Bourke

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

As of May 2026, the population of the suburb of Bourke is estimated at around 1,666 people. This reflects a decrease from the 2021 Census figure of 1,699 people, marking a drop of 33 individuals (1.9%). The current resident population estimate of 1,665 by AreaSearch is based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and validation of an additional 11 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of approximately 0.40 persons per square kilometer. Natural growth contributed around 68.0% to overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections indicate a decline in the suburb's population to 1,204 persons by 2041, a reduction of 462 individuals over this period. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 85 and over age group, projected to increase by 38 people during this time.

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

Bourke has approved less than one new dwelling annually over the past five years, totalling four. This low level of construction activity is typical in rural areas due to modest housing needs and limited development by local demand and infrastructure capacity. The small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Bourke's development levels are substantially lower than Rest of NSW and below national patterns. Population projections indicate stability or decline, suggesting reduced housing demand pressures, which may benefit potential buyers.

With population projections showing stability or decline, Bourke should see reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

Bourke has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 27thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 0 projects that are expected to impact this particular area. Notable projects include the NSW Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) Program, Newell Highway Upgrade, NSW Heavy Vehicle Rest Stops Program (TfNSW), and NSW Inland Rail Interface Improvements. The following list details those projects considered most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Bourke faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Bourke has a skilled workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 7.7% as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025719 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 3.8% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Bourke was broadly similar to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, only 5.6% of residents worked from home. Employment among residents is concentrated in public administration & safety, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Bourke shows strong specialization in public administration & safety with an employment share of 2.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction has lower representation at 5.1% compared to Regional NSW's average of 9.7%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Bourke's labour force decreased by 5.2% with employment decreasing by 3.9%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 1.3 percentage points. In comparison, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 1.2%, labour force contract by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Bourke. These projections estimate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bourke's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

In financial year 2023, Bourke's median income among taxpayers was $57,631 and the average level stood at $67,541. Nationally, these figures were approximately average compared to regional NSW levels of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. By March 2026, estimates suggest median income would reach approximately $63,579 and average income $74,511 based on a 10.32% increase from the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023. The 2021 Census reported Bourke's personal income rank at the 60th percentile ($860 weekly) and household income at the 38th percentile. Income distribution showed that 32.6% of individuals earned between $1,500 - 2,999, consistent with broader regional trends (29.9%). Housing costs were manageable with 91.5% retained, but disposable income was below average at the 47th percentile.

Bourke is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The latest Census evaluation revealed that 95.1% of dwellings in Bourke were houses, with the remaining 4.9% consisting of semi-detached properties, apartments, and other dwelling types. In contrast, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bourke stood at 31.4%, with mortgaged dwellings accounting for 25.1% and rented dwellings making up 43.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bourke was $947, significantly lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Bourke was recorded at $180, substantially below the Regional NSW average of $330 and the national average of $375. Nationally, Bourke's mortgage repayments were well below the Australian average of $1,863.

Bourke features high concentrations of lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 66.1% of all households, including 27.3% couples with children, 20.5% couples without children, and 16.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.9%, with lone person households at 31.2% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Bourke fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 22.2%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 35.8% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 12.2% and certificates at 23.6%. Educational participation is high, with 36.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 16.2% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Bourke has 71 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 10 routes providing 125 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is excellent with residents typically located 139 meters from the nearest stop. The area is primarily residential, with most commuters travelling outward. Car remains the dominant mode at 79%, while 17% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 5.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 17 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Bourke is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Bourke, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Notably, common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 54% of the total population (~893 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions in Bourke are asthma and arthritis, affecting 9.3 and 6.6% of residents respectively. However, 68.6% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents in Bourke have a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 16.6% of residents aged 65 and over (276 people), which is lower than the 23.4% seen in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings even higher than those of the general population.

Bourke is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Bourke's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 80.0% of its population being citizens, 93.6% born in Australia, and 94.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Bourke, comprising 72.8% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (27.1%), English (25.7%), and Australian Aboriginal (25.6%), which is significantly higher than the regional average of 4.6%.

Notably, French ethnicity is overrepresented in Bourke at 0.4%, compared to 0.4% regionally, Lebanese at 0.1% versus 0.2%, and Welsh at 0.4% versus 0.5%.

Bourke's population is younger than the national pattern

Bourke has a median age of 34, which is lower than Regional NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's figure of 38. The 0-4 cohort is notably over-represented in Bourke at 9.3%, while the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented at 8.8%. Between 2021 and present, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 11.5% to 13.5%, and the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 3.7% to 5.6%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 12.3% to 8.2%, and the 5 to 14 group has dropped from 14.4% to 13.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Bourke's age profile will change significantly. The 85+ age cohort is projected to surge dramatically, expanding by 38 people (105%) from 36 to 75. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 100% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 45 to 54 and 0 to 4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.