Bordertown
Manufacturing drives roughly 1 in 4 jobs in Bordertown, a proportion you rarely see outside dedicated industrial zones, yet the town of 3,095 also records a low 2.3% unemployment rate and a crime rate of 24.2 per 1,000 residents that sits well below most regional SA centres. Weekly rent averages just $220, which is low compared to most state averages, partly because the 11.4% vacancy rate signals softer demand than the tenant pool can absorb. Car travel dominates at 82.9%, consistent with a rural service town 240 km from Adelaide, and 92.6% of dwellings are separate houses on land that stretches across 141.73 sq km at a density of 21.8 persons per sq km.
Population
3,095
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,439/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
32
No current median house price is recorded in this data period, but the cost signals point to affordable entry. Monthly mortgage repayments average $884, considerably lower than state capital norms, and mortgage-to-income sits at just 14.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Rent-to-income is 15.3%, confirming that housing costs are modest relative to local earnings, with weekly household income at $1,439 placing residents at the 43.6th percentile nationally. The stock is 92.6% separate houses, so detached-dwelling buyers face little apartment competition. The bedroom mix skews practical: 58.5% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 26.1% have 4 or more, which suits families rather than investors targeting studio or 1-bedroom demand. Outright ownership at 35.4% and mortgage holders at 37.6% are roughly equal, suggesting a stable, owner-occupied base.
For Buyers
No current median house price is recorded in this data period, but the cost signals point to affordable entry. Monthly mortgage repayments average $884, considerably lower than state capital norms, and mortgage-to-income sits at just 14.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Rent-to-income is 15.3%, confirming that housing costs are modest relative to local earnings, with weekly household income at $1,439 placing residents at the 43.6th percentile nationally. The stock is 92.6% separate houses, so detached-dwelling buyers face little apartment competition. The bedroom mix skews practical: 58.5% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 26.1% have 4 or more, which suits families rather than investors targeting studio or 1-bedroom demand. Outright ownership at 35.4% and mortgage holders at 37.6% are roughly equal, suggesting a stable, owner-occupied base.
For Investors
The 27.0% renter share produces a tenant pool of roughly 835 residents, but with weekly rent at $220 and a median house price not yet established in the data, gross yields cannot be precisely calculated. The 11.4% vacancy rate is notably high compared to the national residential norm of around 1-2%, which means competition for tenants is real and selection cannot be assumed. Development activity shows 31 applications lodged in the past 12 months, covering detached dwellings and outbuildings, indicating modest but consistent local construction demand. The 2.3% unemployment rate and stable full-time employment rate of 68.2% reduce the risk of tenant default. Net population stability and high car dependency mean transport infrastructure investment is unlikely to trigger capital repricing, so the investment case depends on affordable entry and rental cash flow rather than capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
215
Last 12 Months
32
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bordertown iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Bordertown High School
7-12 · 307 students
Bordertown Primary School
R-6 · 311 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, making Bordertown age-neutral rather than skewing old or young. Overseas-born residents account for 21.5% of the population, roughly equal to the national average, which is unusual for a rural SA town and reflects the presence of 204 Muslim residents, likely connected to agricultural labour migration. English ancestry leads at 1,092 residents, followed by German (280) and Scottish (227), a heritage pattern common across the southeast SA wheat belt. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (29 speakers) and Urdu (18), small but consistent with seasonal or permanent migrant worker communities. University qualifications reach only 18.0%, which is 12.1 points below the national figure, reflecting a workforce oriented toward trade, agriculture and manufacturing rather than professional services. Average household size is 2.4, marginally below the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.6%
Houses
6.2%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
With 92.6% separate houses and just 6.2% semi-detached, Bordertown's housing stock is almost exclusively detached, higher than state and national averages for detached-house concentration. Outright owners represent 35.4% of households, mortgage holders 37.6% and renters 27.0%, a balance that reflects moderate turnover with a solid owner-occupied core. The bedroom spread leans toward 3-bedroom (58.5%) and 4-plus (26.1%), indicating stock built for families rather than singles or couples. Monthly mortgage repayments of $884 translate to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 14.2%, significantly below stress levels and lower than comparable regional towns. Rent at $220 per week with a 15.3% rent-to-income ratio confirms that housing costs are affordable relative to local incomes, though the 11.4% vacancy rate suggests the rental market has more supply than demand.
