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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Mullumbimby's population is around 9,850 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 954 people (10.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,896 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,414 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 226 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 36 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Mullumbimby's 10.7% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (4.1%) and the Rest of NSW, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 47.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including interstate migration and natural growth, were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Anticipating future population dynamics, an above-median population growth for national non-metropolitan areas is projected, with the area expected to increase by 1,829 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, recording a gain of 14.1% in total over the 17 years.

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

Mullumbimby has averaged around 53 new dwelling approvals annually, with 267 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 27 so far in FY-26. With an average of 2.6 new residents per year for each dwelling over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), indicating healthy demand that should support property values, new homes are being built at an average value of $340,000. Additionally, $12.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, suggesting balanced commercial development activity.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Mullumbimby has similar development levels (per person), supporting market stability in line with regional patterns. New development consists of 74.0% standalone homes and 26.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low-density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 93.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 233 people per dwelling approval, Mullumbimby shows a developing market.

Population forecasts indicate Mullumbimby will gain 1,393 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 14 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Mullumbimby Hospital Redevelopment, Mullumbimby Rail Corridor Housing, Mullumbimby Road Upgrade, and Gulgan Village, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 features a well-educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%. As of December 2025, 4,396 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 2.8% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation is broadly similar to Regional NSW's 61.3%. Based on Census responses, a high 30.4% of residents were found to work 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. The area shows particularly strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 1.7 times the regional level. Conversely, public administration & safety shows lower representation at 3.5% versus the regional average of 7.5%. While local employment opportunities exist, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.2% while employment declined by 0.9%, resulting in the unemployment rate rising by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Mullumbimby. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ 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 (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Mullumbimby SA2's median income among taxpayers is $37,837, with an average of $62,160. This is below the national average, and compares to Regional NSW's median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $41,189 (median) and $67,667 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Mullumbimby all fall between the 20th and 25th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows the predominant cohort spans 28.3% of locals (2,787 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, reflecting patterns seen in the metropolitan region where 29.9% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 22nd percentile, and 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 within Mullumbimby, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 92.7% houses and 7.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Mullumbimby was higher than that of Regional NSW, at 43.0%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (28.9%) or rented (28.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Regional NSW average at $1,950, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $450, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Mullumbimby's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 65.1% of all households, comprising 25.3% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 13.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 34.9%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households comprising 7.3% of the total. The median household size of 2.5 people 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

Educational attainment in Mullumbimby significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 35.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 21.3% in Rest of NSW and 24.3% in SA4 region. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 24.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 35.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (13.5%) and certificates (22.1%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.6% of residents 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

Public transport analysis reveals 252 active transport stops operating within Mullumbimby comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 58 individual routes, collectively providing 751 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 200 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward - the car remains the dominant mode at 89%, with 5% walking and 3% cycling. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling. A high 30.4% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 107 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 2 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location 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 demonstrates above-average health outcomes, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts show a low prevalence of common health conditions, and the rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~4,964 people). The national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 7.7% and 7.0% of residents, respectively, while 73.1% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 20.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2,021 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than those of 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 was found to be above average in terms of cultural diversity, with 9.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 23.2% born overseas. The main religion in Mullumbimby is Christianity, which makes up 24.1% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 2.1% of the population, compared to 0.1% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Mullumbimby are English, comprising 30.1% of the population, Australian, comprising 22.8% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 30.0%, and Irish, comprising 11.2% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: French is notably overrepresented at 1.3% of the population (vs 0.4% regionally), Russian at 0.6% (vs 0.2%) and German at 5.3% (vs 3.1%).

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

Mullumbimby's median age of 45 years modestly exceeds Regional NSW's 43 and is considerably older than the national norm of 38. Compared to the Regional NSW average, the 35 - 44 cohort is notably over-represented (14.7% locally), while 15 - 24 year-olds are under-represented (8.7%). Since 2021, younger residents have shifted the median age down by 1.0 years to 45. In particular, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 12.7% to 14.7% of the population, while the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 10.1% to 11.5%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 15.6% to 13.6% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 15.4% to 13.8%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Mullumbimby. The 35 to 44 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 24%, adding 343 residents to reach 1,795. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 65 to 74 cohorts.