Roma

Roma has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Roma's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 7,092 people. This figure represents an increase of 254 individuals, marking a 3.7% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,838. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,083 in June 2025 and an additional 100 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 90 persons per square kilometer, offering significant space per person and potential room for further development. Roma's growth rate of 3.7% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (3.5%), positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 66.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort are applied where necessary. Projected demographic shifts indicate a decline in overall population by 400 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts like the 25 to 34 group are expected to grow, with projections indicating an increase of 174 people.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Roma according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Roma averaged approximately nine new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 47 homes. As of FY26, four approvals have been recorded. On average, 4.7 new residents per year are associated with every home built between FY21 and FY25, indicating demand significantly outpaces supply, which can put upward pressure on prices and increase competition among buyers. The average construction cost of new properties is $300,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

This financial year has seen $28.3 million in commercial development approvals recorded, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Roma records 16.0% less building activity per person and ranks among the 12th percentile nationally, meaning limited buyer options while demand for established dwellings strengthens. This lower-than-average activity reflects the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent development has been entirely detached houses, maintaining Roma's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1393 people, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Roma should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Roma has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, six projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Notable projects include Denise Spencer Aquatic Centre Redevelopment, Community Housing Limited Roma Social Housing, Roma Hospital Redevelopment, and Bowen Street Roma Priority Development Area. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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.

Employment conditions in Roma demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Roma has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 3.0% and there was an estimated 5.0% employment growth in the past year. As of December 2025, 4,287 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.1% lower than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation is high at 78.5%, compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%. According to Census responses, only 4.6% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade. The area has a strong specialization in public administration & safety with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services are under-represented at 3.7% compared to Regional Qld's 5.1%. There is a ratio of 0.7 workers for each resident, indicating above-normal local employment opportunities. In the past year, employment increased by 5.0% while labour force grew by 6.4%, leading to a 1.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. In contrast, Regional Qld had employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest Roma's employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released on 2nd June 2023 for financial year 2023, Roma SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $57,222 with the average level standing at $65,642. This is slightly lower than the national average and compares to levels of $53,146 and $66,593 across Regional Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $63,722 (median) and $73,099 (average) as of March 2026. From the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 74th percentile ($957 weekly), while household income sits at the 47th percentile. Income brackets indicate that 36.6% of the population (2,595 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, aligning with the broader area where this cohort likewise represents 31.7%. After housing costs, residents retain 88.3% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power.

Roma is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Roma, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 90.0% houses and 10.0% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Roma was at 25.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.1% and rented ones at 47.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Roma was $1,300, below Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure in Roma was $250, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Roma's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Roma features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 64.8% of all households, including 27.7% couples with children, 24.8% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.2%, with lone person households at 31.7% and group households comprising 3.7%. The median household size is 2.4 people, smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Roma fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 18.2%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas at 8.6% and certificates at 33.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.2% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 3.4% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Roma is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant challenges for Roma residents, as assessed by AreaSearch.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notably high across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 52% of the total population (~3,680 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (10.7%) and mental health issues (8.4%). Conversely, 66.5% of residents declare no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld. Working-age residents exhibit a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions than average. The area has 14.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,030 people), lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present additional challenges, with national rankings even worse than those of the general population.

Roma is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Roma's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 84.1% of its population being citizens, 89.3% born in Australia, and 93.2% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Roma is Christianity, accounting for 60.8% of the population, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. For ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (31.7%), English (27.9%), and Australian Aboriginal (9.1%).

Notably, German (5.0%) and Filipino (1.9%) groups are overrepresented in Roma compared to regional averages of 4.7% and 0.9%, respectively. South Australian representation is slightly lower at 0.4%.

Roma's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in Roma is 35 years, which is lower than Regional Queensland's average of 41 years and under the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group is notably over-represented in Roma at 17.1%, compared to Regional Queensland's average, while the 65-74 age group is under-represented at 8.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 14.0% to 17.1% of Roma's population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group has declined from 14.6% to 12.7%, and the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 12.0% to 10.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Roma, with the 25 to 34 age group expected to grow by 10% (115 people), reaching 1,327 from 1,211. Demographic aging continues as residents aged 65 and older represent 54% of anticipated growth. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 45 to 54 age groups are expected to experience population declines.