Rosewater is a middle-ring metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, in Port Adelaide Enfield Council, characterised by heritage streetscapes alongside mixed commercial and residential development. Notable landmarks include Soldiers Memorial Hall (former Rosewater District Council Chambers).
Dining and café access is an exceptional strength, well above typical levels for middle-ring metropolitan suburbs. Housing is a little more affordable than typical for similar places. Median house prices have risen 15% year on year. Population growth is an exceptional strength. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. The main trade-offs are higher crime and thinner park access, with park access 63% below the peer median.
Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising more affordable housing and dining over peace and quiet.
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.
Strengths and weaknesses
Middle-ring metropolitan suburb · compared with middle-ring metropolitan suburbs in South Australia (106)
Strengths
Population growth is a relative strength
Housing is a little more affordable than typical for similar places
Dining and café access is a relative strength
Weaknesses
Reported crime is elevated relative to comparable places
Park access is thinner than in comparable places
What stands out
Overseas-born and multilingual community
Heritage streetscapes
Soldiers Memorial Hall (former Rosewater District Council Chambers)
Space is a strength, but car dependence is high
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★☆☆☆
Professionals★☆☆☆☆
Retirees★☆☆☆☆
Students★☆☆☆☆
Budget buyers★★☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Rosewater compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$898k
+15% change
Median rent
$560/wk
Houses $570 · Units $490
Population (ERP)
4,032
+2.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.2%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#132
among Metro Adelaide · Emerging
Crime rate
82nd
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
95th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
32%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
45th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
31.3/100 — Below average
National rank
6244th in Australia
State rank
609th in SA
Peer rank
#132 among Metro Adelaide · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#309 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data confidence
97%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$490
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$570
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$560
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
15
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$897,500
Median price change
+15.1%
Median weekly rent from SA Housing Authority rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Median house sale prices cover metropolitan Adelaide and selected fringe councils (19 LGAs, including Adelaide Hills and Gawler), not all of regional South Australia.
Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band
Data sources & freshness
SA rent report & metro median house sales — Government of South Australia · 1 January - 31 March 2026; 1Q 2026 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only
Population
Estimated resident population
4,032(June 2025)
+2.2% annual · +12.5% over 5 years · 95th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.2%
5-year growth
+12.5%
Change in 1 year
+88
Change in 5 years
+447
Growth rank in SA
95th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~4,250), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
3,582
Median age
39
Median household income / week
$1,314
Dwelling vacancy
7.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
113 of 1,569
Median monthly mortgage
$1,430
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$260
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
25.3% / 43% / 31.7%
Employment rate
56.5%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
6.3% / 5.9% / 72.8%
Walked or cycled to work
2.3%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,111 / 257 / 72 (+ 11 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
17.9% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 19.8% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified17.9% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified7.5% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational19.8% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below54.8% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce17.9%
Engineering and related technologies17.9%
Society and culture17.7%
Health12.1%
Education8.5%
Food, hospitality and personal services6.9%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Tax & income
Median taxable income (2023–24)
$55,490
55th percentile in SA · -5% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$59,668
57th percentile in SA · -8% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
9.0%
14th percentile in SA · -35% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$43,542
10th percentile in SA · -31% vs Australia
Residents with business income
11.0%
54th percentile in SA · +6% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5013 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
6,405
Taxpayers reporting net rent
548
Median net rent
-$194
Taxpayers reporting business income
678
Taxable income vs state median
+2%
Salary / wages vs state median
+4%
Rental investment vs state median
-25%
Super vs state median
-44%
Business income vs state median
0%
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in SA, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary
Community & culture
25.8% speak a language other than English at home; 28.4% born overseas
Language at home
2,526 English only · 880 other
Non-English at home
25.8%
Born overseas
968 (28.4%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
132 (3.7%)
Australian citizens
3,142
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
26
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Vietnamese108 · 28.1%
Greek31 · 8.1%
Tagalog28 · 7.3%
Punjabi26 · 6.8%
Filipino17 · 4.4%
Russian15 · 3.9%
Malayalam14 · 3.6%
Mandarin13 · 3.4%
Religion
45.8%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 45.8%, while Christianity accounts for 36.8%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
45.8%
45.2%
Christianity
36.8%
40%
Islam
2.5%
2.3%
Buddhism
4.7%
1.9%
Other / not stated
10.2%
10.6%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
18.5%
15.5%
Anglican
3.5%
7.2%
Christian (not further defined)
3.4%
2.6%
Eastern Orthodox
3.2%
2.4%
Uniting Church
2.4%
4.8%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
367
Against the person
66
Against property
301
Rate per 1,000 residents
91
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 54 residents
State crime-rate percentile
82.2th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
158
Increase (daily rate)
+40.1%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
75
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
18.6
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property58
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences31
Serious Assault40
Theft From A Person36
Theft From Retail Premises108
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Mount Carmel CollegeCombined · Catholic · ICSEA 1008 · 51th percentile · LBOTE 34% · 1,204 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
Pennington School R-6Primary · Government · ICSEA 934 · 19th percentile · LBOTE 69% · 262 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
Alberton Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1002 · 48th percentile · LBOTE 14% · 262 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
St Joseph's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 990 · 42th percentile · LBOTE 80% · 154 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
1 restaurants · 1 pubs · 5 fast food · 1 places of worship · 3 playgrounds · 3 sports centres · 11 swimming pools · 2 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
A car helps for daily needs
Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
Reasonable bus and transport access — 15 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 18 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
37/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
1.95
Parks per 1,000 residents
0.56
Food & drink(7)
Choice ChickensFast food
Mina Pizza HouseFast food
Mo's hotdogsFast food
SubwayFast food
Wok in a BoxFast food
Rosewater HotelPub
Grand Junction Road, Rosewater
Pho Vinh HoaRestaurant
Shopping(4)
OTRConvenience store
Robins Deli and Snack BarConvenience store
Hardware store
111a Grand Junction Road, Rosewater
The Treasure ShedOp shop
Everyday services(3)
Bendigo BankATM
OTR RosewaterPetrol station
125 Grand Junction Road, Rosewater
UnitedPetrol station
128 Grand Junction Road
Community(3)
Gatehouse Montessori Preschool & Early Learning CentreKindergarten
Mount Carmel CollegeSchool
Western Technical CollegeSchool
Health & services(1)
Medical clinic
54 Grand Junction Road
Sport & outdoors(30)
BBQ (3)
Outer Harbour GreenwayCycling route
Drinking water (4)
Nature reserve
Duffield ReservePark
Park
Playground (3)
Public toilets
BIDA France CafeSports centre
Rosewater Bowls ClubSports centre
132-134 Grand Junction Road
Rosewater Football ClubSports centre
Sports field
Swimming pool (11)
Transport(15)
15 bus stops
Other(30)
C&S AntiquesAntiques
Bench (3)
Frank's Wholesale VehiclesCar
120 Grand Junction Road
Outlaw Speed ShopCar Parts
50 Grand Junction Road
Rosewater New and Used TiresCar Parts
45 Grand Junction Road
Perfection Crash RepairsCar repair
Happy WashCar wash
C CoffeeCoffee
Compressed Air
Simplicity FuneralsFuneral Directors
TABGambling
95 Grand Junction Road
Garden (6)
Hairdresser
Model
mcc staff visitor car parkParking
Parking (24)
Parking Space
Pawnbroker
Jesus the Annointed OnePlace of worship
69 Grand Junction Road, Rosewater
Australia PostPost Box
Post Box
Herbs and Homesteading PantryPublic Bookcase
Public Bookcase
OngaPump
Shelter (3)
TelstraTelephone
Woodville TravelTravel Agency
NQRVariety Store
Waste Basket (3)
Golden Star DistributorsWholesale
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Junior Development Committee Rosewater Football Club
Australian Rules Football
Rosewater Bowls Club
Lawn Bowls
Rosewater Football Club
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap and the SA Sports Vouchers venue list, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Jesus the Annointed One
69 Grand Junction Road, Rosewater
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Usual max / min
27° / 16°
Rainfall
49 mm · ~6 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
22° / 13°
Rainfall
94 mm · ~12 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
16° / 8°
Rainfall
161 mm · ~20 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
21° / 11°
Rainfall
95 mm · ~12 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 48 proposals
September 2026
Partially enclosed verandah and deck
28 EVANS ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
Conventional one into two land division
29 GILL ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
Freestanding garage
74 MARGARET TCE ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
