Zetland vs Rosebery

Zetland is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 33 in Rosebery. In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In Zetland, most households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Rosebery, about half of households rent. Units cost more in Zetland: a median of $1.03 million, against $900,000 in Rosebery. Zetland is closer to the city centre: 6.2 km, against 7.7 km. On these figures, Zetland tends to suit renters, young adults, 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

Rosebery

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (23% vs 0%)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • is already more of a family suburb (45% vs 24%)

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

First-home buyers

Rosebery

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($900,000 vs $1,030,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Zetland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (72% vs 52%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Rosebery

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (11% vs 4%)
  • carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 71/100)
  • But Zetland has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 77%)

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

Investors

Rosebery

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (33.8% vs 25.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 3.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Zetland Rosebery
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.

Zetland Rosebery
Walkability 96 / 92
Zetland — Walkability: 96/100 Rosebery — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 29 / 46
Zetland — Safety: 29/100 Rosebery — Safety: 46/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Zetland — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rosebery — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Rosebery skews older (33 vs 30).

Zetland Rosebery
Population 12,622 13,533
+7% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +25.2% +33.8%
Median age 30 33
Median household income $113,984/yr $118,248/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+3% vs other
 $580/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Zetland Rosebery
0-4 4.5% / 5.9%
Zetland — 0-4: 4.5% Rosebery — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 3.6% / 6.1%
Zetland — 5-14: 3.6% Rosebery — 5-14: 6.1%
15-19 2.1% / 3.4%
Zetland — 15-19: 2.1% Rosebery — 15-19: 3.4%
20-24 15.1% / 9.6%
Zetland — 20-24: 15.1% Rosebery — 20-24: 9.6%
25-34 42.4% / 29.4%
Zetland — 25-34: 42.4% Rosebery — 25-34: 29.4%
35-44 17.7% / 17.4%
Zetland — 35-44: 17.7% Rosebery — 35-44: 17.4%
45-54 6.5% / 10.3%
Zetland — 45-54: 6.5% Rosebery — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 4.3% / 7.4%
Zetland — 55-64: 4.3% Rosebery — 55-64: 7.4%
65-74 2.7% / 5.4%
Zetland — 65-74: 2.7% Rosebery — 65-74: 5.4%
75-84 0.8% / 3.8%
Zetland — 75-84: 0.8% Rosebery — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 0.2% / 1.4%
Zetland — 85+: 0.2% Rosebery — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (42.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Zetland 48.9% lone person
Zetland — Lone Person: 48.9% Zetland — Couple Families: 17.7% Zetland — Group Household: 23.6% Zetland — One Parent Families: 6.7% Zetland — Other Families: 3.2%
Rosebery 39.4% lone person
Rosebery — Lone Person: 39.4% Rosebery — Couple Families: 34.2% Rosebery — Group Household: 13.3% Rosebery — One Parent Families: 10.5% Rosebery — Other Families: 2.5%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Zetland 72.1% renting
Zetland — Owned Outright: 7.6% Zetland — Mortgage: 20.2% Zetland — Renting: 72.1%
Rosebery 52.0% renting
Rosebery — Owned Outright: 20.5% Rosebery — Mortgage: 27.5% Rosebery — Renting: 52.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Zetland Rosebery
Bachelor Degree 32.3% / 25.6%
Zetland — Bachelor Degree: 32.3% Rosebery — Bachelor Degree: 25.6%
Postgraduate Degree 17.1% / 12.2%
Zetland — Postgraduate Degree: 17.1% Rosebery — Postgraduate Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 8.2%
Zetland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Rosebery — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Certificate III & IV 6.4% / 7.9%
Zetland — Certificate III & IV: 6.4% Rosebery — Certificate III & IV: 7.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 1.8%
Zetland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Rosebery — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.3%).

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.

Zetland Rosebery
China 20.5% / 10.8%
Zetland — China: 20.5% Rosebery — China: 10.8%
England 5.0% / 3.7%
Zetland — England: 5.0% Rosebery — England: 3.7%
Ireland 3.3% / 2.6%
Zetland — Ireland: 3.3% Rosebery — Ireland: 2.6%
Indonesia 2.4% / 2.3%
Zetland — Indonesia: 2.4% Rosebery — Indonesia: 2.3%
India 2.0% / 1.5%
Zetland — India: 2.0% Rosebery — India: 1.5%
Greece — / 2.7%
Zetland — Greece: not among its largest Rosebery — Greece: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Zetland 92.7% flats / apartments
Zetland — Flats / Apartments: 92.7% Zetland — Houses: 0.3% Zetland — Townhouses: 6.9%
Rosebery 72.2% flats / apartments
Rosebery — Flats / Apartments: 72.2% Rosebery — Houses: 23.1% Rosebery — Townhouses: 4.8%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Zetland Rosebery
Median house price $2,330,000 $2,515,000
Median unit price $1,030,000 $900,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 9 sales
 25 days
from 39 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.

