Boddington
Mining drives nearly 38% of local employment in Boddington, a WA town of 1,178 residents spread across 114 km2, producing one of the most industry-concentrated employment profiles in regional Western Australia. Household income sits at the 60.5th percentile nationally, modest by state standards but reflective of the trade-dominant workforce. The vacancy rate of 23.1% is notably high compared to metropolitan norms, driven by a high proportion of shift workers and transient mining staff rather than a collapsing housing market. Separate houses account for 94.6% of dwellings, well above the national average, with 46% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms.
Population
1,178
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,722/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$368K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At an estimated $368,000 median house price, Boddington sits well below the WA state median, offering detached housing at a fraction of Perth prices. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3% falls comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing mix is almost entirely separate houses at 94.6%, with 46.1% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms, reflecting the family and mining-worker demographic. Outright owners account for 31.9% of households, while 34.5% carry a mortgage and 33.7% rent, a fairly even three-way split. Rent at $280 per week is affordable compared to regional WA averages, keeping rent-to-income at just 16.3%.
For Buyers
At an estimated $368,000 median house price, Boddington sits well below the WA state median, offering detached housing at a fraction of Perth prices. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3% falls comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing mix is almost entirely separate houses at 94.6%, with 46.1% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms, reflecting the family and mining-worker demographic. Outright owners account for 31.9% of households, while 34.5% carry a mortgage and 33.7% rent, a fairly even three-way split. Rent at $280 per week is affordable compared to regional WA averages, keeping rent-to-income at just 16.3%.
For Investors
With 33.7% of residents renting and weekly rent at $280, Boddington offers a rental yield that compares favourably to the $368,000 median price. However, the 23.1% vacancy rate is high relative to most WA regional towns and signals risk: mining workforce cyclicality means tenancies can end abruptly when rosters change. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, suggesting the supply pipeline is flat. The income base at the 60.5th percentile nationally supports rent affordability, and rent-to-income of 16.3% leaves renters with headroom. Investors should weigh the affordable entry point and reasonable yield against the exposure to commodity cycle downturns that directly affect the single largest employer sector.
Schools in Boddington iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Boddington District High School
K-12 · 290 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 is equal to the national figure, placing Boddington at an average age profile compared to national. Overseas-born residents account for 17.5% of the population, which is 4.1 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the suburb's Anglo-Celtic character: English ancestry leads at 557 residents, followed by Scottish (116), Irish (108) and other European backgrounds. University qualifications are held by 15.6% of residents, a gap of 14.5 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a trade and machinery-focused workforce. Average household size of 2.5 is on par with national norms. The volunteering rate of 26.7% is notable for a small regional community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.6%
Houses
4.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Boddington's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 94.6% separate houses, higher than the national average. The bedroom profile skews large: 46.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 38.8% have 3 bedrooms, suggesting the stock was built for families and shift workers needing room for extended stays. Tenure divides almost equally: 31.9% own outright, 34.5% have a mortgage and 33.7% rent. The estimated median house price of $368,000 is well below the WA state median, and the monthly mortgage of $1,517 corresponds to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3%, below the stress threshold of 30%. Rent-to-income at 16.3% is similarly comfortable, placing housing costs well within reach for local incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$838
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
23.1%
Unoccupied
123
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.1%
Couples, no children
832
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is the dominant industry at 37.5% of employment (109 workers), far exceeding any other sector and reflecting Boddington's position as a gold and bauxite mining centre. Manufacturing follows at 13.4% (39 workers), Education at 9.6% (28), Healthcare at 7.9% (23) and Construction at 6.9% (20). The occupation profile matches: Machinery and Drivers is the largest group at 128 workers, compared to only 62 Professionals, 55 Clerical staff and 54 Labourers. Full-time employment runs at 68.9% and the unemployment rate is 4.6%, slightly above the national rate. Personal weekly income averages $838 and household weekly income $1,722, placing the suburb at the 60.5th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.9%
Part-time
26.5%
Participation
53.0%
Employed
456
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.6%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
17.5%
Dwellings
409
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 83.7% of commuters driving, higher than the national average, with public transport used by only 3.8%. However, 9.7% walk or cycle to work, above typical levels for a regional town of this density. The town has no recorded schools in this dataset, so families rely on facilities within the broader Boddington district. The need-for-assistance rate is 3.3% (35 residents), in line with national figures. Housing stress is low: rent-to-income at 16.3% and mortgage-to-income at 20.3% both sit below stress thresholds, making day-to-day living costs manageable compared to urban centres. The male-to-female ratio of 51.7% male reflects the mining workforce skew.
Drive
83.7%
Public Transport
3.8%
Walk / Cycle
9.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Boddington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boddington a good suburb to live in?
Boddington suits those employed in mining or trades, with housing costs well below state medians: mortgage-to-income is 20.3% and rent-to-income is 16.3%. The town of 1,178 residents offers affordable detached housing at a $368,000 median, though the 23.1% vacancy rate reflects the transient nature of the mining workforce.
What is the median house price in Boddington?
The estimated median house price is $368,000, significantly below the WA state median. Weekly rent averages $280 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Boddington?
No schools are recorded inside the Boddington boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools within the broader Boddington district. The local population has 15.6% university-qualified residents, which is 14.5 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a trade and machinery-focused workforce.
Is Boddington safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Boddington in this dataset. As a broad indicator, housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 20.3% and rent-to-income at 16.3%, both below stress thresholds. The need-for-assistance rate of 3.3% (35 residents) is in line with national norms.
Is Boddington good for property investment?
Entry is affordable at a $368,000 median, and 33.7% of residents rent at $280 per week, implying a gross yield above 2%. However, the 23.1% vacancy rate is high compared to most WA regional towns, reflecting mining workforce cyclicality. No development applications in the past 12 months means new supply is not a near-term risk.
How is Boddington's population changing?
Boddington has a population of 1,178 with a turnover rate of 32.5%, meaning roughly 1 in 3 residents moved within the past 5 years. Growth is tied to mining activity rather than organic demographic expansion, and the suburb's density of 10.3 per km2 across 114 km2 leaves significant land undeveloped.
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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