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.
Local council: Boddington
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
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
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
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
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
BODDINGTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL
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
0.0%
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. Rent-to-income at 16.3% is similarly comfortable, placing housing costs well within reach for local incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$280
Census 2021
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
41.3%
Couples with children
43.7%
Couples, no children
14.7%
Single parent
293
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.
Unemployment
4.1%
Labour Force
542
Unemployed
22
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.4%
Part-time
27.3%
Participation
60.1%
Employed
520
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
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
80.2%
Public Transport
3.7%
Walk / Cycle
9.3%
Work from Home
4.1%
Growth Outlook
Boddington is a small, stable community with a population of 1,178 across 114 km2, producing a low density of 10.3 residents per km2 compared to most WA towns. Population turnover is moderate: 32.5% of residents moved in the five years prior to the census, with 67.5% having stayed longer. The town's fortunes are closely tied to mining activity rather than population-driven growth factors. No DA applications in the past 12 months signals minimal development pressure. Household income at the 60.5th percentile nationally is supportable but exposed to shifts in commodity prices, which historically have driven boom-and-bust cycles in similar WA mining towns.
Population trend: Boddington council area
Boddington sits in the Boddington council area. These are the council area's residents, not Boddington's.
Residents 2025
1,840
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.0%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.7%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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%.
What is the median house price in Boddington?
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?
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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