Bowden, SA: suburb profile

The population of Bowden SA is 1,808 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Bowden is $1,056 per week ($54,912 per year). Median rent in Bowden is $390 per week ($1,690 per month). Bowden has a median age of 32 years, younger than the national median of 38. Bowden has a population density of 4,883 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Bowden is England. The most common religion is No religion (58.2% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bowden is $1,560.

There were 80 recorded offences in Bowden in 2025-26, a rate of 44 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (49 offences).

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

Bowden Map

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Bowden Population

1,808 residents at the 2021 Census.

Bowden Median Income & Rent

Median Income

$1,056/wk

$54,912 per year

Ranked 892 of 14,663

Median Rent

$390/wk

$1,690 per month

Ranked 2,258 of 14,663

Median Age

32years

6 years younger than the national median

Mortgage

$1,560/mo

Avg household size: 1.8 · 0.9 per bedroom

Bowden Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.1% (921) Female 48.9% (883)

Population Density

4,883

people per km²

1,808 people · 0.4 km²

Households

1.8

Avg household size

0.9

Persons per bedroom

$2,202

Family income/wk

Bowden 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)

Bowden Home Ownership

Of owner-occupied homes in Bowden, 31.9% are owned outright and 68.1% have a mortgage.

Owned outright

31.9%

Owned with mortgage

68.1%

Rented homes are not included in this breakdown.

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

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
China
India
Hong Kong
Iran
Brazil
Egypt
Germany

Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Bowden Religion

No religion

58.2%

Catholic

11.4%

Not stated

9.5%

Anglican

3.7%

Islam

2.9%

Buddhism

2.4%

Eastern Orthodox

2.1%

Uniting Church

1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Bowden Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

82.7%

Year 11 or equivalent

9.0%

Year 10 or equivalent

6.8%

Year 9 or equivalent

1.5%

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

Mandarin
Cantonese
Spanish
Korean
Arabic
Tamil

Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Bowden Employment

Employed full-time

49.5% 736 people

Employed part-time

21.3% 317 people

Unemployed

3.4% 51 people

Not in labour force

25.8% 383 people

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

Bowden Qualifications

Bachelor Degree

46.9%

Postgraduate Degree

17.5%

Certificate III/IV

15.0%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

14.3%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

5.2%

Certificate I/II

1.2%

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

Bowden Occupation

Professionals

47.0%

Managers

15.3%

Clerical & Administrative

9.5%

Technicians & Trade Workers

9.1%

Community & Personal Service

8.9%

Sales Workers

4.6%

Labourers

4.2%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

1.4%

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

Bowden Field of Study

Management & Commerce

21.9%

Society & Culture

16.0%

Health

15.2%

Engineering

11.7%

Creative Arts

9.9%

Natural & Physical Sciences

5.2%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

5.0%

Architecture & Building

4.7%

Education

4.6%

Information Technology

4.3%

Agriculture & Environment

1.5%

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

Bowden Dwelling Types

Semi-detached (1 storey)

39.2%

Separate house

38.6%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

22.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Bowden Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

3.6%

$1-$149/wk

0.8%

$150-$299/wk

1.4%

$300-$399/wk

3.2%

$400-$499/wk

5.2%

$500-$649/wk

5.2%

$650-$799/wk

3.7%

$800-$999/wk

5.2%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

8.4%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

9.7%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

8.1%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

7.2%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

15.8%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

6.9%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

5.7%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

3.1%

$4,000+/wk

7.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Bowden Marital Status

Married

23.3% 390

Separated

3.9% 65

Divorced

8.6% 143

Widowed

1.6% 27

Never married

62.6% 1,046

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Bowden Ancestry

English

34.1%

Australian

24.9%

Irish

10.3%

Chinese

9.1%

Scottish

8.7%

German

6.1%

Italian

5.4%

Greek

2.5%

Indian

1.8%

Dutch

1.6%

Korean

1.5%

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

Bowden School & University Attendance

Vocational Education

25.9%

Primary — Government

24.5%

Secondary — Government

20.4%

Primary — Catholic

10.2%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

7.5%

Pre-school

7.5%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

4.1%

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

Bowden Need for Assistance

Needs assistance

3.4%

No need for assistance

96.6%

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

Bowden Volunteering

Volunteer

17.0% 261

Not a volunteer

83.0% 1,274

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Bowden Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

