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 was around 9,839 as of Nov 2025. This showed an increase of 943 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 8,896. The change was inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 9,414 in June 2024 and an additional 209 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 36 persons per square kilometer. Mullumbimby's growth rate of 10.6% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (3.9%) and Rest of NSW, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 47.3% to overall population gains during recent periods, though all drivers were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections were used, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics projected an above median growth for national non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, based on latest annual ERP population numbers, Mullumbimby was expected to increase by 1,829 persons, reflecting a total gain of 14.3% 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-FY25267 homes were approved, with an additional 23 approved so far in FY26. Over the past five financial years, each dwelling has attracted an average of 2.6 new residents per year, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $340,000. This 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 person, contributing to market stability aligned with regional patterns. New developments consist of 74% standalone homes and 26% medium-high density housing, preserving the area's low-density nature while offering more diverse housing options due to decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles.

With around 233 people per dwelling approval, Mullumbimby shows a developing market with steady conditions supported by current development trends. Population forecasts indicate Mullumbimby will gain approximately 1,404 residents by 2041, suggesting that current development is well-matched to future needs and can sustain steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones 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 prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate here is 6.5%. As of September 2025, there are 4,340 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 2.7% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation stands at 59.5%, slightly below Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, a significant 30.4% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in healthcare & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training sectors. Mullumbimby 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 year to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.2% and employment declined by a similar percentage, with unemployment remaining stable. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.5% and labour force decline of 0.1%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mullumbimby's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, assuming no changes in 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 2023 shows Mullumbimby SA2 had a median income of $37,837 and an average income of $62,160. This is below the national average. Rest of NSW had a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for Mullumbimby are approximately $41,189 (median) and $67,667 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Mullumbimby fall between the 20th and 25th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 28.3% of locals (2,784 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, similar to metropolitan regions at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 81.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 22nd percentile. 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 per the latest Census, had 92.7% houses and 7.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mullumbimby stood at 43.0%, with mortgaged properties at 28.9% and rented ones at 28.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Mullumbimby was $450, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Mullumbimby's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and 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 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, 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 exceeds broader benchmarks. 35.5% of its residents aged 15+ hold university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the Rest of NSW and 24.3% in the SA4 region. This gives Mullumbimby a strong position for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most common at 24.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 35.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 13.5% and certificates at 22.1%. Educational participation is high in Mullumbimby, 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

Mullumbimby has 252 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 58 different routes that collectively facilitate 751 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is considered good, with residents typically living within 200 meters of the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most Mullumbimby residents commute outward from their homes. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 89%, with walking and cycling accounting for 5% and 3% respectively. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling in Mullumbimby.

According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents work from home, at 30.4%. This figure may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 107 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately two weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, illustrating the locations of the 100 nearest stops to the area'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 superior health outcomes based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence across both young and elderly age groups. The prevalence of common health conditions is low, with mental health issues affecting 7.7% and arthritis impacting 7.0% of residents.

Approximately half the population (49.58%) has private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%. A total of 73.1% claim to be free from medical ailments, higher than the Rest of NSW's 63.3%. Working-age residents exhibit low chronic condition prevalence. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (20.7%, or 2,033 people) compared to the Rest of NSW (23.0%). Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, ranking higher than the general population nationally.

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 cultural diversity was above average, with 9.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 23.2% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 24.1%. Judaism was overrepresented at 2.1%, compared to 0.1% in Rest of NSW.

The top ancestry groups were English (30.1%), Australian (22.8%), and Irish (11.2%). Notably, French (1.3%) Russian (0.6%) and German (5.3%) were overrepresented compared to regional averages.

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 years. This makes Mullumbimby considerably older than the national average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, Mullumbimby has a notably higher percentage of people aged 45-54 (14.0%) and a lower percentage of people aged 15-24 (8.7%). Between 2021 and present, the population aged 35-44 grew from 12.7% to 14.3%, while 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 decreased from 15.4% to 14.0%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, Mullumbimby's age profile will change significantly. The 35-44 age cohort is projected to increase by 385 people (27%), going from 1,409 to 1,795. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 65-74 cohorts.