Broome

Population growth drivers in Broome are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Broome's population was approximately 17,679 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 3,019 people, a rise of 20.6% since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 14,660. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 16,238 in June 2024 and an additional 557 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 353 persons per square kilometer. Broome's growth rate exceeded the national average of 9.9% during this period, making it a growth leader in its region. Natural growth contributed approximately 52.3% of overall population gains recently.

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 and post-2032 estimates, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future demographic trends project an above median population growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas. Broome is expected to increase by 2,187 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 4.2% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Broome among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Broome has recorded approximately 73 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 366 homes. As of FY26, 42 approvals have been recorded. On average, around three people move to the area per new home constructed each year between FY21 and FY25, indicating robust demand that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $366,000, slightly above the regional average.

This suggests a focus on quality developments. In FY26, there have been $59.5 million in commercial approvals, reflecting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the Rest of WA, Broome records 66.0% more new home approvals per person, offering greater choice for buyers. Recent construction comprises 93.0% standalone homes and 7.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing that attracts space-seeking buyers.

Notably, developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (78.0% at Census), reflecting persistent strong demand for family homes amid densification trends. Broome reflects a developing area, with around 204 people per approval. Looking ahead, Broome is expected to grow by 746 residents through to 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Broome has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 26thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones are Broome Boating Facility, Walmanyjun Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment, Yinajalan Ngarrungunil Health and Wellbeing Campus, and Broome North - Waranyjarri Estate. The following list details those most likely to be 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.

Broome has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Broome has an educated workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 4.0% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8% over the past year. As of that date, 9,122 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.8% higher than Rest of WA's rate of 3.3%.

Workforce participation in Broome was 74.3%, compared to Rest of WA's 67.2%. According to Census responses, 5.5% of residents worked from home as of September 2025. Leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and accommodation & food. Broome showed strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

Mining had limited presence in Broome with 3.1% employment compared to 11.7% regionally. Employment opportunities exist locally but many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 0.8% while labour force grew by 1.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points in Broome. Rest of WA recorded employment growth of 1.4%, labour force growth of 1.2%, with a fall in unemployment of 0.2 percentage points during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project total employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Broome's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 reports Broome SA2's median income among taxpayers at $64,015 and average income at $74,919. Nationally, these figures are above average. The Rest of WA has a median income of $59,973 and an average of $74,392. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $70,173 (median) and $82,126 (average). The 2021 Census ranks household, family, and personal incomes in Broome between the 79th and 89th percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows that 35.0% of residents earn $1,500 - $2,999 weekly, aligning with the surrounding region at 31.1%. Notably, 32.5% earn over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. Housing accounts for 14.9% of income, with residents ranking in the 79th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

In Broome, as per the latest Census evaluation, 77.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 22.4% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This differs from Non-Metro WA's dwelling structure, which was 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Broome's home ownership rate was 15.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.7% and rented ones at 53.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Broome was $2,167, higher than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,560. The median weekly rent in Broome was $330, compared to Non-Metro WA's $265. Nationally, Broome's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower at $330 compared to the national figure of $375.

Broome features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.6% of all households, including 31.3% couples with children, 24.7% couples without children, and 13.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.4%, with lone person households at 24.3% and group households comprising 5.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of WA average of 2.5.

Broome shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

Broome's educational attainment is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 29.3% hold university qualifications, compared to 17.6% in the rest of WA and 20.5% in the SA4 region. This educational advantage positions Broome strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%).

Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (28.9%). Educational participation is high, with 37.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.6% in primary education, 10.6% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Broome has 34 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by one route, offering a total of 134 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is limited, with residents located an average of 921 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward. Cars are the primary mode of transport at 85%, followed by walking at 6% and cycling at 4%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 5.5% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 19 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 3 weekly trips per individual stop.

Broome's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Broome.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low across both young and old age cohorts. Private health cover was found to be very high at approximately 57% of the total population (~10,006 people). The most common medical conditions in the area were mental health issues and asthma, impacting 5.9 and 5.6% of residents respectively. A total of 79.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.3% across Rest of WA. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 6.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,080 people), which is lower than the 19.2% in Rest of WA. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Broome records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Broome's cultural diversity aligns with the wider region, with 78.7% citizens, 82.1% born in Australia, and 87.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 39.9%. Buddhism, however, is slightly overrepresented at 1.5%, compared to 1.0% regionally.

Ancestry-wise, Australian (25.0%) and English (23.7%) are top groups, with Australian Aboriginal notably higher at 17.0% than the regional average of 6.1%. Some ethnic groups show notable differences: French at 0.6% vs 0.4%, Filipino at 1.5% vs 1.2%, and South African at 0.5% vs 0.6%.

Broome hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Broome's median age is 33 years, which is considerably lower than the Rest of WA average of 40 years and substantially under the Australian median of 38 years. Relative to Rest of WA, Broome has a higher concentration of 25-34 year-olds at 20.1%, but fewer 65-74 year-olds at 4.6%. This 25-34 concentration is well above the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 17.1% to 20.1%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 16.5% to 18.1%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group has declined from 16.1% to 13.5%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 14.2% to 12.4%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, Broome's age profile will evolve significantly. The 25 to 34 cohort is projected to grow strongly at 22%, adding 780 residents to reach a total of 4,334. In contrast, both the 55 to 64 and 75 to 84 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.