Mullumbimby

Population growth drivers in Mullumbimby are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Mullumbimby's population is around 9,694 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 798 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,896 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,662 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 225 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 36 persons per square kilometer. Mullumbimby's growth of 9.0% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (3.7%) and the Rest of NSW, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 48.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Anticipating future population dynamics, an above median growth of national non-metropolitan areas is projected, with Mullumbimby expected to increase by 1,751 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 17.7% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Mullumbimby among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Mullumbimby has averaged approximately 53 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 267 homes were approved, with an additional 30 approved so far in FY26. On average, each dwelling has resulted in 2.6 new residents per year over these five years, indicating strong demand which supports property values.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $340,000. This financial year, $12.0 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting balanced commercial development activity in the area. Compared to the rest of NSW, Mullumbimby has similar levels of development per person, contributing to market stability aligned with regional patterns. The new development consists of 74.0% standalone homes and 26.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature while offering more diverse housing options as developable sites decrease.

This represents a shift from the current housing composition, which is 93.0% houses. With around 233 people per dwelling approval, Mullumbimby shows signs of a developing market. According to AreaSearch quarterly estimates, Mullumbimby's population is forecasted to grow by 1,719 residents by 2041. Development activity is keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers can be expected as the population expands.

Mullumbimby has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Mullumbimby Hospital Redevelopment, Mullumbimby Rail Corridor Housing, Mullumbimby Road Upgrade, and Gulgan Village. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment drivers in Mullumbimby are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Mullumbimby has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 6.7% as of December 2025. At this time, 4396 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.8 percentage points higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was similar to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 30.4% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training sectors. The area shows strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

Conversely, public administration & safety has lower representation at 3.5% compared to the regional average of 7.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.2%, employment declined by 0.9%, and unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points in Mullumbimby. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced employment decline of 1.2% and labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate potential future demand within Mullumbimby. These projections suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Mullumbimby's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Mullumbimby SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $37,837 and an average of $62,160. Both figures are below the national averages. Regional NSW had a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 during this period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Mullumbimby's median income would be approximately $41,742 and the average around $68,575 as of March 2026. The 2021 Census revealed that household, family, and personal incomes in Mullumbimby all fall between the 20th and 25th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 28.3% of locals (2,743 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Mullumbimby, with only 81.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 22nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Mullumbimby is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Mullumbimby's dwelling structure in its latest Census comprised 92.7% houses and 7.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mullumbimby was at 43.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.9% and rented ones at 28.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Mullumbimby was $450, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Mullumbimby's mortgage repayments were above the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

Mullumbimby features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 65.1% of all households, including 25.3% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 13.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 34.9%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households making up 7.3%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Mullumbimby shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Mullumbimby's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 35.5% have university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 24.3% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 24.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 35.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 13.5% and certificates at 22.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.6% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.7% in primary education, 9.5% in secondary education, and 4.0% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Mullumbimby has 252 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 58 different routes that together facilitate 751 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in Mullumbimby is deemed good, with residents generally living within 200 meters of the nearest stop. Most residents commute outside the area, predominantly by car (89%), while 5% walk and 3% cycle to their destinations. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling in Mullumbimby. According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, 30.4%, work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 107 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly two weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, highlighting the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

The level of general health in Mullumbimby is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Mullumbimby shows above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts have low prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~4,885 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (7.7%) and arthritis (7.0%). 73.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the Regional NSW average of 63.3%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 20.8% of residents aged 65 and over (2,020 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Mullumbimby records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mullumbimby's population, as per the 2016 Census, showed cultural diversity with 9.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 23.2% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, at 24.1%. Judaism was notably higher in Mullumbimby at 2.1%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.1%.

The top three ancestral groups were English (30.1%), Australian (22.8%), and Irish (11.2%). French (1.3%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 0.4%. Russian (0.6%) and German (5.3%) also showed higher representation than the regional averages of 0.2% and 3.1%, respectively.

Mullumbimby hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Mullumbimby's median age is 45 years, slightly higher than Regional NSW's median age of 43 and considerably older than the national norm of 38. Compared to the Regional NSW average, Mullumbimby has a notably over-represented cohort of 35-44 year-olds (14.6% locally) and an under-represented cohort of 15-24 year-olds (9.2%). Between 2021 and present, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 12.7% to 14.6%, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 4.6% to 6.1%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 15.6% to 13.9% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 15.4% to 13.8%. Demographic modeling suggests Mullumbimby's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 35 to 44 age cohort is projected to expand by 392 people (28%) from 1,417 to 1,810. In contrast, the 15 to 24 cohort shows minimal growth of just 1% (6 people).