Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Roma has an estimated 7,092 residents, up from 6,838 at the 2021 Census — a change of 254 people, or 3.7%. Growth has averaged 0.5% a year over five years. 100 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Density is about 91 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Roma stands at approximately 7,092 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 254 residents (3.7%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded 6,838 people. The adjustment is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 7,083 alongside 100 validated new addresses identified since the Census. This population level yields a density of 90 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and room for potential expansion. The 3.7% population rise since the 2021 census outpaced the broader SA3 region (3.5%), positioning the area as a regional growth leader.
Natural increase was the primary contributor, accounting for roughly 66.8% of the total population growth in recent times. AreaSearch utilizes projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline for each SA2 region. In instances where SA2 regions lack this data, or for periods past 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 and based on 2021 figures are substituted. Because state-level projections lack breakdowns by age, AreaSearch distributes growth across age cohorts using weightings from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections, which utilize 2022 baseline data. Based on these projections, the overall population is expected to shrink by 400 individuals by 2041. Conversely, expansion is predicted in certain age brackets, particularly the 25 to 34 age range, which is expected to rise by 174 individuals. Refer to the section on age for further information.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
47 new dwellings have been approved in Roma over the past five years, an average of 9 a year. That is 1.4 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 5, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
An average of 9 residential building approvals are registered annually in Roma, accumulating to 47 dwellings over the last 5 financial years. In FY-26, 5 approvals have been logged to date. With an average of 3.8 additional residents per year for every finished home over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demand is outstripping supply. This imbalance typically exerts upward pressure on home values and intensifies buyer competition, even as newly built dwellings average a construction value of $300,000—a figure below the regional average—suggesting entry-level pricing. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $28.3 million during the current financial year, demonstrating strong momentum in commercial sectors.
Building activity per capita in Roma is 16.0% lower than in the Rest of Qld, placing the area in the 12th percentile of national evaluations, which restricts choices for buyers and boosts demand for existing properties. This level of construction is also below the national average, reflecting a mature market and potential regulatory limits on development. Additionally, all recent construction has consisted of standalone houses, preserving the low-density residential profile of the area and appealing to families looking for space. The ratio of 1396 residents per dwelling approval highlights a quiet development sector with low construction volumes. Given that the population is projected to stabilize or decrease, Roma is likely to experience less pressure on its housing market, which could present favorable opportunities for buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Roma
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 5 current infrastructure and development projects inside Roma, worth an estimated $52 million. A further 76 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $52.8 billion. 22 are already under construction and 28 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans energy, transport & logistics and environmental & disaster management. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects, planning schemes, and major developments have a significant impact on local performance. AreaSearch has identified 6 projects that are expected to influence the local area. Prominent developments include the Denise Spencer Aquatic Centre Redevelopment, the Community Housing Limited Roma Social Housing project, the Roma Hospital Redevelopment, and the Bowen Street Roma Priority Development Area, with the details of the most relevant projects listed below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Denise Spencer Aquatic Centre Redevelopment
Redevelopment of Roma's Denise Spencer Aquatic Centre into an inclusive regional aquatic facility. The project includes demolition of the existing pools, an 8-lane 50-metre outdoor pool with grandstand seating, a 25-metre indoor program and lap pool, a 10-metre four-flume waterslide tower, zero-depth splash pad, toddler pool, water play area, new entry building with kiosk and multipurpose room, accessible amenities, indoor changerooms, shaded areas, swim club facilities and supporting plant. Construction commenced in April 2025 and the centre is on track to open for the 2026 summer school holidays.
Community Housing Limited Roma Social Housing
A social housing project by Community Housing Limited (CHL) aimed at providing affordable rental accommodation for vulnerable community members in Roma. The development includes various housing types to address the local shortage of public and social housing, integrated with community facilities.
Roma Airport General Aviation Apron Upgrade
Upgrade of general aviation apron facilities at Roma Airport including runway improvements, taxiway enhancements, and aircraft parking bay upgrades to support regional aviation services
Bowen Street Roma Priority Development Area
A priority development area that has developed the Clearview Rise residential estate, providing 372 residential lots to support housing growth and community expansion in Roma. The estate is sold out and listed as a past project by Economic Development Queensland.
Roma Hospital Redevelopment
New $116.6 million state-of-the-art hospital featuring 22 beds, two birthing suites, two operating theatres, increased outpatient capacity, and world-class health facilities serving south west Queensland
Maranoa Pump Track Community Infrastructure
Modern pump track facility for BMX and mountain bike riders featuring beginner and advanced circuits, landscaping, seating areas, and community gathering spaces
Carnarvon Highway Orange Hill Upgrade
Safety and capacity upgrades on the Carnarvon Highway at Orange Hill near Roma, including pavement widening, widened lanes and shoulders, turn treatments near Lalors Lane, culvert extensions/replacements and additional warning signage to improve safety and heavy vehicle operations.
Roma North Gas Expansion Project
Senex Energy's $1 billion Surat Basin expansion, including the Roma North development, has been completed ahead of schedule with first gas delivered in Q1 2025. The project involves approximately 400 wells and expanding processing capacity to deliver 60 PJ of natural gas annually to the east coast market, injecting over $200 million into local Queensland communities.
4,214 residents of Roma are employed, from a labour force of 4,346. Unemployment sits at 3.0%, with participation at 77.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local workforce is highly skilled with a strong presence in essential services, showing a low unemployment rate of 3.0% and an estimated annual job growth rate of 1.3%. There were 4,214 employed residents as of March 2026, with unemployment sitting 0.9% lower than the Regional Qld level of 3.9%, and labor force participation reaching 77.2%, well above the regional average of 64.3%. Census data indicates that only 4.6% of the workforce worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Local employment is heavily focused in health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade.
