Sherwood vs Rocklea

Rocklea is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 38 in Sherwood. In Sherwood, most households own their home. In Rocklea, about half of households rent, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Sherwood: a median of $1.78 million, against $795,000 in Rocklea, and rent is higher there too. Sherwood is closer to the city centre: 11.3 km, against 14.2 km. On these figures, Rocklea tends to suit renters, young adults, 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

Sherwood

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 96/100)
  • But Rocklea has more parks and reserves (9 vs 4)

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 $1,780,000)

Weighs house 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 37%)
  • has cheaper rent ($335/wk vs $390/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Sherwood

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 23/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (11.3 km vs 14.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Sherwood

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 23/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 14%)
  • carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 96/100)

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

Investors

Sherwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.5% vs 4.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Sherwood Rocklea
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.

Sherwood Rocklea
Walkability 91 / 23
Sherwood — Walkability: 91/100 Rocklea — Walkability: 23/100
Safety 50 / 4
Sherwood — Safety: 50/100 Rocklea — Safety: 4/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Sherwood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rocklea — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Sherwood has more residents (6,082 vs 1,672); Sherwood has higher household incomes ($105,768 vs $77,636).

Sherwood Rocklea
Population 6,082
+73% vs other
 1,672
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.5% +4.8%
Median age 38 34
Median household income $105,768/yr
+27% vs other
 $77,636/yr
Median weekly rent $390/wk
+14% vs other
 $335/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sherwood Rocklea
0-4 4.9% / 5.7%
Sherwood — 0-4: 4.9% Rocklea — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 12.6% / 10.0%
Sherwood — 5-14: 12.6% Rocklea — 5-14: 10.0%
15-19 6.7% / 3.8%
Sherwood — 15-19: 6.7% Rocklea — 15-19: 3.8%
20-24 6.6% / 9.9%
Sherwood — 20-24: 6.6% Rocklea — 20-24: 9.9%
25-34 14.3% / 21.6%
Sherwood — 25-34: 14.3% Rocklea — 25-34: 21.6%
35-44 14.2% / 17.0%
Sherwood — 35-44: 14.2% Rocklea — 35-44: 17.0%
45-54 14.3% / 10.4%
Sherwood — 45-54: 14.3% Rocklea — 45-54: 10.4%
55-64 10.7% / 8.9%
Sherwood — 55-64: 10.7% Rocklea — 55-64: 8.9%
65-74 9.2% / 6.3%
Sherwood — 65-74: 9.2% Rocklea — 65-74: 6.3%
75-84 5.2% / 3.0%
Sherwood — 75-84: 5.2% Rocklea — 75-84: 3.0%
85+ 1.6% / 4.1%
Sherwood — 85+: 1.6% Rocklea — 85+: 4.1%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sherwood 41.8% lone person
Sherwood — Lone Person: 41.8% Sherwood — Couple Families: 39.1% Sherwood — One Parent Families: 11.8% Sherwood — Group Household: 5.5% Sherwood — Other Families: 1.8%
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%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Sherwood 37.4% renting
Sherwood — Owned Outright: 29.2% Sherwood — Mortgage: 33.5% Sherwood — Renting: 37.4%
Rocklea 48.7% renting
Rocklea — Owned Outright: 18.5% Rocklea — Mortgage: 32.7% Rocklea — Renting: 48.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sherwood Rocklea
Bachelor Degree 24.9% / 15.6%
Sherwood — Bachelor Degree: 24.9% Rocklea — Bachelor Degree: 15.6%
Certificate III & IV 7.6% / 13.5%
Sherwood — Certificate III & IV: 7.6% Rocklea — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Postgraduate Degree 10.7% / 5.3%
Sherwood — Postgraduate Degree: 10.7% Rocklea — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 6.6%
Sherwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Rocklea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 2.5%
Sherwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Rocklea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

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

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.

