Bolwarra, VIC: suburb profile

The population of Bolwarra VIC is 647 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Bolwarra is $581 per week ($30,212 per year). Median rent in Bolwarra is $220 per week ($953 per month). Bolwarra has a median age of 49 years, older than the national median of 38. Bolwarra has a population density of 28 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Bolwarra is New Zealand. The most common religion is No religion (49.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Filipino. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bolwarra is $1,603.

There were 26 recorded offences in Bolwarra in 2025-25, a rate of 40 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (10 offences).

Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au), 2025-25.

Bolwarra Map

Loading map…

Bolwarra Population

647 residents at the 2021 Census.

Bolwarra Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$581/wk
$30,212 per year
Ranked 7,359 of 14,663
Median Rent
$220/wk
$953 per month
Ranked 7,029 of 14,663
Median Age
49years
11 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,603/mo
Avg household size: 2.5 · 0.8 per bedroom

Bolwarra Demographics

Gender Split

Male 52.0% (335) Female 48.0% (309)

Population Density

28
people per km²
647 people · 23.3 km²

Households

2.5
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,708
Family income/wk

Bolwarra 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)

Bolwarra Housing Tenure

Of the 242 occupied private dwellings in Bolwarra at the 2021 Census, 10.3% were rented, 52.1% owned outright and 36.0% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
3.3% 8 dwellings
Owned outright
52.1% 126 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
36.0% 87 dwellings
Rented
10.3% 25 dwellings

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

Most common overseas birthplaces

New Zealand
1.9%
England
1.7%
Netherlands
0.9%
Canada
0.6%
Philippines
0.6%
South Africa
0.6%
Thailand
0.6%

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

Bolwarra Religion

No religion
49.6%
Catholic
13.4%
Not stated
8.2%
Anglican
7.6%
Uniting Church
6.2%
Presbyterian and Reformed
5.3%
Christian (other)
2.5%
Lutheran
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Bolwarra Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
39.3%
Year 11 or equivalent
26.0%
Year 10 or equivalent
25.3%
Year 9 or equivalent
9.4%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Filipino
0.6%
Greek
0.5%
Thai
0.5%
Afrikaans
0.0%
Arabic
0.0%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.0%
Cantonese
0.0%

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

Bolwarra Employment

Employed full-time
28.5% 141 people
Employed part-time
26.5% 131 people
Unemployed
3.2% 16 people
Not in labour force
41.7% 206 people

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

Bolwarra Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
53.8%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
19.5%
Bachelor Degree
17.1%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.8%
Certificate I/II
3.6%
Postgraduate Degree
1.2%

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

Bolwarra Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
24.2%
Professionals
20.4%
Community & Personal Service
14.0%
Managers
11.8%
Labourers
8.6%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
8.1%
Clerical & Administrative
7.5%
Sales Workers
5.4%

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

Bolwarra Field of Study

Engineering
27.1%
Management & Commerce
20.3%
Health
11.9%
Society & Culture
10.7%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.9%
Education
6.8%
Agriculture & Environment
6.8%
Architecture & Building
6.8%
Creative Arts
1.7%

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

Bolwarra Dwelling Types

Separate house
100.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Bolwarra Weekly Household Income

$300-$399/wk
1.4%
$400-$499/wk
11.5%
$500-$649/wk
8.3%
$650-$799/wk
6.5%
$800-$999/wk
10.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.1%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
13.4%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
8.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.8%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.7%
$4,000+/wk
4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Bolwarra Marital Status

Married
55.2% 302
Separated
3.8% 21
Divorced
9.0% 49
Widowed
4.4% 24
Never married
27.6% 151

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Bolwarra Ancestry

English
45.9%
Australian
42.3%
Scottish
13.6%
Irish
10.7%
German
4.8%
Dutch
2.6%
Australian Aboriginal
2.3%
Italian
1.9%
Welsh
0.6%
Filipino
0.5%
Greek
0.5%

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

Bolwarra School & University Attendance

Primary — Government
30.0%
Secondary — Government
25.0%
Primary — Catholic
13.0%
Vocational Education
12.0%
Pre-school
11.0%
Secondary — Catholic
9.0%

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

Bolwarra Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
87.8%
Has need for assistance
5.3%
Need for assistance not stated
6.2%

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

Bolwarra Volunteering

Volunteer
24.7% 124
Not a volunteer
75.3% 379

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Bolwarra Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.6%
$450-$599/mo
4.6%
$600-$799/mo
6.9%
$800-$999/mo
12.6%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
19.5%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
20.7%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
12.6%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
13.8%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
4.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Bolwarra How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
76.6%
Did not go to work
14.2%
Car (passenger)
2.7%
Other
1.9%
Truck
1.9%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.5%
Walked only
1.1%