3.3%

$300-$449/mo

1.4%

$600-$799/mo

3.3%

$800-$999/mo

6.2%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

26.1%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

24.6%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

23.7%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

6.2%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

5.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Bowden How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

57.1%

Tram/Light Rail

13.8%

Did not go to work

9.2%

Car (passenger)

5.6%

Bicycle

4.8%

Walked only

3.1%

Bus

2.6%

Train

1.6%

Other

1.0%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.8%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.4%

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

Bowden Car Ownership

0 vehicles

12.7%

1 vehicle

63.6%

2 vehicles

20.0%

3 vehicles

3.0%

4+ vehicles

0.7%

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

Bowden Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

18.0%

2 bedrooms

60.5%

3 bedrooms

19.5%

4 bedrooms

1.5%

5 bedrooms

0.6%

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

Bowden Population Mobility

34.4%

moved in the last year

77.0%

moved in the last 5 years

4.4%

unemployment rate (Census)

69.6%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Bowden Indigenous Population

1.0%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Bowden Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

221

Asthma

Arthritis

Heart disease

Diabetes

Lung condition

Cancer

Stroke

Kidney disease

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

Bowden Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

8.2%

$1-$149/wk

2.3%

$150-$299/wk

5.5%

$300-$399/wk

4.2%

$400-$499/wk

3.5%

$500-$649/wk

3.7%

$650-$799/wk

6.5%

$800-$999/wk

7.8%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

12.7%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

10.6%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

9.2%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

8.9%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

11.9%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

2.2%

$3,500+/wk

2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

Bowden Family Structure

Couple — no children

52.3%

Couple — children under 15

25.3%

Couple — no children under 15

8.1%

One parent — children under 15

7.3%

One parent — no children under 15

6.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Bowden Military Service

Current ADF — Regular

4.8% 74

Current ADF — Reserves

0.2% 3

Previously served

2.1% 32

Never served

92.9% 1,434

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Bowden Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance

10.3% 158

Did not provide

89.7% 1,375

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Bowden Children Ever Born

No children

65.9%

1 child

12.3%

2 children

16.4%

3 children

4.4%

4 children

0.5%

5+ children

0.5%

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

Bowden When Migrants Arrived

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

102

2011–2015

118

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

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

Bowden Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

25.1%

5–14 hours

38.2%

15–29 hours

9.9%

30+ hours

3.4%

Did not do domestic work

23.3%

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

Bowden Household Size

1 person

45.2%

2 persons

37.9%

3 persons

11.6%

4 persons

3.7%

5 persons

0.6%

6+ persons

0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Bowden Where Residents Moved From

Same address

1,087

Moved from SA

365

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from VIC

Moved from overseas

Moved from NSW

Moved from QLD

Moved from WA

Moved from NT

Moved from ACT

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

Bowden Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

86.0%

Step family — no other children

9.7%

Other couple — children only

4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Bowden Crime Statistics

80 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft

Property Damage

Break & Enter

Assault

Fraud

Total offences by year

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

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

Bowden Schools

schools nearby

government

1043

avg ICSEA score

18,604

total students

Wilderness School Independent

Combined · R-12 · 856 students

1176

ICSEA

North Adelaide Primary School Government

Primary · R-6 · 296 students

1144

ICSEA

Prospect Primary School Government

Primary · R-6 · 537 students

1109

ICSEA

Nailsworth Primary School Government

Primary · R-6 · 548 students

1106

ICSEA

Immaculate Heart of Mary School Catholic

Primary · R-6 · 153 students

1105

ICSEA

Adelaide Botanic High School Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 1,258 students

