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Broken Hill vs Far West

Name: Broken Hill vs Far West — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) comparison ≈ 168 km apart · Broken Hill profile · Far West profile

Broken Hill Far West

Broken Hill and Far West are two distinct New South Wales regions with very different footprints. Broken Hill is more populated and urban, with a very walkable layout where 92.8% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of various amenities. In contrast, Far West is sparsely populated and mostly car-dependent, with a much larger First Nations population at 29.0%, compared to 10.0% in Broken Hill. Employment patterns also differ sharply: Far West has a massive share of people in agriculture, forestry and fishing (43.9%), while Broken Hill's workforce is more focused on health care and social assistance.

Both areas sit near the national figure for overall advantage, suggesting a similar general level of wellbeing despite their different settings. They share a nearly identical typical weekly household income, with Broken Hill at $1,173 and Far West at $1,103. Other commonalities include a similar share of people living alone and almost identical rates of home ownership. However, some gaps are shifting; the difference in the number of people who identify as having no religion has widened since 2011, while the gap in First Nations population has narrowed.

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Where they differ most

Work from home: 26.8 pts higher in Far West Population: 15,300 larger in Broken Hill First Nations: 19.1 pts higher in Far West Needs assistance: 4.8 pts higher in Broken Hill Recent arrivals: 15.0 pts higher in Broken Hill

Demographics & Identity

Population in Broken Hill in Far West +15,300 larger in Broken Hill gap steady

17,588 85th pct 2,288 9th pct

Median age in Broken Hill in Far West +1 yrs older in Broken Hill gap narrowing

44 yrs 75th pct 43 yrs 71st pct

Age structure

26.0% Older adults (45–64) +1.8 pts ▸ 27.8%

23.1% Young adults (25–44) +0.3 pts ▸ 23.4%

23.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +3.2 pts 20.0%

17.1% Children (0–14) +1.3 pts ▸ 18.3%

10.6% Youth (15–24) +0.1 pts ▸ 10.8%

Marital status

39.2% Never married +5.3 pts ▸ 44.5%

37.8% Married ◂ +0.3 pts 37.5%

10.7% Divorced ◂ +1.4 pts 9.3%

8.2% Widowed ◂ +3.4 pts 4.7%

4.2% Separated ◂ +0.4 pts 3.7%

Age & sex structure

Broken Hill Far West

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

86.0% Australia ◂ +8.3 pts 77.7%

1.1% Philippines ◂ +1.1 pts 0.0%

0.4% New Zealand +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.8% England even 0.7%

0.4% India ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.1% China +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.0% Vietnam even 0.0%

0.0% Nepal even 0.0%

Ancestry

43.2% Australian ◂ +13.3 pts 29.9%

37.8% English ◂ +10.7 pts 27.1%

9.0% Irish ◂ +1.3 pts 7.7%

8.6% Scottish ◂ +1.1 pts 7.4%

4.5% German even 4.5%

3.1% Italian ◂ +2.0 pts 1.1%

1.4% Filipino ◂ +1.4 pts 0.0%

0.6% Indian ◂ +0.6 pts 0.0%

0.6% Dutch ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.4% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.3% Chinese even 0.3%

0.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Language

Language used at home

88.0% English only ◂ +7.4 pts 80.6%

0.4% Tagalog ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.3% Italian ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.2% Arabic ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.1% Mandarin even 0.1%

0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.0% Cantonese even 0.0%

0.0% Hindi even 0.0%

0.0% Punjabi even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

49.3% No religion ◂ +12.3 pts 36.9%

39.2% Christianity +4.2 pts ▸ 43.4%

10.1% Not stated +8.8 pts ▸ 18.9%

0.4% Buddhism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.3% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.4% Hinduism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.3% Islam ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Broken Hill in Far West +4 more in Broken Hill

10 89th pct 6 71st pct

Schools/1k kids in Broken Hill in Far West +10.99 more in Far West

3.33 73rd pct 14.32 100th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Broken Hill in Far West even

