Pokolbin vs Broke

Broke is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 57 in Pokolbin. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Pokolbin: a median of $1.25 million, against $900,000 in Broke, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Pokolbin tends to suit older residents, while Broke suits families with children 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

Broke

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (71/100 vs 90/100)
  • But Pokolbin has more parks and reserves (13 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Pokolbin has cheaper land ($230,000 vs $1,630,000)
  • Broke has cheaper houses ($900,000 vs $1,250,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Broke

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($365/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Pokolbin has a shorter drive in (134 min vs 143 min)
  • Broke sits closer to the CBD (156.2 km vs 165.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Pokolbin has more residents already 65 and over (31% vs 19%)
  • Broke carries lower crime risk (71/100 vs 90/100)

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

Investors

Pokolbin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.2% vs -3.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Pokolbin Broke
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.

Pokolbin Broke
Walkability 0 / 6
Pokolbin — Walkability: 0/100 Broke — Walkability: 6/100
Safety 10 / 29
Pokolbin — Safety: 10/100 Broke — Safety: 29/100
Low fire risk 48 / 14
Pokolbin — Low fire risk: 48/100 Broke — Low fire risk: 14/100

Demographics

Pokolbin has more residents (1,049 vs 557); Pokolbin rents higher ($600/wk vs $365/wk).

Pokolbin Broke
Population 1,049
+47% vs other
 557
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.2% -3.8%
Median age 57 43
Median household income $124,540/yr
+28% vs other
 $89,336/yr
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+39% vs other
 $365/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Pokolbin Broke
0-4 2.6% / 5.4%
Pokolbin — 0-4: 2.6% Broke — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 8.9% / 14.0%
Pokolbin — 5-14: 8.9% Broke — 5-14: 14.0%
15-19 3.5% / 4.1%
Pokolbin — 15-19: 3.5% Broke — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 3.1% / 5.2%
Pokolbin — 20-24: 3.1% Broke — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 5.3% / 8.4%
Pokolbin — 25-34: 5.3% Broke — 25-34: 8.4%
35-44 10.6% / 15.3%
Pokolbin — 35-44: 10.6% Broke — 35-44: 15.3%
45-54 12.1% / 16.2%
Pokolbin — 45-54: 12.1% Broke — 45-54: 16.2%
55-64 22.8% / 14.2%
Pokolbin — 55-64: 22.8% Broke — 55-64: 14.2%
65-74 21.8% / 15.1%
Pokolbin — 65-74: 21.8% Broke — 65-74: 15.1%
75-84 8.2% / 3.9%
Pokolbin — 75-84: 8.2% Broke — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 0.6% / —
Pokolbin — 85+: 0.6% Broke — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Pokolbin 52.2% couple families
Pokolbin — Couple Families: 52.2% Pokolbin — Lone Person: 34.8% Pokolbin — One Parent Families: 11.4% Pokolbin — Group Household: 1.6%
Broke 45.6% couple families
Broke — Couple Families: 45.6% Broke — Lone Person: 34.9% Broke — One Parent Families: 16.1% Broke — Group Household: 3.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Pokolbin 11.0% renting
Pokolbin — Owned Outright: 50.3% Pokolbin — Mortgage: 38.7% Pokolbin — Renting: 11.0%
Broke 14.4% renting
Broke — Owned Outright: 36.1% Broke — Mortgage: 49.5% Broke — Renting: 14.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Pokolbin Broke
Certificate III & IV 12.6% / 19.9%
Pokolbin — Certificate III & IV: 12.6% Broke — Certificate III & IV: 19.9%
Bachelor Degree 19.2% / 8.4%
Pokolbin — Bachelor Degree: 19.2% Broke — Bachelor Degree: 8.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 15.0% / 6.8%
Pokolbin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 15.0% Broke — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 2.2%
Pokolbin — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Broke — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / —
Pokolbin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Broke — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

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.

