Tennyson vs Rocklea

Rocklea is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 47 in Tennyson. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Tennyson, the large majority of households own their home. In Rocklea, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Tennyson: a median of $1.35 million, against $795,000 in Rocklea, and rent is higher there too. Tennyson is closer to the city centre: 9.5 km, against 14.2 km. On these figures, Tennyson tends to suit older residents, while Rocklea suits 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

They split

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

  • Tennyson carries lower crime risk (38/100 vs 96/100)
  • Rocklea has more parks and reserves (9 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Tennyson leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 25%)
  • Rocklea has cheaper houses ($795,000 vs $1,350,000)

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 21%)
  • has cheaper rent ($335/wk vs $530/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Tennyson

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 23/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (9.5 km vs 14.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Tennyson

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (44% vs 14%)
  • carries lower crime risk (38/100 vs 96/100)
  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 23/100)

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

Tennyson 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.

Tennyson 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.

Tennyson Rocklea
Walkability 52 / 23
Tennyson — Walkability: 52/100 Rocklea — Walkability: 23/100
Safety 62 / 4
Tennyson — Safety: 62/100 Rocklea — Safety: 4/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Tennyson — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rocklea — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Tennyson has higher household incomes ($148,356 vs $77,636); Tennyson rents higher ($530/wk vs $335/wk).

Tennyson Rocklea
Population 1,109 1,672
+51% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.8% +4.8%
Median age 47 34
Median household income $148,356/yr
+48% vs other
 $77,636/yr
Median weekly rent $530/wk
+37% vs other
 $335/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Tennyson Rocklea
0-4 4.8% / 5.7%
Tennyson — 0-4: 4.8% Rocklea — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 9.6% / 10.0%
Tennyson — 5-14: 9.6% Rocklea — 5-14: 10.0%
15-19 3.8% / 3.8%
Tennyson — 15-19: 3.8% Rocklea — 15-19: 3.8%
20-24 4.4% / 9.9%
Tennyson — 20-24: 4.4% Rocklea — 20-24: 9.9%
25-34 10.7% / 21.6%
Tennyson — 25-34: 10.7% Rocklea — 25-34: 21.6%
35-44 12.8% / 17.0%
Tennyson — 35-44: 12.8% Rocklea — 35-44: 17.0%
45-54 10.6% / 10.4%
Tennyson — 45-54: 10.6% Rocklea — 45-54: 10.4%
55-64 16.0% / 8.9%
Tennyson — 55-64: 16.0% Rocklea — 55-64: 8.9%
65-74 16.9% / 6.3%
Tennyson — 65-74: 16.9% Rocklea — 65-74: 6.3%
75-84 9.0% / 3.0%
Tennyson — 75-84: 9.0% Rocklea — 75-84: 3.0%
85+ 1.7% / 4.1%
Tennyson — 85+: 1.7% Rocklea — 85+: 4.1%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Tennyson 40.5% lone person
Tennyson — Lone Person: 40.5% Tennyson — Couple Families: 44.0% Tennyson — One Parent Families: 7.7% Tennyson — Group Household: 5.4% Tennyson — Other Families: 2.3%
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.

Tennyson 21.2% renting
Tennyson — Owned Outright: 49.1% Tennyson — Mortgage: 29.7% Tennyson — Renting: 21.2%
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.

Tennyson Rocklea
Bachelor Degree 26.1% / 15.6%
Tennyson — Bachelor Degree: 26.1% Rocklea — Bachelor Degree: 15.6%
Certificate III & IV 6.8% / 13.5%
Tennyson — Certificate III & IV: 6.8% Rocklea — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.9% / 6.6%
Tennyson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9% Rocklea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6%
Postgraduate Degree 9.8% / 5.3%
Tennyson — Postgraduate Degree: 9.8% Rocklea — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.5%
Tennyson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Rocklea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.1%).

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.