The region exhibits high specialization in public administration & safety, where the workforce proportion is 1.7 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical roles are underrepresented, accounting for 3.7% of the local workforce compared to 5.1% in Regional Qld. A ratio of 0.7 jobs for every resident at the time of the Census indicates a strong local employment market. Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, the latest 12-month period saw a 1.3% increase in employment and a 2.4% expansion of the labor force, causing the unemployment rate to climb by 1.1 percentage points. By comparison, Regional Qld experienced a 0.1% increase in employment, a 0.3% rise in the labor force, and a 0.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. Future local employment opportunities can be evaluated using national forecasts published by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. While national employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary across different industries. Applying these national projections to the local employment structure suggests Roma's employment could grow by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years (this represents a direct weighting extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not account for local population changes).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Roma is $1,706 a week (about $89,000 a year), with median personal income at $957 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $57,222 a year against an average of $65,642. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's compilation of postcode-level ATO statistics released for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Roma SA2 recorded a median income of $57,222 and an average income of $65,642. These figures are slightly below national averages and compare to $53,146 (median) and $66,593 (average) across Regional Qld. Adjusted for a 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, current estimates as of March 2026 stand at approximately $63,722 for median income and $73,099 for average income. In the 2021 Census, individual weekly income was in the 74th percentile ($957), whereas household weekly income was in the 47th percentile.
Income distribution shows that 36.6% of the population (2,595 individuals) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is comparable to the wider region where this group makes up 31.7%. Residents retain 88.3% of their income after paying for housing, indicating solid discretionary spending power.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Roma had 2,518 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 90% detached houses and 1% apartments. 27% are owned with a mortgage, 47% rented and 26% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $250 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 14.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 17.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The mix of housing types in Roma at the last Census consisted of 90.0% standalone houses and 10.0% other housing forms (including townhouses, units, and alternative dwellings), compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other styles in Regional Qld. The rate of home ownership in Roma was 25.7%, lower than the regional rate, with the remaining properties occupied by mortgagors (27.1%) or tenants (47.2%). The median monthly home loan payment was $1,300, which is lower than the Regional Qld average, and the median weekly rent was $250, compared to regional figures of $1,655 and $345 respectively.
Compared to national benchmarks, Roma's mortgage payments are lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and rents are below the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Roma counted 2,518 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 28% are couples with children, against 25% couples without children. 32% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 64.8%, which includes couples with children at 27.7%, couples without children at 24.8%, and single parent households at 11.1%. The remaining 35.2% are non-family households, with lone person households representing 31.7% and group households accounting for 3.7%. The typical household size is 2.4 residents, which is slightly smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
18.2% of adults in Roma hold a university qualification, including 13.1% with a bachelor degree and 3.0% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 33.3% hold a vocational qualification. 6 schools serve the area, with 1,651 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 945 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The region shows lower levels of higher education attainment, with university completion rates at 18.2% compared to the national average of 30.4%. This highlights a clear opportunity for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common tertiary qualification at 13.1%, followed by postgraduate studies (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 41.9% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.6%) and certificate level courses (33.3%). Enrolment rates in education are high, with 33.1% of the local population currently undertaking formal study.
This comprises 13.2% in primary schools, 9.3% in high schools, and 3.4% in tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Roma means driving: households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
66.5% of residents in Roma report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 89% of areas nationally. 3.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 8.3 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality statistics and the incidence of chronic conditions across different age groups, Roma faces notable health challenges, while the rate of private health insurance coverage sits slightly below the SA2 average at approximately 52% of the population (~3,680 individuals). The most prevalent health issues recorded among local residents are asthma, which affects 10.7%, and mental health concerns, which affect 8.4%. Meanwhile, 66.5% of the population reported no chronic health issues, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Working-age individuals experience higher than average rates of chronic illness.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 14.5% of the population (1,030 individuals), a lower share than the 20.4% seen across Regional Qld. Health statistics for seniors indicate challenges, with national health rankings for this cohort being lower than those of the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Roma is largely Australian-born, at 89.3% of residents, with 6.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (31.7%) and English (27.9%). 9.1% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Roma is below average, with citizens making up 84.1% of the population, 89.3% of residents born in Australia, and 93.2% speaking only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, practiced by 60.8% of the population, compared to 52.2% in Regional Qld. In terms of parent country of birth, the three largest ancestral groups are Australian at 31.7% of the population (higher than the regional average of 26.5%), English at 27.9%, and Australian Aboriginal at 9.1% (higher than the regional average of 3.9%). Other ethnic groups show distinct proportions: German ancestry stands at 5.0% (compared to 4.7% regionally), Filipino at 1.9% (compared to 0.9%), and South Australian at 0.4% (compared to 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Roma is 35, younger than 79% of areas nationally. 31.4% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age in Roma is 35 years, which is lower than the Regional Qld average of 41 and the national average of 38. The 25 - 34 age bracket is overrepresented locally at 17.1% compared to the regional benchmark, whereas the 65 - 74 age group is underrepresented at 8.2%. Since the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 demographic expanded from 14.0% to 17.1% of the population. In contrast, the 5 to 14 demographic fell from 14.6% to 12.7%, and the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 12.0% to 10.9%.
Projections for the year 2041 forecast significant age shifts. The 25 to 34 group is expected to grow by 10% (115 individuals) to reach 1,327 from 1,211. The population continues to age, with people aged 65 and older representing 54% of the projected growth. Conversely, the 0 to 4 and 45 to 54 age brackets are expected to experience population declines.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Roma
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 5 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 100 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (6,838 at the 2021 Census → 7,092 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (307011176). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.