Pokolbin Broke
England 7.8% / 3.4%
Pokolbin — England: 7.8% Broke — England: 3.4%
South Africa 2.6% / 1.4%
Pokolbin — South Africa: 2.6% Broke — South Africa: 1.4%
New Zealand 2.2% / 1.3%
Pokolbin — New Zealand: 2.2% Broke — New Zealand: 1.3%
Netherlands 0.8% / 0.7%
Pokolbin — Netherlands: 0.8% Broke — Netherlands: 0.7%
Philippines — / 1.3%
Pokolbin — Philippines: not among its largest Broke — Philippines: 1.3%
Ireland 0.6% / 0.7%
Pokolbin — Ireland: 0.6% Broke — Ireland: 0.7%
China 0.9% / —
Pokolbin — China: 0.9% Broke — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Pokolbin 99.0% houses
Pokolbin — Houses: 99.0% Pokolbin — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Broke 96.1% houses
Broke — Houses: 96.1% Broke — Flats / Apartments: 3.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Pokolbin Broke
Median house price $1,250,000 $900,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $230,000 $1,630,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 146 days
from 3 sales
 180 days
from 7 sales

Zoning mix

Broke has more land zoned for conservation (25% vs 0%); Pokolbin has more rural and farming land (96% vs 73%).

Pokolbin Broke
Rural and farming 96% 73%
Environmental 0% 25%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 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

Pokolbin Broke
New dwellings approved 719
across Cessnock
 121
across Singleton
Approvals change year on year -31% +46%

Ranking within NSW

Pokolbin Broke
House price Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
Income Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW

Liveability

Pokolbin scores higher overall (38 vs 20).

Pokolbin Broke
Grade C D
Score 38/100 20/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Broke carries more bushfire risk (86 vs 52); Pokolbin carries more crime risk (90 vs 71).

Pokolbin Broke
Bushfire Moderate
52/100
 High
86/100
Crime High
90/100
 High
71/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
100/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Pokolbin Broke
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Pokolbin

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

Schools in Broke

  • Broke Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Pokolbin Broke
Cafes & restaurants 20 3
Parks & reserves 13 3
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Waterways 35 13

Mobility

Pokolbin sits further from the CBD (165.6 km vs 156.2 km).

Pokolbin Broke
Walkability score 0/100 6/100
Distance to Sydney 165.6 km
+6% vs other
 156.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 134 min 143 min
Public transport score 23/100
Bus
 22/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 5.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
same for both
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2320
 0.2%
postcode 2330
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2320
 54
postcode 2330

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.

Pokolbin Broke
Car (driver) 38.0% / 68.2%
Pokolbin — Car (driver): 38.0% Broke — Car (driver): 68.2%
Worked from Home 52.0% / 21.7%
Pokolbin — Worked from Home: 52.0% Broke — Worked from Home: 21.7%
Walked Only 8.0% / 4.5%
Pokolbin — Walked Only: 8.0% Broke — Walked Only: 4.5%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / 5.6%
Pokolbin — Car (passenger): 2.0% Broke — Car (passenger): 5.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.2%).

Setting

Pokolbin Broke
Elevation 96 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 84 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Pokolbin Broke
Connectivity score 56/100 29/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
1,310 premises
 0%
286 premises

Climate

Pokolbin Broke
Annual rainfall 804 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.1°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Pokolbin Broke
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 22.6 µg/m³ 16.7 µg/m³
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Pokolbin Broke
Average residential rate $1,405/yr $1,287/yr
Council Cessnock Singleton

Federal electorate

Pokolbin Broke
Division Hunter
same for both
Member Dan Repacholi
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Pokolbin Broke
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Pokolbin

Retirees Rural

Broke

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Pokolbin

Pokolbin vs Cessnock Pokolbin vs Nulkaba Pokolbin vs Singleton Military Area Pokolbin vs Lovedale Pokolbin vs Belford Pokolbin vs Mount View

Other comparisons with Broke

Broke vs Singleton Military Area Broke vs Bulga Broke vs Milbrodale Broke vs Fordwich Broke vs Mount Thorley Broke vs Howes Valley
Full data on Pokolbin Full data on Broke
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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