Broome
With 59.2% of households renting and a 19.9% vacancy rate, Broome combines a renter-majority market with substantial available stock. Its population is 3,797, median age is 36, and household income sits at the 64.1 percentile. Compared with nearby Cable Beach, Broome is more town-centre and service-oriented, supported by healthcare at 23.1% of local industry, hospitality at 13.7%, and education at 13.1%. The 1.31% annual growth trend and overseas migration driver point to steady demand, while the 30.8% turnover rate suggests a mobile population. That mix suits people prioritising services and employment access over a tightly owner-occupied market.
Population
3,797
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,802/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Broome suits buyers who value practical housing choice but need to price around a market without a current median house figure. Separate houses account for 67.2% of dwellings, while semi-detached homes make up 23.6% and apartments 5.2%. Three-bedroom homes lead at 42.6%, higher than the 18.7% share of four-plus-bedroom homes, so this is the most common family format. A representative mortgage cost is $1,950 per month, equal to 25.0% of household income, while weekly rent is $300. With 59.2% renting, buyers should compare ownership costs, insurance and vacancy conditions against nearby Cable Beach before committing.
For Buyers
Broome suits buyers who value practical housing choice but need to price around a market without a current median house figure. Separate houses account for 67.2% of dwellings, while semi-detached homes make up 23.6% and apartments 5.2%. Three-bedroom homes lead at 42.6%, higher than the 18.7% share of four-plus-bedroom homes, so this is the most common family format. A representative mortgage cost is $1,950 per month, equal to 25.0% of household income, while weekly rent is $300. With 59.2% renting, buyers should compare ownership costs, insurance and vacancy conditions against nearby Cable Beach before committing.
For Investors
Broome presents a rental-focused case, but the 19.9% vacancy rate makes occupancy risk central to any appraisal. Weekly rent is $300, and 59.2% of households rent, compared with 15.2% owning outright and 23.9% holding a mortgage. The 30.8% turnover rate can support recurring tenant demand because households move through the market frequently, yet it may also increase leasing and maintenance work. Rent growth is recorded at 32.0%, while the development count over the past 12 months is 0, limiting evidence of a new supply wave. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, so investors should stress-test vacancy, insurance and seasonal demand rather than rely on rent growth alone.
Schools in Broome
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
BROOME ENTERPRISE ACADEMY
ST MARY'S COLLEGE
BROOME NORTH PRIMARY SCHOOL
BROOME PRIMARY SCHOOL
CABLE BEACH PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Broome has a median age of 36, which is 4.0 years below the national comparison, and university attainment is 25.9%, 4.2 percentage points below the national level. Overseas-born residents account for 19.3%, also 2.3 points below national, giving the suburb a less migrant-heavy profile than Australia overall. English ancestry is the largest named group at 928 people, followed by Irish at 269 and Scottish at 236. No religion is recorded for 1,574 residents versus 1,279 identifying with Christianity. Average household size is 2.5, equal to the national comparison, while 69.2% stayed at the same address and turnover was 30.8%. These patterns point to a younger, mobile population with mixed family and worker households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
67.2%
Houses
23.6%
Townhouse
5.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Broome's tenure profile is more rental-heavy than owner-occupied: 59.2% rent, 23.9% have a mortgage and 15.2% own outright. Separate houses still dominate at 67.2%, but the 23.6% semi-detached share is higher than the 5.2% apartment share. The bedroom mix is led by three-bedroom dwellings at 42.6%, followed by two-bedroom homes at 23.5%, while 15.2% are zero or one bedroom and 18.7% have four or more. Mortgage costs equal 25.0% of household income and rent equals 16.6%, so neither is flagged as stressed. Compared with nearby Cable Beach, address-level checks matter because Broome's 5.82 sq km footprint and 652.8 people per sq km can hide meaningful differences between central and peripheral pockets. Current median house pricing is unavailable, so buyers should compare recent listings and comparable sales.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$967
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
19.9%
Unoccupied
292
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.4%
Couples with children
33.9%
Couples, no children
26.4%
Single parent
749
Total families
Economy & Employment
Broome's employment base is concentrated in healthcare, which accounts for 23.1% of industry employment and 245 workers, followed by hospitality at 13.7% and education at 13.1%. Public administration contributes 6.9% and construction 6.7%, giving the local economy a mix of essential services, visitor activity and building work. Participation is 57.4%, unemployment is 6.6%, and full-time employment is 65.9% of employed residents. Professionals number 340, community and personal service workers 230, and managers 212. The IEO decile is 6, higher than the IER decile of 4, while IRSD is 5 and IRSAD is 6. That spread suggests education and occupation outcomes are stronger than economic-resource outcomes, despite household income sitting at the 64.1 percentile.