10 25th pct 10 25th pct

Students in Broken Hill in Far West +2,314 more in Broken Hill

2,528 72nd pct 214 7th pct

Avg size in Broken Hill in Far West +217 larger in Broken Hill

253 26th pct 36 0th pct

ICSEA in Broken Hill in Far West +167 higher in Broken Hill

905 10th pct 738 0th pct

Highest year of school

33.5% Year 10 ◂ +9.5 pts 23.9%

29.1% Year 12 ◂ +2.3 pts 26.8%

19.4% Year 9 or below +2.5 pts ▸ 21.9%

7.8% Year 11 +0.4 pts ▸ 8.2%

Highest qualification level

39.2% Certificate III / IV ◂ +13.1 pts 26.2%

13.7% Bachelor degree ◂ +1.6 pts 12.0%

11.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.3 pts 10.5%

3.3% Postgraduate degree even 3.3%

2.6% Certificate I / II +0.4 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.9% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.1 pts 2.8%

Field of qualification

18.4% Engineering & related ◂ +9.4 pts 9.0%

12.6% Health ◂ +5.1 pts 7.4%

12.5% Management & commerce ◂ +4.9 pts 7.6%

10.3% Society & culture ◂ +4.2 pts 6.2%

1.5% Agriculture & environment +7.0 pts ▸ 8.5%

7.8% Education +0.1 pts ▸ 7.8%

5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.3 pts 4.0%

4.4% Architecture & building ◂ +1.3 pts 3.0%

1.9% Information technology ◂ +0.8 pts 1.0%

1.0% Creative arts +0.5 pts ▸ 1.6%

1.0% Natural & physical sciences +0.2 pts ▸ 1.2%

Income

Personal income in Broken Hill in Far West +$64 higher in Broken Hill gap widening

$647 19th pct $583 11th pct

Household income in Broken Hill in Far West +$70 higher in Broken Hill gap widening

$1,173 12th pct $1,103 8th pct

Family income in Broken Hill in Far West +$335 higher in Broken Hill gap widening

$1,623 21st pct $1,288 5th pct

Household income distribution

30.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.4 pts 30.0%

24.8% Under $650 +0.2 pts ▸ 25.0%

24.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.0 pts 21.0%

7.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.9 pts 5.3%

5.1% $4,000 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 5.9%

Personal income distribution

44.8% Under $650 ◂ +2.2 pts 42.6%

27.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +5.0 pts 21.9%

15.4% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.8 pts 10.6%

2.2% $3,000 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 3.5%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

14.2% Arthritis ◂ +6.3 pts 7.9%

12.0% Asthma ◂ +4.1 pts 7.9%

11.8% Mental health ◂ +5.9 pts 6.0%

8.4% Other condition ◂ +4.2 pts 4.2%

8.2% Diabetes ◂ +2.5 pts 5.6%

6.1% Heart disease ◂ +1.8 pts 4.3%

3.4% Cancer ◂ +1.0 pts 2.4%

3.4% Lung condition ◂ +1.3 pts 2.0%

1.4% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

1.0% Dementia ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

49.8% None +5.2 pts ▸ 55.0%

22.8% One condition ◂ +6.8 pts 16.0%

9.3% Two conditions ◂ +3.9 pts 5.4%

6.0% Three or more ◂ +2.6 pts 3.5%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Broken Hill in Far West +1,087 larger in Broken Hill

1,751 89th pct 664 86th pct

Median age in Broken Hill in Far West +7 yrs older in Far West

23 yrs 36th pct 30 yrs 86th pct

Median income in Broken Hill in Far West +$133 higher in Broken Hill

$570 36th pct $437 9th pct

Household income in Broken Hill in Far West +$353 higher in Broken Hill

$1,292 22nd pct $939 3rd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Broken Hill in Far West +0.2 larger in Far West gap steady

