Broken Head vs Suffolk Park

Suffolk Park is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 43 in Broken Head. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Broken Head: a median of $4.12 million, against $1.9 million in Suffolk Park, though rent is higher in Suffolk Park. On these figures, Suffolk Park tends to suit share households and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Broken Head

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 47/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (92% vs 69%)
  • But Suffolk Park has more parks and reserves (6 vs 1)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Suffolk Park

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,900,000 vs $4,125,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 36%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Broken Head

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($490/wk vs $700/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (29% vs 35%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Broken Head

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (480 min vs 485 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (747.4 km vs 752.7 km)
  • But Suffolk Park is more walkable (56/100 vs 8/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Suffolk Park

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (56/100 vs 8/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (31% vs 8%)
  • But Broken Head carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 47/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Broken Head

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (40.5% vs 12.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Broken Head and Suffolk Park drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Walkability 8 / 56
Broken Head — Walkability: 8/100 Suffolk Park — Walkability: 56/100
Safety 86 / 53
Broken Head — Safety: 86/100 Suffolk Park — Safety: 53/100
Low fire risk 48 / 40
Broken Head — Low fire risk: 48/100 Suffolk Park — Low fire risk: 40/100

Demographics

Suffolk Park has more residents (4,222 vs 385); Suffolk Park rents higher ($700/wk vs $490/wk).

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Population 385 4,222
+997% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +40.5% +12.6%
Median age 43 39
Median household income $87,724/yr $105,040/yr
+20% vs other
Median weekly rent $490/wk $700/wk
+43% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Broken Head Suffolk Park
0-4 5.7% / 5.4%
Broken Head — 0-4: 5.7% Suffolk Park — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 11.7% / 11.6%
Broken Head — 5-14: 11.7% Suffolk Park — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 3.1% / 4.1%
Broken Head — 15-19: 3.1% Suffolk Park — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 1.6% / 4.1%
Broken Head — 20-24: 1.6% Suffolk Park — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 11.2% / 16.7%
Broken Head — 25-34: 11.2% Suffolk Park — 25-34: 16.7%
35-44 20.0% / 15.9%
Broken Head — 35-44: 20.0% Suffolk Park — 35-44: 15.9%
45-54 13.0% / 14.2%
Broken Head — 45-54: 13.0% Suffolk Park — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 10.9% / 12.4%
Broken Head — 55-64: 10.9% Suffolk Park — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 17.9% / 9.6%
Broken Head — 65-74: 17.9% Suffolk Park — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 2.3% / 4.2%
Broken Head — 75-84: 2.3% Suffolk Park — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ — / 1.8%
Broken Head — 85+: not among its largest Suffolk Park — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Broken Head 41.7% couple families
Broken Head — Couple Families: 41.7% Broken Head — Lone Person: 37.5% Broken Head — One Parent Families: 13.5% Broken Head — Group Household: 7.3% Broken Head — Other Families: 0.0%
Suffolk Park 37.6% couple families
Suffolk Park — Couple Families: 37.6% Suffolk Park — Lone Person: 29.6% Suffolk Park — One Parent Families: 15.6% Suffolk Park — Group Household: 16.3% Suffolk Park — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Broken Head 24.6% renting
Broken Head — Owned Outright: 49.2% Broken Head — Mortgage: 26.2% Broken Head — Renting: 24.6%
Suffolk Park 33.8% renting
Suffolk Park — Owned Outright: 34.4% Suffolk Park — Mortgage: 31.8% Suffolk Park — Renting: 33.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Bachelor Degree 21.8% / 20.9%
Broken Head — Bachelor Degree: 21.8% Suffolk Park — Bachelor Degree: 20.9%
Certificate III & IV 11.2% / 12.0%
Broken Head — Certificate III & IV: 11.2% Suffolk Park — Certificate III & IV: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.1% / 8.6%
Broken Head — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1% Suffolk Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 7.3% / 5.9%
Broken Head — Postgraduate Degree: 7.3% Suffolk Park — Postgraduate Degree: 5.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.8%
Broken Head — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Suffolk Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.8%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Broken Head Suffolk Park
England 2.6% / 5.2%
Broken Head — England: 2.6% Suffolk Park — England: 5.2%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.7%
Broken Head — New Zealand: 1.6% Suffolk Park — New Zealand: 2.7%
France 2.1% / 1.0%
Broken Head — France: 2.1% Suffolk Park — France: 1.0%
Brazil 1.6% / 1.2%
Broken Head — Brazil: 1.6% Suffolk Park — Brazil: 1.2%
South Africa 1.8% / 0.8%
Broken Head — South Africa: 1.8% Suffolk Park — South Africa: 0.8%
Germany 0.8% / 1.2%
Broken Head — Germany: 0.8% Suffolk Park — Germany: 1.2%
Thailand 1.6% / —
Broken Head — Thailand: 1.6% Suffolk Park — Thailand: not among its largest
Italy — / 1.2%
Broken Head — Italy: not among its largest Suffolk Park — Italy: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Broken Head 91.9% houses
Broken Head — Houses: 91.9% Broken Head — Townhouses: 0.0% Broken Head — Flats / Apartments: 8.1%
Suffolk Park 68.8% houses
Suffolk Park — Houses: 68.8% Suffolk Park — Townhouses: 28.1% Suffolk Park — Flats / Apartments: 3.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Median house price $4,125,000 $1,900,000
Median unit price — $1,150,000
Median land price — $1,020,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 270 days
from 3 sales
 68 days
from 37 sales

