Port Lincoln vs Boston

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Port Lincoln, about half of households are people living alone. In Boston, the large majority of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Boston: a median of $895,000, against $585,000 in Port Lincoln, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Port Lincoln tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Boston suits families with children and couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Port Lincoln has more parks and reserves (13 vs 1)
  • Boston carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 91/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Port Lincoln

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($215,000 vs $435,071)
  • has cheaper houses ($585,000 vs $895,000)
  • But Boston leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 24%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Port Lincoln

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($240/wk vs $345/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Boston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (423 min vs 428 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (648.1 km vs 651.6 km)
  • But Port Lincoln is more walkable (51/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Port Lincoln

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (51/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 1%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • But Boston carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 91/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Port Lincoln returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.8% vs 3.1%)
  • Boston is growing faster (20.6% vs 2.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Port Lincoln and Boston drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Port Lincoln Boston
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Port Lincoln Boston
Walkability 51 / 0
Port Lincoln — Walkability: 51/100 Boston — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 9 / 82
Port Lincoln — Safety: 9/100 Boston — Safety: 82/100
Low fire risk 51 / 100
Port Lincoln — Low fire risk: 51/100 Boston — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Port Lincoln has more residents (14,458 vs 1,169); Boston has higher household incomes ($114,348 vs $64,636).

Port Lincoln Boston
Population 14,458
+92% vs other
 1,169
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.4% +20.6%
Median age 41 40
Median household income $64,636/yr $114,348/yr
+77% vs other
Median weekly rent $240/wk $345/wk
+44% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Port Lincoln Boston
0-4 5.7% / 6.3%
Port Lincoln — 0-4: 5.7% Boston — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 12.3% / 19.1%
Port Lincoln — 5-14: 12.3% Boston — 5-14: 19.1%
15-19 5.8% / 5.5%
Port Lincoln — 15-19: 5.8% Boston — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 5.5% / 2.4%
Port Lincoln — 20-24: 5.5% Boston — 20-24: 2.4%
25-34 12.5% / 8.1%
Port Lincoln — 25-34: 12.5% Boston — 25-34: 8.1%
35-44 11.3% / 17.3%
Port Lincoln — 35-44: 11.3% Boston — 35-44: 17.3%
45-54 12.3% / 15.1%
Port Lincoln — 45-54: 12.3% Boston — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 13.3% / 12.4%
Port Lincoln — 55-64: 13.3% Boston — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 11.6% / 9.8%
Port Lincoln — 65-74: 11.6% Boston — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 6.6% / 3.1%
Port Lincoln — 75-84: 6.6% Boston — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 3.0% / 0.4%
Port Lincoln — 85+: 3.0% Boston — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Port Lincoln 31.7% couple families
Port Lincoln — Couple Families: 31.7% Port Lincoln — Lone Person: 45.0% Port Lincoln — One Parent Families: 17.5% Port Lincoln — Group Household: 4.4% Port Lincoln — Other Families: 1.4%
Boston 75.4% couple families
Boston — Couple Families: 75.4% Boston — Lone Person: 16.9% Boston — One Parent Families: 6.4% Boston — Group Household: 1.3% Boston — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Port Lincoln 35.3% renting
Port Lincoln — Owned Outright: 32.9% Port Lincoln — Mortgage: 31.8% Port Lincoln — Renting: 35.3%
Boston 7.6% renting
Boston — Owned Outright: 31.4% Boston — Mortgage: 61.0% Boston — Renting: 7.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Port Lincoln Boston
Certificate III & IV 17.5% / 18.6%
Port Lincoln — Certificate III & IV: 17.5% Boston — Certificate III & IV: 18.6%
Bachelor Degree 7.2% / 8.6%
Port Lincoln — Bachelor Degree: 7.2% Boston — Bachelor Degree: 8.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.8% / 7.3%
Port Lincoln — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8% Boston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Postgraduate Degree 1.3% / 1.4%
Port Lincoln — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3% Boston — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.5%
Port Lincoln — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Boston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Port Lincoln Boston
England 2.4% / 1.8%
Port Lincoln — England: 2.4% Boston — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 0.7% / 0.7%
Port Lincoln — New Zealand: 0.7% Boston — New Zealand: 0.7%
Philippines 0.9% / 0.3%
Port Lincoln — Philippines: 0.9% Boston — Philippines: 0.3%
South Africa 0.3% / 0.5%
Port Lincoln — South Africa: 0.3% Boston — South Africa: 0.5%
Scotland 0.3% / 0.3%
Port Lincoln — Scotland: 0.3% Boston — Scotland: 0.3%
India 0.5% / —
Port Lincoln — India: 0.5% Boston — India: not among its largest
Germany 0.4% / —
Port Lincoln — Germany: 0.4% Boston — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Port Lincoln 81.7% houses
Port Lincoln — Houses: 81.7% Port Lincoln — Townhouses: 11.3% Port Lincoln — Flats / Apartments: 7.0%
Boston 99.2% houses
Boston — Houses: 99.2% Boston — Townhouses: 0.0% Boston — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Port Lincoln Boston
Median house price $585,000 $895,000
Median unit price $400,000 —
Median land price $215,000 $435,071
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 126 sales
 56 days
from 6 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Port Lincoln Boston
3 bed $550K / $730K
Port Lincoln — 3 bed: $550K (160 sales) Boston — 3 bed: $730K (7 sales)

