Murwillumbah

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

Murwillumbah's population was 9,501 as of Nov 2021. By Nov 2025, it is estimated to be around 9,554, an increase of 53 people (0.6%) since the 2021 Census. This growth is inferred from ABS estimates: 9,528 in June 2024 and 78 new addresses validated since Nov 2021. The population density is 393 persons per square kilometer. Murwillumbah's growth of 0.6% since the Census is within 2.7 percentage points of its SA4 region (3.3%). Overseas migration contributed approximately 83.3% of recent population gains.

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 the latest annual ERP population numbers, Murwillumbah is expected to increase by 928 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 8.7% 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. Between financial years FY21 and FY25, around 81 homes were approved, with an additional 2 approved so far in FY26. The population decline over recent years suggests that the new supply has likely been keeping up with demand, offering good choice to buyers.

The average value of new dwellings developed is $599,000, which is moderately above regional levels, indicating a focus on quality construction. This financial year has seen $12.1 million in commercial approvals registered, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development compared to the Rest of NSW. Murwillumbah has around half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 14th percentile nationally for areas assessed, suggesting more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. This is below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints.

New building activity comprises 92% standalone homes and 8% medium to high-density housing, maintaining Murwillumbah's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1150 people, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts suggest Murwillumbah will gain 834 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects likely to impact this region. Notable ones are Murwillumbah Depot, Industry Central Land Swap, Quarry Business Park, and Hundred Hills Estate. The following details projects expected to have the greatest 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.

The employment landscape in Murwillumbah presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.8%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Murwillumbah has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate in June 2025 was 3.8%.

At this time, 4,028 residents were employed, which was 0.1% above the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. However, workforce participation lagged at 51.3%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employed just 2.9% of local workers, below the Rest of NSW average of 5.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. In the 12 months prior to June 2025, Murwillumbah's labour force decreased by 4.8%, with employment declining by 3.7%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate of 1.0 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1%, labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data up to November 2025 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Murwillumbah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

The Murwillumbah SA2's median income among taxpayers was $40,717 and average income stood at $51,177 in financial year 2022. This compares to Rest of NSW's figures of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest median income will be approximately $45,851 and average income $57,630, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Murwillumbah fall between the 10th and 11th percentiles nationally. Income distribution reveals that 28.0% of locals (2,675 people) earn between $400 - 799, unlike surrounding regions where 29.9% earn between $1,500 - 2,999. Housing affordability pressures are severe, 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 (2016), consisted of 78.9% houses and 21.1% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 66.3% houses and 33.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Murwillumbah was 36.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.6% and rented dwellings at 30.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,872. The median weekly rent in Murwillumbah was $350, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Murwillumbah's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 65.9% of all households, including 24.1% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 16.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.1%, with lone person households at 31.0% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches 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 the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 13.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are held by 40.9% of residents aged 15+, including advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (30.5%). Educational participation is high, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 11.3% in primary, 9.1% in secondary, and 3.3% in 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 218 active public transport stops. These are served by 67 bus routes. Together, they facilitate 949 weekly passenger trips.

Residents have excellent accessibility to transport, with an average distance of 120 meters to the nearest stop. Service frequency is high, with 135 trips daily across all routes, translating to about four weekly trips per individual stop.

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, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low, at approximately 46% (around 4,433 people), compared to 49.3% in the rest of NSW and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues affect 10.5% of residents, while arthritis impacts 10.0%.

However, 62.3% report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the 64.2% in the rest of NSW. The area has 24.7% (2,357 people) aged 65 and over, compared to 26.1% in the rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors show some challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Murwillumbah had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 89.6% of its population being citizens, 86.5% born in Australia, and 94.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 48.4% of Murwillumbah's population. The most significant overrepresentation was observed in the 'Other' category, comprising 1.6% compared to 0.8% across Rest of NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (32.0%), Australian (28.3%), and Irish (11.1%). Notably, Scottish ancestry was overrepresented at 9.0%, compared to 8.7% regionally, while French ancestry was at 0.7% versus 0.5%. The representation of Australian Aboriginal ancestry was 2.6%, slightly lower than the regional average of 3.0%.

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 12.8% of Murwillumbah's population compared to Rest of NSW, while the 25 - 34 cohort makes up 10.0%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 8.6% to 10.0%, and the 15 to 24 cohort has increased from 10.1% to 11.4%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 14.1% to 12.8%. By 2041, Murwillumbah's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 25 to 34 group is projected to grow by 27%, reaching 1,207 people from 951. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.