Murwillumbah
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Murwillumbah are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Murwillumbah's population is 9,554 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 53 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 9,501. The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 9,528 in Jun 2024 and additional 78 validated new addresses since Census date. Population density is 393 persons per square kilometer. Murwillumbah's growth rate of 0.6% since census is within 2.7 percentage points of SA4 region's 3.3%, indicating competitive fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 83.3% of recent population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with base year 2022. For uncovered areas, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with base year 2021. Growth rates by age group applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, population is expected to increase by 928 persons, reflecting an 8.7% total increase 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 has seen approximately 16 new homes approved annually. Between financial years 2020/21 (FY-21) and 2025/26 (FY-26), around 81 homes have been approved, with an additional 2 approved so far in FY-26. The population has declined recently, suggesting new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering good choice to 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 previous years. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Murwillumbah has approximately half the construction activity per person. Nationally, it ranks around the 14th percentile of areas assessed, suggesting more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings.

This is below average nationally, which may reflect the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New development in Murwillumbah consists of 92.0% detached dwellings and 8.0% attached dwellings, maintaining its traditional low density character with a focus 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 expected to grow by approximately 834 residents through to 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 in the future.

Murwillumbah has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects likely impacting the area. Key projects are Murwillumbah Depot, Animal Pound and Rehoming Centre, Industry Central Land Swap, and Quarry Business Park. 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.

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's workforce is skilled with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.8% as of June 2025.

There were 4,028 residents employed at this time, with an unemployment rate of 3.7%, 0.1% above the Rest of NSW's rate. Workforce participation stood at 51.3%, lower than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key employment industries for locals include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employed only 2.9% of local workers compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

Over a 12-month period ending June 2025, the labour force decreased by 4.8%, employment declined by 3.7%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 1.0 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment drop by 0.1%, labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years for national employment. Applying these projections to Murwillumbah's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations and do not account for localised population projections.

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

Murwillumbah's median income among taxpayers was $40,717 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $51,177 during the same period. For comparison, Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998. By September 2025, estimates suggest Murwillumbah's median income will be approximately $45,851 and the average income will be around $57,630, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022. Census data indicates that incomes in Murwillumbah fall between the 10th and 11th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income distribution shows that 28.0% of locals (2,675 people) earn within the $400 - 799 range, unlike surrounding regions where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Murwillumbah, with only 79.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 9th 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 in 2016 consisted of houses at 78.9% and other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other') at 21.1%, compared to Non-Metro NSW's 66.3% houses and 33.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Murwillumbah stood at 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. Median weekly rent in Murwillumbah was $350, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Murwillumbah's median monthly mortgage repayment was lower at $1,733 than the Australian average of $1,863, and median weekly rent was less at $350 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 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 common at 13.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prominent, 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%, comprising 11.3% in primary, 9.1% in secondary, and 3.3% in tertiary education.

There are 10 schools operating in Murwillumbah, educating approximately 2,937 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1012) and balanced educational opportunities. The schools include 5 primary, 3 secondary, and 2 K-12 institutions. The area serves as an education hub with 30.7 school places per 100 residents, above the regional average of 14.3, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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 a mix of bus routes totalling 67. The services provide 949 weekly passenger trips combined.

Residents have excellent accessibility to transport, with an average distance of 120 meters to the nearest stop. Service frequency is 135 trips per day across all routes, which equates to roughly 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 younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 46%, covering around 4,433 people, compared to 49.3% across Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common conditions, affecting 10.5% and 10.0% respectively.

Around 62.3% report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Rest of NSW's 64.2%. The area has 24.7% aged 65 and over (2,357 people), compared to 26.1% in Rest of NSW. Senior health outcomes 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 was found to have a cultural diversity below average, with 89.6% of its population being citizens, 86.5% born in Australia, and 94.8% speaking English only at home. The dominant religion in Murwillumbah was Christianity, comprising 48.4% of the population. Notably, the category 'Other' had an overrepresentation in Murwillumbah, making up 1.6% compared to 0.8% across Rest of NSW.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups were English at 32.0%, Australian at 28.3%, and Irish at 11.1%. There were also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: French was overrepresented at 0.7% compared to 0.5% regionally, Scottish at 9.0% vs 8.7%, and Australian Aboriginal at 2.6% vs 3.0%.

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

Murwillumbah's median age is 46, which is higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and significantly greater than Australia's national norm of 38. The 45-54 age group makes up a strong 12.8% of Murwillumbah's population compared to Rest of NSW, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 10.0%. Post-2021 Census data indicates 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 age group has declined from 14.1% to 12.8%. By 2041, Murwillumbah's age composition is expected to shift significantly. The 25 to 34 group is projected to grow by 27%, adding 255 people and reaching 1,207 from the current 951. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 age groups are expected to experience population declines.