Broken Hill
At 17,706 residents spread across 13,034.07 sq km, Broken Hill is less a commuter suburb than an inland regional hub, with density of just 1.4 people per sq km. Compared with Silverton and Menindee, it carries the service-centre role for far-west NSW through 10 schools and a healthcare-led workforce. Housing is unusually detached: 94.9% separate houses vs 2.5% apartments, and the median house price of $205,000 sits alongside a high 17.3% vacancy rate. The population is older, with a median age of 44, 4.0 years above the national figure, while overseas-born residents at 5.6% are 16.0 points below national.
Population
17,706
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,176/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
134
Median House
$205K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers are buying affordability and space rather than metropolitan-style choice. The $205,000 median house price and $867 monthly mortgage burden keep ownership accessible because mortgage costs take 17.0% of income, lower than the 18.7% rent-to-income measure. Detached homes dominate at 94.9%, so buyers seeking apartments face a thin 2.5% stock pool. The main family format is practical: 55.2% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 20.5% have 4 or more, making renovation scope more likely than density or townhouse options.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are buying affordability and space rather than metropolitan-style choice. The $205,000 median house price and $867 monthly mortgage burden keep ownership accessible because mortgage costs take 17.0% of income, lower than the 18.7% rent-to-income measure. Detached homes dominate at 94.9%, so buyers seeking apartments face a thin 2.5% stock pool. The main family format is practical: 55.2% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 20.5% have 4 or more, making renovation scope more likely than density or townhouse options.
For Investors
Investors should read Broken Hill as a yield-and-vacancy market, not a scarcity market. Renting covers 24.7% of households and median rent is $220 a week, but the 17.3% vacancy rate is far higher than a tight rental setting, so tenant quality and downtime matter. Activity is not absent: 122 development applications in 12 months point to ongoing local works, while rents have grown 37.5% across the shift period. Net internal migration averages -75 people a year, partly offset by +46 from overseas migration, so demand depends more on services and mining jobs than population growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
693
Last 12 Months
134
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+27.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Broken Hill iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Sacred Heart Parish School
K-6 · 190 students
School of the Air
P-6 · 120 students
Morgan Street Public School
K-6 · 290 students
Willyama High School
7-12 · 570 students
Broken Hill High School
7-12 · 411 students
Demographics
Broken Hill's demographic profile is older and more locally rooted than the national average. Median age is 44, which is 4.0 years above national, and only 5.6% of residents were born overseas, 16.0 percentage points below national. University attainment is 17.0%, sitting 13.1 points below national, which fits a labour market weighted to health, education, mining and trades. English ancestry leads at 6,692 people, followed by Irish at 1,598 and Scottish at 1,509; reported non-English languages are small, with Italian 23 and Mandarin 11.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.9%
Houses
2.4%
Townhouse
2.5%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing market is deep in detached stock and short on density. Separate houses account for 94.9% of dwellings, compared with 2.5% apartments and 2.4% semi-detached homes, so price movements mostly reflect freestanding houses. Prices rose from $195,000 in 2024 to $215,750 in 2025, a 10.6% gain, with the latest quarter also the peak and 0.0% below that peak. Ownership is unusually settled: 44.0% own outright, higher than 31.3% with a mortgage and 24.7% renting, which suits stable households but can limit rental churn.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wk
$220
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$650
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.3%
Unoccupied
1,533
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.6%
Couples, no children
12,226
Total families
Economy & Employment
Broken Hill's economy is anchored by services plus legacy mining. Healthcare employs 1,213 people or 27.8%, well above the next sectors of education at 528, mining at 516, public admin at 365 and construction at 269. Occupations are broad rather than corporate-heavy: professionals number 1,188, community and personal service workers 1,175, and machinery or driver roles 735. The SEIFA picture is weaker than average, with education and occupation in decile 1, economic resources decile 2, disadvantage decile 2 and overall advantage-disadvantage decile 1, reflecting low incomes despite stable essential-sector jobs.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
7,558
Unemployed
269
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.0%
Part-time
27.1%
Participation
48.2%
Employed
6,668
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.0%
Postgraduate
3.3%
Born Overseas
5.6%
Dwellings
7,319
Transport to Work
Livability is practical and car-based. Public transport commuting is only 0.1%, far below car driving at 86.6%, while 5.2% walk or cycle, so proximity to work, school and shops matters more than rail access. School choice is a clear local strength, with 10 schools spanning Catholic and Government sectors and ICSEA scores from 858 to 990. Sacred Heart Parish School at 990, School of the Air at 985 and Morgan Street Public School at 960 sit at the top of the local range. IRSAD decile 1 signals below-average socio-economic advantage, so buyers should weigh affordability against service access.
Drive
86.6%
Public Transport
0.1%
Walk / Cycle
5.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.67%/yr
(-118 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation momentum is the main constraint. The established-area forecast points to -0.67% annual change, or about -118 people a year, with the medium path easing from 17,210 in 2026 to 16,621 in 2031. Migration is mixed: overseas migration is the primary driver at +46 a year, but internal migration averages -75, so departures to other regions more than offset arrivals. The shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.4 points and young share down 0.9. Gentrification is rated 0 and Not gentrifying, lower than markets where redevelopment demand drives population renewal.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+46
Net Internal / yr
-75
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Broken Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Broken Hill a good suburb to live in?
Yes for buyers who value space, affordability and regional services: the median house price is $205,000, 94.9% of homes are separate houses and there are 10 local schools. It is less suited to public-transport lifestyles, with only 0.1% commuting that way.
What is the median house price in Broken Hill?
The median house price in Broken Hill is $205,000, with the latest price-series point at $215,750 in 2025. Prices rose 10.6% from $195,000 in 2024, while the latest quarter is 0.0% below the recorded peak.
What schools are in Broken Hill?
Broken Hill has 10 listed schools across Government and Catholic sectors. Top ICSEA scores are Sacred Heart Parish School at 990, School of the Air at 985 and Morgan Street Public School at 960, with local enrolments ranging from 120 to 570.
Is Broken Hill safe?
Current crime-rate figures are not available for Broken Hill, so safety should be checked street by street and against recent police releases. For context, the suburb has 17,706 residents, 10 schools and 86.6% of commuters driving, which shapes daily activity patterns.
Is Broken Hill good for property investment?
Broken Hill can suit yield-focused investors, with median rent at $220 a week and 24.7% of households renting. The caution is vacancy: 17.3% is high compared with a tight market, so lease-up time and property condition matter as much as price.
How is Broken Hill's population changing?
Broken Hill's population is easing rather than growing. The forecast trend is -0.67% a year, about -118 people, and the medium path moves from 17,210 in 2026 to 16,621 in 2031. Aging is also visible, with seniors up 3.4 points.
Is there much development in Broken Hill?
Yes. There were 122 development applications in the past 12 months, including commercial works, a service station, swimming pool and recreation-area examples. That is meaningful activity, but it sits alongside a 17.3% vacancy rate and a declining population trend.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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