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Broken Hill vs Merbein

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

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) comparison ≈ 254 km apart · Broken Hill profile · Merbein profile

Broken Hill Merbein

Broken Hill and Merbein are both regional centres located about 254 km apart. Broken Hill is far more walkable, with a score of 6.8 (very walkable) compared to Merbein's 3.7 (mostly car-dependent). This makes a big difference in daily life; 87.6% of Broken Hill homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, while only 40.9% of Merbein homes have the same access. Broken Hill also has a much higher share of people living alone (37.1% compared to 24.7%) and a larger proportion of recent overseas arrivals (20.5% versus 9.6%).

Everyday life in both places shares many similarities, including typical weekly rents of $220 and a similar share of households earning $3,000 or more a week. Both areas also have a high proportion of separate houses. While the two places are alike in these ways, some gaps are shifting; the difference in the number of people living alone has widened since 2011, while the gap in Year 12 completion rates has narrowed.

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Where they differ most

Population: 12,612 larger in Broken Hill Living alone: 12.5 pts higher in Broken Hill No car: 6.3 pts higher in Broken Hill Recent arrivals: 10.9 pts higher in Broken Hill Housework 15h+: 3.4 pts higher in Merbein

Demographics & Identity

Population in Broken Hill in Merbein +12,612 larger in Broken Hill gap steady

17,588 85th pct 4,976 22nd pct

Median age in Broken Hill in Merbein +1 yrs older in Broken Hill gap steady

44 yrs 75th pct 43 yrs 71st pct

Age structure

26.0% Older adults (45–64) +2.1 pts ▸ 28.2%

23.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +3.1 pts 20.1%

23.1% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +1.1 pts 22.0%

17.1% Children (0–14) +2.8 pts ▸ 19.8%

10.6% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.8 pts 9.8%

Marital status

37.8% Married +11.5 pts ▸ 49.3%

39.2% Never married ◂ +7.1 pts 32.1%

10.7% Divorced ◂ +2.5 pts 8.2%

8.2% Widowed ◂ +2.0 pts 6.2%

4.2% Separated ◂ +0.1 pts 4.1%

Age & sex structure

Broken Hill Merbein

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

86.0% Australia ◂ +2.8 pts 83.2%

1.1% Philippines ◂ +0.8 pts 0.3%

0.8% England +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.4% New Zealand +0.3 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.1% Italy +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.4% India ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.1% South Africa even 0.1%

0.1% China even 0.1%

0.0% Vietnam even 0.1%

0.0% Nepal even 0.0%

Ancestry

43.2% Australian ◂ +1.1 pts 42.1%

37.8% English +1.9 pts ▸ 39.6%

8.6% Scottish +1.4 pts ▸ 9.9%

9.0% Irish +0.4 pts ▸ 9.4%

3.1% Italian +3.1 pts ▸ 6.1%

4.5% German +0.9 pts ▸ 5.4%

1.4% Filipino ◂ +1.0 pts 0.5%

0.6% Dutch +0.3 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.4% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.6% Indian ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

0.3% Chinese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

88.0% English only ◂ +1.4 pts 86.6%

0.3% Italian +0.6 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.1% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.4% Tagalog ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.1% Mandarin +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.0% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.0% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

0.0% Hindi even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

49.3% No religion ◂ +3.0 pts 46.2%

39.2% Christianity +1.9 pts ▸ 41.2%

10.1% Not stated +1.0 pts ▸ 11.1%

0.4% Buddhism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.4% Hinduism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.3% Other religions even 0.3%

0.3% Islam even 0.3%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Broken Hill in Merbein +7 more in Broken Hill

10 89th pct 3 43rd pct

Schools/1k kids in Broken Hill in Merbein +0.29 more in Broken Hill

3.33 73rd pct 3.04 69th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Broken Hill in Merbein +3 more in Broken Hill

