Murwillumbah

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

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Murwillumbah is approximately 9,510 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 9 individuals (0.1%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded 9,501 people. This shift is calculated from the ABS estimated resident population of 9,510 in June 2025 and 84 validated new addresses added after the Census. This population level results in a density of 391 persons per square kilometer, offering substantial room per resident and capacity for prospective expansion. Growth in the local population was mainly driven by incoming overseas migration, which made up roughly 85.2% of the total demographic gains in recent times.

AreaSearch incorporates projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 regions, published in 2024 using 2022 as the starting point. For SA2 regions lacking this coverage, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 base are utilized. Age group growth distributions from these sets are also applied to all locations for the period spanning 2032 to 2041. Looking at upcoming demographic changes, the population growth is projected to be slightly below the median of regional areas nationwide, with the location forecast to add 903 individuals by 2041 using the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a total rise of 9.5% over the 16 years.

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

Murwillumbah averages approximately 16 residential approvals annually, with 81 homes approved during the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 6 recorded during FY-26 so far. Because the population has decreased in recent times, the supply of new housing has likely matched demand, giving purchasers a good range of options, with new homes constructed at an average cost of $322,000. Furthermore, $12.1 million in commercial building approvals have been registered during this financial year, pointing to moderate commercial construction.

In comparison to the Rest of NSW, Murwillumbah experiences roughly 56% of the construction activity per resident, ranking in the 14th percentile of evaluated locations across the country, which translates to fewer alternatives for buyers and sustains demand for pre-existing houses. This rate is also below the countrywide average, showing the maturity of the local market and suggesting potential zoning limits. New construction is comprised of 92.0% detached houses and 8.0% semi-detached or attached options, preserving the classic low density layout of the area with a focus on family residences that interest buyers looking for space. The estimated ratio of 1152 residents per single residential approval highlights the calm, low intensity building environment in this area.

Moving forward, Murwillumbah is projected to add 903 residents by 2041 (using the latest quarterly projection from AreaSearch). If the present rate of construction persists, the supply of housing might fail to match the expanding population, which could intensify competition among purchasers and encourage faster price appreciation.

Murwillumbah has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Few things impact local performance as much as changes to regional infrastructure, key projects, and planning changes. A total of 7 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having potential impacts on the region. Major initiatives include the Murwillumbah Depot, Industry Central Land Swap, Quarry Business Park, and Hundred Hills Estate, with the list below highlighting the most significant ones.

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 shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Murwillumbah has a qualified labor force, with strong representation in vital services industries, a jobless rate of 4.8%, and estimated job growth of 3.0% over the last year. In March 2026, 4,159 local residents were employed, while the jobless rate was 0.7% higher than the Regional NSW rate of 4.1%, and labor force participation was somewhat low (55.6% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW). According to Census details, a low 11.3% of the workforce operated from home, though the influence of Covid-19 restrictions should be kept in mind.

The major employment fields for residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. By contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 2.9% of local employment, which is lower than the Regional NSW average of 5.3%. Although there are local employment options within the district, a significant portion of residents travel to other areas for work, as indicated by the ratio of the Census working population to local residents.

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, employment expanded by 3.0% over the 12-month timeframe, while the total labor force grew by 4.0%, leading to a 0.9 percentage point rise in unemployment. This differs from Regional NSW, where employment shrank by 0.9%, the labor force dropped by 0.4%, and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points. Countrywide employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of May-25 provide additional context regarding future demand in Murwillumbah. These estimates, looking at five and ten-year horizons, have been aligned with the local employment structure to project growth paths. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of growth vary considerably across different sectors. Applying these industry projections to the local workforce mix suggests that employment in Murwillumbah will grow by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted calculation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate local population forecasts).

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

According to the latest ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023, the income level in the Murwillumbah SA2 is below the national average. Taxpayers in the Murwillumbah SA2 have a median income of $43,008 and an average income of $53,257, which compares to Regional NSW figures of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current projections estimate these figures at approximately $47,446 (median) and $58,753 (average) as of March 2026. Census data shows that household, family, and individual incomes in Murwillumbah all place between the 10th and 11th percentiles nationwide. Analysis of local incomes shows that the largest group is the 28.0% of residents (2,662 people) in the $400 - 799 bracket, differing from the broader region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is the most common at 29.9%. Affordability challenges are significant, with residents retaining only 79.3% of their income, placing the area in the 8th percentile.

