Boston, SA: suburb profile

The population of Boston SA is 1,169 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Boston is $993 per week ($51,636 per year). Median rent in Boston is $345 per week ($1,495 per month). Boston has a median age of 40 years, older than the national median of 38. Boston has a population density of 118 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Boston is England. The most common religion is No religion (49.9% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Greek. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Boston is $1,733.

There were 6 recorded offences in Boston in 2025-26, a rate of 5 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (3 offences).

Population
1,169
Census 2021
Median income
$993/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$345/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
40years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au), 2025-26.

Boston vs the typical SA suburb

The median personal income in Boston is $993 a week, 31% above the typical SA suburb ($759). That ranks 62nd of 710 SA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $345 a week, $45 more than the typical SA suburb. Rent takes 15.7% of the median household income here, against 19.5% in the typical SA suburb. The median resident is 40, 3 years younger than in the typical SA suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureBostonTypical SADifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$993/wk$759/wk +31%$766/wk
Household income$2,199/wk$1,494/wk +47%$1,637/wk
Rent$345/wk$300/wk +15%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,733/mo$1,534/mo +13%$1,733/mo
Median age4043 −3 yrs42
Rent share of household income15.7%19.5% −3.8 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Boston, the typical SA suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Boston Population

1,169 residents at the 2021 Census.

Boston Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$993/wk
$51,636 per year
Ranked 1,266 of 14,663
Median Rent
$345/wk
$1,495 per month
Ranked 3,520 of 14,663
Median Age
40years
2 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,733/mo
Avg household size: 3 · 0.9 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Boston Rent Prices & Affordability

16% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $2,199/wk
Median rent $345/wk
Rent to income 15.7%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Boston against your income

About $9,529 a month
Median rent $345/wk
Left after rent $1,854/wk
Rent share 15.7%

Boston Map

Boston, South Australia Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

People in Boston

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.4% (603) Female 48.6% (570)

Population Density

118
people per km²
1,169 people · 9.9 km²

Households

3
Avg household size
0.9
Persons per bedroom
$2,307
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
1.8%
New Zealand
0.7%
South Africa
0.5%
Philippines
0.3%
Scotland
0.3%
Afghanistan
0.0%
Bangladesh
0.0%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Greek
0.5%
Afrikaans
0.3%
Arabic
0.0%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.0%
Cantonese
0.0%
Mandarin
0.0%
Other Chinese languages
0.0%
Croatian
0.0%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
46.3%
English
40.7%
Scottish
10.7%
German
9.1%
Irish
6.7%
Italian
2.7%
Dutch
1.8%
Australian Aboriginal
1.2%
Croatian
1.2%
Greek
0.9%
Filipino
0.8%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
49.9%
Catholic
13.7%
Not stated
9.4%
Anglican
6.9%
Uniting Church
4.8%
Christian (other)
4.2%
Lutheran
3.4%
Pentecostal
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

0.9%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
65.5% 567
Separated
2.2% 19
Divorced
5.7% 49
Widowed
2.2% 19
Never married
24.5% 212

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
57.9%
Couple: no children
26.0%
Couple: no children under 15
12.8%
One parent: children under 15
1.9%
One parent: no children under 15
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
11.3%
2 persons
37.3%
3 persons
17.5%
4 persons
19.8%
5 persons
9.9%
6+ persons
4.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Boston

Housing Tenure

Of the 362 occupied private dwellings in Boston at the 2021 Census, 7.5% were rented, 30.7% owned outright and 59.7% owned with a mortgage.

