🔍

Rowville

VIC 3178 • Greater Melbourne

33,571
Population (2021)
$114,660
Median Household Income
21.97 km²
Area
$441/wk
Median Rent
Family-FriendlySuburbanEstablishedCommuter Belt
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About Rowville

Rowville is a large residential suburb in the City of Knox, about 28 kilometres south-east of the Melbourne CBD and about 7 kilometres from Dandenong. The 2021 Census recorded 33,571 people, a slight dip from 33,672 in 2016, with a median age of 41, an average household of 2.9 people and a median weekly household income of $2,205. It takes its name from the Row family, whose Stamford Park property dated from 1882, and most homes are detached houses from estates built from the 1960s through the 1990s, including Rowville Lakes and Park Ridge. China, Sri Lanka, India and England are the main overseas birthplaces, and the 3178 postcode median taxable income was $61,280 in 2023-24.

Stud Park Shopping Centre, on Stud Road at Fulham Road, is the main retail centre, with Coles and Woolworths inside and an ALDI on Wellington Road. There is no railway station in the suburb. SmartBus 900 runs from Stud Park to Caulfield via Huntingdale, Monash University and Chadstone, SmartBus 901 runs towards Dandenong and Melbourne Airport, and Ferntree Gully station on the Belgrave line is about 7 kilometres away. Tirhatuan Wetlands and Heany Park are local green spaces, with Lysterfield Park just to the east, and the suburb suits families who want space, local schools and a quieter outer-east setting, and who will mostly drive.

Rowville falls under postcode 3178 and is governed by the Knox Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Aston, while state elections fall under the Rowville (South-Eastern Metropolitan) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3178
Urban Area
Wantrina - Rowville - Ferntree Gully
LGA / Council
Knox
Federal Electorate
Aston
State Electorate
Rowville (South-Eastern Metropolitan)
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-37.93°, 145.24°
Statistical Area
Greater Melbourne
Area
21.97 km²
Population Density
1,528 /km²
Elevation
80m

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🏷️ Property Prices June quarter 2025

Median sale prices in Rowville for the June quarter 2025. Median sale prices published by the Valuer-General Victoria.

🏡House
$1.15M
93 sales · ▲ 9.1% YoY
🏢Unit / Apartment
$698K
20 sales · ▼ 5.4% YoY

Source: Valuer-General Victoria — Victorian Property Sales Report. Medians are for the latest quarter; the change shown is the official 12-month movement. Suburbs with very few sales in a quarter can be volatile.

💰 Income

ATO taxable income Postcode 3178

Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 3178, comparing the 2019–20 and 2023–24 financial years.

Median 2019–20
$50,497
Median 2023–24
$61,280
▲ 21.4% increase
Average taxable income (2023–24)
$74,182

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 3178; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.

Census personal income 2016 vs 2021

Personal Income 2016
$36,400
Personal Income 2021
$43,628
▲ 19.9% increase

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$43,628 / yr
$839/wk
Household
$114,660 / yr
$2205/wk
Family
$125,320 / yr
$2410/wk
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$441
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,055
Avg Household Size
2.9 people
Median Age
41 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
0.9%

88 state housing + 14 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • SmartBus 900 — Caulfield via Huntingdale, Monash University and Chadstone about 25 min to Huntingdale, then train
  • SmartBus 901 — Dandenong Station and Melbourne Airport connects at Dandenong for city trains

Commute to Melbourne CBD

Distance
28 km
By Train
No direct train. SmartBus 900 to Huntingdale, then a Cranbourne or Pakenham line train, about 50 to 60 minutes all up.
By Car (Peak)
45 to 70 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
30 to 40 min

🛣️ About 28 km in a straight line and about 31 km by road, typically via EastLink and the Monash Freeway. Route 691 also links Stud Park with Ferntree Gully station. A Rowville rail line has been proposed for decades and has not been built.

Walkability Car-Dependent

Stud Park and nearby parks serve adjacent streets, but most errands and the commute need a car or a bus.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

  • Coles
    Stud Park Shopping Centre Cnr Stud Road & Fullham Road Rowville 3178 VIC
  • Woolworths
    Stud Park Shopping Centre , Stud Road Rowville 3178 VIC
  • ALDI
    1100 Wellington Road, Rowville VIC 3178

🎓 Schools

👥 Population of Rowville

Census 2016
33,672
Census 2021
33,571
▼ 0.3% decline
Est. 2026 projection
~33,470

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
📈 2026 estimate: projection from census growth trend, not an official figure

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest rates for the Knox Local Government Area, which contains Rowville. Rates are per 100,000 residents for the year ending September 2025; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods.

