Median house price
$235k
+21% change
NSW · Unincorporated NSW Council
Broken Hill, 2880
Est. population · Jun 2025
19,558
Growth (1 yr)
-0.5%
Growth (5 yr)
-1.4%
Median age
44
Median income
$1,176/wk
Employment rate
49.3%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$235,000
Languages at home
3.7%non-English
Most common: Filipino, Australian Indigenous languages, Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Education hub
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Broken Hill offers a slower established suburb life in Unincorporated NSW, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Families have many nearby school and early-learning options to choose from.
Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Homes are relatively cheap compared with the wider market, which keeps entry costs lower. Historic fabric and newer builds sit side by side as the area renews without erasing its past.
Desirability lands below average here: softer safety weighing on the result versus similar regional towns, even with growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Broken Hill snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$328/wk
Houses $340 · Units $260
Population (ERP)
19,558
-0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
17.3%
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
#79
among Country & regional · Established
Safety
94th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
5th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
8th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
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
- 38.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3981st in Australia
- State rank
- 1220th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #79 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #396 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 100%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $260
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $340
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $328
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 138
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $235,000
- Median price change
- +20.5%
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
19,558(June 2025)
-0.5% annual · -1.4% over 5 years · 5th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.5%
- 5-year growth
- -1.4%
- Change in 1 year
- -93
- Change in 5 years
- -280
- Growth rank in NSW
- 5th 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 (~18,850), extrapolated at -0.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 17,706
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,176
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 1,533 of 8,881
- Median monthly mortgage
- $867
- Employment rate
- 49.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 6,944 / 177 / 186 (+ 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)
- 3,149
- Against the person
- 840
- Against property
- 1,026
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 161
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 21 residents
- State safety percentile
- 93.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.2%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order238
- Breach Bail Conditions413
- Domestic Violence Related Assault302
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment307
- Malicious Damage To Property338
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 10
- Median school ICSEA (10 schools)
- 886.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 8th
School list
- Alma Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 875 · 7th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 255 students · Top SEA quarter 3%View on My School →
- Broken Hill High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 892 · 9th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 411 students · Top SEA quarter 4%View on My School →
- Broken Hill North Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 864 · 6th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 206 students · Top SEA quarter 5%View on My School →
- Broken Hill Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 881 · 7th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 162 students · Top SEA quarter 5%View on My School →
- Burke Ward Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 858 · 5th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 200 students · Top SEA quarter 3%View on My School →
- Morgan Street Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 960 · 29th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 290 students · Top SEA quarter 7%View on My School →
- Railway Town Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 868 · 6th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 124 students · Top SEA quarter 2%View on My School →
- Sacred Heart Parish SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 990 · 42th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 190 students · Top SEA quarter 14%View on My School →
- School of the AirPrimary · Government · ICSEA 985 · 40th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 120 students · Top SEA quarter 5%View on My School →
- Willyama High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 903 · 11th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 570 students · Top SEA quarter 4%View on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Alma Bugdlie PreschoolPiper Streetkindergarten
- childcarechildcare
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
169 public transport stops in this suburb
- Alma Public School, Comstock St
- Broken Hill High School, Garnet St
- Burke Wills Public School, Rakow St
- Gossan St Opp Crystal Lane
- Railway Town Public School, Wills Lane
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
Parks & reserves
19 parks and public open space in this suburb
- A.J. Keast ParkPark
- Alma OvalPark
- Duff Street ParkPark
- Duke of Cornwall ParkPark
- Excelsior SportsgroundPark
- John Keenan LookoutPark
- Jubilee OvalPark
- Lions Recreational ReservePark
- Memorial OvalPark
- North Family Play CentrePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 72
- Parks (OSM)
- 23
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
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 13
- Nearest hospital
- Southern Cross Hospital (39.5 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- AudiologistAudiologist