10 25th pct 7 14th pct

Students in Broken Hill in Merbein +1,464 more in Broken Hill

2,528 72nd pct 1,064 39th pct

Avg size in Broken Hill in Merbein +102 larger in Merbein

253 26th pct 355 40th pct

ICSEA in Broken Hill in Merbein +58 higher in Merbein

905 10th pct 963 25th pct

Highest year of school

29.1% Year 12 +5.2 pts ▸ 34.3%

33.5% Year 10 ◂ +11.0 pts 22.5%

19.4% Year 9 or below ◂ +3.4 pts 16.0%

7.8% Year 11 +7.8 pts ▸ 15.5%

Highest qualification level

39.2% Certificate III / IV +0.2 pts ▸ 39.5%

11.7% Advanced diploma / diploma +2.5 pts ▸ 14.3%

13.7% Bachelor degree ◂ +1.3 pts 12.4%

3.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +1.6 pts 1.7%

2.9% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.2 pts 2.7%

2.6% Certificate I / II +0.1 pts ▸ 2.7%

Field of qualification

18.4% Engineering & related ◂ +4.9 pts 13.6%

12.6% Health ◂ +3.9 pts 8.7%

12.5% Management & commerce ◂ +0.1 pts 12.5%

10.3% Society & culture +0.7 pts ▸ 11.1%

7.8% Education even 7.7%

5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.9 pts ▸ 6.2%

4.4% Architecture & building +1.0 pts ▸ 5.3%

1.5% Agriculture & environment +3.7 pts ▸ 5.2%

1.9% Information technology ◂ +1.2 pts 0.7%

1.0% Natural & physical sciences +0.7 pts ▸ 1.7%

1.0% Creative arts +0.5 pts ▸ 1.6%

Income

Personal income in Broken Hill in Merbein +$20 higher in Merbein gap steady

$647 19th pct $667 23rd pct

Household income in Broken Hill in Merbein +$165 higher in Merbein gap widening

$1,173 12th pct $1,338 24th pct

Family income in Broken Hill in Merbein +$22 higher in Merbein gap narrowing

$1,623 21st pct $1,645 22nd pct

Household income distribution

30.4% $650–$1,499 +0.3 pts ▸ 30.8%

24.0% $1,500–$2,999 +3.9 pts ▸ 28.0%

24.8% Under $650 ◂ +6.6 pts 18.2%

7.2% $3,000–$3,999 +0.1 pts ▸ 7.2%

5.1% $4,000 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 4.8%

Personal income distribution

44.8% Under $650 ◂ +1.4 pts 43.4%

27.0% $650–$1,499 +4.8 pts ▸ 31.8%

15.4% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.3 pts 12.1%

2.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.9 pts 1.3%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

14.2% Arthritis ◂ +2.7 pts 11.5%

12.0% Asthma ◂ +1.2 pts 10.8%

11.8% Mental health ◂ +2.1 pts 9.7%

8.4% Other condition ◂ +0.4 pts 8.1%

8.2% Diabetes ◂ +2.7 pts 5.4%

6.1% Heart disease ◂ +0.9 pts 5.2%

3.4% Cancer ◂ +0.2 pts 3.2%

3.4% Lung condition ◂ +0.6 pts 2.7%

1.4% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 1.1%

1.0% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

49.8% None +5.3 pts ▸ 55.0%

22.8% One condition ◂ +1.5 pts 21.3%

9.3% Two conditions ◂ +2.5 pts 6.8%

6.0% Three or more ◂ +1.3 pts 4.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Broken Hill in Merbein +1,523 larger in Broken Hill

1,751 89th pct 228 58th pct

Median age in Broken Hill in Merbein +6 yrs older in Broken Hill

23 yrs 36th pct 17 yrs 0th pct

Median income in Broken Hill in Merbein +$110 higher in Broken Hill

$570 36th pct $460 12th pct

Household income in Broken Hill in Merbein +$82 higher in Broken Hill

$1,292 22nd pct $1,210 16th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Broken Hill in Merbein +0.3 larger in Merbein gap narrowing