Sherwood Rocklea
England 4.9% / 2.4%
Sherwood — England: 4.9% Rocklea — England: 2.4%
New Zealand 2.3% / 3.5%
Sherwood — New Zealand: 2.3% Rocklea — New Zealand: 3.5%
India 1.9% / 2.2%
Sherwood — India: 1.9% Rocklea — India: 2.2%
China 1.2% / 2.6%
Sherwood — China: 1.2% Rocklea — China: 2.6%
Vietnam 0.7% / 2.9%
Sherwood — Vietnam: 0.7% Rocklea — Vietnam: 2.9%
South Africa 1.0% / —
Sherwood — South Africa: 1.0% Rocklea — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sherwood 51.5% houses
Sherwood — Houses: 51.5% Sherwood — Flats / Apartments: 32.4% Sherwood — Townhouses: 16.1%
Rocklea 86.2% houses
Rocklea — Houses: 86.2% Rocklea — Flats / Apartments: 9.5% Rocklea — Townhouses: 4.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Sherwood Rocklea
Median house price $1,780,000 $795,000
Median unit price $732,000 —
Median land price — $830,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 66 sales
 41 days
from 21 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.

Sherwood Rocklea
2 bed $1.38M / $775K
Sherwood — 2 bed: $1.38M (7 sales) Rocklea — 2 bed: $775K (6 sales)

7 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.39M / $825K
Sherwood — 3 bed: $1.39M (31 sales) Rocklea — 3 bed: $825K (19 sales)

31 vs 19 sales

4 bed $1.92M / $795K
Sherwood — 4 bed: $1.92M (30 sales) Rocklea — 4 bed: $795K (7 sales)

30 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Sherwood Rocklea
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.

Sherwood Rocklea
Houses 3.9%
$890/wk on $1.2M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Sherwood Rocklea
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 78% of QLD Higher than 48% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 99% of QLD Higher than 80% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 98% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 88% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 45% of QLD —

Liveability

Sherwood is more walkable (91 vs 23); Sherwood scores higher overall (87 vs 42).

Sherwood Rocklea
Grade A+ C
Score 87/100 42/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Rocklea carries more crime risk (96 vs 50).

Sherwood Rocklea
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
50/100
 High
96/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
83/100
Industrial facilities nearby 14
within 5 km
 21
within 5 km

Schools

Sherwood Rocklea
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
St Lucia Campus, 4.2 km
 3
Brisbane South (Nathan), 5.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.8% 3.3%

Schools in Sherwood

  • Sherwood State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Rocklea

  • Rocklea State School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Sherwood Rocklea
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 6 2
Parks & reserves 4 9
Childcare 4 1
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1 6
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 14

Mobility

Rocklea sits further from the CBD (14.2 km vs 11.3 km).

Sherwood Rocklea
Walkability score 91/100 23/100
Distance to Brisbane 11.3 km 14.2 km
+26% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 22 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 80/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 40.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 39.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.8%
postcode 4075
 1.1%
postcode 4106
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 48
postcode 4075
 78
postcode 4106

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.

Sherwood Rocklea
Car (driver) 49.8% / 67.7%
Sherwood — Car (driver): 49.8% Rocklea — Car (driver): 67.7%
Worked from Home 32.5% / 17.6%
Sherwood — Worked from Home: 32.5% Rocklea — Worked from Home: 17.6%
Train 10.1% / 6.3%
Sherwood — Train: 10.1% Rocklea — Train: 6.3%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 2.8%
Sherwood — Car (passenger): 2.8% Rocklea — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Walked Only 2.5% / 2.8%
Sherwood — Walked Only: 2.5% Rocklea — Walked Only: 2.8%

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

Setting

Sherwood Rocklea
Elevation 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 17.7 km 17.8 km

NBN connectivity

Sherwood Rocklea
Connectivity score 77/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 8%
3,040 premises
 9%
1,819 premises

Climate

Sherwood Rocklea
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)

Sherwood Rocklea
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Sherwood

Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Trains Transport Hub

Rocklea

Acreage Middle-Ring Parks River Trains Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sherwood

Sherwood vs Corinda Sherwood vs Graceville Sherwood vs Fig Tree Pocket Sherwood vs Tennyson

Other comparisons with Rocklea

Rocklea vs Moorooka Rocklea vs Oxley Rocklea vs Salisbury Rocklea vs Coopers Plains Rocklea vs Corinda Rocklea vs Yeerongpilly
Full data on Sherwood Full data on Rocklea
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