocklea — 85+: 4.1% Salisbury — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Rocklea 47.4% lone person
Rocklea — Lone Person: 47.4% Rocklea — Couple Families: 26.0% Rocklea — One Parent Families: 12.6% Rocklea — Group Household: 11.1% Rocklea — Other Families: 2.9%
Salisbury 28.4% lone person
Salisbury — Lone Person: 28.4% Salisbury — Couple Families: 45.5% Salisbury — One Parent Families: 15.5% Salisbury — Group Household: 7.9% Salisbury — Other Families: 2.7%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Rocklea 48.7% renting
Rocklea — Owned Outright: 18.5% Rocklea — Mortgage: 32.7% Rocklea — Renting: 48.7%
Salisbury 30.5% renting
Salisbury — Owned Outright: 24.2% Salisbury — Mortgage: 45.2% Salisbury — Renting: 30.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Rocklea Salisbury
New Zealand 3.5% / 3.0%
Rocklea — New Zealand: 3.5% Salisbury — New Zealand: 3.0%
India 2.2% / 4.1%
Rocklea — India: 2.2% Salisbury — India: 4.1%
England 2.4% / 2.6%
Rocklea — England: 2.4% Salisbury — England: 2.6%
Vietnam 2.9% / 0.9%
Rocklea — Vietnam: 2.9% Salisbury — Vietnam: 0.9%
China 2.6% / 0.9%
Rocklea — China: 2.6% Salisbury — China: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

Qualifications

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

Rocklea Salisbury
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 19.4%
Rocklea — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Salisbury — Bachelor Degree: 19.4%
Certificate III & IV 13.5% / 11.8%
Rocklea — Certificate III & IV: 13.5% Salisbury — Certificate III & IV: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 7.7%
Rocklea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Salisbury — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 5.3% / 6.7%
Rocklea — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3% Salisbury — Postgraduate Degree: 6.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 3.0%
Rocklea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Salisbury — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rocklea 86.2% houses
Rocklea — Houses: 86.2% Rocklea — Townhouses: 4.2% Rocklea — Flats / Apartments: 9.5%
Salisbury 89.1% houses
Salisbury — Houses: 89.1% Salisbury — Townhouses: 8.2% Salisbury — Flats / Apartments: 2.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Rocklea Salisbury
Median house price $795,000 $1,332,500
Median unit price — $1,120,000
Median land price $830,000 $875,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 41 days
from 21 sales
 25 days
from 63 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.

Rocklea Salisbury
3 bed $825K / $1.29M
Rocklea — 3 bed: $825K (19 sales) Salisbury — 3 bed: $1.29M (51 sales)

19 vs 51 sales

4 bed $795K / $1.32M
Rocklea — 4 bed: $795K (7 sales) Salisbury — 4 bed: $1.32M (29 sales)

7 vs 29 sales

Development activity

Rocklea Salisbury
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
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.

Rocklea Salisbury
Houses — 4.0%
$750/wk on $980K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Rocklea Salisbury
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 48% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 51% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 83% of QLD Higher than 93% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 53% of QLD

Liveability

Salisbury is more walkable (92 vs 23); Salisbury scores higher overall (69 vs 42).

Rocklea Salisbury
Grade C A
Score 42/100 69/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Rocklea carries more crime risk (96 vs 70).

Rocklea Salisbury
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
96/100
 High
70/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
83/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 21
within 5 km
 22
within 5 km

Schools

Rocklea Salisbury
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Brisbane South (Nathan), 5.1 km
 3
Brisbane South (Nathan), 2.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 3.1%

Schools in Rocklea

  • Rocklea State School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Salisbury

  • Salisbury State School Government · Primary above peers
  • Brisbane Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • St Pius X School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Brisbane Christian College - Fairlie Terrace Campus Independent · Combined
  • The BUSY School - Salisbury Campus Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Rocklea Salisbury
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 2 9
Parks & reserves 9 10
Childcare 1 8
GPs 1 2
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 6 2
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 14 6

Mobility

Rocklea sits further from the CBD (14.2 km vs 12 km).

Rocklea Salisbury
Walkability score 23/100 92/100
Distance to Brisbane 14.2 km
+15% vs other
 12 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min 16 min
Public transport score 80/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 39.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 172.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 4106
 1.8%
postcode 4107
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 78
postcode 4106
 60
postcode 4107

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.

Rocklea Salisbury
Car (driver) 67.7% / 61.5%
Rocklea — Car (driver): 67.7% Salisbury — Car (driver): 61.5%
Worked from Home 17.6% / 22.1%
Rocklea — Worked from Home: 17.6% Salisbury — Worked from Home: 22.1%
Train 6.3% / 5.0%
Rocklea — Train: 6.3% Salisbury — Train: 5.0%
Bus 2.3% / 4.6%
Rocklea — Bus: 2.3% Salisbury — Bus: 4.6%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 3.8%
Rocklea — Car (passenger): 2.8% Salisbury — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Walked Only 2.8% / 1.7%
Rocklea — Walked Only: 2.8% Salisbury — Walked Only: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.7%).

Setting

Rocklea Salisbury
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 17.8 km 15.8 km

NBN connectivity

Rocklea Salisbury
Connectivity score 76/100 74/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
1,819 premises
 4%
3,410 premises

Climate

Rocklea Salisbury
Annual rainfall 1,032 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Rocklea Salisbury
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.99 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Rocklea Salisbury
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Rocklea Salisbury
Division Moreton
same for both
Member Julie-Ann Campbell
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Rocklea Salisbury
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Rocklea

Acreage Middle-Ring Parks River Trains Transport Hub

Salisbury

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Rocklea

Rocklea vs Moorooka Rocklea vs Oxley Rocklea vs Sherwood Rocklea vs Coopers Plains Rocklea vs Corinda Rocklea vs Yeerongpilly

Other comparisons with Salisbury

Salisbury vs Tarragindi Salisbury vs Moorooka Salisbury vs Coopers Plains Salisbury vs Nathan
Full data on Rocklea Full data on Salisbury
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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.

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