Boulder
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Boulder's population is approximately 7,720 as of Aug '25. This reflects a growth of 570 people (8.0%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 7,150. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 7,705 in June '24 and an additional 8 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 589 persons per square kilometer. Boulder's growth exceeded the SA4 region (7.6%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a regional growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 54.8% to overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in '24 with '22 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and post-'32 estimations, AreaSearch uses ABS's latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in '23, based on '22 data). Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of national non-metropolitan areas is expected, with an increase of 530 persons to 2041, resulting in a total growth of 6.7%.

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

Boulder has received around 5 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, totaling 29 approvals from FY-21 to FY-25, with 0 so far in FY-26. An average of 10.8 new residents per year has been associated with each home built over the past five financial years. This demand significantly outpaces supply, putting upward pressure on prices and increasing buyer competition.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $538,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments. In FY-26, $2.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to the Rest of WA, Boulder has 53.0% less development activity per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. The area's development level is also below average nationally, reflecting its maturity and possible planning constraints. New development consists of 60.0% standalone homes and 40.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of medium-density options across various price brackets.

This marks a significant change from the current housing mix of 85.0% houses, likely due to reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 2306 people, reflecting Boulder's quiet, low activity development environment. Looking forward, Boulder is expected to grow by 515 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Boulder has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 16thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects that may affect the region. Notable ones are Lynas Rare Earths Processing Facility, Goldfields Pipeline Renewal (Stage 1), Workers Lifestyle Village, and Kalgoorlie Rail Realignment. The following list details those most relevant.

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

While Boulder retains a healthy unemployment rate of 3.7%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Boulder has a diverse workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 3.7%.

In this month, 3,857 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is 0.5% higher than Rest of WA's rate of 3.2%. Workforce participation in Boulder is similar to Rest of WA's 59.4%. Leading employment industries among residents include mining, retail trade, and accommodation & food services. Boulder has a particular specialisation in mining, with an employment share 2.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.4% of Boulder's workforce compared to 9.3% in Rest of WA. Analysis of SALM and ABS data shows that during the year to June 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.5%, and employment decreased by 3.1%, leading to an increase in unemployment by 0.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of WA, where employment rose by 1.1%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Boulder's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 4.8% over five years and 11.2% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations 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 ending June 2022 indicates that median income in Boulder is $66,069 and average income is $78,308. This contrasts with Rest of WA's figures of a median income of $57,323 and an average income of $71,163. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.61% from financial year 2022 to March 2025, estimated current incomes would be approximately $73,740 (median) and $87,400 (average). Census 2021 income data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Boulder cluster around the 72nd percentile nationally. Income distribution data reveals that the largest segment comprises 37.4% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with 2,887 residents falling into this bracket. This mirrors the metropolitan region where 31.1% of residents earn within this range. After housing costs, Boulder residents retain 88.4% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power.

Boulder is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Boulder's dwelling structure, as assessed in the latest Census, consisted of 84.9% houses and 15.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro WA's 82.9% houses and 17.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Boulder stood at 22.5%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (43.4%) or rented (34.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,309, lower than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,517, and the median weekly rent figure was $300, compared to Non-Metro WA's $280. Nationally, Boulder's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

Boulder features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households make up 65.3% of all households, including 27.1% couples with children, 23.6% couples without children, and 13.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 34.7%, with lone person households at 30.2% and group households comprising 4.3%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which matches the average for the Rest of WA.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 8.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 6.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.0%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 45.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (6.7%) and certificates (38.3%).

Educational participation is high at 37.7%, including 16.7% in primary education, 10.2% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education. Boulder's 4 schools have a combined enrollment of 545 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 971) offering balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with 3 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups. Local school capacity is limited at 7.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 17.6, leading many families to travel for schooling. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus.

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

Transport analysis in Boulder shows 47 active transport stops operating, consisting of a mix of buses. These stops are served by 5 individual routes, offering a total of 132 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 227 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 18 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 2 weekly trips per individual stop.

Boulder's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data shows relatively positive outcomes for Boulder residents, with common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts at a fairly standard level. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 59% of the total population (4,539 people), compared to 62.3% across Rest of WA.

Mental health issues impact 7.7% of residents, while asthma affects 7.4%. A total of 71.9% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.9% across Rest of WA. The area has 9.2% of residents aged 65 and over (707 people), with health outcomes among seniors being above average and broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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. It has a citizen population of 69.3%, with 78.7% born in Australia, and 90.0% speaking English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 40.3%.

Buddhism, however, shows an overrepresentation at 1.2%, compared to the regional average of 1.2%. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (27.2%), English (27.2%), and Australian Aboriginal (7.2%). Notable divergences include Maori (Boulder: 3.7% vs Regional: 3.3%), New Zealand (Boulder: 1.6% vs Regional: 1.5%), and Samoan (Boulder: 0.6% vs Regional: 0.4%).

Boulder's population is younger than the national pattern

Boulder has a median age of 34, which is younger than the Rest of WA's figure of 40 and lower than Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 17.2% of Boulder's population compared to the Rest of WA. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort comprises only 6.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has increased from 15.4% to 17.2%, while the 15-24 group grew from 12.4% to 14.0%. However, the 45-54 cohort decreased from 13.8% to 11.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Boulder's age structure. Notably, the 25-34 group is projected to grow by 42%, reaching 1,881 people from its current total of 1,325. Meanwhile, both the 75-84 and 85+ age groups are expected to decrease in number.