Boulder

Boulder is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, Boulder's population was estimated at 5,265 as of Feb 2026. This reflected an increase of 393 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,872. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 5,255 residents following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of nine new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 1,196 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Boulder's growth of 8.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth of 7.7%. Natural growth contributed approximately 55.00000000000001% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimations, AreaSearch used growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Future population trends suggest a median increase for non-metropolitan areas nationally, with Boulder expected to grow by 342 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 6.2% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Boulder according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis shows Boulder granted around 5 residential approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 26 homes were approved, with none so far in FY-26. This results in an average of 8.6 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

Supply is lagging demand, indicating heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. Developers target the premium market segment, with new dwellings valued at an average of $538,000. In FY-26, $2.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Rest of WA, Boulder records about 63% of building activity per person and ranks among the 16th percentile nationally, indicating limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. This level reflects the area's maturity and possible planning constraints.

New building activity comprises 60.0% standalone homes and 40.0% medium and high-density housing, expanding affordable options. Boulder has around 1043 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area. Future projections estimate Boulder to add 328 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Boulder has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two projects likely impacting the area: Lynas Rare Earths Processing Facility, Goldfields Pipeline Renewal (Stage 1), Kalgoorlie-Boulder Water Bank Project, and Workers Lifestyle Village. The following details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

While Boulder retains a healthy unemployment rate of 4.0%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Boulder has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, notably in manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate is 4.0%, indicating relative employment stability over the past year (AreaSearch data). As of September 2025, 2,746 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate at 3.3% above Rest of WA's rate.

Workforce participation stands at 69.8%. Census responses show that only 2.4% of residents work from home. Key industries for employment among residents are mining, retail trade, and accommodation & food services. Mining is particularly prominent, employing 2.4 times the regional level.

However, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.1% of local workers, below Rest of WA's 9.3%. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.6%, while employment decreased by 0.3%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.8 percentage points (AreaSearch analysis). Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Boulder's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 4.9% over five years and 11.3% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2023 shows that Boulder had a median income among taxpayers of $66,394 and an average of $78,694. This is higher than the national averages. The Rest of WA had a median income of $59,973 and an average of $74,392 during this period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, the estimated median income for Boulder as of September 2025 is approximately $72,781, with an average of around $86,264. According to the 2021 Census, individual earnings at the 80th percentile nationally were $1,019 weekly. Income analysis reveals that in Boulder, 38.5% of residents (2,027 people) fall into the income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 per week after housing costs, retaining 88.1% of their income.

Boulder is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Boulder, as per the latest Census data, 81.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 18.1% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments and other types. This differs from Non-Metro WA's breakdown of 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Boulder stood at 22.0%, with mortgaged properties at 42.8% and rented ones at 35.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,302, lower than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,560. Weekly rent in Boulder was recorded at $300, compared to Non-Metro WA's $265. Nationally, Boulder's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Boulder features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 65.0% of all households, consisting of 26.8% couples with children, 23.2% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.0%, with lone person households at 30.2% and group households comprising 4.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Boulder fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 9.3%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 7.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.3%) and graduate diplomas (0.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 47.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 7.5% and certificates at 39.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 35.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 16.1% in primary education, 9.5% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Boulder has 39 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by five routes offering a total of 132 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good accessibility to these stops, with an average distance of 220 meters to the nearest one. Most residents commute outwards due to Boulder's residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 91%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 2.4% of residents work from home, which might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. All routes combined offer an average of 18 trips daily, resulting in approximately three weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Boulder is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Boulder faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 58% of the total population (3,076 people), compared to 56.4% across Rest of WA. Mental health issues and asthma were found to be the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 7.7 and 7.4% of residents respectively. 72.0% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.3% across Rest of WA. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 9.8% of residents aged 65 and over (515 people), which is lower than the 19.2% in Rest of WA. National rankings for health indicators are even higher than the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Boulder records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Boulder's cultural diversity aligns with the broader regional average, with 72.0% of residents being citizens, 78.2% born in Australia, and 89.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Boulder, comprising 40.3% of its population. Notably, Buddhism is slightly overrepresented at 1.3%, compared to the regional average of 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups in Boulder are English (27.9%), Australian (27.2%), and Irish (7.0%). There are also significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Maori is overrepresented at 3.5% compared to the regional average of 1.0%, New Zealanders make up 1.6% versus the regional 0.9%, and Australian Aboriginals comprise 6.8% versus the regional 6.1%.

Boulder's population is younger than the national pattern

Boulder's median age is 34, which is younger than the Rest of WA figure of 40 and Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group constitutes 17.9% of Boulder's population compared to the Rest of WA, while the 65-74 cohort makes up 7.0%. Between 2021 and present, the median age has decreased by 1 year from 35 to 34, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. During this period, the 25-34 age group grew from 15.2% to 17.9%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 11.9% to 13.5%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 13.0% to 10.7%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 15.4% to 14.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Boulder's age profile will significantly evolve, with the 25-34 group expected to grow by 34% (318 people), reaching 1,261 from 942. Meanwhile, both the 75-84 and 85+ age groups are projected to decrease in number.