Tennyson Rocklea
New Zealand 2.5% / 3.5%
Tennyson — New Zealand: 2.5% Rocklea — New Zealand: 3.5%
England 3.3% / 2.4%
Tennyson — England: 3.3% Rocklea — England: 2.4%
Vietnam 0.9% / 2.9%
Tennyson — Vietnam: 0.9% Rocklea — Vietnam: 2.9%
Philippines 1.0% / 2.0%
Tennyson — Philippines: 1.0% Rocklea — Philippines: 2.0%
China — / 2.6%
Tennyson — China: not among its largest Rocklea — China: 2.6%
India — / 2.2%
Tennyson — India: not among its largest Rocklea — India: 2.2%
Germany 1.0% / —
Tennyson — Germany: 1.0% Rocklea — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Tennyson 56.0% houses
Tennyson — Houses: 56.0% Tennyson — Flats / Apartments: 43.1% Tennyson — Townhouses: 0.9%
Rocklea 86.2% houses
Rocklea — Houses: 86.2% Rocklea — Flats / Apartments: 9.5% Rocklea — Townhouses: 4.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Tennyson Rocklea
Median house price $1,350,000 $795,000
Median unit price $2,500,000 —
Median land price — $830,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 5 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.

Tennyson Rocklea
3 bed $1.3M / $825K
Tennyson — 3 bed: $1.3M (9 sales) Rocklea — 3 bed: $825K (19 sales)

9 vs 19 sales

4 bed $1.6M / $795K
Tennyson — 4 bed: $1.6M (9 sales) Rocklea — 4 bed: $795K (7 sales)

9 vs 7 sales

Development activity

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

Ranking within QLD

Tennyson Rocklea
House price —
same for both
Income — Higher than 48% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 80% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 88% of QLD

Liveability

Tennyson is more walkable (52 vs 23); Tennyson scores higher overall (86 vs 42).

Tennyson Rocklea
Grade A+ C
Score 86/100 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 38).

Tennyson Rocklea
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
38/100
 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 16
within 5 km
 21
within 5 km

Schools

Tennyson Rocklea
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
St Lucia Campus, 3.1 km
 3
Brisbane South (Nathan), 5.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 3.3%

Schools in Tennyson

  • Barrett Adolescent Centre Special School Government · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Rocklea

  • Rocklea State School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Tennyson Rocklea
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 4 9
Childcare 0 1
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 6
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 14

Mobility

Rocklea sits further from the CBD (14.2 km vs 9.5 km).

Tennyson Rocklea
Walkability score 52/100 23/100
Distance to Brisbane 9.5 km 14.2 km
+49% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 22 min
Public transport score 74/100
Bus
 80/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 37.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 39.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 4105
 1.1%
postcode 4106
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 4105
 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.

Tennyson Rocklea
Car (driver) 55.1% / 67.7%
Tennyson — Car (driver): 55.1% Rocklea — Car (driver): 67.7%
Worked from Home 30.3% / 17.6%
Tennyson — Worked from Home: 30.3% Rocklea — Worked from Home: 17.6%
Train 5.9% / 6.3%
Tennyson — Train: 5.9% Rocklea — Train: 6.3%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 2.8%
Tennyson — Car (passenger): 3.9% Rocklea — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Walked Only 1.2% / 2.8%
Tennyson — Walked Only: 1.2% Rocklea — Walked Only: 2.8%
Bicycle 2.3% / 0.5%
Tennyson — Bicycle: 2.3% Rocklea — Bicycle: 0.5%

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

Setting

Tennyson Rocklea
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.0 km 17.8 km

NBN connectivity

Tennyson Rocklea
Connectivity score 71/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
584 premises
 9%
1,819 premises

Climate

Tennyson 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)

Tennyson 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Tennyson

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Quiet Retirees River

Rocklea

Acreage Middle-Ring Parks River Trains Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Tennyson

Tennyson vs Indooroopilly Tennyson vs Sherwood Tennyson vs Graceville Tennyson vs Yeerongpilly

Other comparisons with Rocklea

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