2.2 14th pct 2.4 36th pct

Family composition

43.8% Couples with children ◂ +2.0 pts 41.8%

31.6% Couples without children ◂ +0.3 pts 31.3%

23.1% One-parent families +1.6 pts ▸ 24.7%

1.6% Other families +0.6 pts ▸ 2.1%

Household size

37.1% 1 person ◂ +0.4 pts 36.7%

34.3% 2 people ◂ +3.1 pts 31.2%

12.9% 3 people ◂ +1.7 pts 11.2%

10.0% 4 people ◂ +0.6 pts 9.4%

3.8% 5 people +2.8 pts ▸ 6.6%

1.8% 6 or more +3.8 pts ▸ 5.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Broken Hill in Far West +$70 higher in Broken Hill gap narrowing

$220 10th pct $150 0th pct

Mortgage in Broken Hill in Far West +$65 higher in Far West gap narrowing

$867 0th pct $932 2nd pct

People / bedroom in Broken Hill in Far West +0.10 higher in Far West gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

42.0% Owned outright +0.4 pts ▸ 42.4%

23.8% Rented +7.2 pts ▸ 31.1%

30.0% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +19.6 pts 10.4%

1.9% Other tenure +9.9 pts ▸ 11.9%

2.2% Not stated +2.7 pts ▸ 4.9%

Types of homes

94.6% Separate house ◂ +12.7 pts 81.8%

2.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +0.5 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.5% Flat or apartment ◂ +1.8 pts 0.8%

0.1% Other dwelling +1.4 pts ▸ 1.5%

Bedrooms per home

54.1% 3 bedrooms ◂ +18.3 pts 35.8%

16.5% 4 bedrooms +4.1 pts ▸ 20.6%

19.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +2.9 pts 16.8%

3.4% 5 or more +9.1 pts ▸ 12.5%

4.1% 1 bedroom +3.4 pts ▸ 7.5%

0.2% Studio / none +1.3 pts ▸ 1.5%

Weekly rent distribution

35.5% Under $200 +25.9 pts ▸ 61.4%

52.0% $200–$349 ◂ +30.0 pts 22.0%

7.3% $350–$549 ◂ +6.1 pts 1.2%

0.5% $550–$749 ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%

0.0% $750 or more even 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

52.6% Under $1,000 +0.5 pts ▸ 53.1%

31.9% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +20.8 pts 11.1%

2.1% $3,000 or more +12.8 pts ▸ 14.8%

6.7% $1,800–$2,999 +5.6 pts ▸ 12.3%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Broken Hill in Far West +62 more in Broken Hill

73 76th pct 11 20th pct

Stops/1k in Broken Hill in Far West +0.66 more in Far West

4.15 48th pct 4.81 58th pct

Departures/1k in Broken Hill in Far West +134.4 more in Broken Hill

166.7 23rd pct 32.3 15th pct

PT routes in Broken Hill in Far West +6 more in Broken Hill

12 71st pct 6 43rd pct

Stop walk in Broken Hill in Far West

1 7th pct —

How people get to work

70.2% Car (driver) ◂ +33.8 pts 36.5%

4.2% Worked at home +26.8 pts ▸ 30.9%

3.7% Walked +13.0 pts ▸ 16.7%

6.6% Car (passenger) ◂ +3.4 pts 3.2%

0.4% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Bus ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

42.9% 1 vehicle ◂ +7.6 pts 35.3%

33.1% 2 vehicles ◂ +8.5 pts 24.6%

4.2% 4 or more +10.8 pts ▸ 14.9%

10.0% 3 vehicles +2.9 pts ▸ 12.9%

9.8% No vehicle +2.8 pts ▸ 12.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

