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 approximately 9,547 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 651 people, a growth rate of 7.3%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 8,896. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,415 in June 2024 and an additional 209 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 (3.3%) and the non-metro area, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 47.3% to overall population gains during recent periods, with other drivers such as interstate migration and natural growth also being positive factors.

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, projecting Mullumbimby's population to increase by 1,829 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting 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 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 22 approved so far in FY26. Each year, an average of 2.6 new residents has been associated with each dwelling approved between FY21 and FY25, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $340,000. In the current financial year, $12.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Mullumbimby has similar development levels per capita, contributing to market stability aligned with regional patterns. New developments consist of 74.0% standalone homes and 26.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature while introducing more diverse housing options due to decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles.

This represents a shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 93.0% houses. With around 233 people per dwelling approval, Mullumbimby shows a developing market. Population forecasts indicate that Mullumbimby will gain approximately 1,696 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that may affect this region. Notable ones include Mullumbimby Hospital Redevelopment, Mullumbimby Rail Corridor Housing, Mullumbimby Road Upgrade, and Gulgan Village. The following list outlines those most likely to be 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 essential services sectors being well represented. The unemployment rate as of September 2025 is 6.5%.

There are 4,340 residents employed, and the unemployment rate is 2.7% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is lower at 53.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment in Mullumbimby is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area has a strong specialization in professional & technical jobs, 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 to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.2%, and employment declined by a similar percentage, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced milder declines in employment and labour force, with a slight rise in unemployment. State-level data to 25-Nov shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%, compared favourably to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Mullumbimby's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by approximately 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years.

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 SA2 had a median income of $34,796 and an average of $63,500. This is slightly below the national average. Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average of $62,998 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%, estimated incomes for Mullumbimby as of September 2025 would be approximately $39,184 (median) and $71,507 (average). The 2021 Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Mullumbimby fall between the 20th and 25th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 28.3% of locals (2,701 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% fall into this category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, 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

Mullumbimby's dwelling structure as evaluated in 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%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.9% and rented ones at 28.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,980. The median weekly rent figure was $450, equal to Non-Metro NSW's figure. Nationally, Mullumbimby's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 account for 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 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. University graduates comprise 24.4%, postgraduate qualifications are held by 7.9%, and graduate diplomas by 3.2%. Vocational credentials are prominent, 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 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.

Across all routes, there are an average of 88 daily trips, which equates 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 has above-average health outcomes for both young and elderly residents.

Common health conditions have a low prevalence in the area. Private health cover is held by approximately 51% of Mullumbimby's total population (~4,888 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area. Mental health issues affect 7.7% of residents, while arthritis impacts 7.0%. A total of 73.1% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 68.0% across Rest of NSW. Mullumbimby has 20.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,973 people), lower than the 23.6% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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

For ancestry, top groups were English (30.1%), Australian (22.8%), and Irish (11.2%). French (1.3%) and Russian (0.6%) were notably overrepresented, while German was at 5.3%.

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

Mullumbimby's median age is 45 years, which is slightly higher than Rest of NSW's median age of 43 and considerably older than Australia's national norm of 38 years. Compared to the average for Rest of NSW, Mullumbimby has a notably higher proportion of people aged 45-54 (14.0%) but a lower proportion of people aged 15-24 (8.7%). Between 2021 and present, the population aged 35-44 grew from 12.7% to 14.3%, while those aged 25-34 increased from 10.1% to 11.4%. Conversely, the proportion of people aged 55-64 decreased from 15.6% to 13.8%, and the proportion of people aged 45-54 dropped from 15.4% to 14.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Mullumbimby's age profile will change significantly. The number of people aged 35-44 is projected to increase by 426 (31%), from 1,368 to 1,795. Conversely, the number of people aged 65-74 is expected to decrease.