Romaine
Three numbers capture Romaine's character: SEIFA IEO decile 1 (the lowest education and occupation tier nationally), 92.4% separate houses, and a rent-to-income ratio of 19.3% that sits comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. This is a low-density, owner-occupier suburb in Tasmania's northwest where affordability is genuine rather than aspirational. Household income sits at the 43.9th percentile nationally, and only 9.7% of residents were born overseas, well below the national average. Healthcare employs 23.7% of workers, making the suburb's economic base unusually concentrated in one sector.
Population
1,850
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,449/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
No recent median sale price is recorded for Romaine, which limits price benchmarking, but the affordability picture is still clear. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and mortgage-to-income sits at 20.7%, well below the 30% stress level. That compares favourably to many mainland markets where mortgage-to-income ratios regularly exceed 35%. Detached houses dominate at 92.4% of dwellings, giving buyers broad choice across the stock. The bedroom mix leans three-bedroom at 55.3%, with 29.5% of homes having four or more bedrooms, more than most comparable Tasmanian suburbs. Outright owners at 37.2% slightly outnumber mortgage holders at 39.1%, a sign of an established community rather than a high-churn entry-level market.
For Buyers
No recent median sale price is recorded for Romaine, which limits price benchmarking, but the affordability picture is still clear. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and mortgage-to-income sits at 20.7%, well below the 30% stress level. That compares favourably to many mainland markets where mortgage-to-income ratios regularly exceed 35%. Detached houses dominate at 92.4% of dwellings, giving buyers broad choice across the stock. The bedroom mix leans three-bedroom at 55.3%, with 29.5% of homes having four or more bedrooms, more than most comparable Tasmanian suburbs. Outright owners at 37.2% slightly outnumber mortgage holders at 39.1%, a sign of an established community rather than a high-churn entry-level market.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $280 and a vacancy rate of 4.8% define the rental market here. Rent grew 33.3% over the measurement period, faster than most low-income TAS suburbs, because the low base makes percentage moves look large. Net internal migration runs at minus 25 per year, meaning more people leave than arrive domestically, while overseas migration adds 14 per year, producing very thin net growth of roughly 9 persons annually. The 23.6% renter share is moderate, meaning tenant demand is steady but not deep. Low purchase prices relative to national medians may offer entry-level yield, but investors should weigh the IEO decile 1 ranking, which reflects limited occupation and education diversity and constrains the tenant pool quality.
Schools in Romaine iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Parklands High School
7-12 · 408 students
Romaine Park Primary School
K-6 · 331 students
Demographics
Romaine's population of 1,850 skews Anglo-Celtic: English ancestry leads at 812 residents, followed by Irish at 184 and Scottish at 181. The overseas-born share is 9.7%, which is 11.9 percentage points below the national average, making this one of the more locally-born suburbs in Tasmania. University qualifications reach 17.8% of residents, 12.3 points below the national figure, consistent with the IEO decile 1 score that places Romaine in the bottom tier nationally for education and occupation. Median age is 40, at the national average, but the trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 3.7 points over the decade. Average household size is 2.5, at the national average, and couples with children make up the largest family type at 563 households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.4%
Houses
7.6%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost entirely detached: 92.4% separate houses and 7.6% semi-detached, with no apartments recorded. This compares with the national average where apartments and semi-detached dwellings together exceed 30% of stock. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 55.3%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 29.5%, which gives families broad options. Tenure is stable: 37.2% own outright, 39.1% carry a mortgage, and 23.6% rent. Mortgage-to-income at 20.7% and rent-to-income at 19.3% are both well below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs consume a manageable share of incomes even at the 43.9th income percentile nationally. Vacancy sits at 4.8%, above the typical sub-3% level that signals tight supply.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$734
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.8%
Unoccupied
36
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.3%
Couples, no children
1,509
