Murwillumbah Surrounds
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Murwillumbah Surrounds' population is around 10,793 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 441 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,352 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,692 in June 2024 and an additional 55 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 11.9 persons per square kilometer. Murwillumbah Surrounds' growth of 4.3% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region's 3.2%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 36.0% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is projected to expand by 2,061 persons, recording an 18.1% total gain over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Murwillumbah Surrounds according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Murwillumbah Surrounds has seen approximately 21 new homes approved annually. Development approval data is provided by the ABS on a financial year basis, totalling 109 approvals from FY-20 to FY-25, with 12 approvals so far in FY-26. On average, 8.6 people have moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years. This substantial supply-demand gap typically leads to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $620,000, higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development. In FY-26, $19.9 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Murwillumbah Surrounds records significantly lower building activity, with 58.0% below the regional average per person, which can strengthen demand and prices for existing properties. This activity is also below national averages, suggesting possible planning constraints. New building activity consists predominantly of standalone homes (90.0%), maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes.

The estimated population count per dwelling approval is 1545 people, reflecting its quiet development environment. By 2041, Murwillumbah Surrounds is projected to grow by 1,958 residents. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Murwillumbah Surrounds has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 40thth percentile nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly impact local performance. AreaSearch identified 29 such projects potentially affecting the area. Notable initiatives include Murwillumbah Depot, Animal Pound and Rehoming Centre, Quarry Business Park, and Murwillumbah Schools Upgrades. The following list details those likely most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.8%, Murwillumbah Surrounds has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Murwillumbah Surrounds has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of 3.8% as of June 2025. The area's employment rate is 0.2% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%, with workforce participation at 53.7%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%.

Dominant sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. The area specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level, while public administration & safety shows lower representation at 4.6% versus the regional average of 7.5%. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Murwillumbah Surrounds saw a labour force decrease of 4.8%, alongside a 4.2% employment decline, causing unemployment to fall by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment.

State-level data from Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19,270 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National projections estimate overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local growth in Murwillumbah Surrounds is estimated to be approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years based on its industry mix.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Murwillumbah Surrounds has a median taxpayer income of $40,866 and an average of $51,563 based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is lower than national averages, with Rest of NSW having a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998. By March 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $45,198 (median) and $57,029 (average), accounting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Murwillumbah Surrounds fall between the 16th and 28th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 30.6% of the community earns between $1,500 and $2,999 (3,302 individuals), aligning with surrounding regions where this cohort also represents 29.9%. After housing costs, 85.7% of income remains, ranking at the 30th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Murwillumbah Surrounds is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Murwillumbah Surrounds' latest Census showed 98.5% houses and 1.5% other dwellings, compared to Non-Metro NSW's 66.3% houses and 33.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Murwillumbah Surrounds was 48.5%, with the rest mortgaged or rented at 35.6% and 15.9% respectively. Median monthly mortgage repayments were $1,745, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,872. Median weekly rent was $350, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Murwillumbah Surrounds' mortgage repayments and rents were lower than the Australian averages of $1,863 and $375 respectively.

Murwillumbah Surrounds features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 74.4% of all households, including 28.1% couples with children, 34.0% couples without children, and 11.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.6%, with lone person households at 21.5% and group households comprising 4.0%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

Murwillumbah Surrounds has 24.2% of residents aged 15+ with university degrees, compared to NSW's 32.2%, indicating potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are held by 42.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.1% and certificates at 30.0%. Educational participation is high, with 30.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: primary (11.2%), secondary (9.6%), and tertiary (3.6%).

There are 11 schools serving 579 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 981) offering balanced educational opportunities. The mix includes 8 primary, 1 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. Local school capacity is limited at 5.4 places per 100 residents versus the regional average of 14.3, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Murwillumbah Surrounds has 582 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by 59 individual routes that collectively provide 697 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these stops is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 150 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 99 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Murwillumbah Surrounds's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Murwillumbah's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, showing a typical distribution of common health conditions across different age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 46% (~5007 people), compared to 49.3% across Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 9.4%) and mental health issues (7.9%).

Conversely, 68.3% report being free from medical ailments, higher than the 64.2% figure for Rest of NSW. Regarding age demographics, 22.7% (~2452 people) are aged 65 and over, lower than the 26.1% in Rest of NSW. Notably, health outcomes among seniors in Murwillumbah exceed those of the general population in terms of health metrics.

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

Murwillumbah Surrounds showed lower cultural diversity, with 85.5% of its residents being citizens, 85.7% born in Australia, and 95.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 42.2%. Notably, Judaism comprised 0.2%, slightly higher than the Rest of NSW's 0.1%.

Top ancestry groups were English (32.3%), Australian (28.9%), and Irish (10.5%). Scottish ethnicity was equally represented at 8.7%, French at 0.6% and Welsh at 0.6%.

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

Murwillumbah Surrounds has a median age of 47 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, making up 16.8% of the population, while the 25-34 age group is smaller at 8.0%. This concentration of those aged 55-64 is notably higher than the national average of 11.2%. Between January 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.2% to 6.6%, while the 15 to 24 cohort has increased from 10.1% to 11.3%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group has declined from 18.9% to 16.8%, and the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 14.0% to 12.9%. By 2041, Murwillumbah Surrounds is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 54%, adding 384 people and reaching a total of 1,095 from the current figure of 710. The 65 to 74 age group is projected to grow by 2%, with an increase of 36 residents.