1103

ICSEA

Rosary School Catholic

Primary · R-6 · 484 students

1101

ICSEA

Torrensville Primary School Government

Primary · U, R-6 · 380 students

1099

ICSEA

Adelaide High School Government

Secondary · U, 7-12 · 1,821 students

1094

ICSEA

University Senior College at Adelaide University Independent

Secondary · 10-12 · 523 students

1092

ICSEA

St Aloysius College Catholic

Combined · R-12 · 1,091 students

1081

ICSEA

St Dominic's Priory College Catholic

Combined · R-12 · 658 students

1080

ICSEA

Christian Brothers College Catholic

Combined · R-12 · 990 students

1074

ICSEA

St Mary's College Catholic

Combined · R-12 · 659 students

1073

ICSEA

Kilkenny Primary School Government

Primary · U, R-6 · 450 students

1069

ICSEA

Showing 15 of 40 schools.

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

All schools near Bowden, with a map

Bowden Rent Prices & Affordability

24% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,628/wk

Median rent $390/wk

Rent to income 24.0%

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

Median rent in Bowden against your income

Your weekly income

About $7,055 a month

Median rent $390/wk

Left after rent $1,238/wk

Rent share 24.0%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

St Clair (SA)

Income: $1,055/wk Rent: $360/wk $30/wk less rent

Whyalla Jenkins

Income: $1,003/wk Rent: $265/wk $125/wk less rent

Devon Park (SA)

Income: $851/wk Rent: $285/wk $105/wk less rent

Stirling North

Income: $925/wk Rent: $250/wk $140/wk less rent

Ashford (SA)

Income: $873/wk Rent: $320/wk $70/wk less rent

Seaford Heights

Income: $1,081/wk Rent: $380/wk $10/wk less rent

Collinswood

Income: $1,012/wk Rent: $300/wk $90/wk less rent

Woodville Park

Income: $847/wk Rent: $320/wk $70/wk less rent

Bowden vs the typical SA suburb

The median personal income in Bowden is $1,056 a week, 39% above the typical SA suburb ($759). That ranks 34th of 710 SA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $390 a week, $90 more than the typical SA suburb. Rent takes 24.0% of the median household income here, against 19.5% in the typical SA suburb. The median resident is 32, 11 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.
Measure	Bowden	Typical SA	Typical Australia
Personal income	$1,056/wk	$759/wk	$766/wk
Household income	$1,628/wk	$1,494/wk	$1,637/wk
Rent	$390/wk	$300/wk	$330/wk
Mortgage repayment	$1,560/mo	$1,534/mo	$1,733/mo
Median age	32	43	42
Rent share of household income	24.0%	19.5%	20.3%

Suburbs near Bowden

The closest suburb to Bowden is Brompton, 0.5 km away.

Brompton

0.5 km away · income $856/wk · rent $380/wk

Ridleyton

1.2 km away · income $842/wk · rent $300/wk

Renown Park

1.3 km away · income $640/wk · rent $250/wk

West Hindmarsh

1.5 km away · income $851/wk · rent $320/wk

Croydon (SA)

1.6 km away · income $811/wk · rent $310/wk

North Adelaide

1.6 km away · income $964/wk · rent $390/wk

Compare Bowden

Frequently Asked Questions About Bowden

What is the population of Bowden SA?

The population of Bowden SA is 1,808 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 4,883 people per km².Bowden is ranked #3,168 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Bowden?

The median personal income in Bowden SA is $1,056 per week, or $54,912 per year.The median household income is $1,628 per week.Family income is $2,202 per week.Bowden is ranked #892 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Bowden?

Median rent in Bowden SA is $390 per week ($1,690 per month).Rent represents 24.0% of household income, which is considered affordable.Bowden ranks #2,258 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Bowden?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bowden SA is $1,560. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Bowden?

The median age in Bowden SA is 32 years.This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Bowden a good suburb to live in?

Bowden is a suburb in South Australia with a population of 1,808.The median income is $1,056/wk, which is above the typical SA suburb ($759/wk).Rent affordability is rated as affordable (24.0% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 40146. All dollar figures in AUD.