South Boulder
A 12.7% vacancy rate stands out in South Boulder, where 1,506 residents live in a low-density setting of 192.4 people per square kilometre. Separate houses make up 91.5% of dwellings, and the median age of 35 is 5 years below the national comparison. Household income sits at the 66.9th percentile, but the suburb is on an aging, slow-growth path rather than rapid expansion. Beside Boulder and Kalgoorlie, South Boulder functions as a residential base linked to the wider Goldfields mining and services economy: 81.1% drive to work and 3.2% use public transport. Compared with a denser urban centre, it suits buyers seeking detached space, car access and established streets more than high-intensity living.
Local council: Kalgoorlie-Boulder
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
South Boulder suits buyers prioritising detached space and manageable household commitments over apartment living. Separate houses make up 91.5% of homes, with 3-bedroom dwellings the largest group at 50.0% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 28.6%. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,250, while rent is $300 per week. Mortgage costs equal 15.6% of household income and rent equals 16.2%, both below common stress thresholds, helping explain why 39.9% of households carry a mortgage and 28.0% own outright. The 66.9th household-income percentile is higher than the university share of 5.4%, so buyers should assess job stability, commute costs and future resale depth rather than relying on income alone. Compared with a mixed-housing market, the 91.5% detached share points to fewer compact options.
For Buyers
South Boulder suits buyers prioritising detached space and manageable household commitments over apartment living. Separate houses make up 91.5% of homes, with 3-bedroom dwellings the largest group at 50.0% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 28.6%. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,250, while rent is $300 per week. Mortgage costs equal 15.6% of household income and rent equals 16.2%, both below common stress thresholds, helping explain why 39.9% of households carry a mortgage and 28.0% own outright. The 66.9th household-income percentile is higher than the university share of 5.4%, so buyers should assess job stability, commute costs and future resale depth rather than relying on income alone. Compared with a mixed-housing market, the 91.5% detached share points to fewer compact options.
For Investors
South Boulder presents a cash-flow question rather than a straightforward growth play. Weekly rent is $300 and 28.7% of occupied homes are rented, but vacancy is 12.7%, higher than in a tightly supplied rental market and a reason to allow for letting delays or incentives. Rent growth of 15.4% has been positive, yet the forecast annual trend is -0.14%, so recent rental momentum should be separated from long-term capital growth. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the gentrification stage is Not gentrifying. With a detached housing share of 91.5%, the likely rental product is conventional family housing. Compared with lower-vacancy areas, South Boulder requires conservative assumptions on occupancy, maintenance and resale liquidity.
Demographics
South Boulder has a working-age profile with a median age of 35, which is 5 years below the national comparison, but its direction is aging. The male share is 58.7%, average household size is 2.4 people, and 75.7% of residents stayed at the same address over the reference period, indicating more continuity than turnover at 24.3%. University attainment is 5.4%, or 24.7 percentage points below the national comparison, while 17.3% were born overseas, 4.3 points below the national figure. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry responses total 382, 107 and 97 people respectively, alongside 497 under Ancestry NS. No religion is the largest stated affiliation at 571 people, ahead of Christianity at 383. Compared with a younger, more university-qualified inner-city population, South Boulder is more closely connected to established households and industrial employment.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.5%
Houses
1.9%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
South Boulder is overwhelmingly a detached-house market: 91.5% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 1.9% semi-detached homes, and the bedroom mix is led by 3-bedroom properties at 50.0%. Four-plus-bedroom homes make up 28.6%, while 2-bedroom homes account for 14.6% and 0 to 1-bedroom homes 6.8%. Tenure is split between 39.9% with a mortgage, 28.0% owned outright and 28.7% renting, with 3.4% in other arrangements. Mortgage costs sit at 15.6% of household income and rent at 16.2%, both below higher-stress levels, partly because household income ranks at the 66.9th percentile. The 12.7% vacancy rate is higher than in a tightly occupied market, which can soften competition for tenants but also signals weaker utilisation. Compared with apartment-oriented suburbs, South Boulder provides more land-oriented housing and fewer compact options.
