Roselands vs Riverwood

In Roselands, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. In Riverwood, most households rent and about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Roselands: a median of $1.6 million, against $1.47 million in Riverwood, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Roselands tends to suit families with children and couples, while Riverwood suits renters 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

Roselands

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (61% vs 38%)
  • carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 83/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 56%)
  • But Riverwood has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Roselands

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (31% vs 41%)
  • has cheaper units ($580,000 vs $649,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Riverwood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (56% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $410/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Riverwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (11% vs 3%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Riverwood

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (8 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (62% vs 39%)
  • But Roselands carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 83/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Roselands Riverwood
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.

Roselands Riverwood
Walkability 87 / 93
Roselands — Walkability: 87/100 Riverwood — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 45 / 17
Roselands — Safety: 45/100 Riverwood — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Roselands — Low fire risk: 100/100 Riverwood — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Roselands has higher household incomes ($87,620 vs $62,920); Roselands rents higher ($410/wk vs $300/wk).

Roselands Riverwood
Population 12,356 12,793
+4% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.7% +5.7%
Median age 38 40
Median household income $87,620/yr
+28% vs other
 $62,920/yr
Median weekly rent $410/wk
+27% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Roselands Riverwood
0-4 6.5% / 5.0%
Roselands — 0-4: 6.5% Riverwood — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 13.5% / 10.4%
Roselands — 5-14: 13.5% Riverwood — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 6.5% / 4.8%
Roselands — 15-19: 6.5% Riverwood — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 6.4% / 6.8%
Roselands — 20-24: 6.4% Riverwood — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 13.0% / 15.1%
Roselands — 25-34: 13.0% Riverwood — 25-34: 15.1%
35-44 13.3% / 13.5%
Roselands — 35-44: 13.3% Riverwood — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 13.5% / 11.9%
Roselands — 45-54: 13.5% Riverwood — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 11.4% / 13.2%
Roselands — 55-64: 11.4% Riverwood — 55-64: 13.2%
65-74 8.2% / 10.4%
Roselands — 65-74: 8.2% Riverwood — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 5.2% / 6.4%
Roselands — 75-84: 5.2% Riverwood — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 2.5% / 2.4%
Roselands — 85+: 2.5% Riverwood — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Roselands 52.1% couple families
Roselands — Couple Families: 52.1% Roselands — Lone Person: 25.1% Roselands — One Parent Families: 17.8% Roselands — Group Household: 3.0% Roselands — Other Families: 2.1%
Riverwood 36.3% couple families
Riverwood — Couple Families: 36.3% Riverwood — Lone Person: 37.6% Riverwood — One Parent Families: 19.2% Riverwood — Group Household: 5.1% Riverwood — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Roselands 30.8% renting
Roselands — Owned Outright: 32.2% Roselands — Mortgage: 37.0% Roselands — Renting: 30.8%
Riverwood 56.2% renting
Riverwood — Owned Outright: 19.8% Riverwood — Mortgage: 24.0% Riverwood — Renting: 56.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Roselands Riverwood
Bachelor Degree 13.0% / 14.4%
Roselands — Bachelor Degree: 13.0% Riverwood — Bachelor Degree: 14.4%
Certificate III & IV 10.2% / 7.7%
Roselands — Certificate III & IV: 10.2% Riverwood — Certificate III & IV: 7.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 7.5%
Roselands — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Riverwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 4.0% / 5.3%
Roselands — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0% Riverwood — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.1%
Roselands — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Riverwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.4%).

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.

Roselands Riverwood
China 3.8% / 18.3%
Roselands — China: 3.8% Riverwood — China: 18.3%
Lebanon 5.4% / 2.8%
Roselands — Lebanon: 5.4% Riverwood — Lebanon: 2.8%
Vietnam 1.8% / 2.8%
Roselands — Vietnam: 1.8% Riverwood — Vietnam: 2.8%
Indonesia 1.3% / 2.5%
Roselands — Indonesia: 1.3% Riverwood — Indonesia: 2.5%
Greece 3.6% / —
Roselands — Greece: 3.6% Riverwood — Greece: not among its largest
Philippines — / 3.0%
Roselands — Philippines: not among its largest Riverwood — Philippines: 3.0%
Bangladesh 1.6% / —
Roselands — Bangladesh: 1.6% Riverwood — Bangladesh: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Roselands 60.8% houses
Roselands — Houses: 60.8% Roselands — Flats / Apartments: 22.7% Roselands — Townhouses: 16.5%
Riverwood 38.0% houses
Riverwood — Houses: 38.0% Riverwood — Flats / Apartments: 48.9% Riverwood — Townhouses: 13.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Roselands Riverwood
Median house price $1,600,000 $1,470,000
Median unit price $580,000 $649,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 85 sales
 24 days
from 42 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.