Zetland Rosebery
1 bed $730K / $675K
Zetland — 1 bed: $730K (93 sales) Rosebery — 1 bed: $675K (73 sales)

93 vs 73 sales

2 bed $1.06M / $928K
Zetland — 2 bed: $1.06M (184 sales) Rosebery — 2 bed: $928K (127 sales)

184 vs 127 sales

3 bed $1.6M / $1.37M
Zetland — 3 bed: $1.6M (42 sales) Rosebery — 3 bed: $1.37M (43 sales)

42 vs 43 sales

Zoning mix

Zetland Rosebery
Residential 85% 75%
Industrial 0% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 7%
Other and special use 4% 3%
Commercial 4% 3%
Parks and recreation 4% 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

Zetland Rosebery
New dwellings approved 2,350
across Sydney
same for both
Approvals change year on year +929%
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.

Zetland Rosebery
Houses 3.4%
$1,300/wk on $2M
 4.0%
$1,350/wk on $1.77M
Units 5.4%
$1,050/wk on $1.01M
 5.8%
$992/wk on $890K

Ranking within NSW

Zetland Rosebery
House price Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Income Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 13% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 16% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW

Liveability

Zetland scores higher overall (86 vs 68).

Zetland Rosebery
Grade A B
Score 86/100 68/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Zetland carries more crime risk (71 vs 54).

Zetland Rosebery
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
71/100
 Moderate
54/100
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 12
within 5 km
 20
within 5 km

Schools

Zetland Rosebery
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of New South Wales, 1.3 km
 3
The University of New South Wales, 1.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 8.6% 5.1%

Schools in Zetland

  • Green Square Public School Government · Primary

Schools in Rosebery

  • St Therese Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Gardeners Road Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Zetland Rosebery
Supermarkets 5 4
Cafes & restaurants 43 25
Parks & reserves 15 13
Childcare 6 10
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 1 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Zetland Rosebery
Walkability score 96/100 92/100
Distance to Sydney 6.2 km 7.7 km
+24% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 13 min 14 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 181.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 411.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.7%
postcode 2017
 2.1%
postcode 2018
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 1
postcode 2017
 8
postcode 2018

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.

Zetland Rosebery
Worked from Home 60.7% / 53.6%
Zetland — Worked from Home: 60.7% Rosebery — Worked from Home: 53.6%
Car (driver) 21.5% / 30.3%
Zetland — Car (driver): 21.5% Rosebery — Car (driver): 30.3%
Train 6.3% / 3.2%
Zetland — Train: 6.3% Rosebery — Train: 3.2%
Walked Only 4.1% / 4.4%
Zetland — Walked Only: 4.1% Rosebery — Walked Only: 4.4%
Bus 4.2% / 3.9%
Zetland — Bus: 4.2% Rosebery — Bus: 3.9%
Car (passenger) 1.9% / 3.3%
Zetland — Car (passenger): 1.9% Rosebery — Car (passenger): 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.7%).

Setting

Zetland Rosebery
Elevation 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.8 km
4.8 km to a named beach
 4.0 km
4.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Zetland Rosebery
Connectivity score 81/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
6,587 premises
 30%
6,540 premises

Climate

Zetland Rosebery
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Zetland Rosebery
PM2.5 5.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 12.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.73 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Zetland Rosebery
Average residential rate $875/yr
same for both
Council Sydney
same for both

Federal electorate

Zetland Rosebery
Division Sydney
same for both
Member Tanya Plibersek
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Zetland Rosebery
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Zetland

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

Rosebery

Apartments Cafe Culture Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Zetland

Zetland vs Waterloo Zetland vs Kensington Zetland vs Alexandria Zetland vs Beaconsfield

Other comparisons with Rosebery

Rosebery vs Mascot Rosebery vs Kensington Rosebery vs Alexandria Rosebery vs Eastlakes Rosebery vs Beaconsfield
Full data on Zetland Full data on Rosebery
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.

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