2.2 14th pct 2.5 43rd pct

Family composition

43.8% Couples with children +11.2 pts ▸ 55.0%

31.6% Couples without children ◂ +2.3 pts 29.3%

23.1% One-parent families ◂ +8.2 pts 14.9%

1.6% Other families ◂ +0.6 pts 0.9%

Household size

37.1% 1 person ◂ +12.5 pts 24.7%

34.3% 2 people +2.2 pts ▸ 36.5%

12.9% 3 people +1.6 pts ▸ 14.5%

10.0% 4 people +3.5 pts ▸ 13.5%

3.8% 5 people +3.2 pts ▸ 7.0%

1.8% 6 or more +1.9 pts ▸ 3.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Broken Hill in Merbein even gap narrowing

$220 10th pct $220 10th pct

Mortgage in Broken Hill in Merbein +$273 higher in Merbein gap widening

$867 0th pct $1,140 9th pct

People / bedroom in Broken Hill in Merbein +0.10 higher in Merbein gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

30.0% Owned with a mortgage +13.8 pts ▸ 43.9%

42.0% Owned outright ◂ +6.8 pts 35.3%

23.8% Rented ◂ +7.7 pts 16.1%

2.2% Not stated +0.3 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.9% Other tenure even 1.9%

Types of homes

94.6% Separate house ◂ +0.9 pts 93.6%

2.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +1.1 pts ▸ 3.5%

2.5% Flat or apartment ◂ +1.1 pts 1.5%

0.1% Other dwelling +1.4 pts ▸ 1.5%

Bedrooms per home

54.1% 3 bedrooms ◂ +5.5 pts 48.7%

16.5% 4 bedrooms +9.8 pts ▸ 26.3%

19.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +6.2 pts 13.4%

3.4% 5 or more +1.7 pts ▸ 5.1%

4.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.5 pts 3.6%

0.2% Studio / none +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

Weekly rent distribution

52.0% $200–$349 ◂ +0.1 pts 51.9%

35.5% Under $200 ◂ +3.4 pts 32.2%

7.3% $350–$549 +1.1 pts ▸ 8.5%

0.0% $750 or more +1.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.5% $550–$749 ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

52.6% Under $1,000 ◂ +18.1 pts 34.5%

31.9% $1,000–$1,799 +8.9 pts ▸ 40.8%

6.7% $1,800–$2,999 +5.2 pts ▸ 11.9%

2.1% $3,000 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 2.7%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Broken Hill in Merbein +29 more in Broken Hill

73 76th pct 44 53rd pct

Stops/1k in Broken Hill in Merbein +4.69 more in Merbein

4.15 48th pct 8.84 87th pct

Departures/1k in Broken Hill in Merbein +187.0 more in Merbein

166.7 23rd pct 353.7 33rd pct

PT routes in Broken Hill in Merbein +8 more in Broken Hill

12 71st pct 4 29th pct

Stop walk in Broken Hill in Merbein +25 longer in Merbein

1 7th pct 26 84th pct

How people get to work

70.2% Car (driver) ◂ +1.1 pts 69.2%

4.2% Worked at home +5.9 pts ▸ 10.1%

6.6% Car (passenger) ◂ +2.0 pts 4.6%

3.7% Walked ◂ +0.6 pts 3.2%

0.1% Bus +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.4% Bicycle ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

42.9% 1 vehicle ◂ +17.6 pts 25.3%

33.1% 2 vehicles +6.0 pts ▸ 39.1%

10.0% 3 vehicles +9.0 pts ▸ 19.1%

4.2% 4 or more +8.6 pts ▸ 12.8%

9.8% No vehicle ◂ +6.3 pts 3.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