Roselands Riverwood
1 bed $567K / $490K
Roselands — 1 bed: $567K (6 sales) Riverwood — 1 bed: $490K (16 sales)

6 vs 16 sales

2 bed $582K / $642K
Roselands — 2 bed: $582K (62 sales) Riverwood — 2 bed: $642K (62 sales)

62 vs 62 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.

Roselands Riverwood
2 bed $1.3M / $1.28M
Roselands — 2 bed: $1.3M (7 sales) Riverwood — 2 bed: $1.28M (9 sales)

7 vs 9 sales

3 bed $1.51M / $1.47M
Roselands — 3 bed: $1.51M (55 sales) Riverwood — 3 bed: $1.47M (35 sales)

55 vs 35 sales

4 bed $1.66M / $1.46M
Roselands — 4 bed: $1.66M (43 sales) Riverwood — 4 bed: $1.46M (15 sales)

43 vs 15 sales

5 bed $2.2M / $1.7M
Roselands — 5 bed: $2.2M (19 sales) Riverwood — 5 bed: $1.7M (13 sales)

19 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Roselands Riverwood
Residential 83% 54%
Parks and recreation 2% 18%
Industrial 5% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 8%
Commercial 3% 2%
Environmental 0% 3%
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

Roselands Riverwood
New dwellings approved 1,785
across Canterbury-Bankstown
same for both
Approvals change year on year +50%
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.

Roselands Riverwood
Houses 3.6%
$1,100/wk on $1.57M
 3.2%
$800/wk on $1.31M
Units 5.2%
$635/wk on $635K
 5.2%
$670/wk on $670K

Ranking within NSW

Roselands Riverwood
House price Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Income Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 83% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW

Liveability

Roselands scores higher overall (68 vs 63).

Roselands Riverwood
Grade B
same for both
Score 68/100 63/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Riverwood carries more crime risk (83 vs 55).

Roselands Riverwood
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
55/100
 High
83/100
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 8
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Roselands Riverwood
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Western Sydney University - Bankstown City, 4.3 km
 2
Western Sydney University - Bankstown City, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.0% 2.9%

Schools in Roselands

  • McCallums Hill Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Riverwood

  • Riverwood Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Hannans Road Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Southside Montessori School Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Roselands Riverwood
Supermarkets 2
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 1 9
Parks & reserves 8 15
Childcare 8
same for both
GPs 1 8
Pharmacies 3 6
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Roselands Riverwood
Walkability score 87/100 93/100
Distance to Sydney 24 km 25.2 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 92/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 231.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 215.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2196
 1.1%
postcode 2210
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 22
postcode 2196
 25
postcode 2210

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.

Roselands Riverwood
Car (driver) 48.9% / 41.8%
Roselands — Car (driver): 48.9% Riverwood — Car (driver): 41.8%
Worked from Home 41.3% / 39.1%
Roselands — Worked from Home: 41.3% Riverwood — Worked from Home: 39.1%
Train 3.1% / 11.0%
Roselands — Train: 3.1% Riverwood — Train: 11.0%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 4.2%
Roselands — Car (passenger): 4.2% Riverwood — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 1.8% / 2.4%
Roselands — Walked Only: 1.8% Riverwood — Walked Only: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (48.9%).

Setting

Roselands Riverwood
Elevation 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.1 km 9.6 km

NBN connectivity

Roselands Riverwood
Connectivity score 77/100 83/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 11%
4,881 premises
 39%
6,241 premises

Climate

Roselands Riverwood
Annual rainfall 909 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.4°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Roselands Riverwood
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.1 µg/m³ 16.5 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.79 pphm 0.9 pphm

Council rates

Roselands Riverwood
Average residential rate $1,322/yr
same for both
Council Canterbury-Bankstown
same for both

Federal electorate

Roselands Riverwood
Division Barton Banks
Member Ash Ambihaipahar Zhi Soon
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Roselands Riverwood
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Roselands

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Urban

Riverwood

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Roselands

Roselands vs Punchbowl Roselands vs Lakemba Roselands vs Belmore Roselands vs Kingsgrove Roselands vs Beverly Hills Roselands vs Wiley Park

Other comparisons with Riverwood

Riverwood vs Punchbowl Riverwood vs Padstow Riverwood vs Peakhurst Riverwood vs Beverly Hills Riverwood vs Narwee
Full data on Roselands Full data on Riverwood
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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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