Murwillumbah

Population growth drivers in Murwillumbah are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Murwillumbah's population, as of Feb 2026, is approximately 9,549. This figure represents a growth of 48 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,501. The increase is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 9,460 in June 2024 and an additional 82 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 393 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 83.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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. Based on demographic trends and latest annual ERP population numbers, Murwillumbah's population is expected to increase by approximately 928 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of about 8.8% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Murwillumbah is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Murwillumbah has seen approximately 16 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 81 homes were approved, with an additional two approved in FY26 so far. The population decline in recent years suggests that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good choice for buyers.

New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost of $322,000. In the current financial year, $12.1 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating moderate levels of commercial development compared to other areas. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Murwillumbah shows roughly half the construction activity per person and ranks among the 14th percentile nationally in terms of assessed areas. This suggests more limited choices for buyers and supports demand for existing dwellings.

This is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and potentially indicating planning constraints. New development in Murwillumbah consists predominantly of detached dwellings (92.0%) with a smaller proportion of attached dwellings (8.0%), maintaining its traditional low-density character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1150, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. Looking ahead, Murwillumbah is projected to grow by 839 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth in the future.

Murwillumbah has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch identified seven projects potentially impacting this region. Notable projects are Murwillumbah Depot, Industry Central Land Swap, Quarry Business Park, and Hundred Hills Estate. The following details those likely 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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Murwillumbah recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Murwillumbah has a skilled workforce with prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 4.2%. As of September 2025, 4,045 residents are employed and the unemployment rate is 0.4% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation stands at 53.9%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, only 11.3% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 2.9% of local workers, lower than Rest of NSW's 5.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, labour force decreased by 2.7% and employment declined by 1.8%, reducing unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.5%, labour force contracted by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Murwillumbah's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The median income among taxpayers in Murwillumbah SA2 was $43,008 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $53,257 during the same period. These figures are lower than those for Rest of NSW, which were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest median income will be approximately $46,819 and average income $57,976, based on an 8.86% growth in wages since financial year 2023. Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Murwillumbah fall between the 10th and 11th percentiles nationally. In terms of income distribution, 28.0% of locals (2,673 people) earn between $400 and $799, unlike surrounding regions where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 to $2,999 range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Murwillumbah, with only 79.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 8th percentile nationally.

Murwillumbah is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Murwillumbah's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 78.9% houses and 21.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Murwillumbah was at 36.6%, with the rest either mortgaged (32.6%) or rented (30.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. The median weekly rent was $350, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Murwillumbah's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,733 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $350 compared to the national figure of $375.

Murwillumbah features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 65.9 percent of all households, including 24.1 percent composed of couples with children, 24.6 percent consisting of couples without children, and 16.2 percent made up of single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 34.1 percent, with lone person households comprising 31.0 percent and group households making up 3.1 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

Educational attainment in Murwillumbah aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 19.6%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (30.5%). Educational participation is high at 30.1%, with 11.3% in primary education, 9.1% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.3% in primary education, 9.1% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Murwillumbah has 244 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 67 different routes that together facilitate 978 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 120 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. In this predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward, with cars being the primary mode of transportation at 93%. Walking accounts for 4% of commutes. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 11.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 139 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately four weekly trips per stop. An accompanying map displays the locations of the 100 nearest stops to the area's centerpoint.

Health performance in Murwillumbah is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Murwillumbah faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age cohorts have notable prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is extremely low in Murwillumbah, at approximately 46% of the total population (~4,421 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.5 and 10.0% of residents respectively. However, 62.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Murwillumbah has 24.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,352 people), higher than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Murwillumbah is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Murwillumbah was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 89.6% of its population being citizens, 86.5% born in Australia, and 94.8% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Murwillumbah is Christianity, making up 48.4% of the population. Notably, the category 'Other' comprises 1.6% of Murwillumbah's population, compared to 0.8% across Rest of NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are English (32.0%), Australian (28.3%), and Irish (11.1%). However, there are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Scottish is overrepresented at 9.0%, French at 0.7%, and Australian Aboriginal at 2.6%.

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

Murwillumbah's median age is 46, which is slightly higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and significantly higher than Australia's national norm of 38. The 45-54 age group comprises 12.7% of Murwillumbah's population compared to Rest of NSW, while the 35-44 cohort makes up 10.9%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 25 to 34 age group grew from 8.6% to 10.4%, and the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 10.1% to 11.4%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 14.1% to 12.7%, and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 13.2% to 11.9%. By 2041, Murwillumbah's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 75 to 84 group will grow by 27%, reaching 1,013 people from 796. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.