Bouldercombe
Spread across 160 square kilometres west of Rockhampton, Bouldercombe is one of Queensland's most sparsely populated rural localities, with just 1,117 residents at a density of 6.9 people per square kilometre. Every dwelling here is a separate house, a 100% detached rate that stands in contrast to most comparable Queensland communities. Household income sits at the 48th percentile nationally, placing it squarely average, yet the SEIFA education and occupation index (IEO) scores in decile 1, the lowest tier nationally, reflecting a workforce concentrated in trades and services rather than knowledge professions. A median age of 46 is 6 years above the national figure, signalling a community that has aged steadily over the past decade.
Population
1,117
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,531/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$404K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price sits at approximately $404,000, estimated from rental data for 2025, which is substantially lower than the national median and well below southeast Queensland benchmarks. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Buyers find a stock that is 100% separate houses, with 49% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms and 33.4% having 4 or more, giving families genuine space at an affordable entry price. Ownership is high: 44.8% own outright and 44.0% carry a mortgage, leaving only 11.1% renting, well below state and national averages. For buyers seeking land rather than a unit, the suburb offers large-lot living at a price point significantly below coastal or metropolitan Queensland markets.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at approximately $404,000, estimated from rental data for 2025, which is substantially lower than the national median and well below southeast Queensland benchmarks. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Buyers find a stock that is 100% separate houses, with 49% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms and 33.4% having 4 or more, giving families genuine space at an affordable entry price. Ownership is high: 44.8% own outright and 44.0% carry a mortgage, leaving only 11.1% renting, well below state and national averages. For buyers seeking land rather than a unit, the suburb offers large-lot living at a price point significantly below coastal or metropolitan Queensland markets.
For Investors
The rental market in Bouldercombe is thin but carries a relatively low vacancy rate of 7.0%, against a very small renter base of 11.1% of dwellings. Weekly rent averages $310, and at a $404,000 median price the implied gross yield is around 4.0%, higher than most coastal Queensland markets. Development activity is minimal, with only 2 applications lodged in the past 12 months, both subdivision works, so new supply is not a near-term risk. Net internal migration averages minus 3 per year, meaning modest population loss, and net overseas migration adds just 1 person annually. Growth prospects are limited, with the medium forecast projecting the area around 1,952 to 1,960 residents through 2031, suggesting flat capital growth rather than appreciation driven by demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bouldercombe iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Bouldercombe State School
Prep-6 · 82 students
Demographics
The median age of 46 is 6 years above the national average, and the demographic trajectory reinforces this: the senior share increased 5.9 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 2.9 points. The overseas-born population is just 5.5%, which is 16.1 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly locally born community. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English leads at 474 residents, followed by Scottish (98) and Irish (83), with German (74) also notable. University qualifications reach only 12.4%, which is 17.7 percentage points below the national average, consistent with the decile 1 IEO score. Average household size is 2.6, marginally above national, and 32.2% of families are couples without children, typical of an aging community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Every single dwelling in Bouldercombe is a separate house, a 100% detached rate compared to the national mix that includes significant apartment and semi-detached shares. Bedroom distribution favours family-sized homes: 49% have 3 bedrooms and 33.4% have 4 or more, with only 15% at 2 bedrooms. Tenure reflects a settled, established community: 44.8% own outright and 44.0% are buying with a mortgage, while the 11.1% renting is far below the national rate. Rent-to-income sits at 20.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 22.9% is equally manageable. The $404,000 median price gives a price-to-annual-income ratio well below national norms, making this one of the more affordable rural pockets in central Queensland.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$310
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$686
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.0%
Unoccupied
28
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.2%
Couples, no children
826
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 16.8% of workers (46 people), followed by Construction at 14.3% (39) and Education at 11.4% (31). Mining accounts for 9.5% (26), reflecting proximity to the central Queensland resources corridor. By occupation, Machinery and Drivers leads at 79 workers, consistent with the rural and resources character, followed by Clerical and Admin (69) and Community and Personal services (57). The unemployment rate is low at 3.0%, below the national average, though the participation rate of 46.9% is modest because 305 residents are not in the labour force, partly explained by the older median age. Personal weekly income of $686 and household weekly income of $1,531 place Bouldercombe at the 48th percentile nationally, close to the median despite its low IEO decile ranking.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
1,043
Unemployed
23
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.7%
Part-time
32.3%
Participation
46.9%
Employed
422
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.4%
Postgraduate
1.2%
Born Overseas
5.5%
Dwellings
375
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total: 93.2% of residents drive to work, compared to far lower national car use, and only 1.4% use public transport. This reflects the 160 square kilometre spread of the suburb and its distance from Rockhampton's services. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families commute to educational facilities in nearby centres. The IRSAD decile is 2, placing Bouldercombe in the second-lowest tier of relative advantage nationally, meaning limited access to services and economic resources. The IER (economic resources) decile of 6 is notably higher, suggesting that while residents have modest incomes, housing costs are low enough to leave them in a reasonable asset position. Volunteering is active at 17.9% of the population and the need for daily assistance is 5.3%, moderate for an aging community with a median age 6 years above national.
Drive
93.2%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.05%/yr
(+1 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is essentially flat at 0.05% annually, adding roughly 1 person per year. The 10-year change of 3.6% is modest, and the medium forecast holds the population between 1,952 and 1,960 through 2031, a period of negligible expansion. Net internal migration runs at minus 3 per year, meaning the area loses slightly more residents to other parts of Australia than it gains, with overseas migration adding just 1 annually. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is classified as not gentrifying, consistent with a low IEO decile 1 suburb with stable affordability. Rent growth of 13.6% over the measured period is meaningful in dollar terms given the low base, though real income growth fell 5.3% over the same decade, meaning purchasing power has declined slightly relative to rents.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+1
Net Internal / yr
-3
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bouldercombe compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bouldercombe a good suburb to live in?
Bouldercombe suits buyers wanting large-lot rural living at an affordable price. Every dwelling is a separate house, mortgage stress is below 23% of income, and the unemployment rate of 3.0% is low. The trade-offs are very limited public transport (1.4%), no schools recorded inside the boundary, and a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 2, reflecting limited local services compared to most national areas.
What is the median house price in Bouldercombe?
The median house price is approximately $404,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $310 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold. This represents a significantly lower entry price than coastal or metropolitan Queensland benchmarks.
What schools are in Bouldercombe?
No schools are recorded within the Bouldercombe suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Rockhampton and surrounding communities. University qualifications among residents reach only 12.4%, which is 17.7 percentage points below the national average, consistent with the education and occupation SEIFA decile 1 ranking.
Is Bouldercombe safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Bouldercombe in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb has an unemployment rate of 3.0%, below the national average, and 44.8% of residents own their homes outright, both associated with stable communities. The IRSAD decile of 2 indicates relatively high disadvantage nationally, which can correlate with elevated crime risk.
Is Bouldercombe good for property investment?
At a $404,000 median price and $310 weekly rent, the implied gross yield is around 4.0%, higher than many coastal Queensland markets. The vacancy rate is 7.0% on a small renter base of 11.1% of dwellings. Population growth is near-zero at 0.05% annually through 2031 in the medium forecast, so capital growth prospects are limited and investment returns depend primarily on yield rather than appreciation.
How is Bouldercombe's population changing?
Population growth is 0.05% annually, adding about 1 person per year, with the 10-year change at 3.6%. Net internal migration averages minus 3 residents per year and overseas migration adds just 1 annually. The medium forecast holds population at 1,952 to 1,960 through 2031. The community is aging, with the senior share rising 5.9 points and the working-age share falling 2.9 points over the decade.
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.
Explore Bouldercombe on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map