Broken Hill
Statistical Area - sa2

Broken Hill has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Broken Hill's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 17,563 people. This figure represents a decrease of 25 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 17,588. The change is estimated based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) June 2024 estimate of 17,541 and the addition of 9 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 103 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Broken Hill has shown resilience with a compound annual growth rate of -0.6%, outperforming its Statistical Area Level 3 (SA3) region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during this period.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 using a 2021 base year are employed. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area's population is projected to decline by 4,161 persons. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 85 and over age group, which is projected to increase by 102 people.

The level of residential development activity in Broken Hill is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Broken Hill has annually received approximately 10 dwelling approvals for development. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that between financial years 2020 to 2025, Broken Hill had a total of 52 dwellings approved. As of the current financial year ending June 30, 2026, two dwellings have been approved so far. The average expected construction cost value for new properties is $434,000, which aligns with regional trends.

In this financial year alone, there have been $24.7 million in commercial approvals, indicating steady investment activity in the area. Compared to the rest of New South Wales (NSW), Broken Hill records about three-quarters of the building activity per person. Nationally, Broken Hill ranks among the 8th percentile of areas assessed for development activity, which results in relatively constrained buyer choice and supports interest in existing properties. This lower-than-average activity suggests that the area is well-established and may have potential planning limitations.

All new constructions approved since financial year 2020 have been detached dwellings, preserving Broken Hill's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 3814 people, reflecting its quiet development environment. With a stable or declining population expected in the future, Broken Hill should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially presenting opportunities for buyers.

Broken Hill has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 12thth percentile nationally

Six infrastructure projects are expected to influence the area's performance: Broken Hill Health Service Redevelopment, Silver City Energy Storage Centre (Hydrostor A-CAES), Silver City Energy Storage Centre, and Broken Hill Town Square Redevelopment. These projects were identified by AreaSearch as potentially impactful on the area.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Employment performance in Broken Hill has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Broken Hill's workforce comprises white and blue-collar jobs with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 4.4%.

As of June 2025, 7,326 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is 0.7% higher than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation stands at 52.0%, lower than the Rest of NSW average of 56.4%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, mining, and retail trade. Mining is particularly prominent, with an employment share 4.6 times higher than the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.0% of Broken Hill's workforce compared to 5.3% in Rest of NSW. Some residents commute for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force decreased by 1.8%, employment declined by 3.2%, leading to a rise in unemployment by 1.5 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1% with a labour force expansion of 0.3%. State-level data for NSW as of Sep-25 shows employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19,270 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.5%, and employment growth is 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Broken Hill's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Broken Hill is $51,977, with average income at $62,526. This compares to Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998. With a 10.6% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of March 2025 would be approximately $57,487 (median) and $69,154 (average). Census 2021 income data shows Broken Hill's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 11th and 19th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile in Broken Hill is dominated by the $400 - $799 category, with 27.2% of locals (4,777 people), unlike regional trends where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Housing costs in Broken Hill are modest, with 90.0% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 18th percentile nationally.

Broken Hill is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Broken Hill's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, were 94.9% houses and 5.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is similar to Non-Metro NSW's composition of 94.9% houses and 5.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Broken Hill stood at 43.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.3% and rented ones at 24.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $867, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. The median weekly rent was $220, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $205. Nationally, Broken Hill's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Broken Hill features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 60.6% of all households, including 19.3% couples with children, 26.0% couples without children, and 14.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 39.4%, with lone person households at 37.1% and group households making up 2.2%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

Broken Hill faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate stands at 13.5%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives in the region. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with a rate of 9.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prominent among residents aged 15 and above, with 38.6% holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (7.9%) and certificates (30.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (10.6%), secondary education (7.6%), and tertiary education (2.7%). A total of 10 schools operate within Broken Hill, educating approximately 2,551 students. The educational provision is balanced with eight primary and two secondary schools serving distinct age groups in the area.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Broken Hill has 92 active public transport stops, which include both train and bus services. These stops are served by 18 different routes that collectively facilitate 1,046 weekly passenger trips. The city's transport accessibility is considered good, with residents generally located within 226 meters of the nearest stop.

On average, there are 149 trips per day across all routes, which amounts to approximately 11 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Broken Hill is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Broken Hill faces significant health challenges, affecting both younger and older age groups.

Approximately 8,974 people reside in Broken Hill, with around 51% having private health cover, slightly lower than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 12.0% of residents) and asthma (impacting 10.2%). Notably, 56.6% of residents reported being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 57.9% in the rest of NSW. Broken Hill has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, with 23.7% (4,167 people) falling into this age category. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges generally consistent with the overall population's health profile.

The latest Census data sees Broken Hill placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Broken Hill has a low level of cultural diversity, with 89.1% of its population being Australian citizens, 94.3% born in Australia, and 96.3% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Broken Hill is Christianity, accounting for 43.8% of the population, compared to 44.9% across the rest of NSW. Regarding ancestry, the top three represented groups are Australian (34.2%), English (29.9%), and Australian Aboriginal (7.3%).

Notably, Maltese, German, and Filipino ethnicities have higher representation in Broken Hill than in the regional average: Maltese at 1.2% vs 1.1%, German at 3.6% vs 3.6%, and Filipino at 1.1% vs 1.0%.

Broken Hill hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Broken Hill's median age is 44 years, similar to Rest of NSW's 43 years and above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Broken Hill has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (12.9%) but fewer residents aged 45-54 (10.2%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 10.7% to 11.8%, while the 55-64 age group has declined from 14.6% to 13.0% and the 45-54 age group has decreased from 11.4% to 10.2%. By 2041, Broken Hill's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 22%, increasing from 535 to 654 people. This growth will be driven primarily by demographic aging, with residents aged 65 and older accounting for all anticipated population growth. Conversely, the 0-4 and 45-54 age groups are expected to decrease in number.