Newrybar vs Broken Head

Broken Head is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 47 in Newrybar. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Broken Head: a median of $4.12 million, against $3.4 million in Newrybar, though rent is higher in Newrybar. On these figures, Newrybar tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Broken Head suits people living alone.

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 the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 52/100)

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

First-home buyers

Newrybar

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($3,397,500 vs $4,125,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Broken Head

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($490/wk vs $530/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Newrybar

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (742.5 km vs 747.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Newrybar has more residents already 65 and over (27% vs 20%)
  • Broken Head carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 52/100)

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 19.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Newrybar Broken Head
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.

Newrybar Broken Head
Walkability 14 / 8
Newrybar — Walkability: 14/100 Broken Head — Walkability: 8/100
Safety 48 / 86
Newrybar — Safety: 48/100 Broken Head — Safety: 86/100
Low fire risk 100 / 48
Newrybar — Low fire risk: 100/100 Broken Head — Low fire risk: 48/100

Demographics

Newrybar has more residents (532 vs 385); Newrybar skews older (47 vs 43).

Newrybar Broken Head
Population 532
+28% vs other
 385
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +19.8% +40.5%
Median age 47 43
Median household income $95,836/yr
+8% vs other
 $87,724/yr
Median weekly rent $530/wk
+8% vs other
 $490/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Newrybar Broken Head
0-4 5.3% / 5.7%
Newrybar — 0-4: 5.3% Broken Head — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 14.5% / 11.7%
Newrybar — 5-14: 14.5% Broken Head — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 5.1% / 3.1%
Newrybar — 15-19: 5.1% Broken Head — 15-19: 3.1%
20-24 2.8% / 1.6%
Newrybar — 20-24: 2.8% Broken Head — 20-24: 1.6%
25-34 8.3% / 11.2%
Newrybar — 25-34: 8.3% Broken Head — 25-34: 11.2%
35-44 10.5% / 20.0%
Newrybar — 35-44: 10.5% Broken Head — 35-44: 20.0%
45-54 13.3% / 13.0%
Newrybar — 45-54: 13.3% Broken Head — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 13.9% / 10.9%
Newrybar — 55-64: 13.9% Broken Head — 55-64: 10.9%
65-74 19.5% / 17.9%
Newrybar — 65-74: 19.5% Broken Head — 65-74: 17.9%
75-84 7.0% / 2.3%
Newrybar — 75-84: 7.0% Broken Head — 75-84: 2.3%
85+ 0.6% / —
Newrybar — 85+: 0.6% Broken Head — 85+: not among its largest

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Newrybar 43.6% couple families
Newrybar — Couple Families: 43.6% Newrybar — Lone Person: 29.1% Newrybar — One Parent Families: 18.8% Newrybar — Group Household: 6.0% Newrybar — Other Families: 2.6%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Newrybar 23.9% renting
Newrybar — Owned Outright: 49.1% Newrybar — Mortgage: 27.0% Newrybar — Renting: 23.9%
Broken Head 24.6% renting
Broken Head — Owned Outright: 49.2% Broken Head — Mortgage: 26.2% Broken Head — Renting: 24.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Newrybar Broken Head
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 21.8%
Newrybar — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Broken Head — Bachelor Degree: 21.8%
Certificate III & IV 9.2% / 11.2%
Newrybar — Certificate III & IV: 9.2% Broken Head — Certificate III & IV: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.6% / 10.1%
Newrybar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6% Broken Head — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1%
Postgraduate Degree 5.5% / 7.3%
Newrybar — Postgraduate Degree: 5.5% Broken Head — Postgraduate Degree: 7.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 1.0%
Newrybar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Broken Head — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

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.

Newrybar Broken Head
England 6.4% / 2.6%
Newrybar — England: 6.4% Broken Head — England: 2.6%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.6%
Newrybar — New Zealand: 1.9% Broken Head — New Zealand: 1.6%
South Africa 0.9% / 1.8%
Newrybar — South Africa: 0.9% Broken Head — South Africa: 1.8%
France — / 2.1%
Newrybar — France: not among its largest Broken Head — France: 2.1%
Germany 1.1% / 0.8%
Newrybar — Germany: 1.1% Broken Head — Germany: 0.8%
Thailand — / 1.6%
Newrybar — Thailand: not among its largest Broken Head — Thailand: 1.6%
India 0.9% / —
Newrybar — India: 0.9% Broken Head — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Newrybar 99.4% houses
Newrybar — Houses: 99.4% Newrybar — Flats / Apartments: 0.6%
Broken Head 91.9% houses
Broken Head — Houses: 91.9% Broken Head — Flats / Apartments: 8.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Newrybar Broken Head
Median house price $3,397,500 $4,125,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 270 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Broken Head has more land zoned for conservation (29% vs 0%).

Newrybar Broken Head
Other and special use 54% 22%
Rural and farming 46%
same for both
Environmental 0% 29%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 2%
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

Newrybar Broken Head
New dwellings approved 238
across Ballina
 129
across Byron
Approvals change year on year +210% -65%

Ranking within NSW

Newrybar Broken Head
House price Higher than 100% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 52% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 1% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW

Liveability

Newrybar Broken Head
Grade B —
Score 56/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Broken Head carries more bushfire risk (52 vs 0); Newrybar carries more crime risk (52 vs 14).

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

Schools

Newrybar Broken Head
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Newrybar

  • Newrybar Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Broken Head

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Newrybar Broken Head
Parks & reserves 0 1
Childcare 0 1
Waterways 4 2

Mobility

Broken Head sits further from the CBD (747.4 km vs 742.5 km).

Newrybar Broken Head
Walkability score 14/100 8/100
Distance to Sydney 742.5 km 747.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 477 min 480 min
Public transport score 24/100
Bus
 30/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 6.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 7.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 2479
 1.9%
postcode 2481
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 86
postcode 2479
 61
postcode 2481

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.

Newrybar Broken Head
Car (driver) 51.4% / 54.0%
Newrybar — Car (driver): 51.4% Broken Head — Car (driver): 54.0%
Worked from Home 39.4% / 41.0%
Newrybar — Worked from Home: 39.4% Broken Head — Worked from Home: 41.0%
Walked Only 5.3% / 2.2%
Newrybar — Walked Only: 5.3% Broken Head — Walked Only: 2.2%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 2.9%
Newrybar — Car (passenger): 3.8% Broken Head — Car (passenger): 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.0%).

Setting

Newrybar Broken Head
Elevation 43 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.9 km 1.8 km
3.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Newrybar Broken Head
Connectivity score 30/100 27/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
232 premises
 0%
116 premises

Climate

Newrybar Broken Head
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

Newrybar Broken Head
Average residential rate $1,264/yr $1,577/yr
Council Ballina Byron

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Newrybar

Acreage Retirees

Broken Head

Coastal Professionals Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Newrybar

Newrybar vs Bangalow Newrybar vs Coopers Shoot Newrybar vs Brooklet Newrybar vs Binna Burra Newrybar vs Knockrow

Other comparisons with Broken Head

Broken Head vs Lennox Head Broken Head vs Suffolk Park Broken Head vs Coopers Shoot Broken Head vs Knockrow
Full data on Newrybar Full data on Broken Head
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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