Unemployment
6.6%
Labour Force
1,751
Unemployed
116
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.9%
Part-time
26.3%
Participation
57.4%
Employed
1,635
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.9%
Postgraduate
5.6%
Born Overseas
19.3%
Dwellings
1,144
Transport to Work
Broome offers a compact, car-oriented daily setup across 5.82 sq km at a density of 652.8 people per sq km. Driving accounts for 67.4% of commuting, compared with 1.9% using public transport and 17.5% walking or cycling, so access to a car is more important than in a transit-led suburb. Seven schools are located in the local area: 5 government schools, including 4 primary and 1 senior high, plus 2 non-government schools. Check enrolment zones against the exact address, especially around Cable Beach and central Broome. An IRSAD decile of 6 and IRSD decile of 5 indicate middle-range relative advantage, while no suburb-wide crime rate is available, so current local safety advice is worth checking before renting or buying.
Drive
67.4%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
17.5%
Work from Home
6.0%
Population Forecast
+1.31%/yr
(+216 people/yr)
EstablishedBroome is positioned for measured growth rather than a rapid transformation. The annual trend is 1.31%, and overseas migration is the primary driver, giving demand a population-movement basis rather than a purely local employment story. Population change across the wider area is 14.8% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Mixed, with rent growth of 32.0% and real income growth of 9.9%. Gentrification is scored 8 and classified as Not gentrifying, although the shift profile records a score of 27 and Early signs. Together, these signals point to an established market with gradual change, where migration and rental pressure matter more than a clear gentrification cycle.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+188
Net Internal / yr
-146
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +24% since 2011, Net internal outflow -146/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Broome compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Broome a good suburb to live in?
Broome can suit residents seeking a compact service centre, but the choice depends on rental exposure and transport needs. The suburb has 3,797 residents, a median age of 36, 67.4% car commuting and 59.2% renting, so check housing costs and access to a vehicle.
What is the median house price in Broome?
A current median house price is not available. For context, weekly rent is $300, 67.2% of dwellings are separate houses and the representative mortgage cost is $1,950 per month. Compare recent sales and listings by dwelling type before setting a budget.
What schools are in Broome?
Broome has 7 local schools: 5 government schools, including 4 primary schools and 1 senior high school, plus 2 non-government schools. Enrolment zones can differ by address, so confirm the catchment for any home near central Broome or Cable Beach.
Is Broome safe?
A numerical suburb-wide crime rate is not available, so safety should be checked using current local advice and address-level information. Broome's population is 3,797, 17.5% walk or cycle, and 67.4% drive, making street context and travel patterns relevant to day-to-day decisions.
Is Broome good for property investment?
Broome may suit investors targeting rental demand, but the 19.9% vacancy rate is a material risk. Weekly rent is $300, 59.2% of households rent, and rent growth is 32.0%. Test insurance, vacancy periods and maintenance costs because no new development was recorded in the past 12 months.
How is Broome's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 14.8% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 1.31%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is Mixed. The suburb's current population is 3,797, so change appears gradual and migration-led rather than a sharp local surge.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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