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

Bolwarra Car Ownership

0 vehicles
1.2%
1 vehicle
18.5%
2 vehicles
40.7%
3 vehicles
20.2%
4+ vehicles
19.3%

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

Bolwarra Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
6.4%
2 bedrooms
10.6%
3 bedrooms
41.3%
4 bedrooms
34.9%
5 bedrooms
6.8%

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

Bolwarra Population Mobility

8.9%
moved in the last year
34.0%
moved in the last 5 years
4.9%
unemployment rate (Census)
56.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Bolwarra Indigenous Population

1.7%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Bolwarra Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
57
Arthritis
46
Heart disease
24
Asthma
21
Diabetes
14
Cancer
11
Lung condition
8
Stroke
8
Kidney disease
6

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

Bolwarra Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.4%
$1-$149/wk
5.9%
$150-$299/wk
11.4%
$300-$399/wk
4.7%
$400-$499/wk
6.4%
$500-$649/wk
6.4%
$650-$799/wk
9.1%
$800-$999/wk
7.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.4%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
8.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.2%
$3,500+/wk
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

Bolwarra Family Structure

Couple — no children
40.2%
Couple — children under 15
37.7%
Couple — no children under 15
17.2%
One parent — children under 15
2.6%
One parent — no children under 15
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Bolwarra Military Service

Previously served
1.6% 8
Never served
98.4% 499

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Bolwarra Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.0% 75
Did not provide
85.0% 426

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Bolwarra Children Ever Born

No children
19.5%
1 child
3.4%
2 children
41.0%
3 children
26.3%
4 children
6.3%
5+ children
3.4%

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

Bolwarra When Migrants Arrived

1951–1960
7
1961–1970
14
1971–1980
5
1981–1990
5
1991–2000
6
2016
6

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

Bolwarra Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
16.7%
5–14 hours
31.9%
15–29 hours
19.1%
30+ hours
13.1%
Did not do domestic work
19.1%

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

Bolwarra Household Size

1 person
20.6%
2 persons
44.0%
3 persons
14.5%
4 persons
13.3%
5 persons
6.0%
6+ persons
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Bolwarra Where Residents Moved From

Same address
535
Moved from VIC
36
Moved — same area (SA2)
6
Moved from NT
5

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

Bolwarra Family Blending

Intact family — no other children
74.7%
Step family — no other children
14.5%
Blended family — no other children
10.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Bolwarra Crime Statistics

26 reported offences in 2025-25, by category.

Theft
10
Justice Procedures
8
Assault
4
Break & Enter
1
Drug Offences
1
Weapons
1
Public Order
1

Total offences by year

2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au).

Bolwarra Schools

1
schools nearby
1
government
979
avg ICSEA score
36
total students
Bolwarra Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 36 students
979
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Bolwarra, with a map

Bolwarra Rent Prices & Affordability

16% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,394/wk
Median rent $220/wk
Rent to income 15.8%

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

Median rent in Bolwarra against your income

About $6,041 a month
Median rent $220/wk
Left after rent $1,174/wk
Rent share 15.8%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Bolwarra vs the typical VIC suburb

The median personal income in Bolwarra is $581 a week, 24% below the typical VIC suburb ($767). That ranks 1,141st of 1,274 VIC suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $220 a week, $96 less than the typical VIC suburb. Rent takes 15.8% of the median household income here, against 19.1% in the typical VIC suburb. The median resident is 49, 6 years older than in the typical VIC suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureBolwarraTypical VICTypical Australia
Personal income$581/wk$767/wk$766/wk
Household income$1,394/wk$1,687/wk$1,637/wk
Rent$220/wk$316/wk$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,603/mo$1,723/mo$1,733/mo
Median age494342
Rent share of household income15.8%19.1%20.3%

Suburbs near Bolwarra

The closest suburb to Bolwarra is Portland (Vic.), 9.2 km away.

Portland (Vic.)
9.2 km away · income $617/wk · rent $250/wk
Heywood
16.6 km away · income $622/wk · rent $180/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Bolwarra

What is the population of Bolwarra VIC?

The population of Bolwarra VIC is 647 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 28 people per km².Bolwarra is ranked #4,630 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Bolwarra?

The median personal income in Bolwarra VIC is $581 per week, or $30,212 per year.The median household income is $1,394 per week.Family income is $1,708 per week.Bolwarra is ranked #7,359 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Bolwarra?

Median rent in Bolwarra VIC is $220 per week ($953 per month).Rent represents 15.8% of household income, which is considered affordable.Bolwarra ranks #7,029 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Bolwarra?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bolwarra VIC is $1,603. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Bolwarra?

The median age in Bolwarra VIC is 49 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Bolwarra a good suburb to live in?

Bolwarra is a suburb in Victoria with a population of 647.The median income is $581/wk, which is below the typical VIC suburb ($767/wk).Rent affordability is rated as affordable (15.8% 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: 20274. All dollar figures in AUD.