Overall score
Garden Island
28.2/100
Rockingham
49.3/100
Garden Island vs Rockingham, WA Suburb Comparison
Rockingham for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Garden IslandRockingham
Crime rate
Garden Island
63.3 / 1k
Rockingham
63.3 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Garden Island
10
Rockingham
392
Population
Garden Island
772
Rockingham
15,312
Metric leadGarden Island 1Rockingham 52 tiedacross 8 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesRockingham
- Best for familiesRockingham
- Best for beach lifestyleRockingham
- Best for investmentRockingham
- Best for best valueRockingham
- Best for best schoolsRockingham
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Garden Island | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 28.2/100 | 49.3/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | — | 63.2/100 |
| Crime rate | 63.3 / 1k | 63.3 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | — | 9 |
| Weather (desirability) | 23.4/100 | 23.4/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 1 | 18 |
| Public transport stops | — | 138 |
| Walkability | 0.0/100 | 100.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 10 | 392 |
| Green cover | 40.0% | 8.0% |
| Population | 772 | 15,312 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | — | 2/10 |
Comparison summary
Garden Island reads as a beachside smaller community where the coast sets the tone; Rockingham is a beachside established suburb where the coast sets the tone. Garden Island sits among greener hillside streets, while Rockingham keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Garden Island pulls ahead on rapid growth and new development, plus easy access to the coast, whereas Rockingham is the better pick for parks and reserves, walkability, and nearby cafés and amenities.
On balance, retirees, families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Rockingham, while Garden Island remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.