0.9% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +42.9 pts ▸ 43.9%

21.8% Health care & social assistance ◂ +14.6 pts 7.3%

8.4% Education & training +3.4 pts ▸ 11.8%

11.0% Mining ◂ +9.8 pts 1.2%

10.8% Retail trade ◂ +7.6 pts 3.3%

8.5% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.7 pts 5.8%

6.7% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.1 pts 6.5%

6.1% Construction ◂ +2.9 pts 3.3%

4.0% Other services ◂ +2.2 pts 1.8%

3.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.8 pts 3.0%

3.2% Administrative & support ◂ +1.8 pts 1.5%

1.2% Arts & recreation +1.4 pts ▸ 2.5%

Occupations people work in

9.4% Managers +29.7 pts ▸ 39.2%

10.2% Labourers +7.2 pts ▸ 17.5%

16.5% Professionals ◂ +4.2 pts 12.2%

16.4% Community & personal service ◂ +6.3 pts 10.1%

15.5% Technicians & trades ◂ +11.7 pts 3.9%

10.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +3.1 pts 7.4%

10.3% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +5.3 pts 5.0%

8.9% Sales workers ◂ +6.1 pts 2.8%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Broken Hill in Far West +1 higher in Far West

1 0th pct 2 14th pct

IRSD decile in Broken Hill in Far West +1 higher in Broken Hill

2 14th pct 1 0th pct

IER decile in Broken Hill in Far West +1 higher in Broken Hill

2 14th pct 1 0th pct

IEO decile in Broken Hill in Far West +3 higher in Far West

1 0th pct 4 36th pct

IRSAD score in Broken Hill in Far West +17 higher in Far West

892 11th pct 909 14th pct

ERP in Broken Hill in Far West +15,213 higher in Broken Hill

17,515 80th pct 2,302 8th pct

Growth in Broken Hill in Far West +0.4 pts higher in Broken Hill

-0.8% 8th pct -1.2% 7th pct

Businesses in Broken Hill in Far West +603 higher in Broken Hill

942 52nd pct 339 15th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Broken Hill in Far West +22 higher in Broken Hill

231 0th pct 209 0th pct

Max temp in Broken Hill in Far West +1.9 higher in Far West

25.6 71st pct 27.5 86th pct

Min temp in Broken Hill in Far West +1.9 higher in Far West

11.7 48th pct 13.5 70th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Broken Hill in Far West +3.5 higher in Broken Hill

6.8 71st pct 3.3 23rd pct

Types ≤15 min in Broken Hill in Far West +3.1 more in Broken Hill

7.0 77th pct 3.9 30th pct

15-min city in Broken Hill in Far West +41.5 pts higher in Broken Hill

92.8% 74th pct 51.3% 38th pct

Walk to shops in Broken Hill in Far West +44.1 pts higher in Broken Hill

87.6% 72nd pct 43.6% 32nd pct

Walk to transit in Broken Hill in Far West +66.4 pts higher in Broken Hill

97.6% 65th pct 31.2% 18th pct

Walk to school in Broken Hill in Far West +38.2 pts higher in Broken Hill

87.2% 64th pct 49.0% 29th pct

Walk to a park in Broken Hill in Far West +41.4 pts higher in Broken Hill

97.1% 50th pct 55.7% 16th pct

Walk to health in Broken Hill in Far West +30.9 pts higher in Broken Hill

71.7% 70th pct 40.8% 46th pct

Amenities/1k in Broken Hill in Far West +46.0 more in Far West

15.6 58th pct 61.6 86th pct

Intersections/km² in Broken Hill in Far West +17 higher in Broken Hill

17 29th pct 0 0th pct

Mean slope in Broken Hill in Far West +0.3 pts higher in Broken Hill

3.2% 14th pct 3.0% 10th pct

Compare Broken Hill with nearby areas

Far West Wentworth - Buronga Merbein Mildura - North Wentworth-Balranald Region Renmark Surrounds Renmark Mildura - South

Compare Far West with nearby areas

Broken Hill Wentworth-Balranald Region Cobar Bourke - Brewarrina Wentworth - Buronga Mildura - North Merbein Mildura - South

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Broken Hill vs Far West [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa2/105021097/broken-hill/vs/105021098/far-west