Menindee vs Broken Hill

Broken Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 50 in Menindee. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Broken Hill: a median of $250,000, against $66,000 in Menindee, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Menindee tends to suit 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 Hill

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (10 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (24 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Menindee

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($66,500 vs $250,000)
  • has cheaper land ($23,000 vs $45,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Menindee

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($184/wk vs $220/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Menindee

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (1004.9 km vs 1252.5 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (724 min vs 805 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Menindee has more residents already 65 and over (28% vs 23%)
  • Broken Hill has more GPs (8 vs 1)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Menindee Broken Hill
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.

Menindee Broken Hill
Walkability 0 / 7
Menindee — Walkability: 0/100 Broken Hill — Walkability: 7/100
Safety 4 / 9
Menindee — Safety: 4/100 Broken Hill — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 81 / 73
Menindee — Low fire risk: 81/100 Broken Hill — Low fire risk: 73/100

Demographics

Broken Hill has more residents (17,706 vs 537); Broken Hill has higher household incomes ($61,152 vs $46,020).

Menindee Broken Hill
Population 537 17,706
+3197% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.5% -0.6%
Median age 50 44
Median household income $46,020/yr $61,152/yr
+33% vs other
Median weekly rent $184/wk $220/wk
+20% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Menindee Broken Hill
0-4 3.5% / 5.5%
Menindee — 0-4: 3.5% Broken Hill — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 10.4% / 11.5%
Menindee — 5-14: 10.4% Broken Hill — 5-14: 11.5%
15-19 4.7% / 5.5%
Menindee — 15-19: 4.7% Broken Hill — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 4.8% / 5.1%
Menindee — 20-24: 4.8% Broken Hill — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 11.2% / 12.4%
Menindee — 25-34: 11.2% Broken Hill — 25-34: 12.4%
35-44 8.0% / 10.7%
Menindee — 35-44: 8.0% Broken Hill — 35-44: 10.7%
45-54 13.8% / 11.5%
Menindee — 45-54: 13.8% Broken Hill — 45-54: 11.5%
55-64 16.2% / 14.6%
Menindee — 55-64: 16.2% Broken Hill — 55-64: 14.6%
65-74 17.7% / 12.6%
Menindee — 65-74: 17.7% Broken Hill — 65-74: 12.6%
75-84 8.8% / 7.2%
Menindee — 75-84: 8.8% Broken Hill — 75-84: 7.2%
85+ 1.9% / 3.3%
Menindee — 85+: 1.9% Broken Hill — 85+: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Menindee 54.8% lone person
Menindee — Lone Person: 54.8% Menindee — Couple Families: 19.1% Menindee — One Parent Families: 18.5% Menindee — Group Household: 7.6% Menindee — Other Families: 0.0%
Broken Hill 49.7% lone person
Broken Hill — Lone Person: 49.7% Broken Hill — Couple Families: 26.2% Broken Hill — One Parent Families: 19.5% Broken Hill — Group Household: 3.0% Broken Hill — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Menindee 38.7% renting
Menindee — Owned Outright: 47.3% Menindee — Mortgage: 14.0% Menindee — Renting: 38.7%
Broken Hill 24.7% renting
Broken Hill — Owned Outright: 44.0% Broken Hill — Mortgage: 31.3% Broken Hill — Renting: 24.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Menindee Broken Hill
Certificate III & IV 10.6% / 17.0%
Menindee — Certificate III & IV: 10.6% Broken Hill — Certificate III & IV: 17.0%
Bachelor Degree 4.8% / 5.9%
Menindee — Bachelor Degree: 4.8% Broken Hill — Bachelor Degree: 5.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 3.0% / 5.1%
Menindee — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 3.0% Broken Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.1%
Postgraduate Degree 1.5% / 1.4%
Menindee — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5% Broken Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.3%
Menindee — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Broken Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

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.