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

The mix of housing in Murwillumbah at the time of the latest Census consisted of 78.9% detached houses and 21.1% other residences (such as townhouses, units, and alternative dwellings), compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings in Regional NSW. Home ownership rates in Murwillumbah were slightly lower than the Regional NSW figure, standing at 36.6%, with the remaining properties being either mortgaged (32.6%) or rented (30.8%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the locality was identical to the Regional NSW median at $1,733, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $350, compared to Regional NSW figures of $1,733 and $330. On a national level, mortgage payments in Murwillumbah are below the Australian median of $1,863, and rent prices are lower than the national median of $375.

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

Family households constitute the majority at 65.9% of all homes, which is broken down into 24.1% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 16.2% single parent households. Non-family living arrangements make up the remaining 34.1%, with single person households accounting for 31.0% and group households representing 3.1% of the total. The median size of households in the area is 2.4 people, matching the average for Regional NSW.

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

The region experiences educational hurdles, with university graduation rates (19.6% of residents) being considerably lower than the NSW state average of 32.2%. This situation presents both an obstacle and a chance for focused educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 13.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational and technical training is prominent, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (30.5%).

Enrolment in education is remarkably strong, with 30.1% of local residents currently participating in formal study. This figure includes 11.3% of residents in primary schools, 9.1% in secondary schools, and 3.3% in tertiary programs.

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

Analysis of public transit indicates there are 244 transit stops in Murwillumbah, consisting of bus services. These locations are served by 67 separate routes, which combine to deliver 978 weekly trips. Transit access is classified as excellent, with residents generally living 120 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential nature of the area, most workers travel outside the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 93% and walking accounting for 4%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.2 per home, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 11.3% of the workforce works from home (2021 Census; possibly influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions).

Service frequency averages 139 daily trips across all routes, which translates to about 4 weekly departures per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 closest transit stops to the central coordinates of the location.

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

Health statistics show significant challenges in Murwillumbah, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality patterns and the presence of chronic illness, with a notable rate of common medical conditions across both younger and older demographics, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is particularly low at approximately 46% of the population (~4,403 people). This compares to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most frequent diagnoses in the region were mental health conditions and arthritis, affecting 10.5 and 10.0% of the population, respectively, while 62.3% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Residents of working age face notable health difficulties, with higher rates of chronic illness. The area has 24.8% of its population aged 65 and older (2,357 people), which exceeds the Regional NSW level of 23.4%. Health profiles among older residents show some difficulties, with national comparisons placing 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 displays lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with citizens making up 89.6% of the population, 86.5% of residents born in Australia, and 94.8% using only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 48.4% of the community. However, the most notable difference is in the Other category, which accounts for 1.6% of the population compared to 0.8% across Regional NSW.

Regarding parental country of birth, the three most common ancestries in Murwillumbah are English, representing 32.0% of the population, Australian, representing 28.3%, and Irish, representing 11.1%. There are also distinct variations in the proportions of other groups, with Scottish ancestry overrepresented at 9.0% (compared to 8.0% regionally), French at 0.7% (compared to 0.4%), and Australian Aboriginal at 2.6% (compared to 4.6%).

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

With a median age of 46, Murwillumbah has an older profile than Regional NSW at 43 and is notably older than the national median of 38. The 45 - 54 age bracket is well represented at 12.7% compared to Regional NSW, whereas the 25 - 34 bracket is less common at 9.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 10.1% to 11.7% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 group has decreased from 14.1% to 12.7%, and the 85+ bracket has dropped from 4.7% to 3.5%. By 2041, Murwillumbah is projected to experience major shifts in its age structure. Leading these changes, the 75 to 84 bracket is expected to grow by 28% (230 people) to reach 1,050, up from 819. In contrast, the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age groups are projected to contract.