Mortgage / mo
$884
Rent / wk
$220
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$819
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.4%
Unoccupied
149
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.8%
Couples, no children
2,178
Total families
Economy & Employment
Manufacturing dominates the local economy at 25.4% of employed residents (226 workers), a concentration associated with Tatiara District processing operations including grain and meat industry. Agriculture and Healthcare each account for 10.5% (93 workers each), forming the second tier of the economic base. By occupation, Labourers lead at 425 workers, followed by Managers (209), Machinery and Drivers (172), Professionals (161) and Clerical/Admin (159), confirming a blue-collar and supervisory profile rather than a knowledge-economy one. The 2.3% unemployment rate is low compared to many regional SA averages, and the 68.2% full-time employment rate points to quality rather than just quantity of available work. Personal weekly income averages $819 and family income $1,784, placing household earnings at the 43.6th percentile nationally. Volunteering runs at 26.5%, high relative to national norms, reflecting the mutual-aid culture typical in rural service towns.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.2%
Part-time
29.5%
Participation
60.2%
Employed
1,508
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.0%
Postgraduate
2.2%
Born Overseas
21.5%
Dwellings
1,165
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high at 82.9% of residents driving to work, which is consistent with a regional centre where public transport is near-absent at just 0.3% of commuters. Walking and cycling account for 5.9% of trips, above what some remote towns record, because the flat terrain and compact settlement make short-distance active travel practical. The crime rate of 24.2 incidents per 1,000 residents is low relative to many SA regional centres, supporting a safe day-to-day environment. Rent-to-income at 15.3% and mortgage-to-income at 14.2% are both below stress thresholds, meaning housing affordability compares favourably to most urban and peri-urban SA markets. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, though Bordertown Primary School and Bordertown High School are known local institutions. The 26.5% volunteering rate is notably high compared to metropolitan averages, reflecting active community participation.
Drive
82.9%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
5.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
75
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
24.2
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bordertown compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bordertown a good suburb to live in?
Bordertown offers a low-cost lifestyle with mortgage-to-income at just 14.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. The 2.3% unemployment rate is low by regional SA standards and the crime rate of 24.2 per 1,000 residents is moderate. The main trade-offs are near-zero public transport (0.3%) and limited university-educated workforce at 18.0% compared to the national figure.
What is the median house price in Bordertown?
A current median house price is not recorded in this dataset for Bordertown. As a guide, monthly mortgage repayments average $884 and rent runs at $220 per week, indicating entry-level pricing well below SA metro markets. Mortgage-to-income sits at 14.2%, confirming housing remains affordable relative to local incomes at the 43.6th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Bordertown?
No schools are recorded inside the Bordertown boundary in this dataset. Bordertown has a population of 3,095 and university qualifications reach 18.0% of residents, which is 12.1 points below the national average, reflecting a workforce oriented toward trade and manufacturing rather than graduate-level roles.
Is Bordertown safe?
The recorded crime rate is 24.2 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 75 total reported crimes. This rate is low compared to many regional SA centres. Only 6.3% of residents (185 people) need daily assistance, and the 26.5% volunteering rate suggests strong community cohesion that typically correlates with lower antisocial behaviour.
Is Bordertown good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $220 provides accessible cash flow, but the 11.4% vacancy rate is high compared to national norms, meaning rental demand cannot be assumed. The 27.0% renter share gives a reasonable tenant pool. Entry costs are low, with mortgage repayments averaging $884 per month, but the absence of population growth data and high vacancy suggest limited capital growth prospects.
How is Bordertown's population changing?
Bordertown's current population is 3,095 with a median age of 40, matching the national median exactly. The 82.2% resident stability rate means only 17.8% of residents moved in the prior year, indicating a settled community with low turnover compared to growth suburbs. Forecast data is unavailable, though the 11.4% vacancy rate suggests no near-term population pressure.
How much development is happening in Bordertown?
There were 31 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, covering new detached dwellings, workshop extensions and outbuildings. This is moderate activity for a town of 3,095 residents, suggesting steady organic growth rather than speculative development. Most applications are Performance Assessed, consistent with standard regional SA planning processes.
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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