Menindee Broken Hill
England 0.7% / 0.8%
Menindee — England: 0.7% Broken Hill — England: 0.8%
Philippines — / 1.1%
Menindee — Philippines: not among its largest Broken Hill — Philippines: 1.1%
Netherlands 0.7% / —
Menindee — Netherlands: 0.7% Broken Hill — Netherlands: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 0.4%
Menindee — New Zealand: not among its largest Broken Hill — New Zealand: 0.4%
India — / 0.4%
Menindee — India: not among its largest Broken Hill — India: 0.4%
Germany — / 0.2%
Menindee — Germany: not among its largest Broken Hill — Germany: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Menindee 90.2% houses
Menindee — Houses: 90.2% Menindee — Flats / Apartments: 6.0% Menindee — Townhouses: 3.7%
Broken Hill 94.5% houses
Broken Hill — Houses: 94.5% Broken Hill — Flats / Apartments: 3.0% Broken Hill — Townhouses: 2.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Menindee Broken Hill
Median house price $66,500 $250,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $23,000 $45,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 29 days
from 224 sales

Development activity

Menindee Broken Hill
New dwellings approved 4
across Central Darling
 8
across Broken Hill
Approvals change year on year — +50%

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.

Menindee Broken Hill
Houses — 6.0%
$390/wk on $339K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Menindee Broken Hill
House price Higher than 2% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW
Income Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 48% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 1% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
EV adoption — Higher than 2% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 1% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 99% of NSW

Liveability

Broken Hill scores higher overall (22 vs 13).

Menindee Broken Hill
Grade D
same for both
Score 13/100 22/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Menindee Broken Hill
Bushfire Low
19/100
 Low
27/100
Crime High
96/100
 High
91/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Menindee Broken Hill
Inside the suburb 1 10
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0 5

Schools in Menindee

  • Menindee Central School Government · Combined above peers

Schools in Broken Hill

  • Sacred Heart Parish School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • School of the Air Government · Primary above peers
  • Alma Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Morgan Street Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Railway Town Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Broken Hill High School Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Menindee Broken Hill
Supermarkets 1 4
Cafes & restaurants 0 22
Parks & reserves 5 24
Childcare 1 8
GPs 1 8
Pharmacies 1 5
Hospitals 1
same for both
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 9
Fuel stations 1 5
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 228 156

Mobility

Broken Hill sits further from the CBD (1252.5 km vs 1004.9 km).

Menindee Broken Hill
Walkability score 0/100 7/100
Distance to Sydney 1004.9 km 1252.5 km
+25% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 724 min 805 min
Electric vehicle share 0.0%
postcode 2879
 0.1%
postcode 2880
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 94
postcode 2879
 76
postcode 2880

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.

Menindee Broken Hill
Car (driver) 55.3% / 81.9%
Menindee — Car (driver): 55.3% Broken Hill — Car (driver): 81.9%
Walked Only 23.4% / 4.5%
Menindee — Walked Only: 23.4% Broken Hill — Walked Only: 4.5%
Worked from Home 19.1% / 5.3%
Menindee — Worked from Home: 19.1% Broken Hill — Worked from Home: 5.3%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 7.7%
Menindee — Car (passenger): 2.1% Broken Hill — Car (passenger): 7.7%
Bicycle — / 0.5%
Menindee — Bicycle: not among its largest Broken Hill — Bicycle: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.9%).

Setting

Menindee Broken Hill
Elevation 77 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 158 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Menindee Broken Hill
Connectivity score 15/100 63/100
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster) Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
72 premises
 23%
11,343 premises

Climate

Menindee Broken Hill
Annual rainfall 261 mm 251 mm
Summer max (Jan) 35.0°C 33.4°C
Winter min (Jul) 5.2°C 5.3°C

Council rates

Menindee Broken Hill
Average residential rate $332/yr $1,227/yr
Council Central Darling Broken Hill

Federal electorate

Menindee Broken Hill
Division Parkes
same for both
Member Jamie Chaffey
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Menindee Broken Hill
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Menindee

Retirees Rural

Broken Hill

Affordable Rural
Full data on Menindee Full data on Broken Hill
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.

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