🔍

Roma

QLD 4455 • Rest of QLD

6,838
Population (2021)
$88,712
Median Household Income
78.03 km²
Area
$250/wk
Median Rent
RuralHistoricAffordableFamily-Friendly

About Roma

Roma is the largest town in the Maranoa region of south-western Queensland, situated approximately 480 kilometres west of Brisbane along the Warrego Highway. With a population of around 6,800 residents, it serves as the administrative and commercial hub for an extensive pastoral and agricultural hinterland. Roma is often called the 'Gateway to the Outback' and is one of Queensland's most significant regional centres west of the Darling Downs.

The town has a strong connection to Queensland's oil and gas heritage, celebrated at the famous Big Rig tourist attraction which marks the site of Australia's first commercial oil discovery. Roma's main street features a vibrant dining, retail, and services scene catering to locals, farmers, and passing travellers on the iconic outback route. Residents enjoy a close-knit community spirit, affordable housing, and a relaxed country lifestyle, with local clubs, sporting facilities, and the annual Roma Rodeo drawing visitors from across the region.

Roma falls under postcode 4455 and is governed by Maranoa Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Warrego electorate.

📍 Location

State
Queensland
Postcode
4455
Urban Area
Roma
LGA / Council
Maranoa
Federal Electorate
Maranoa
State Electorate
Warrego
Type
Urban
Timezone
Brisbane (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-26.56°, 148.80°
Statistical Area
Rest of QLD
Area
78.03 km²
Elevation
305m

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$250
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,300
Avg Household Size
2.4 people
Median Age
35 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
6%

83 state housing + 69 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Greyhound / Queensland Bus — Brisbane (Roma Street) ~6.5 hours

Commute to Brisbane CBD

Distance
480 km
By Train
No direct rail service; nearest rail at Charleville
By Car (Peak)
~5 hr
By Car (Off-Peak)
~5 hr

🛣️ Roma Airport offers QantasLink flights to Brisbane (approx. 1 hr). Warrego Highway is the main road link.

Walkability Partially Walkable

Town centre and main street are walkable; outer areas and rural properties require a vehicle

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

  • Woolworths
    Cnr Wyndham And Bowen Streets Roma 4455 QLD

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest rates for the Maranoa Local Government Area, which contains Roma. Rates are per 100,000 residents for calendar year 2025; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods.

Break & enter (dwelling)
385.5 / 100k
2yr Down 68.5% 10yr Down 17.0%
Motor vehicle theft
118.6 / 100k
2yr Down 80.4% 10yr Up 27.8%
Non-FV assault
985.9 / 100k
2yr Down 17.8% 10yr Up 99.1%
Robbery (unarmed)
0 / 100k
2yr Down 100.0% 10yr Down 100.0%
Steal from vehicle
170.5 / 100k
2yr Down 70.3% 10yr Down 48.7%
View all offence categories for Maranoa →

Source: Queensland Police Service via data.qld.gov.au

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
6,848
Census 2021
6,838
▼ 0.1% decline

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$42,536
Personal Income 2021
$49,764
▲ 17.0% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$49,764 / yr
$957/wk
Household
$88,712 / yr
$1706/wk
Family
$112,892 / yr
$2171/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 5,458
Born Overseas 655

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. Philippines 153
  • 2. New Zealand 103
  • 3. England 57
  • 4. India 47
  • 5. South Africa 42
  • 6. Fiji 19
  • 7. Papua New Guinea 18
  • 8. Nepal 14
  • 9. China 12
  • 10. Canada 11

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 2,753
English 2,421
Australian Aboriginal 793
Irish 741
Scottish 623
German 433
Filipino 169
Italian 65
Chinese 63
Indian 49

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

4,910
Both parents born in Australia
738
Both parents born overseas
412
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
53.0%
No Religion
32.5%
Islam
0.8%
Hinduism
0.6%
Buddhism
0.3%
Sikhism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
475 (6.9%)
5-14 years
999 (14.6%)
15-19 years
417 (6.1%)
20-24 years
551 (8.1%)
25-34 years
958 (14.0%)
35-44 years
908 (13.3%)
45-54 years
817 (11.9%)
55-64 years
779 (11.4%)
65-74 years
515 (7.5%)
75-84 years
289 (4.2%)
85+ years
120 (1.8%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Roma QLD known for? +

Roma is known as Queensland's 'Gateway to the Outback' and is famous for the Big Rig tourist attraction, which marks Australia's first commercial oil discovery site. It is also a major cattle and agricultural centre.

How far is Roma from Brisbane? +

Roma is approximately 480 kilometres west of Brisbane, roughly a 5-hour drive along the Warrego Highway. QantasLink also operates daily flights between Roma Airport and Brisbane Airport, taking about 1 hour.

What schools are in Roma QLD? +

Roma has several schools including Roma State College (a P-12 government school) and St John's School (a Catholic combined school), along with early childhood centres serving the broader Maranoa region.

What is the population of Roma QLD? +

Roma had a population of approximately 6,838 residents according to the 2021 Census, making it the largest town in the Maranoa region.

Is Roma QLD a good place to live? +

Roma offers affordable housing, a strong community, and a relaxed outback lifestyle. It has good local amenities for a regional town, including a hospital, schools, supermarkets, and recreational facilities, though it is quite remote from major cities.

What is the average income in Roma? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Roma is about $957 per week (around $49,800 per year). The median household income is $1,706 per week and the median family income is $2,171 per week.

What is the age profile of Roma? +

The median age in Roma is 35. The largest age group is 5–14 (999 residents, around 15%). Around 28% of residents are under 20 and about 14% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Roma a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Roma is part of the Maranoa LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

What is the population of Roma? +

Roma had a population of 6,838 at the 2021 Census, down 0.1% from 6,848 in 2016.

How much is rent in Roma? +

In Roma, the median weekly rent is $250, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,300 (2021 Census).