Boston
With a household income in the 83.6th percentile nationally and a mortgage-to-income ratio of only 18.2%, Boston on the Eyre Peninsula punches above its modest size. The suburb covers 9.93 square kilometres, holds 1,169 residents and records a crime rate of just 5.1 incidents per 1,000 people, placing it among South Australia's lower-crime localities. Nearly all dwellings are separate houses at 98.6%, and almost half have 4 or more bedrooms, signalling a family-oriented housing stock rather than a downsizer or investor-driven market. The workforce skews toward healthcare and education rather than blue-collar trades, which helps explain incomes above state expectations for a regional coastal suburb.
Population
1,169
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,199/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
28
Median house price data is not available for Boston in the current dataset, but mortgage repayments average $1,733 per month and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 18.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most metropolitan suburbs nationally. Ownership is strong: 31.4% own outright and 61.0% are paying off a mortgage, leaving only 7.6% renting. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.6%, and 47.7% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms compared to 44.3% with 3 bedrooms, so buyers find predominantly larger family homes rather than units or townhouses. Monthly repayments at $1,733 are manageable relative to weekly household income of $2,199, making affordability a genuine advantage compared to metro Adelaide markets.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not available for Boston in the current dataset, but mortgage repayments average $1,733 per month and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 18.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most metropolitan suburbs nationally. Ownership is strong: 31.4% own outright and 61.0% are paying off a mortgage, leaving only 7.6% renting. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.6%, and 47.7% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms compared to 44.3% with 3 bedrooms, so buyers find predominantly larger family homes rather than units or townhouses. Monthly repayments at $1,733 are manageable relative to weekly household income of $2,199, making affordability a genuine advantage compared to metro Adelaide markets.
For Investors
Boston's rental market is thin: only 7.6% of dwellings are rented, which is well below the national average, and weekly rent averages $345. The vacancy rate of 7.6% is elevated, suggesting supply slightly exceeds current tenant demand in this regional setting. Development activity is modest at 26 applications in the past 12 months, including a staged community land division of 1 into 17 lots, which hints at some incremental expansion. Low unemployment at 2.6% and a participation rate of 65.3% support stable tenant incomes. The thin renter base means investors compete for a limited pool of tenants, and gross yields depend heavily on the purchase price relative to $345 weekly rent. The investment case is better suited to buy-and-hold buyers seeking low-stress rural holdings rather than those chasing high rental returns.
Development Activity
Total DAs
198
Last 12 Months
28
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-9.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age is 40, equal to the national median, though the household structure leans toward families rather than singles: 57.5% of families are couples with children and the average household size is 3.0, which is 0.5 above the national figure. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (476 residents), Scottish (125) and German (106), reflecting the region's European settlement history. Overseas-born residents represent just 5.7% of the population, which is 15.9 percentage points below the national figure, making Boston one of the more locally-born communities in South Australia. University qualifications reach 21.1%, which is 9.0 points below the national rate, consistent with a regional workforce oriented toward trades, health and agriculture rather than professional services. Volunteering participation is high at 28.3%, suggesting strong social cohesion.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.6%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock in Boston is almost entirely detached: separate houses account for 98.6% of dwellings, with no meaningful apartment or semi-detached presence. Bedroom counts skew large, with 47.7% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and 44.3% having 3 bedrooms, pointing to family-scale properties rather than compact housing. Tenure is owner-dominated, with 31.4% outright owners and 61.0% on mortgages. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.2%, below the national stress level and lower than most state capitals. Rent-to-income runs at 15.7%, also below stress thresholds. Median house price data is not recorded in the current dataset, but the combination of low repayment burden and high ownership rates suggests an accessible, stable market compared to urban SA benchmarks.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$345
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$993
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.6%
Unoccupied
30
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.0%
Couples, no children
971
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Boston's employment mix at 20.4% of workers (77 people), followed by Education at 13.8% (52) and Construction at 11.1% (42). Agriculture accounts for 9.8% (37 workers), reflecting the Eyre Peninsula's grain and livestock economy, while Professional and Technical services cover 5.8% (22 workers). By occupation, Professionals number 106 and Managers 80, a higher proportion of white-collar roles than the industry mix alone would suggest. The unemployment rate is 2.6%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate is 58.8% with a participation rate of 65.3%. Weekly personal income averages $993 and household income $2,199, placing Boston households in the 83.6th percentile nationally, a strong result for a regional centre of just over 1,100 people.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.8%
Part-time
38.6%
Participation
65.3%
Employed
553
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.1%
Postgraduate
2.9%
Born Overseas
5.7%
Dwellings
364
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-universal at 94.2% of workers driving to work, as expected for a regional suburb with limited public transport options, where only 1.6% walk or cycle. Crime is low at 5.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, placing Boston below the typical rate for South Australian communities. No schools are formally recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on facilities in nearby townships. Need-for-assistance is minimal at 2.7% (29 residents), lower than the national average and consistent with a generally healthy, family-age population with a median age of 40. Housing stress is absent: mortgage repayments at 18.2% of income and rent at 15.7% both sit comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning most households here retain meaningful disposable income after housing costs.
Drive
94.2%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
6
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
5.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Boston compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boston a good suburb to live in?
Boston offers low housing stress, with mortgage repayments at 18.2% of income and rent at 15.7%, both well below the 30% stress threshold. Household incomes rank in the 83.6th percentile nationally. Crime is low at 5.1 incidents per 1,000 people. The trade-off is car dependence at 94.2% and limited services compared to metropolitan areas.
What is the median house price in Boston?
A specific median house price is not recorded for Boston in the current dataset. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 18.2%, well below the national stress level, suggesting purchase prices are accessible relative to local incomes of $2,199 per week.
What schools are in Boston?
No schools are recorded within Boston's 9.93 square kilometre boundary in the current dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Eyre Peninsula towns. Locally, 21.1% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 9.0 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the region's vocational employment focus.
Is Boston safe?
Boston recorded only 6 total crimes in the reference period, giving a crime rate of 5.1 per 1,000 residents. This is a low figure by South Australian standards, consistent with the suburb's low-density, owner-occupied housing profile where 92.4% of residents own or are paying off their homes.
Is Boston good for property investment?
The rental market is small, with only 7.6% of dwellings rented and weekly rent of $345. The current vacancy rate of 7.6% indicates some oversupply of rental stock. However, low unemployment at 2.6%, strong owner-occupier demand, and 26 development applications in 12 months including a land division suggest stable underlying demand.
How is Boston's population changing?
Detailed population forecast data is not available for Boston at the suburb level. The turnover rate of 12.2% and 87.8% resident retention indicate a stable, low-churn community. The recent development pipeline of 26 applications in 12 months, including a 1-into-17 lot subdivision, points to gradual organic growth rather than rapid expansion.
How much development is happening in Boston?
There were 26 development applications lodged in the past 12 months in Boston. Notable projects include a staged community land division converting 1 lot into 17 and dwelling additions with ancillary accommodation. This level of activity is moderate for a suburb of 1,169 residents and suggests measured growth rather than a building boom.
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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