Broken Hill, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Broken Hill NSW is 17,706 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Broken Hill is $650 per week ($33,800 per year). Median rent in Broken Hill is $220 per week ($953 per month). Broken Hill has a median age of 44 years, older than the national median of 38. Broken Hill has a population density of 1.4 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Broken Hill is Philippines. The most common religion is No religion (48.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Filipino. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Broken Hill is $867.

There were 832 recorded offences in Broken Hill in 2025-26, a rate of 47 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (244 offences).

Population
17,706
Census 2021
Median income
$650/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$220/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
44years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Broken Hill vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Broken Hill is $650 a week, 15% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,567th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $220 a week, $165 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 18.7% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 44, 1 year older than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureBroken HillTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$650/wk$765/wk −15%$766/wk
Household income$1,176/wk$1,704/wk −31%$1,637/wk
Rent$220/wk$385/wk −43%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$867/mo$1,965/mo −56%$1,733/mo
Median age4443 +1 yrs42
Rent share of household income18.7%22.6% −3.9 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Broken Hill, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Broken Hill Population

17,706 residents at the 2021 Census.

Broken Hill Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$650/wk
$33,800 per year
Ranked 6,325 of 14,663
Median Rent
$220/wk
$953 per month
Ranked 7,029 of 14,663
Median Age
44years
6 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$867/mo
Avg household size: 2.2 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Broken Hill Rent Prices & Affordability

19% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,176/wk
Median rent $220/wk
Rent to income 18.7%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Broken Hill against your income

About $5,096 a month
Median rent $220/wk
Left after rent $956/wk
Rent share 18.7%

Broken Hill Map

Broken Hill, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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Broken Hill, New South Wales: 32.3527°S, 141.6271°E

Broken Hill Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents

People in Broken Hill

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.8% (8,639) Female 51.2% (9,071)

Population Density

1.4
people per km²
17,706 people · 13034.1 km²

Households

2.2
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,627
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

Philippines
1.1%
England
0.8%
New Zealand
0.4%
India
0.4%
Germany
0.2%
United States of America
0.2%
Italy
0.1%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Filipino
0.4%
Tagalog
0.4%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.3%
Italian
0.3%
Malayalam
0.2%
Arabic
0.2%
Mandarin
0.1%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
43.2%
English
37.8%
Australian Aboriginal
9.2%
Irish
9.0%
Scottish
8.5%
German
4.5%
Italian
3.0%
Maltese
1.5%
Filipino
1.4%
Dutch
0.6%
Indian
0.6%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
48.8%
Catholic
17.9%
Not stated
10.1%
Anglican
8.9%
Uniting Church
6.1%
Christian (other)
1.3%
Baptist
0.9%
Presbyterian and Reformed
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

9.9%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
37.9% 5,564
Separated
4.2% 614
Divorced
10.7% 1,569
Widowed
8.2% 1,202
Never married
39.1% 5,739

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
32.0%
Couple: children under 15
31.6%
One parent: children under 15
14.6%
Couple: no children under 15
13.0%
One parent: no children under 15
8.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
37.0%
2 persons
34.3%
3 persons
12.9%
4 persons
10.1%
5 persons
3.9%
6+ persons
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Broken Hill

Housing Tenure

Of the 7,345 occupied private dwellings in Broken Hill at the 2021 Census, 23.7% were rented, 42.2% owned outright and 30.0% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.0% 149 dwellings
Owned outright
42.2% 3,101 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
30.0% 2,202 dwellings
Rented
23.7% 1,739 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.2% 163 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
97.5%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
2.2%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
4.1%
2 bedrooms
20.1%
3 bedrooms
55.3%
4 bedrooms
16.9%
5 bedrooms
2.9%
6+ bedrooms
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
6.8%
$300-$449/mo
8.9%
$450-$599/mo
8.8%
$600-$799/mo
16.5%
$800-$999/mo
16.0%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
23.3%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
11.3%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
5.4%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
1.9%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
9.7%
1 vehicle
42.8%
2 vehicles
33.1%
3 vehicles
10.0%
4+ vehicles
4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Broken Hill

