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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.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Roma Surrounds has an estimated 6,299 residents, up from 5,989 at the 2021 Census — a change of 310 people, or 5.2%. Growth has averaged 1.0% a year over five years. 150 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Natural increase accounts for 45.3% of that increase. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, research from AreaSearch places the population of Roma Surrounds at approximately 6,299. Compared to the 2021 Census count of 5,989 people, this represents an addition of 310 people (5.2%). This figure is derived from the ABS estimated resident population figure of 6,287 recorded in June 2025 alongside 150 validated new addresses identified following the Census. With a population density of 0.10 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers considerable room for its inhabitants. Outperforming the SA3 area (3.5%) and the broader SA4 region, Roma Surrounds's 5.2% expansion since the 2021 census positions it as a leading growth district locally.
The primary impetus for population gains was natural increase, accounting for roughly 45.3% of recent additions, with overseas migration and interstate migration also serving as positive contributors. Projections published in 2024 by ABS/Geoscience Australia utilizing 2022 as a base year are applied by AreaSearch across SA2 areas. For locations excluded from that release or extending beyond post-2032, projections produced by the Queensland State Government in 2023 (utilizing 2021 data) are integrated instead. Because these state figures omit age breakdowns, AreaSearch incorporates cohort weightings derived from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, based on 2022 data). Looking at long-term outlooks, the methodology projects an overall demographic contraction, reducing the local population by 346 persons by 2041. In contrast, select cohorts are forecast to expand, most notably the 75 to 84 age band with an expected increase of 72 people. Further information is available in the age section.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
49 new dwellings have been approved in Roma Surrounds over the past five years, an average of 9 a year. That is 1.6 approvals per 1,000 residents. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Over the past 5 financial years, residential building approvals across Roma Surrounds have averaged around 9 dwellings annually, yielding 49 homes in aggregate. Across the past 5 financial years (from FY-22 to FY-26), an average of 6.1 new residents per year were added for each home built, creating an environment where demand substantially outpaces building activity and tends to fuel price escalation and buyer competition. New homes carry an average construction value of $440,000, which sits beneath broader regional benchmarks to present more budget-friendly options for buyers. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $5.8 million this financial year, underscoring the predominantly residential focus of the local building market.
Per-capita building activity in Roma Surrounds aligns with the Rest of Qld, underpinning local market stability on par with wider regional trends, even with construction activity easing recently. Development rates trail national benchmarks, reflecting an established locality and highlighting potential planning constraints. In addition, recent construction has been exclusively concentrated in detached dwellings, maintaining the region's spacious character and appealing to buyers pursuing standalone houses. A measure of 1567 people per approved dwelling highlights the subdued and low-intensity development setting of the district. Given that demographic forecasts indicate stagnant or declining resident numbers, Roma Surrounds is likely to experience easing demand constraints, creating favorable conditions for prospective purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Roma Surrounds
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 8 current infrastructure and development projects inside Roma Surrounds, worth an estimated $12.4 billion. A further 74 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $52.5 billion. 21 are already under construction and 26 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans energy, transport & logistics and sports & recreation. 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
Strategic planning initiatives, public works, and community upgrades exert a substantial influence on regional growth, with AreaSearch noting 22 projects positioned to impact the local community. Prominent developments include the Denise Spencer Aquatic Centre Redevelopment, the Maranoa Pump Track Community Infrastructure, the Roma Airport General Aviation Apron Upgrade, and the Carnarvon Highway Culvert Replacement North of Roma.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
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 Culvert Replacement North of Roma
Replacement of aging culvert infrastructure on Carnarvon Highway north of Roma to improve drainage, flood resilience, and road safety for heavy vehicle traffic
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.
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
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.
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.
3,584 residents of Roma Surrounds are employed, from a labour force of 3,663. Unemployment sits at 2.2%, with participation at 73.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 4.5% 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
Roma Surrounds features an even spread across white and blue collar occupations across multiple industries, accompanied by an unemployment rate of only 2.2% and a 1.6% rise in estimated jobs throughout the prior year. In March 2026, employed residents reached 3,584, while local unemployment remained 1.8% below the 3.9% recorded across Regional Qld. Labor force participation is also exceptionally high at 73.4% compared to 64.2% across Regional Qld. Census records revealed that 25.3% of workers performed their duties from home, though this metric should be viewed in the context of Covid-19 restrictions.
Resident employment is concentrated primarily within agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Agriculture, forestry & fishing represents a distinct local specialty, with a concentration 9.0 times greater than regional averages. Conversely, health care & social assistance displays lower representation, engaging 9.0% of the Roma Surrounds workforce versus 16.1% in Regional Qld. Despite the presence of local jobs, Census comparisons between resident workers and local employment suggest significant outward commuting. AreaSearch assessment of ABS and SALM figures indicates that over the 12-month period, a 1.6% increase in employment alongside a 2.3% expansion in the labor force lifted the unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. Across Regional Qld over the same timeframe, employment increased by 0.1%, the workforce grew by 0.3%, and unemployment edged up 0.1 percentage points. National employment projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future workforce requirements in Roma Surrounds. Applying these five-year and ten-year national industry forecasts to the local sector distribution provides an estimate of local employment growth. At the national scale, employment is projected to expand by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, though trajectories diverge widely across individual sectors. Weighting these projections against the industry profile of Roma Surrounds points to local employment growth of 4.5% across five years and 10.6% across ten years (this represents a direct illustrative weighting and does not account for localized population trends).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Roma Surrounds is $1,436 a week (about $75,000 a year), with median personal income at $770 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $49,818 a year against an average of $56,901. 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
Aggregated ATO figures compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place taxpayer earnings in the Roma Surrounds SA2 below national benchmarks. The area recorded a median taxable income of $49,818 and an average income of $56,901, trailing the respective Regional Qld benchmarks of $53,146 and $66,593. Incorporating cumulative Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023 brings estimated figures to approximately $55,477 (median) and $63,365 (average) by March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census reveals moderate income standing across personal, family, and household levels, placing Roma Surrounds between the 31st and 42nd percentiles.