21.8% Health care & social assistance ◂ +8.4 pts 13.5%

0.9% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +10.9 pts ▸ 11.9%

11.0% Mining ◂ +9.6 pts 1.4%

10.8% Retail trade ◂ +0.1 pts 10.7%

8.5% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.6 pts 5.9%

8.4% Education & training ◂ +0.1 pts 8.3%

6.1% Construction +2.0 pts ▸ 8.2%

6.7% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.3 pts 5.3%

2.1% Manufacturing +4.3 pts ▸ 6.3%

3.8% Transport & warehousing +2.0 pts ▸ 5.8%

4.0% Other services +0.7 pts ▸ 4.6%

3.2% Administrative & support +0.4 pts ▸ 3.6%

Occupations people work in

16.5% Professionals ◂ +3.2 pts 13.2%

16.4% Community & personal service ◂ +5.1 pts 11.3%

15.5% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.2 pts 15.3%

9.4% Managers +5.2 pts ▸ 14.6%

10.2% Labourers +3.7 pts ▸ 14.0%

10.5% Clerical & administrative +0.3 pts ▸ 10.8%

10.3% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.7 pts 8.6%

8.9% Sales workers +0.7 pts ▸ 9.6%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Broken Hill in Merbein +1 higher in Merbein

1 0th pct 2 14th pct

IRSD decile in Broken Hill in Merbein +1 higher in Merbein

2 14th pct 3 29th pct

IER decile in Broken Hill in Merbein +3 higher in Merbein

2 14th pct 5 43rd pct

IEO decile in Broken Hill in Merbein +1 higher in Merbein

1 0th pct 2 14th pct

IRSAD score in Broken Hill in Merbein +30 higher in Merbein

892 11th pct 922 19th pct

ERP in Broken Hill in Merbein +12,544 higher in Broken Hill

17,515 80th pct 4,971 20th pct

Growth in Broken Hill in Merbein +1.2 pts higher in Merbein

-0.8% 8th pct 0.3% 13th pct

Businesses in Broken Hill in Merbein +515 higher in Broken Hill

942 52nd pct 427 20th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Broken Hill in Merbein +32 higher in Merbein

231 0th pct 263 0th pct

Max temp in Broken Hill in Merbein +0.4 higher in Broken Hill

25.6 71st pct 25.2 67th pct

Min temp in Broken Hill in Merbein +1.2 higher in Broken Hill

11.7 48th pct 10.5 29th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Broken Hill in Merbein +3.1 higher in Broken Hill

6.8 71st pct 3.7 26th pct

Types ≤15 min in Broken Hill in Merbein +3.5 more in Broken Hill

7.0 77th pct 3.6 26th pct

15-min city in Broken Hill in Merbein +54.7 pts higher in Broken Hill

92.8% 74th pct 38.1% 27th pct

Walk to shops in Broken Hill in Merbein +46.7 pts higher in Broken Hill

87.6% 72nd pct 40.9% 30th pct

Walk to transit in Broken Hill in Merbein +40.1 pts higher in Broken Hill

97.6% 65th pct 57.5% 27th pct

Walk to school in Broken Hill in Merbein +41.6 pts higher in Broken Hill

87.2% 64th pct 45.6% 27th pct

Walk to a park in Broken Hill in Merbein +16.9 pts higher in Broken Hill

97.1% 50th pct 80.2% 28th pct

Walk to health in Broken Hill in Merbein +71.7 pts higher in Broken Hill

71.7% 70th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Amenities/1k in Broken Hill in Merbein +10.9 more in Merbein

15.6 58th pct 26.5 84th pct

Intersections/km² in Broken Hill in Merbein +7 higher in Merbein

17 29th pct 23 31st pct

Mean slope in Broken Hill in Merbein +0.2 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 Merbein with nearby areas

Mildura - South Mildura - North Wentworth - Buronga Irymple Red Cliffs Mildura Surrounds Robinvale Wentworth-Balranald Region

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Broken Hill vs Merbein [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa2/105021097/broken-hill/vs/215021396/merbein