Employment

Employed full-time
34.7% 4,473 people
Employed part-time
17.0% 2,197 people
Unemployed
3.3% 422 people
Not in labour force
45.0% 5,798 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
24.8%
Technicians & Trade Workers
19.8%
Community & Personal Service
18.2%
Managers
11.0%
Clerical & Administrative
10.4%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
6.9%
Labourers
5.0%
Sales Workers
3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.1%
$1-$149/wk
0.7%
$150-$299/wk
2.0%
$300-$399/wk
3.7%
$400-$499/wk
11.9%
$500-$649/wk
6.5%
$650-$799/wk
8.6%
$800-$999/wk
8.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.2%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
9.8%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.9%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.0%
$4,000+/wk
5.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.7%
$1-$149/wk
3.7%
$150-$299/wk
7.3%
$300-$399/wk
6.7%
$400-$499/wk
7.0%
$500-$649/wk
4.6%
$650-$799/wk
9.7%
$800-$999/wk
9.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.7%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.7%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
9.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.4%
$3,500+/wk
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
74.4%
Did not go to work
12.3%
Car (passenger)
7.0%
Walked only
4.1%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.7%
Truck
0.6%
Bicycle
0.4%
Other
0.4%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.2%
Bus
0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent
41.2%
Year 12 or equivalent
36.0%
Year 9 or equivalent
13.1%
Year 11 or equivalent
9.6%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
53.4%
Bachelor Degree
18.6%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
15.9%
Postgraduate Degree
4.6%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.1%
Certificate I/II
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
22.8%
Health
17.6%
Management & Commerce
16.5%
Society & Culture
13.6%
Education
11.3%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.5%
Architecture & Building
5.5%
Information Technology
2.1%
Agriculture & Environment
1.8%
Creative Arts
1.4%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
37.4%
Secondary: Government
30.4%
Vocational Education
15.0%
Pre-school
11.2%
Primary: Catholic
5.2%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
0.5%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
82.8%
Has need for assistance
8.3%
Need for assistance not stated
9.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
2,090
Arthritis
989
Asthma
905
Diabetes
735
Heart disease
618
Lung condition
596
Cancer
300
Kidney disease
278
Stroke
240
Dementia
68

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.4% 1,914
Did not provide
85.6% 11,353

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
14.8% 1,974
Not a volunteer
85.2% 11,354

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 10
Current ADF: Reserves
0.0% 6
Previously served
3.3% 441
Never served
96.6% 12,936

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
27.0%
1 child
11.9%
2 children
31.3%
3 children
18.8%
4 children
8.5%
5+ children
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
15
1951: 1960
81
1961: 1970
95
1971: 1980
77
1981: 1990
92
1991: 2000
69
2001: 2010
122
2011: 2015
113
2016
34
2017
36
2018
49
2019
56
2020
29
2021
16

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

12.8%
moved in the last year
31.8%
moved in the last 5 years
5.5%
unemployment rate (Census)
52.1%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
13,791
Moved: same area (SA2)
1,168
Moved from NSW
401
Moved from SA
140
Moved from VIC
84
Moved from QLD
57
Moved from overseas
51
Moved from WA
19
Moved from TAS
17
Moved from NT
16
Moved from ACT
15

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
16.7%
5: 14 hours
26.4%
15: 29 hours
12.2%
30+ hours
10.1%
Did not do domestic work
34.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
74.8%
Step family: no other children
15.8%
Blended family: no other children
7.0%
Intact family: other children present
1.5%
Other couple: children only
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Broken Hill Crime Statistics

832 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
244
Theft
194
Assault
115
Property Damage
100
Other Against Person
71
Drug Offences
60
Sexual Offences
31
Weapons
15
Robbery
1
Domestic Violence
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Hamilton South
Income: $770/wk Rent: $162/wk $58/wk less rent
Darlington Point
Income: $736/wk Rent: $200/wk $20/wk less rent
Narrandera
Income: $626/wk Rent: $210/wk $10/wk less rent
Trangie
Income: $711/wk Rent: $180/wk $40/wk less rent
Warren
Income: $740/wk Rent: $215/wk $5/wk less rent
Coolah
Income: $595/wk Rent: $170/wk $50/wk less rent
Hay (NSW)
Income: $669/wk Rent: $175/wk $45/wk less rent
Gilgandra
Income: $606/wk Rent: $200/wk $20/wk less rent

Compare Broken Hill

Frequently Asked Questions About Broken Hill

What is the population of Broken Hill NSW?

The population of Broken Hill NSW is 17,706 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1.4 people per km². Broken Hill is ranked #195 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Broken Hill?

The median personal income in Broken Hill NSW is $650 per week, or $33,800 per year. The median household income is $1,176 per week. Family income is $1,627 per week. Broken Hill is ranked #6,325 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Broken Hill?

Median rent in Broken Hill NSW is $220 per week ($953 per month). Rent represents 18.7% of household income, which is considered affordable. Broken Hill ranks #7,029 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Broken Hill?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Broken Hill NSW is $867. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Broken Hill?

The median age in Broken Hill NSW is 44 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Broken Hill a good suburb to live in?

Broken Hill is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 17,706. The median income is $650/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (18.7% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 10589. All dollar figures in AUD.