Roma
A median house price of $334,000 sits beside a 19.0% vacancy rate here, and the combination explains the local market: cheap to buy, but landlords compete hard for tenants. Household income reaches only the 59.7th percentile nationally, yet the area still ranks decile 4 on IRSAD and decile 3 on IEO, a below-average tier shaped by a labourer and clerical workforce. The population of 6,838 skews young, with a median age of 35 that is 5.0 years below national, and 90.0% of dwellings are separate houses on a sprawling 78.03 km2 footprint at just 87.6 people per km2. Healthcare anchors employment at 18.5%, a sign of Roma's role as a regional service hub for southwest Queensland.
Population
6,838
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,706/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
247
Median House
$334K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $334,000 median house price, Roma is one of the more affordable markets in Queensland, and the math reflects it: monthly mortgage repayments of about $1,300 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 17.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold despite household income in the 59.7th percentile. The stock suits families, with 90.0% separate houses and only 0.5% apartments, so buyers compete for detached homes rather than units. Three-bedroom dwellings make up 44.9% and four-plus-bedroom homes 37.3%, leaving smaller two-bedroom options at 14.6%. Outright owners (25.7%) and mortgage holders (27.1%) together hold a slim majority over the 47.2% who rent, which is high for a house-dominated regional town and points to a transient workforce passing through.
For Buyers
At a $334,000 median house price, Roma is one of the more affordable markets in Queensland, and the math reflects it: monthly mortgage repayments of about $1,300 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 17.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold despite household income in the 59.7th percentile. The stock suits families, with 90.0% separate houses and only 0.5% apartments, so buyers compete for detached homes rather than units. Three-bedroom dwellings make up 44.9% and four-plus-bedroom homes 37.3%, leaving smaller two-bedroom options at 14.6%. Outright owners (25.7%) and mortgage holders (27.1%) together hold a slim majority over the 47.2% who rent, which is high for a house-dominated regional town and points to a transient workforce passing through.
For Investors
A 47.2% renter share gives landlords a deep tenant pool, well above what most regional towns offer, but the 19.0% vacancy rate is the warning sign. Weekly rent of $250 against the $334,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%, stronger than capital-city numbers because the entry price is so low. Rent has grown 49.4% over the period, which supports income, yet the high vacancy means landlords cannot assume a tenant is waiting. Demand drivers are balanced rather than booming: net internal migration adds about 75 residents a year and overseas migration 73, both modest. Development activity is healthy at 237 applications in 12 months, though the samples are carports, re-roofing and dwelling relocations rather than new supply, so stock growth stays slow and existing yield holds.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1,184
Last 12 Months
247
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-2.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Roma iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St John's School
Prep-12 · 826 students
Roma State College
Prep-12 · 825 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5.0 years below the national figure, a young profile for a regional town, though the trajectory is shifting older: the senior share rose 2.6 points while the young share fell 2.1 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach only 10.7%, which is 10.9 points below national, so the population is heavily Australian-born and Anglo-leaning. Ancestry is led by English (2,421), Irish (741), Scottish (623) and German (433), and Hindi (20 speakers) is the largest non-English language by a wide margin. University qualifications sit at 20.7%, which is 9.4 points below national, consistent with a trades and service workforce. Average household size is 2.4, almost in line with national at 0.1 below, and couples with children (2,194 families) outnumber couples without (1,222).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.0%
Houses
8.8%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward renting, unusual for a house-dominated regional town: 47.2% rent while 25.7% own outright and 27.1% carry a mortgage. That renter majority, paired with a 19.0% vacancy rate, signals a workforce that moves through rather than settles, with a turnover rate of 27.4%. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 90.0% separate houses, 8.8% semi-detached and just 0.5% apartments, so density stays low at 87.6 people per km2. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 44.9% and four-plus-bedroom at 37.3%, leaving little small-format supply. The $334,000 median keeps both ratios comfortable: mortgage-to-income at 17.6% and rent-to-income at 14.7% both sit far below the 30% stress line, because purchase and rent prices are low relative even to the 59.7th-percentile local income.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$957
