Mullumbimby

Mullumbimby lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

By May 2026, the estimated population of Mullumbimby was around 4,838. This figure reflects a growth of 658 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,180. AreaSearch, after examining the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and validating additional addresses, estimated the resident population to be 4,819. This growth equates to a density ratio of 175 persons per square kilometer. Mullumbimby's population growth of 15.7% since the 2021 Census exceeded that of its SA4 region (3.7%) and the Rest of NSW. Overseas migration contributed approximately 47.0% to this growth, with other factors like interstate migration also playing a positive role.

AreaSearch's projections for Mullumbimby are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, 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 will be applied to Mullumbimby for the years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, an increase of 944 persons is projected based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 19.1% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Mullumbimby among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Mullumbimby recorded approximately 37 residential properties granted approval per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 189 homes were approved, with a further 23 approved in FY26. On average, each dwelling accommodated about 2.4 new residents annually over these five years.

The average construction cost value of new homes was approximately $506,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. In FY26, $5.7 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Compared to the rest of NSW, Mullumbimby exhibited moderately higher development activity, with 47.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period.

The new development consisted of 76.0% standalone homes and 24.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character. With around 132 people per approval, Mullumbimby reflects a developing area. Future projections estimate an addition of 925 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-suited to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Mullumbimby has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects that may affect this region. Key projects are Mullumbimby Hospital Redevelopment, Mullumbimby Rail Corridor Housing, Station Street Affordable Housing, and Mullumbimby Road Upgrade. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment drivers in Mullumbimby are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Mullumbimby's workforce is well-educated with strong representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 7.2% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8%. As of December 2025, 2153 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 3.3%, higher than Regional NSW's 3.9%.

Workforce participation was 58.1%, below Regional NSW's 60.5%. A high 26.2% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training, with retail trade being particularly strong at 1.4 times the regional level. Public administration & safety was under-represented at 3.2% compared to Regional NSW's 7.5%.

Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census data. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 0.8%, labour force by 1.6%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 1.2% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mullumbimby's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is an illustrative extrapolation not accounting for localised population projections.

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

The suburb of Mullumbimby had a lower than average income level nationally according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year ended June 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Mullumbimby was $35,115 and the average income stood at $64,082. These figures compared to Regional NSW's median of $52,390 and average of $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since June 2023, estimated current incomes would be approximately $38,739 (median) and $70,695 (average) as of March 2026. According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family and personal incomes in Mullumbimby all fell between the 21st and 24th percentiles nationally. Income distribution showed that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominated with 30.8% of residents (1,490 people), similar to the broader area where 29.9% occupied this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Mullumbimby, with only 78.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 19th percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

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

In Mullumbimby, as per the latest Census data, 89.2% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 10.8% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is compared to Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mullumbimby stood at 39.7%, similar to Regional NSW, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.7% and rented ones at 31.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,929, higher than the Regional NSW average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Mullumbimby was $500, compared to $330 in Regional NSW. Nationally, Mullumbimby's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,929 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $500 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 64.6% of all households, including 24.1% couples with children, 23.2% couples without children, and 16.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.4%, with lone person households at 28.1% and group households comprising 7.6%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Mullumbimby exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Mullumbimby's educational attainment is notably higher than broader averages. 31.8% of its residents aged 15 and above have university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 24.3% in the SA4 region. This high level of educational attainment positions Mullumbimby favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 22.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 34.3% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 13.8% and certificates for 20.5%. Educational participation is notably high in Mullumbimby, with 30.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.0% in primary education, 9.5% 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

Mullumbimby has 83 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 38 different routes that together facilitate 515 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 179 meters. Most residents commute outside Mullumbimby. Cars are the primary mode of transportation, used by 86% of residents, while walking and cycling account for 6% and 5% respectively. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 26.2% of Mullumbimby residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, an average of 73 trips is made per day, resulting in approximately 6 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Mullumbimby is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Mullumbimby shows better-than-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Both younger and older age groups have low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is held by approximately 52% of Mullumbimby's total population (~2,529 people), leading the average SA2 area. Mental health issues affect 8.8% of residents, while arthritis impacts 7.1%. About 70.8% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The under-65 population has better-than-average health outcomes. Mullumbimby has 21.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,020 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Mullumbimby records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mullumbimby's cultural diversity is above average, with 10.6% speaking a language other than English at home and 22.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 26.1%. Judaism is overrepresented at 2.3%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (29.9%), Australian (21.8%), and Irish (11.5%). French (1.2%) Polish (1.1%), and Russian (0.5%) are notably overrepresented in Mullumbimby compared to regional averages of 0.4%, 0.5%, and 0.2% respectively.

Mullumbimby hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Mullumbimby's median age is 44 years, similar to Regional NSW's 43 and above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Mullumbimby has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (14.9%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (9.8%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 12.6% to 14.9%, while the 75-84 cohort has risen from 5.8% to 7.2%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 15.3% to 13.8% and the 55-64 group has dropped from 13.8% to 12.3%. By 2041, Mullumbimby's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 35-44 age group is projected to grow by 28%, reaching 925 residents from the current 720. The 15-24 age group is expected to grow modestly at 2%, adding only 8 residents.