- Broken Hill Base HospitalHospital
- Broken Hill ChiropracticArgent StreetAlternative
- DoctorBeryl StreetDoctor
- Eyerys I CareArgent LaneOptometrist
- Maari Ma Health Aboriginal CorporationYes
- Maari Ma Primary Healthcare ServiceYes
- Maari Ma Primary Healthcare ServiceYes
- Netting ChemistPharmacy
- Outback Pharmacies / CP Peoples ChemistPharmacy
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)
- 731
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 37.4
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
- 34° / 19°
- Rainfall
- 86 mm · ~11 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 26° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 63 mm · ~8 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 52 mm · ~6 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 26° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 69 mm · ~9 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· 75 proposals
August 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure458 CRYSTAL STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport95 BROWN STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Mobile food and drink outlet; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink; Hours of operation and trading360 WOLFRAM STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Under Assessment
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise; Specialised Retail Premises324-330 ARGENT STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure539 CHAPPLE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Additional Information Requested
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation53 ARGENT STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care276 CLARKE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Recreation facility (indoor)270 Garnet Street Broken Hill NSW 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure711 WILLIAMS STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)26-36 OXIDE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Additional Information Requested
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia87 GAFFNEY LANE BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure334 MORGAN STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Subdivision637 LANE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Demolition; Rural supplies326 IODIDE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure191 PELL STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Carport142 CLARKE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure24 CREEDON STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure106 DUFF STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure481 LANE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure651 BERYL STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Demolition697 WILLIAMS STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Entertainment associated with existing premises23A BONANZA STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise405-409 ARGENT STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Under Assessment
May 2026
- Demolition; Business premises; Erection of a new structure; Exhibition home108 WYMAN STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Commercial development; Erection of a new structure; Service station38 PINNACLES ROAD BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure557 CUMMINS STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure173 GYPSUM STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Demolition; Office Premise; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia3-7 OXIDE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure198 RAKOW STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Camping ground220 RACECOURSE ROAD BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation339 KNOX STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation763 HASKARD STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure290 MORISH STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure502 BLENDE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)337 WILLIAMS STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Demolition243 HEBBARD STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Demolition; Awnings, blinds and canopies321 BLENDE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space250 CHAPPLE LANE BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Recreation facility (indoor)270 Garnet Street Broken Hill NSW 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation95 GYPSUM STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
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)
Heritage
14 heritage places
- 1915 Picnic Train Attack and White Rocks ReserveBroken HillSHR
- BHP Chimney Ruin of First OfficesPart of Consolidated Mining Lease 7 East of corner of Gaffney and Oxide Streets, Proprietary Square Broken HillSHR
- Broken Hill MosqueBuck Street, Broken HillSHR
- Broken Hill Post Office258-260 Argent Street Broken HillSHR
- Broken Hill Railway Station and yard groupBroken Hill railway, Broken HillSHR
- Broken Hill Synagogue165 Wolfram Street Broken HillSHR
- Central Mine Manager's Residence, formerPiper Street, South Broken HillSHR
- Day Dream SmelterPor PML 2, Broken HillSHR
- Palace Hotel227 Argent Street Broken HillSHR
- Seppelts Warehouse160 Crystal Street Broken HillSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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
- Parkes
- Member of Parliament
- Jamie CHAFFEY (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 130,841
- Turnout (2025)
- 89.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +5.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 63.0%Labor 37.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 263.7 km away).
Coalition 34.7%Labor 65.3%
28.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Broken Hill SouthLabor 65.5% · Coalition 34.5% TPP (2025)42.2 km away
- Broken Hill CentralLabor 66.2% · Coalition 33.8% TPP (2025)43.9 km away
- Broken Hill WestLabor 63.9% · Coalition 36.1% TPP (2025)45.0 km away
- Broken Hill NorthLabor 66.6% · Coalition 33.4% TPP (2025)46.1 km away
- Broken Hill HeightsLabor 62.9% · Coalition 37.1% TPP (2025)46.6 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)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Unincorporated NSW Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile elsewhere in New South Wales or interstate.