Rocklea vs Willawong

Rocklea is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 49 in Willawong. 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 Willawong, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Willawong: a median of $1.73 million, against $795,000 in Rocklea. Rocklea is closer to the city centre: 14.2 km, against 17.6 km. On these figures, Rocklea tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Rocklea has more parks and reserves (9 vs 5)
  • Willawong is already more of a family suburb (52% vs 39%)

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

First-home buyers

Rocklea

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($830,000 vs $2,700,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($795,000 vs $1,725,000)
  • But Willawong leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 25%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Willawong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Rocklea

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (14.2 km vs 17.6 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (22 min vs 27 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Willawong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 13%)

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

Investors

Rocklea

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (4.8% vs -18.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Rocklea and Willawong 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 Willawong
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 Willawong
Walkability 23 / 21
Rocklea — Walkability: 23/100 Willawong — Walkability: 21/100
Safety 4 / 1
Rocklea — Safety: 4/100 Willawong — Safety: 1/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Rocklea — Low fire risk: 100/100 Willawong — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Rocklea has more residents (1,672 vs 145); Willawong skews older (49 vs 34).

Rocklea Willawong
Population 1,672
+91% vs other
 145
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.8% -18.1%
Median age 34 49
Median household income $77,636/yr $105,612/yr
+36% vs other
Median weekly rent $335/wk
+2% vs other
 $328/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rocklea Willawong
0-4 5.7% / —
Rocklea — 0-4: 5.7% Willawong — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 10.0% / 7.6%
Rocklea — 5-14: 10.0% Willawong — 5-14: 7.6%
15-19 3.8% / 2.8%
Rocklea — 15-19: 3.8% Willawong — 15-19: 2.8%
20-24 9.9% / 7.6%
Rocklea — 20-24: 9.9% Willawong — 20-24: 7.6%
25-34 21.6% / 18.6%
Rocklea — 25-34: 21.6% Willawong — 25-34: 18.6%
35-44 17.0% / 9.7%
Rocklea — 35-44: 17.0% Willawong — 35-44: 9.7%
45-54 10.4% / 17.9%
Rocklea — 45-54: 10.4% Willawong — 45-54: 17.9%
55-64 8.9% / 19.3%
Rocklea — 55-64: 8.9% Willawong — 55-64: 19.3%
65-74 6.3% / 14.5%
Rocklea — 65-74: 6.3% Willawong — 65-74: 14.5%
75-84 3.0% / 2.8%
Rocklea — 75-84: 3.0% Willawong — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 4.1% / 2.1%
Rocklea — 85+: 4.1% Willawong — 85+: 2.1%

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%
Willawong 35.7% lone person
Willawong — Lone Person: 35.7% Willawong — Couple Families: 26.2% Willawong — One Parent Families: 26.2% Willawong — Group Household: 11.9% Willawong — Other Families: 0.0%
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%
Willawong 44.4% renting
Willawong — Owned Outright: 40.7% Willawong — Mortgage: 14.8% Willawong — Renting: 44.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Rocklea Willawong
Certificate III & IV 13.5% / 15.2%
Rocklea — Certificate III & IV: 13.5% Willawong — Certificate III & IV: 15.2%
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 12.4%
Rocklea — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Willawong — Bachelor Degree: 12.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 9.7%
Rocklea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Willawong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 5.3% / 2.8%
Rocklea — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3% Willawong — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.1%
Rocklea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Willawong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

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 Willawong
Afghanistan — / 8.3%
Rocklea — Afghanistan: not among its largest Willawong — Afghanistan: 8.3%
Vietnam 2.9% / 4.8%
Rocklea — Vietnam: 2.9% Willawong — Vietnam: 4.8%
India 2.2% / 3.4%
Rocklea — India: 2.2% Willawong — India: 3.4%
Taiwan — / 5.5%
Rocklea — Taiwan: not among its largest Willawong — Taiwan: 5.5%
England 2.4% / 2.1%
Rocklea — England: 2.4% Willawong — England: 2.1%
New Zealand 3.5% / —
Rocklea — New Zealand: 3.5% Willawong — New Zealand: not among its largest
Ireland — / 3.4%
Rocklea — Ireland: not among its largest Willawong — Ireland: 3.4%
China 2.6% / —
Rocklea — China: 2.6% Willawong — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rocklea 86.2% houses
Rocklea — Houses: 86.2% Rocklea — Flats / Apartments: 9.5% Rocklea — Townhouses: 4.2%
Willawong 88.5% houses
Willawong — Houses: 88.5% Willawong — Flats / Apartments: 11.5% Willawong — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Rocklea Willawong
Median house price $795,000 $1,725,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $830,000 $2,700,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 41 days
from 21 sales
 30 days
from 8 sales

Development activity

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

Ranking within QLD

Rocklea Willawong
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 48% of QLD —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 79% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 83% of QLD Higher than 95% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of QLD Higher than 95% of QLD

Liveability

Rocklea Willawong
Grade C —
Score 42/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Rocklea Willawong
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
96/100
 High
99/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
83/100
 High
70/100
Industrial facilities nearby 21
within 5 km
 19
within 5 km

Schools

Rocklea Willawong
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Brisbane South (Nathan), 5.1 km
 1
Brisbane South (Nathan), 7.0 km

Schools in Rocklea

  • Rocklea State School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Willawong

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

Amenities in the suburb

Rocklea Willawong
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 9 5
Childcare 1 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 6 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 14 6

Mobility

Willawong sits further from the CBD (17.6 km vs 14.2 km).

Rocklea Willawong
Walkability score 23/100 21/100
Distance to Brisbane 14.2 km 17.6 km
+24% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min 27 min
Public transport score 80/100
Rail · Bus
 55/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 39.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 3 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 4106
 2.2%
postcode 4110
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 78
postcode 4106
 93
postcode 4110

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 Willawong
Car (driver) 67.7% / 56.7%
Rocklea — Car (driver): 67.7% Willawong — Car (driver): 56.7%
Worked from Home 17.6% / 20.0%
Rocklea — Worked from Home: 17.6% Willawong — Worked from Home: 20.0%
Walked Only 2.8% / 15.0%
Rocklea — Walked Only: 2.8% Willawong — Walked Only: 15.0%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 8.3%
Rocklea — Car (passenger): 2.8% Willawong — Car (passenger): 8.3%
Train 6.3% / —
Rocklea — Train: 6.3% Willawong — Train: not among its largest

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

Setting

Rocklea Willawong
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 21.6 km

NBN connectivity

Rocklea Willawong
Connectivity score 76/100 90/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
1,819 premises
 80%
404 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Rocklea Willawong
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

Willawong

Middle-Ring Premium

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Rocklea

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

Other comparisons with Willawong

Willawong vs Oxley Willawong vs Algester Willawong vs Durack Willawong vs Acacia Ridge Willawong vs Doolandella Willawong vs Pallara
Full data on Rocklea Full data on Willawong
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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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