A cohort of 30.6% of residents (1,927 people) earns between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the wider district benchmark of 31.7%. Housing overheads remain contained, allowing residents to retain 92.4% of earnings, although disposable income settles at the 40th percentile and the area's SEIFA income score falls within the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Roma Surrounds had 2,063 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 97% detached houses and 0% apartments. 30% are owned with a mortgage, 21% rented and 49% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $155 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,114 a month. Rent absorbs 10.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 17.9%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, the housing inventory in Roma Surrounds was composed of 97.1% standalone houses and 2.9% other dwellings (incorporating apartments, semi-detached units, and 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Regional Qld where houses accounted for 76.4% and other dwellings made up 23.6%. Outright ownership in Roma Surrounds was notably elevated compared to Regional Qld, reaching 49.2%, while remaining homes were mortgaged (29.9%) or occupied by tenants (20.9%). Local housing costs are comparatively low, with median monthly mortgage payments of $1,114 and median weekly rent of $155, well under the Regional Qld figures of $1,655 and $345.
On a national level, repayments in Roma Surrounds sit markedly below the Australian average mortgage of $1,863 and average rent of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Roma Surrounds counted 2,063 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 2,170 today, averaging 2.5 people each. 32% are couples with children, against 33% couples without children. 26% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the vast majority of households in the area at 72.0%, consisting of couples without children (32.5%), couples with children (32.2%), and single parent families (6.7%). The remaining 28.0% comprises non-family residences, where single-person households represent 25.6% and group living arrangements make up 2.5%. The typical household size stands at 2.5 people, matching the figure seen across Regional Qld.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
14.0% of adults in Roma Surrounds hold a university qualification, including 11.4% with a bachelor degree and 1.1% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 92% of areas nationally. A further 29.8% hold a vocational qualification. 11 schools serve the area, with 474 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 903 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
Educational attainment presents room for improvement across the district, as university qualification rates of 14.0% sit well below the broader Australian figure of 30.4%, highlighting a clear opportunity for targeted programs. Bachelor degrees form the primary tertiary qualification at 11.4%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.5% and postgraduate degrees at 1.1%. Vocational and trade training is widespread, with 39.7% of citizens aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, including certificates (29.8%) and advanced diplomas (9.9%). A substantial 29.9% of the local population is enrolled in study programs, reflecting strong educational participation. This cohort includes 14.8% attending primary school, 9.3% in secondary education, and 1.9% engaged in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Roma Surrounds means driving: households keep an average of 1.9 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
69.3% of residents in Roma Surrounds report no long-term health condition. 4.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Public health indicators for Roma Surrounds remain generally sound, with AreaSearch evaluations of health conditions and mortality rates aligning closely with national standards, alongside modest occurrences of prevalent ailments among both older and younger demographics. The proportion of residents holding private health cover is limited at approximately 48% of the total population (~2,998 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%. Asthma and arthritis represent the most prevalent health issues locally, affecting 8.7 and 8.5% of the community, respectively, while 69.3% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, slightly exceeding the 67.6% recorded across Regional Qld.
Working-age residents experience typical health outcomes. Residents aged 65 and over total 1,337 people (21.2% of the population) and exhibit notably positive health metrics that surpass national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Roma Surrounds is largely Australian-born, at 95.4% of residents, with 1.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (36.8%) and English (29.8%). 4.7% 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 Surrounds is comparatively low, with Australian citizens comprising 87.6% of the population, 95.4% of residents born in Australia, and 98.3% using solely English at home. Christianity constitutes the dominant religious affiliation, claimed by 69.7% of the populace in Roma Surrounds relative to 52.2% throughout Regional Qld. Regarding ancestral background, the leading heritage groups reported in Roma Surrounds are Australian (36.8%, well above the regional figure of 26.5%), English (29.8%), and Scottish (9.4%). Notable representation is also seen among other ancestries, with German accounting for 4.9% (compared to 4.7% regionally), Australian Aboriginal representing 4.7% (compared to 3.9%), and Irish comprising 8.8% (compared to 8.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Roma Surrounds is 42. 20.5% 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 age distribution in Roma Surrounds closely mirrors Regional Qld, with the maximum divergence across the four broad cohorts standing at 3.6 percentage points. As of August 2026, AreaSearch calculates the median age to be 42, remaining consistent with the 2021 Census level and sitting 1 year older than the Regional Qld median of 41 from that same Census. Following the Census, residents aged 45 - 64 declined from 28.7% to an estimated 26.0%. Projections to 2041 anticipate the strongest growth within the 65+ cohort, adding 76 residents (6%) to reach 1,414, whereas contraction is expected among children and young adults as well as middle aged and young retiree cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Roma Surrounds
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 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) | Aug 2026 2 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| 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 Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 8 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 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) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 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 — 150 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (5,989 at the 2021 Census → 6,299 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 Aug 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 (307011177). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.