Mortgage / mo
$1,250
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
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
37.4%
Couples with children
37.7%
Couples, no children
26.4%
Single parent
273
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is South Boulder's economic anchor, accounting for 29.3% of industry employment and aligning with the largest occupation groups: Machinery/Drivers at 137 people, Trades at 119 and Labourers at 77. Healthcare contributes 12.2%, followed by Other Services at 9.6%, Construction at 8.3% and Retail at 7.0%. The labour force totals 583, participation is 46.7%, unemployment is 5.8% and full-time work accounts for 71.8% of employed residents. Socioeconomic measures are mixed: the education and occupation index sits in decile 1, the economic resources index in decile 4, and both the disadvantage and advantage indexes in decile 2. Those lower education and occupation rankings contrast with household income at the 66.9th percentile, a pattern that can occur when mining wages lift earnings without broadening university attainment. Compared with office-led areas, the local economy is more exposed to resource cycles and shift-based work.
Unemployment
5.8%
Labour Force
583
Unemployed
34
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
71.8%
Part-time
22.8%
Participation
46.7%
Employed
549
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
5.4%
Postgraduate
0.9%
Born Overseas
17.3%
Dwellings
423
Transport to Work
Daily life in South Boulder is strongly car-oriented: 81.1% travel as car drivers, compared with 3.2% using public transport, while 6.0% walk or cycle and 1.9% work from home. That pattern suits households travelling to mining, trade and service jobs, but it makes vehicle ownership and commute planning more important than in transit-focused suburbs. The IRSAD sits in decile 2 and the IRSD also in decile 2, both below the middle deciles nationally, so access to services and household resilience should be considered alongside housing costs. Families should check current school catchments, enrolment rules and travel times against the exact address, because boundaries can differ across the Boulder and Kalgoorlie area. With 1,506 residents and density of 192.4 people per square kilometre, the setting is less compact than a central urban neighbourhood.
Drive
81.1%
Public Transport
3.2%
Walk / Cycle
6.0%
Work from Home
1.9%
Growth Outlook
South Boulder is on a slow-growth path, with the forecast annual trend at -0.14% and population change across the wider area at -7.5% over 10 years. The trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 3.9% increase in the senior share and a 1.7% decline in the young share. Overseas migration is the primary migration driver, but that inflow has not translated into a high-growth outlook. The gentrification stage is Not gentrifying, while rent growth has reached 15.4%. Affordability improved from 33.0% in 2011 to 29.6% in 2021, and real income growth was 4.8%, which may help existing households remain in place. Compared with faster-expanding regional markets, South Boulder is more likely to see demand shaped by replacement, ageing and mining conditions than by rapid population gains.
Population trend: Kalgoorlie-Boulder council area
South Boulder sits in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder council area. These are the council area's residents, not South Boulder's.
Residents 2025
31,268
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.4%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.2%
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 South Boulder compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Boulder a good suburb to live in?
South Boulder can suit households wanting detached homes, car access and relatively manageable housing commitments. About 91.5% of dwellings are separate houses, 81.1% of commuters drive, and mortgage costs equal 15.6% of household income. Compared with transit-focused locations, the trade-off is a 12.7% vacancy rate and public transport use of 3.2%.
What is the median house price in South Boulder?
Use recent settled sales to establish South Boulder's current median, comparing like-for-like homes because 91.5% are separate houses and the stock is led by 3-bedroom dwellings at 50.0%. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,250 and the mortgage burden is 15.6% of household income. The detached share is higher than the 1.9% semi-detached share.
What schools are in South Boulder?
School options should be checked against the exact South Boulder address, current enrolment zones and travel routes. Nearby choices can differ by sector and year level, so confirm whether a school is government, Catholic or independent before relying on a commute estimate. Compared with transit-rich locations, transport planning matters because 81.1% drive and only 3.2% use public transport.
Is South Boulder safe?
Safety is best judged from current incident trends for the exact streets and property type rather than a broad suburb label. South Boulder has 1,506 residents across 7.83 square kilometres, with density of 192.4 people per square kilometre. Its IRSAD is in decile 2, below the national middle deciles, so prospective residents should also inspect lighting, routes and service access at different times.
Is South Boulder good for property investment?
South Boulder may suit a selective, long-hold investor rather than a high-growth strategy. Weekly rent is $300, vacancy is 12.7%, the forecast annual trend is -0.14%, and rent growth is 15.4%. Compared with higher-growth markets, investors should allow for vacancy, mining-cycle exposure and resale liquidity, then compare multiple recent sales and rental listings.
How is South Boulder's population changing?
South Boulder's population direction is contracting and ageing: the wider area's 10-year population change is -7.5%, the annual trend is -0.14%, and the trajectory is labelled Aging. The senior share has risen 3.9% while the young share has fallen 1.7%. Overseas migration remains the primary driver, but the outlook is below rapid-growth corridors. The current suburb population is 1,506.
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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