160 vs 7 sales

4 bed $650K / $950K
Port Lincoln — 4 bed: $650K (51 sales) Boston — 4 bed: $950K (9 sales)

51 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Boston has more rural and farming land (99% vs 27%).

Port Lincoln Boston
Rural and farming 27% 99%
Residential 44% 0%
Industrial 10% 0%
Other and special use 8% 0%
Parks and recreation 6% 0%
Environmental 2% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 0%
Commercial 2% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Port Lincoln Boston
New dwellings approved 30
across Port Lincoln
 39
across Lower Eyre Peninsula
Approvals change year on year -50% +29%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Port Lincoln Boston
Houses 4.8%
$610/wk on $655K
 3.1%
$750/wk on $1.27M
Units 5.8%
$465/wk on $415K
 —

Ranking within SA

Port Lincoln Boston
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 32% of SA Higher than 88% of SA
Schools Higher than 3% of SA —
Walkability Higher than 81% of SA Higher than 35% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 24% of SA Higher than 3% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of SA Higher than 62% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 94% of SA Higher than 17% of SA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 93% of SA —

Liveability

Port Lincoln is more walkable (51 vs 0); Boston scores higher overall (57 vs 16).

Port Lincoln Boston
Grade D B
Score 16/100 57/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Port Lincoln carries more bushfire risk (49 vs 0); Port Lincoln carries more crime risk (91 vs 18).

Port Lincoln Boston
Bushfire Moderate
49/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
91/100
 Low
18/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
65/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Port Lincoln Boston
Inside the suburb 8 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 5 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Port Lincoln

  • Kirton Point Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Navigator College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Port Lincoln High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Port Lincoln Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Lincoln Gardens Primary School Government · Primary

Schools in Boston

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Port Lincoln Boston
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 11 0
Parks & reserves 13 1
Childcare 11 0
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 7 0
Fuel stations 9 0

Mobility

Port Lincoln sits further from the CBD (651.6 km vs 648.1 km).

Port Lincoln Boston
Walkability score 51/100 0/100
Distance to Adelaide 651.6 km 648.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 428 min 423 min
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 5606
 0.1%
postcode 5607
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 49
postcode 5606
 59
postcode 5607

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Port Lincoln Boston
Car (driver) 83.7% / 87.3%
Port Lincoln — Car (driver): 83.7% Boston — Car (driver): 87.3%
Worked from Home 4.8% / 7.4%
Port Lincoln — Worked from Home: 4.8% Boston — Worked from Home: 7.4%
Car (passenger) 6.9% / 3.9%
Port Lincoln — Car (passenger): 6.9% Boston — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Walked Only 3.6% / 1.4%
Port Lincoln — Walked Only: 3.6% Boston — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bicycle 0.5% / —
Port Lincoln — Bicycle: 0.5% Boston — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (87.3%).

Setting

Port Lincoln Boston
Elevation 50 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 129 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.4 km
2.9 km to a named beach
 2.7 km

NBN connectivity

Port Lincoln Boston
Connectivity score 51/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 13%
8,116 premises
 0%
364 premises

Council rates

Port Lincoln Boston
Average residential rate $2,090/yr $1,789/yr
Council Port Lincoln Lower Eyre Peninsula

Federal electorate

Port Lincoln Boston
Division Grey
same for both
Member Tom Venning
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Port Lincoln Boston
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Port Lincoln

Affordable Coastal Parks Regional Centre

Boston

Acreage Coastal Family

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Port Lincoln

Port Lincoln vs Duck Ponds Port Lincoln vs Tulka

Other comparisons with Boston

Boston vs Tiatukia Boston vs Duck Ponds Boston vs Hawson
Full data on Port Lincoln Full data on Boston
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or