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 around 9,548 as of Nov 2025. This reflected an increase of 47 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,501 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,460 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 78 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 393 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 83.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilised NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and the latest annual ERP population numbers, the area was expected to expand by 928 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 8.8% in total over the 17 years.

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

Murwillumbah saw approximately 16 new homes approved annually over recent years. From financial year 2021 (FY-21) to FY-25, 81 homes were approved, with an additional 2 approved so far in FY-26. The population has declined recently, suggesting 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 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating moderate levels of commercial development compared to other areas. When compared to the Rest of NSW, Murwillumbah shows roughly half the construction activity per person. Nationally, it ranks among the 14th percentile of assessed areas, suggesting more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings.

This is below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and potentially indicating planning constraints. New development in Murwillumbah consists of 92.0% detached dwellings and 8.0% attached dwellings, maintaining its traditional low density character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is around 1150 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Looking ahead, Murwillumbah is projected to grow by 840 residents by the year 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 in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects that could impact this region. Notable ones are Murwillumbah Depot, Industry Central Land Swap, Quarry Business Park, and Hundred Hills Estate. The following list details those expected to have the 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.

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

Murwillumbah has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors and an unemployment rate of 4.2% as of September 2025. The town's unemployment rate is 0.4% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Murwillumbah lags behind the rest of NSW at 54.1%, compared to 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, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and August 2025, Murwillumbah's labour force decreased by 2.7%, employment declined by 1.8%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5%, labour force contract by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. 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. 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, 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

Murwillumbah SA2's median income among taxpayers was $43,008 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $53,257 during the same period. These figures are lower than those of Rest of NSW, which had a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $46,819 (median) and $57,976 (average). Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Murwillumbah fall between the 10th and 11th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort in Murwillumbah spans 28.0% of locals (2,673 people), with incomes in the $400 - 799 category. This is unlike surrounding regions where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 - 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 structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 78.9% houses and 21.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Murwillumbah was at 36.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.6% and rented ones at 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, while 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 constitute 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 aligns with the average in 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 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, with 30.1% currently enrolled in formal education: 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 244 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These are covered by 67 individual routes offering 978 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically 120 metres from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward, primarily using cars (93%). Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below the regional average. In 2021 Census data, 11.3% of residents worked from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 139 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately four weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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 exhibit high prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is extremely low in Murwillumbah, at approximately 46% of the total population (~4,420 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 claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. The working-age population in Murwillumbah faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 24.7% of residents aged 65 and over (2,356 people), higher than the 23.0% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present additional challenges, with national rankings even worse 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 had cultural diversity levels below average, with 89.6% of its population being citizens, 86.5% born in Australia, and 94.8% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion was Christianity, comprising 48.4%. There was overrepresentation in the 'Other' category, which made up 1.6%, compared to 0.8% regionally.

Top ancestry groups were English (32.0%), Australian (28.3%), and Irish (11.1%). Notably, Scottish (9.0%) and French (0.7%) groups were overrepresented, while Australian Aboriginal was underrepresented at 2.6%.

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

Murwillumbah's median age is 46, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 43 and significantly greater than Australia's national norm of 38. The 45-54 age group comprises 12.8%, compared to Rest of NSW, while the 25-34 cohort stands at 10.0%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 25-34 age group grew from 8.6% to 10.0%, and the 15-24 group increased from 10.1% to 11.4%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort decreased from 14.1% to 12.8%. By 2041, Murwillumbah's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 25-34 group is projected to grow by 27%, reaching 1,207 people from 950. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 55-64 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.