Zoning mix

Broken Head has more rural and farming land (46% vs 8%).

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Rural and farming 46% 8%
Residential 1% 37%
Environmental 29%
same for both
Other and special use 22%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 2% 1%
Parks and recreation 0% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Broken Head Suffolk Park
New dwellings approved 129
across Byron
same for both
Approvals change year on year -65%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Houses — 3.7%
$1,500/wk on $2.1M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Broken Head Suffolk Park
House price Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Income Higher than 56% of NSW —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 1% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 93% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 57% of NSW

Liveability

Suffolk Park is more walkable (56 vs 8).

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Grade — C
Score — 45/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Suffolk Park carries more crime risk (47 vs 14).

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Bushfire Moderate
52/100
 Moderate
60/100
Crime Low
14/100
 Moderate
47/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
25/100
 Moderate
54/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 1 6
Childcare 1 2
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 2 7

Mobility

Suffolk Park sits further from the CBD (752.7 km vs 747.4 km).

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Walkability score 8/100 56/100
Distance to Sydney 747.4 km 752.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 480 min 485 min
Public transport score 30/100
Bus
 68/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 7.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 2481
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 61
postcode 2481
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Car (driver) 54.0% / 59.9%
Broken Head — Car (driver): 54.0% Suffolk Park — Car (driver): 59.9%
Worked from Home 41.0% / 31.7%
Broken Head — Worked from Home: 41.0% Suffolk Park — Worked from Home: 31.7%
Car (passenger) 2.9% / 2.6%
Broken Head — Car (passenger): 2.9% Suffolk Park — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Walked Only 2.2% / 2.2%
Broken Head — Walked Only: 2.2% Suffolk Park — Walked Only: 2.2%
Bicycle — / 3.1%
Broken Head — Bicycle: not among its largest Suffolk Park — Bicycle: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.9%).

Setting

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Elevation 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.8 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 760 m
1.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Connectivity score 27/100 66/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
116 premises
 38%
1,893 premises

Climate

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Annual rainfall 1,569 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Byron
same for both

Federal electorate

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Broken Head Suffolk Park
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Broken Head

Coastal Professionals Rural

Suffolk Park

Coastal Parks River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Broken Head

Broken Head vs Lennox Head Broken Head vs Newrybar Broken Head vs Coopers Shoot Broken Head vs Knockrow

Other comparisons with Suffolk Park

Suffolk Park vs Byron Bay Suffolk Park vs Coopers Shoot
Full data on Broken Head Full data on Suffolk Park
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or