Rosslea

Population growth drivers in Rosslea are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As per ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, by May 2026, the suburb of Rosslea's estimated population is around 2,147. This figure reflects a growth of 244 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,903. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 2,142 in June 2025, along with 39 additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,233 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Rosslea's growth rate of 12.8% since the 2021 census exceeds both the SA4 region (7.1%) and SA3 area, making it a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 61.0% to overall population gains during recent periods, with all migration factors also positive contributors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 are used, based on 2021 data. However, these state projections lack age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Future population dynamics anticipate a median increase for regional areas nationally, with Rosslea expected to expand by 269 persons to reach an estimated total of 2,416 by 2041, reflecting a 12.3% increase over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Rosslea recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis shows Rosslea had around 13 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 67 homes were approved, with another 5 in FY-26 to date. This results in about 3 new residents per year for each dwelling built over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $468,000. In FY-26, $7.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Rosslea has 63.0% more building activity per person. New development consists of 86.0% detached houses and 14.0% townhouses or apartments.

The location has approximately 291 people per dwelling approval. By 2041, Rosslea is expected to grow by 264 residents. Current construction levels should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Rosslea has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Five projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly: Townsville Connection Road (Stuart Drive), Bowen Road Bridge (Idalia) Duplication, Eden Park Estate, Corcoran Park Netball Courts Upgrade, and Townsville Connection Road (Stuart Drive) University Road to Bowen Road Bridge (Idalia) Upgrade.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Rosslea recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Rosslea has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 7.1%. Employment stability over the past year remains relatively consistent, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of December 2025, there are 1,191 residents employed while the unemployment rate stands at 3.1% higher than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation is fairly standard at 68.6%, compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%. Census responses show a low 4.7% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training sectors.

The area shows strong specialization in public administration & safety with an employment share of 2.2 times the regional level. Meanwhile, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence with 0.0% employment compared to Regional Qld's 4.5%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels increased by 1.7%, while employment decreased by 0.2%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 1.8 percentage points. This compares to Regional Qld where employment grew by 0.7%, labour force expanded by 1.0%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Rosslea. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Rosslea's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Rosslea's median income is $58,950 and average income is $69,136. This contrasts with Regional Qld's median income of $53,146 and average income of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Rosslea would be approximately $65,647 (median) and $76,990 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows personal income ranks at the 68th percentile ($909 weekly), while household income sits at the 22nd percentile. Income brackets indicate that 30.7% of locals fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 21st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Rosslea displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Rosslea's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 33.3% houses and 66.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rosslea was at 19.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.9% and rented ones at 58.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, lower than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent in Rosslea was $275, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Rosslea's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,517 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 50.0% of all households, including 14.5% couples with children, 23.4% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 50.0%, with lone person households at 44.3% and group households comprising 5.3% of the total. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

Rosslea shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates of 28.3% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the SA4 region average of 20.1% and that of Rest of Qld (20.6%). Bachelor degrees are most common at 20.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 4.6% and graduate diplomas at 3.0%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 35.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 25.2%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.7% in tertiary education, 7.1% in primary education, and 6.8% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Rosslea has six operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by two routes that together offer 93 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 258 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. In Rosslea, 91% use cars as their primary mode of transport, while 2% cycle. On average, there are 0.9 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, only 4.7% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 13 trips per day, translating to about 15 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Rosslea is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Rosslea faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 55% of the total population (~1,172 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (11.1%) and arthritis (7.8%). However, 67.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 67.6% across Regional Qld. Working-age residents show an above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 14.3% of residents aged 65 and over (307 people), lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Rosslea records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Rosslea's cultural diversity aligns with its wider region, with 83.9% citizens, 81.2% born in Australia, and 89.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, accounting for 50.9%. The 'Other' religious category is slightly overrepresented at 0.9%, compared to Regional Qld's 0.8%.

Top ancestry groups are English (26.7%), Australian (25.5%), and Irish (8.1%). Notable ethnic group divergences include French (0.9% vs regional 0.5%) and Spanish (0.7% vs regional 0.3%), both overrepresented, and Russian (0.5% vs regional 0.2%).

Rosslea's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in Rosslea is 34 years, which is lower than Regional Queensland's average of 41 years and the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Regional Queensland, Rosslea has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 years (20.9%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 years (7.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of Rosslea's population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 19.0% to 20.9%, while the proportion of residents aged 0-4 years has risen from 5.2% to 6.3%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 years has decreased from 12.4% to 9.8%. By 2041, Rosslea's age composition is expected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 25-34 will increase by 29%, rising from 448 to 577 people. Meanwhile, the numbers in both the 55-64 and 15-24 age groups are projected to decrease.