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
19.0%
Unoccupied
589
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.1%
Couples, no children
4,689
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in public-facing service sectors that mark Roma as a regional hub: Healthcare leads at 18.5% (393 workers), Public Admin follows at 11.2% (238) and Education at 10.8% (230), with Construction at 9.5% and Retail at 6.6%. By occupation, Professionals (551) and Clerical/Admin (480) top the list, but Labourers (414) and Managers (407) sit close behind, a spread that pulls the SEIFA education-and-occupation score to decile 3, below average. Unemployment is low at 3.3% and the full-time rate strong at 73.1%, reflecting steady government and health employment. The IRSAD advantage score lands at decile 4 and IER economic resources at decile 3, both below national, because incomes and qualifications run lower than the metro average despite reliable work.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
6,848
Unemployed
258
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
73.1%
Part-time
23.6%
Participation
63.0%
Employed
3,269
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.7%
Postgraduate
3.9%
Born Overseas
10.7%
Dwellings
2,514
Transport to Work
Roma runs on cars: 84.6% drive to work while only 0.3% take public transport and 7.9% walk or cycle, a near-total car dependence expected in a town spread across 78.03 km2 at 87.6 people per km2. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in the broader town and district. On disadvantage measures the area scores decile 4 on IRSD, below the national midpoint, and 4.2% of residents (255 people) need daily assistance, a moderate figure for a young population. Volunteering runs at 20.5%, healthy for a regional community, and rent-to-income at 14.7% keeps living costs manageable, which is why the area still draws workers despite its remote southwest Queensland location.
Drive
84.6%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
7.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.04%/yr
(+284 people/yr)
EstablishedRoma is growing, not stagnating: the trend projection runs 2.04% a year, or about 284 residents annually, and the wider area has expanded 48.3% since 2011. Growth is balanced between net internal migration of roughly 75 a year and overseas migration of 73, so no single driver dominates. The gentrification score of 26 to 32 places Roma at early signs rather than a full transition, supported by 49.4% rent growth and steady population gains. Real incomes rose 19.3% over the decade, and affordability held stable, moving only from 56.0% in 2011 to 57.0% in 2021. The medium forecast continues the upward path through 2031, so investors and builders can expect gradual demand growth rather than the volatility seen in mining-dependent towns.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+73
Net Internal / yr
+75
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +49% since 2011, Net internal migration +75/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Roma compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roma a good suburb to live in?
Roma offers affordability and steady regional work, with a $334,000 median house price and unemployment of just 3.3%. It ranks decile 4 on IRSAD, below the national midpoint, and median age 35 is 5.0 years under national. Trade-offs are a 19.0% vacancy rate and heavy car dependence at 84.6% driving.
What is the median house price in Roma?
The median house price in Roma is $334,000, among the more affordable in Queensland. Weekly rent averages $250 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Roma?
No schools are recorded inside the Roma suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools across the wider town and district. University qualifications sit at 20.7%, which is 9.4 points below the national figure, consistent with a trades and service workforce.
Is Roma safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Roma in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the area scores decile 4 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, just below the national midpoint, and 4.2% of residents (255 people) need daily assistance, both pointing to a moderate-disadvantage profile.
Is Roma good for property investment?
Rent of $250 a week against a $334,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.9%, above capital-city levels. The 47.2% renter share is deep, but a 19.0% vacancy rate signals tenants are not guaranteed. Rent grew 49.4% over the period, so the case rests on income rather than fast capital growth.
How is Roma's population changing?
Roma is growing about 2.04% a year, roughly 284 residents annually, and the wider area has expanded 48.3% since 2011. The profile is gradually aging, with the senior share up 2.6 points and the young share down 2.1 points over the decade, though median age 35 stays below national.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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