South Boulder
Mining anchors South Boulder's economy, with 29.3% of employed residents in the resources sector, well above national averages. The suburb has a population of 1,506 across 7.83 km2. The median house price of $351,000 sits below the national median, and household incomes rank at the 66.9th percentile nationally. SEIFA places this suburb in the bottom 20% nationally: IRSAD decile 2 and IRSD decile 2. The affordability trend is improving, with rent-to-income falling from 33% in 2011 to 29.6% in 2021.
Population
1,506
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,848/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$351K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At an estimated $351,000 median, South Boulder sits well below the national median, making entry accessible. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,250, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 15.6% is below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 91.5% of dwellings. Three-bedroom homes lead at 50% and four-plus bedrooms reach 28.6%, skewing toward family-sized homes compared to most urban markets. Outright ownership at 29% coexists with 41.3% on mortgages, reflecting a working-age owner-occupier base.
For Buyers
At an estimated $351,000 median, South Boulder sits well below the national median, making entry accessible. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,250, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 15.6% is below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 91.5% of dwellings. Three-bedroom homes lead at 50% and four-plus bedrooms reach 28.6%, skewing toward family-sized homes compared to most urban markets. Outright ownership at 29% coexists with 41.3% on mortgages, reflecting a working-age owner-occupier base.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $300 against a $351,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.4%, higher than most capital city suburbs. The 12.7% vacancy rate is a key risk, indicating oversupply relative to demand. The renter share is 29.7%. Overseas migration adds roughly 49 residents annually while internal migration removes about 41. Rent grew 15.4% over the period, and real incomes rose 4.8%. The gentrification score is 0, so capital growth depends on mining sector conditions rather than demographic uplift.
Demographics
South Boulder skews markedly male at 58.7%, reflecting the mining workforce, compared to the near-50/50 national split. The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure. Overseas-born residents make up 17.3%, which is 4.3 percentage points below the national average. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic, led by English (382) and Scottish (107). University qualifications at 5.4% sit 24.7 points below the national average, consistent with the trade and machinery occupation base. Average household size of 2.4 is close to the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.5%
Houses
1.9%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
South Boulder's stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 91.5%, above the national share, with only 1.9% semi-detached and minimal apartments. Three-bedroom homes lead at 50% and four-plus bedrooms reach 28.6%. Tenure splits are 41.3% mortgaged, 29% outright owners and 29.7% renters. At an estimated $351,000, the median is well below state capital levels. Rent-to-income at 16.2% and mortgage-to-income at 15.6% are both below national stress thresholds. The 12.7% vacancy rate is the key weakness for investors.
Mortgage / mo
$1,250
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$909
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.7%
Unoccupied
62
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.1%
Couples, no children
794
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining dominates at 29.3% of local employment (67 workers), above the national average for the sector. Healthcare follows at 12.2% (28 workers) and Other Services at 9.6% (22 workers). By occupation, Machinery and Drivers lead with 137 workers, followed by Labourers at 77. Unemployment sits at 6.1%, and the participation rate of 44.3% is below average, partly because 452 residents are not in the labour force. The SEIFA IEO decile of 1 places South Boulder in the lowest tier nationally for education and occupation, while the household income percentile of 66.9 reflects the wage premium mining pays.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
4,193
Unemployed
182
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
75.9%
Part-time
18.0%
Participation
44.3%
Employed
519
Occupations
Top Industries
University
5.4%
Postgraduate
0.9%
Born Overseas
17.3%
Dwellings
423
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 82.7% of residents drive to work, well above national averages, and public transport is just 3.3%. Walking and cycling account for 6.1%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on facilities in neighbouring Boulder or Kalgoorlie. The IRSAD decile of 2 places South Boulder in the bottom 20% nationally for relative advantage. Housing stress is low by standard metrics: rent-to-income at 16.2% and mortgage-to-income at 15.6% are both below stress thresholds.
Drive
82.7%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
6.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.14%/yr
(-11 people/yr)
EstablishedSouth Boulder's population declined 7.5% over the decade, a steeper fall than the national trend of slow growth. The medium forecast projects continued contraction at roughly 11 persons per year. Overseas migration provides the only positive flow at about 49 arrivals annually, offset by a net internal outflow of around 41 per year. The gentrification score is 0, below the national average for established suburbs. Affordability improved from 33% in 2011 to 29.6% in 2021, making the suburb more accessible in relative terms.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+49
Net Internal / yr
-41
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How South Boulder compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Boulder a good suburb to live in?
South Boulder suits those employed in the goldfields mining sector or seeking affordable housing. The IRSAD decile of 2 places it in the bottom 20% nationally for relative advantage, and the IEO decile of 1 reflects limited education and occupation diversity. Housing costs are manageable, with a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 15.6%.
What is the median house price in South Boulder?
The estimated median house price is $351,000, well below the national median. Weekly rent averages $300, and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,250. At these price points, the rent-to-income ratio is 16.2% and mortgage-to-income is 15.6%, both below stress thresholds.
What schools are in South Boulder?
No schools are recorded within the South Boulder suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in postcode 6432 rely on schools in neighbouring Boulder and Kalgoorlie. The local university qualification rate is 5.4%, which is 24.7 percentage points below the national average.
Is South Boulder safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for South Boulder in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the IRSAD decile of 2 places the suburb in the bottom 20% nationally for relative advantage. The need-for-assistance rate is 5.4%, covering 54 residents requiring daily help.
Is South Boulder good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $300 against a $351,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.4%, above most metropolitan markets. The key risk is a 12.7% vacancy rate, indicating rental oversupply. Population declined 7.5% over the decade and the forecast shows continued slow contraction, so returns depend on mining sector conditions.
How is South Boulder's population changing?
Population fell roughly 7.5% over the decade and the medium forecast projects further gradual decline at around 11 persons per year. Overseas migration adds approximately 49 residents annually, offset by a net internal outflow of around 41 per year. The senior share rose 3.9 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.
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