Carport
6 BUXTON ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
Variation of Development Application 26017696 comprising varied built form from two storey to single storey dwellings
34 CANNING ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
Verandah at rear of dwelling
15 ALICE ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
August 2026
Dwelling alterations and new addition comprising a two storey element, and new carport
21A CANNING ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
July 2026
Installation of Fibreglass Swimming Pool & associated safety barrier
3 RUSSELL ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
NEW SINGLE STOREY DETACHED DWELLING WITH ASSOCIATED GARAGE AND NEW CARPORT TO EXISTING DWELLING
56 MARGARET TCE ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
Outbuilding (shed)
13 GRAY TCE ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
4 REYNOLDS ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
Conventional land division creating 2 allotments from 1 and removal of 1 regulated and 1 significant tree(s)
3 CHARLES ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
Construction of three, single storey group dwellings with ancillary retaining walls and fencing
32 LEADER ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
June 2026
Front fence
40 GLIDDON ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Dwelling addition
13 DUNDAS ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
Two storey detached dwelling
18 MCNICOL TCE ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
5 HAMPDEN ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Community title land division creating three allotments from one and community area (Variation to DA 25034605)
9 JENNIFER ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Two storey detached dwelling with associated retaining and fencing
34 GLIDDON ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Addition to existing residential flat building to create two additional dwellings with carports
UNIT 1-3 10 BOWYER ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
Dwelling addition
786 TORRENS RD ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
Five two storey detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement with associated outbuilding (garage), fencing and retaining walls, and the removal of four regulated trees
34 CANNING ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
May 2026
Verandah
18A LINCOLN ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Carport - CHARGE HARD COPY LODGEMENT FEE
10 CORAL ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Single-storey dwelling
74 MARGARET TCE ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
April 2026
Warehouse with retaining and fencing, car parking and landscaping - variation to DA 25019351
67 GRAND JUNCTION RD ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
Change of use from restaurant to office with associated storage area
49 GRAND JUNCTION RD ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
Conventional land division creating five (5) allotments from one (1) (in connection with Application ID:26008568)
15 SHORT ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Conventional land division creating two (2) allotments from one (1)
15 SHORT ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Outbuilding (carport)
45 CLARKE ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
March 2026
Removal of a regulated tree (eucalyptus spathulata) on Council verge
56 MARGARET TCE ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Alterations to existing dwelling and construction of ancillary accommodation building, swimming pool and associated safety fencing, verandah and deck
3 RUSSELL ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Under Assessment
February 2026
Shed (outbuilding)
19 STARR ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling with associated retaining walls and fencing
15 SHORT ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Internal alterations to existing dwelling
17 RUSSELL ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
2025· 2 proposals
December 2025
Variation to Development Application ID: 22013670 (Land division creating six (6) allotments from one (1) and the construction of a two-storey residential flat building comprising five (5) dwellings, shared driveway, car parking, landscaping, bin storage area with verandah over, retaining walls and fencing) - changes to building design and associated landscaping only (no changes to land division component)
15 SHORT ST ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Repair existing fire damaged shops and office tenancies
158 -164 GRAND JUNCTION RD ROSEWATER SA 5013Decision Made
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid against all current SA Planning risk layers (high, medium, general, urban interface, regional, outback). Flood cover is the share of the suburb boundary overlapping current SA Planning flood overlays (flooding and evidence required). Safer places from CFS designated locations.
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.4 km away).
Coalition 24.6%Labor 75.5%
9.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
RosewaterLabor 74.8% · Coalition 25.1% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
OttowayLabor 75.2% · Coalition 24.8% TPP (2025)0.6 km away
Port AdelaideLabor 80.4% · Coalition 19.6% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
PenningtonLabor 78.5% · Coalition 21.5% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
QueenstownLabor 73.5% · Coalition 26.5% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)