Median house price
$2.48M
+2.4% change
NSW · Byron Council
Broken Head, 2481
Est. population · Jun 2025
419
Growth (1 yr)
+1.9%
Growth (5 yr)
+8.0%
Median age
43
Median income
$1,687/wk
Employment rate
53.5%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$2,483,000
Languages at home
12.5%non-English
Most common: French, Portuguese, Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Life in Broken Head revolves around the coast at a genuine remove from Sydney. Day-to-day life leans on nearby towns and local hubs rather than the metro area. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with family life visible on every street.
Local shops are sparse, so a fuller set of amenities usually means travelling to a neighbouring town or regional hub. Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. The suburb still has an emerging character, as newer residents settle in and local identity forms.
Desirability sits below average overall, with local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus parks and green space the main drag compared with similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Broken Head snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$990/wk
Houses $1,200 · Units $785
Population (ERP)
419
+1.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
28.1%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#35
among Coastal & beach · Emerging
Safety
83rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
87th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 16.7/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6859th in Australia
- State rank
- 2142nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #35 among Coastal & beach · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #202 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $785
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,200
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $990
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 127
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $2,483,000
- Median price change
- +2.4%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
419(June 2025)
+1.9% annual · +8.0% over 5 years · 87th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.9%
- 5-year growth
- +8.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +8
- Change in 5 years
- +31
- Growth rank in NSW
- 87th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~450), extrapolated at +1.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 385
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $1,687
- Dwelling vacancy
- 28.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 54 of 192
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,600
- Employment rate
- 53.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 125 / 0 / 0 (+ 12 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 49
- Against the person
- 10
- Against property
- 23
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 116.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 38 residents
- State safety percentile
- 83th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -5.5%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions114
- Fraud133
- Malicious Damage To Property147
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault159
- Other Theft152
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Public transport
13 public transport stops in this suburb
- Broken Head Rd After Bundaleer Rd
- Broken Head Rd Before Midgen Flat Rd
- Broken Head Rd Opp Broken Head Community Hall
- Broken Head Rd Opp Rose Apple Pl
- Byron Bay Rd At Butter Factory Rd (Ross Ln 2)
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 13 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 20/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Transport(2)
2 bus stops
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Byron Central Hospital (10.8 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 8
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 19.1
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 28° / 19°
- Rainfall
- 569 mm · ~71 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 612 mm · ~76 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 289 mm · ~36 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 300 mm · ~38 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)83 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 ARMSTRONG LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Under Assessment
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)14 ARMSTRONG LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Under Assessment
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool80 MIDGEN FLAT ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
2025· 5 proposals
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Tourist and visitor accommodationU 2 137 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 64 BLACKBUTT LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 ARMSTRONG LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)865 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool80 MIDGEN FLAT ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
2024· 6 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Rural worker's dwelling85 ARMSTRONG LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
August 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)92 MIDGEN FLAT ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Deferred Commencement
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation142 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
June 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Serviced apartmentU 1 137 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)865 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
April 2024
- Subdivision56 ARMSTRONG LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
2023· 6 proposals
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure142 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
October 2023
- Dual occupancy; Other92 MIDGEN FLAT ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure95 BLACKBUTT LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
May 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development13 591 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
March 2023
- Farm buildings801 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
- Pools / decks / fencingU 7 137 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
2022· 12 proposals
December 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development2/64 Blackbutt Lane, Broken Head NSWOperational consent issued
November 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development140 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
October 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing64 MIDGEN FLAT ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development3 591 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
- Other865 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
- Stratum / community title subdivision139 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
August 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Shed18 ARMSTRONG LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
July 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development142 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
- Dual occupancy672 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
May 2022
- Dwelling95 BLACKBUTT LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
- Other657B BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
January 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development13 591 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
2021· 7 proposals
November 2021
- Farm buildings; Shed672 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
September 2021
- Dwelling95 BLACKBUTT LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Withdrawn
August 2021
- Dwelling; Secondary dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Earthworks / change in levels; Garages, carports and car parking spaces865 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
July 2021
- Stratum / community title subdivision139 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
- Farm buildings801 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
May 2021
- Farm buildings; Shed672 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
April 2021
- Dual occupancy176 MIDGEN FLAT ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Richmond
- Member of Parliament
- Justine ELLIOT (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 126,814
- Turnout (2025)
- 89.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.8 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.0%Labor 60.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 10.4 km away).
Coalition 27.4%Labor 72.6%
12.6 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Suffolk ParkLabor 78.4% · Coalition 21.6% TPP (2025)4.6 km away
- NewrybarLabor 60.2% · Coalition 39.8% TPP (2025)6.6 km away
- Byron Bay SouthLabor 77.1% · Coalition 22.9% TPP (2025)7.2 km away
- Lennox HeadLabor 67.7% · Coalition 32.4% TPP (2025)7.2 km away
- BangalowLabor 77.8% · Coalition 22.2% TPP (2025)8.5 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Byron Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.