Break & enter (dwelling)
285.3 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 10.3%
Motor vehicle theft
279.8 / 100k
2yr Up 172.7% 10yr Down 13.7%
Non-FV assault
180.5 / 100k
2yr Down 10.2% 10yr Up 16.7%
Robbery (unarmed)
3.7 / 100k
2yr Up 18.3% 10yr Up 95.5%
Steal from vehicle
874.2 / 100k
2yr Up 72.9% 10yr Down 20.8%
View all offence subgroups for Knox →

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 21,120
Born Overseas 11,763

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. China 1,601
  • 2. Sri Lanka 1,180
  • 3. India 1,072
  • 4. England 902
  • 5. Malaysia 821
  • 6. New Zealand 391
  • 7. Vietnam 352
  • 8. Italy 342
  • 9. Philippines 310
  • 10. South Africa 286

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 8,708
Australian 8,486
Chinese 4,500
Irish 2,400
Italian 2,384
Scottish 2,198
Indian 1,612
Greek 1,100
German 993
Sri Lankan 907

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace

12,161
Both parents born in Australia
17,008
Both parents born overseas
3,646
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
47.8%
No Religion
36.1%
Buddhism
5.0%
Hinduism
3.5%
Islam
2.4%
Sikhism
0.7%
Judaism
0.1%

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📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
1,594 (4.7%)
5-14 years
4,028 (12.0%)
15-19 years
2,225 (6.6%)
20-24 years
2,349 (7.0%)
25-34 years
3,783 (11.3%)
35-44 years
4,175 (12.4%)
45-54 years
5,010 (14.9%)
55-64 years
5,126 (15.3%)
65-74 years
3,073 (9.2%)
75-84 years
1,661 (4.9%)
85+ years
554 (1.7%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rowville known for? +

Rowville is a large family suburb in the City of Knox, built mainly as housing estates from the 1960s to the 1990s. Stud Park Shopping Centre is the local hub, and Tirhatuan Wetlands sits in the suburb. It has no train station, so most households drive.

How far is Rowville from Melbourne CBD? +

Rowville is about 28 kilometres south-east of the Melbourne CBD in a straight line, and about 31 kilometres by road. Off-peak drives often take 30 to 40 minutes via EastLink or the Monash Freeway. Peak trips commonly take 45 to 70 minutes.

Does Rowville have public transport? +

Rowville has buses but no railway station. SmartBus 900 runs from Stud Park to Caulfield via Huntingdale, Monash University and Chadstone, and a bus-then-train trip to the CBD takes about 50 to 60 minutes. SmartBus 901 runs towards Dandenong and Melbourne Airport, and route 691 links Stud Park with Ferntree Gully station, about 7 kilometres away.

Is Rowville a good place to live? +

Rowville suits established families who want detached housing and local schools, with a 2021 median weekly household income of $2,205. Stud Park, several primary schools and Rowville Secondary College cover day-to-day needs. A car is the practical way around, and the city commute is a bus-then-train trip or a freeway drive.

What is the postcode for Rowville? +

The postcode for Rowville, Victoria is 3178. It covers this City of Knox suburb in Melbourne's outer east.

What is the average income in Rowville? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Rowville is about $839 per week (around $43,600 per year). The median household income is $2,205 per week and the median family income is $2,410 per week.

What is the median house price in Rowville? +

As of June quarter 2025, the median house price is $1,150,000, up 9.1% year-on-year, and the median unit/apartment price is $697,500, down 5.4% year-on-year. Figures are based on Valuer-General Victoria — Victorian Property Sales Report.

What is the age profile of Rowville? +

The median age in Rowville is 41. The largest age group is 55–64 (5,126 residents, around 15%). Around 23% of residents are under 20 and about 16% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Rowville a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Rowville is part of the Knox LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

What is the population of Rowville? +

The population of Rowville is 33,571 according to the 2021 Census, down 0.3% from 33,672 in 2016. Projecting that growth trend forward, the estimated 2026 population of Rowville is around 33,470. This is a projection, not an official ABS figure.

How much is rent in Rowville? +

In Rowville, the median weekly rent is $441, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,055 (2021 Census).