Mullumbimby
Statistical Area - sa2

Mullumbimby lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Mullumbimby's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 9,548. This figure represents an increase of 652 people, a 7.3% growth since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 8,896. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,418 in June 2024 and an additional 208 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 35 persons per square kilometer. Mullumbimby's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (3.2%) and the non-metro area, indicating it as a leader in regional growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 47.3% to overall population gains during recent periods, with all migration factors being positive.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate an above median growth for national non-metropolitan areas, with Mullumbimby expected to increase by 1,829 persons to 2041, a total gain of 17.8% over the 17 years.

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

Mullumbimby averaged approximately 53 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY21 and FY25267 homes were approved, with an additional 10 approved so far in FY26. Each dwelling has attracted an average of 2.6 new residents per year over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $506,000. In FY26, Mullumbimby recorded $12.0 million in commercial development approvals. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Mullumbimby's development levels are similar per capita, suggesting market stability aligned with regional patterns. New developments consist of 74.0% standalone homes and 26.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving Mullumbimby's low density nature while introducing more diverse housing options.

This shift reflects decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles. With around 233 people per dwelling approval, Mullumbimby shows a developing market with population forecasts indicating an increase of 1,695 residents by 2041. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, potentially leading to increased competition among buyers as the population expands.

Mullumbimby has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 30thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that may impact the area. Notable ones include Mullumbimby Road Upgrade, Station Street Affordable Housing, Mullumbimby Hospital Redevelopment, and Mullumbimby Rail Corridor Housing. 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 is 6.0%.

As of June 2025, there are 4,205 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 8.7% (2.4% above Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%). Workforce participation stands at 53.4%, below the Rest of NSW average of 56.4%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area has a strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

Conversely, public administration & safety shows lower representation at 3.5% compared to the regional average of 7.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the year ending June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.8%, with employment declining by the same percentage while unemployment remained stable. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced a slight employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 indicate that overall employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mullumbimby's current employment mix suggests potential local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not consider 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 for financial year 2022 shows Mullumbimby's median income among taxpayers is $34,796. The average income in Mullumbimby during this period was $63,500. This is below the national average. In comparison, Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Mullumbimby would be approximately $39,184 (median) and $71,507 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Mullumbimby fall between the 20th and 25th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The earnings profile indicates that 28.3% of locals (2,702 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% fall into this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Mullumbimby, with only 81.2% of income remaining after housing costs, 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

Dwelling structure in Mullumbimby, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 92.7% houses and 7.3% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 75.1% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mullumbimby was 43.0%, similar to Non-Metro NSW's figure. Mortgaged dwellings constituted 28.9%, while rented dwellings made up 28.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Mullumbimby was $1,950, below the Non-Metro NSW average of $1,980. Median weekly rent in Mullumbimby was $450, matching the Non-Metro NSW figure. Nationally, Mullumbimby's median monthly mortgage repayment is higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly rent is substantially above 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 comprising 7.3%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of 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 high with 35.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 24.3% in its SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 24.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational credentials are also common with 35.6% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (13.5%) and certificates (22.1%). Educational participation is high at 32.6%, with 11.7% in primary education, 9.5% in secondary education, and 4.0% pursuing tertiary education.

Eleven schools serve 1,805 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1036) and balanced educational opportunities. The schools include eight primary, one secondary, and two K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds residential needs at 18.9 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.2, indicating Mullumbimby serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments please refer to parent campus.

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

Mullumbimby has 242 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 59 different routes that together facilitate 618 weekly passenger trips. The town's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents on average being located 202 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 88 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately two weekly trips per individual stop.

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 superior health outcomes for both younger and older residents, with low prevalence rates of common health conditions.

Private health insurance coverage stands at approximately 51%, slightly below the average SA2 area's rate (~4,888 people). The most prevalent medical issues are mental health concerns affecting 7.7% of residents and arthritis impacting 7.0%. Notably, 73.1% of Mullumbimby residents report no medical ailments, compared to 68.0% in the Rest of NSW. As of 2016, 20.7% of Mullumbimby's population is aged 65 and over (1,973 people), lower than the 23.6% in the Rest of NSW. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are exceptionally strong, outperforming even the general population in various health metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Mullumbimby was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mullumbimby's cultural diversity was above average, with 9.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 23.2% born overseas. Christianity was the primary religion, comprising 24.1%. Judaism was overrepresented at 2.1%, compared to Rest of NSW's 0.6%.

The top ancestry groups were English (30.1%), Australian (22.8%), and Irish (11.2%). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences included French at 1.3% (vs regional 0.9%), Russian at 0.6% (vs 0.3%), and German at 5.3% (vs 3.8%).

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

Mullumbimby's median age is 45 years, which is modestly higher than Rest of NSW's median age of 43 and considerably older than the national norm of 38. The 45-54 cohort is notably over-represented in Mullumbimby at 14.0%, compared to the Rest of NSW average, while the 15-24 age group is under-represented at 8.7%. Between 2021 and the present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 12.7% to 14.3% of Mullumbimby's population, and the 25-34 cohort increased from 10.1% to 11.4%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 15.6% to 13.8%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 15.4% to 14.0%. Demographic modeling suggests Mullumbimby's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 35-44 age cohort is projected to expand by 426 people, from 1,368 to 1,795, a 31% increase. Conversely, numbers in the 65-74 age range are expected to fall by 10.