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 23.7% of the workforce (135 workers), followed by Education at 10.9% (62) and Manufacturing at 8.1% (46). This concentration in healthcare is unusual even by Tasmanian standards and reflects proximity to Burnie's regional health services. By occupation, Professionals (125), Clerical/Admin (123) and Community/Personal workers (122) are nearly equal in count, giving the workforce a service-sector character. Full-time employment runs at 62.5% and unemployment at 5.5%, which is above the typical Tasmanian rate. Real income grew 17.1% over the decade. All four SEIFA deciles place Romaine in disadvantaged territory: IRSD decile 2, IRSAD decile 2, IEO decile 1 and IER decile 3, confirming structural economic constraints across multiple dimensions.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
4,418
Unemployed
131
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.5%
Part-time
32.0%
Participation
59.6%
Employed
850
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.8%
Postgraduate
2.8%
Born Overseas
9.7%
Dwellings
720
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total: 90.5% of residents drive to work, compared with a national average closer to 70%, and only 0.4% use public transport. This reflects the northwest Tasmanian context where bus services are limited. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on education facilities in neighbouring Burnie. The need-for-assistance rate is 6.1% (108 residents), above the national average, consistent with the aging trajectory and low-income profile. Volunteering reaches 16.8% of residents, a strong community engagement figure. Both rent-to-income at 19.3% and mortgage-to-income at 20.7% sit below stress thresholds, meaning day-to-day affordability is a genuine strength relative to many state and national comparisons.
Drive
90.5%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.25%/yr
(+9 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is slow at 0.25% annually, equivalent to roughly 9 persons per year. The 10-year change is just 1.1%, far below state and national averages. Historical counts show the SA2 area declining from 3,635 in 2023 to 3,627 in 2025. Medium forecasts project modest recovery to 3,682 by 2031. Internal migration is a net negative at minus 25 per year, meaning younger and higher-skilled residents are leaving, while overseas arrivals add 14 per year. The suburb shows early signs of gentrification with a score of 27, driven by a rent growth of 33.3% and real income growth of 17.1% over the decade. Affordability improved from 40.1% in 2011 to 37.1% in 2021, a modest positive trend that may attract buyers priced out of larger Tasmanian centres.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+14
Net Internal / yr
-25
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Romaine compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Romaine a good suburb to live in?
Romaine offers genuine affordability, with rent-to-income at 19.3% and mortgage-to-income at 20.7%, both well below stress thresholds. Housing costs are manageable relative to the national average. The trade-offs are limited public transport, no recorded schools inside the boundary, and an IEO decile 1 ranking placing it at the bottom of the national education and occupation ladder.
What is the median house price in Romaine?
No recent median sale price is recorded for Romaine in this dataset. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300 and weekly rent runs $280, both low compared with mainland capitals. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.7% suggests purchase prices are modest relative to local incomes at the 43.9th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Romaine?
No schools are recorded within the Romaine suburb boundary in this dataset. Residents rely on schools in neighbouring areas, primarily Burnie. The suburb's university qualification rate of 17.8% is 12.3 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the broader educational profile of the area.
Is Romaine safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Romaine in this dataset. As a structural indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 2, placing it among the more disadvantaged areas nationally for relative social disadvantage. The need-for-assistance rate is 6.1%, above the national average, which is consistent with the low-income profile.
Is Romaine good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $280 and a vacancy rate of 4.8% set the rental baseline. Rent grew 33.3% over the period, faster than many comparable suburbs. However, net internal migration runs at minus 25 per year and annual population growth is only 0.25%, limiting demand upside. The IRSAD decile 2 ranking signals structural disadvantage that constrains tenant income levels and long-term yield growth.
How is Romaine's population changing?
Population growth is slow at 0.25% annually, roughly 9 persons per year, and the 10-year change is just 1.1%. The SA2 area declined from 3,635 in 2023 to 3,627 in 2025. Internal migration removes 25 residents a year while overseas arrivals add 14. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 3.7 points over the decade.
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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