Owned outright
30.7% 111 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
59.7% 216 dwellings
Rented
7.5% 27 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
100.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.4%
2 bedrooms
6.5%
3 bedrooms
44.3%
4 bedrooms
41.8%
5 bedrooms
4.0%
6+ bedrooms
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
1.6%
$300-$449/mo
2.1%
$450-$599/mo
2.1%
$600-$799/mo
5.2%
$800-$999/mo
3.6%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
16.7%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
20.8%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
32.8%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
10.4%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
4.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

1 vehicle
13.2%
2 vehicles
45.6%
3 vehicles
25.1%
4+ vehicles
16.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Boston

Employment

Employed full-time
42.3% 321 people
Employed part-time
30.0% 228 people
Unemployed
1.8% 14 people
Not in labour force
25.8% 196 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
25.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
22.9%
Managers
13.6%
Community & Personal Service
13.6%
Clerical & Administrative
10.6%
Sales Workers
6.1%
Labourers
4.5%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

$300-$399/wk
1.3%
$400-$499/wk
2.7%
$500-$649/wk
1.0%
$650-$799/wk
5.7%
$800-$999/wk
5.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
4.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
5.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
8.7%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
21.1%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
14.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
8.0%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
8.0%
$4,000+/wk
8.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.1%
$1-$149/wk
5.3%
$150-$299/wk
3.8%
$300-$399/wk
3.8%
$400-$499/wk
2.7%
$500-$649/wk
1.6%
$650-$799/wk
8.5%
$800-$999/wk
11.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
15.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
10.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
7.5%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
10.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.7%
$3,500+/wk
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
80.2%
Did not go to work
13.4%
Car (passenger)
3.6%
Other
1.5%
Walked only
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
51.6%
Year 11 or equivalent
24.3%
Year 10 or equivalent
20.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
4.0%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
48.9%
Bachelor Degree
23.1%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
19.4%
Postgraduate Degree
4.1%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.7%
Certificate I/II
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
23.4%
Management & Commerce
16.0%
Health
13.9%
Education
13.0%
Society & Culture
12.8%
Architecture & Building
7.3%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.7%
Agriculture & Environment
4.3%
Creative Arts
1.9%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
24.6%
Primary: Catholic
15.9%
Secondary: Government
14.9%
Secondary: Catholic
12.1%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
11.1%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
8.7%
Pre-school
6.6%
Vocational Education
6.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
89.9%
Has need for assistance
2.5%
Need for assistance not stated
8.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
58
Asthma
38
Arthritis
24
Diabetes
18
Heart disease
13
Lung condition
10
Cancer
10
Kidney disease
3
Stroke
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
13.1% 104
Did not provide
86.9% 692

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
28.3% 225
Not a volunteer
71.7% 571

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.4% 3
Previously served
3.0% 24
Never served
96.6% 765

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
19.5%
1 child
11.4%
2 children
35.1%
3 children
26.2%
4 children
6.8%
5+ children
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

1951: 1960
4
1961: 1970
22
1971: 1980
11
1981: 1990
6
1991: 2000
4
2001: 2010
9
2011: 2015
6
2016
5

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

10.2%
moved in the last year
32.6%
moved in the last 5 years
2.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
69.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
960
Moved: same area (SA2)
82
Moved from SA
21
Moved from NT
5
Moved from overseas
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.3%
5: 14 hours
33.9%
15: 29 hours
18.4%
30+ hours
16.2%
Did not do domestic work
11.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
95.4%
Step family: no other children
2.9%
Blended family: no other children
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Boston Crime Statistics

6 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
3
Break & Enter
1
Property Damage
1
Fraud
1

Total offences by year

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Boston

The closest suburb to Boston is Port Lincoln, 5.2 km away.

Port Lincoln
5.2 km away · income $717/wk · rent $240/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Boston

What is the population of Boston SA?

The population of Boston SA is 1,169 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 118 people per km². Boston is ranked #3,750 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Boston?

The median personal income in Boston SA is $993 per week, or $51,636 per year. The median household income is $2,199 per week. Family income is $2,307 per week. Boston is ranked #1,266 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Boston?

Median rent in Boston SA is $345 per week ($1,495 per month). Rent represents 15.7% of household income, which is considered affordable. Boston ranks #3,520 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Boston?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Boston SA is $1,733. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Boston?

The median age in Boston SA is 40 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Boston a good suburb to live in?

Boston is a suburb in South Australia with a population of 1,169. The median income is $993/wk, which is above the typical SA suburb ($759/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (15.7% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 40145. All dollar figures in AUD.