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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Murwillumbah is $970k, with units at $498k. House values have moved 5.0% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Murwillumbah has an estimated 7,577 residents, down from 7,616 at the 2021 Census. That puts 631 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to ABS demographic updates for the wider region and recent address validations conducted by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Murwillumbah has an estimated population of 7,577 as of May 2026. This represents a reduction of 39 residents (0.5%) compared to the 2021 Census, which counted 7,616 individuals. This population adjustment is determined from the resident count of 7,577, computed by AreaSearch using the ABS release of ERP data in June 2025 alongside 45 newly validated addresses since the Census date. With this population level, the density stands at 631 persons per square kilometer, indicating substantial space per inhabitant and opportunities for future development.
Overseas migration was the primary driver of demographic growth, accounting for approximately 83.0% of total gains in recent times. AreaSearch implements ABS and Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline year. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are applied. Demographic growth patterns by age bracket from these files are also projected forward for the years 2032 to 2041. Looking at upcoming demographic shifts, population expansion is anticipated to be slightly under the median for regional areas, with the suburb of Murwillumbah projected to add 733 residents by 2041 based on compiled SA2 projections, representing a total increase of 9.7% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
62 new dwellings have been approved in Murwillumbah over the past five years, an average of 12 a year. That is 1.6 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 3, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch assessments of ABS building approvals allocated from statistical areas, the suburb of Murwillumbah averages roughly 12 residential approvals each year, with 62 properties approved over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 3 during FY-26 so far. Even with a declining population, construction activity has remained relatively sufficient, which benefits purchasers, while new dwellings carry an average estimated build cost of $599,000, indicating that builders are focusing on premium, high-value projects. Furthermore, commercial approvals have reached $7.6 million this financial year, showing a modest focus on commercial construction.
In comparison to the Rest of NSW, building activity per capita in the suburb of Murwillumbah is approximately half, placing it in the 9th percentile of areas evaluated nationwide, which limits options for buyers while boosting demand for existing dwellings. This rate of construction is also lower than the national average, pointing to a mature market and potential developmental bottlenecks. Standalone houses comprise 91.0% of new projects, whereas attached dwellings make up 9.0%, maintaining the established low-density feel and prioritizing spacious homes for families. The ratio of 1890 residents per dwelling approval highlights a quiet market with low construction volume. Demographic projections indicate the suburb of Murwillumbah will add 733 residents up to 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Should current construction rates persist, the supply of new homes may fall short of population gains, which could intensify competition among buyers and drive up property prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Murwillumbah
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 4 current infrastructure and development projects inside Murwillumbah, worth an estimated $163 million. A further 59 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $8.74 billion. 14 are already under construction and 19 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and health & medical. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure updates, planning decisions, and major works have a significant effect on regional performance. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 7 projects that are expected to influence the local area. Key projects include the Murwillumbah Depot, Quarry Business Park, Industry Central Land Swap, and Hundred Hills Estate, with details on the most relevant developments provided below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Quarry Business Park
Quarry Business Park is a 6.65-hectare industrial land estate in South Murwillumbah, offering 19 freehold lots ranging from 2,006sqm to 6,799sqm and zoned E4 General Industrial. Located in a historically flood-free growth corridor of the Tweed region near the M1 Motorway, the estate has development approval and construction certificate secured, with civil works underway by contractor SEE Civil. Each lot includes a dedicated pad-mount substation and high-speed NBN access, with completion of civil works expected in late 2025 and title registration targeted for early 2026.The project is being delivered by Inca Property Group as part of its industrial land pipeline across South East Queensland and Northern NSW.
Hundred Hills Estate
A residential estate offering 105 urban lots with panoramic views of Mount Warning and the Border Ranges, located 5 minutes from Murwillumbah town center. Stage 1 with 36 lots completed in 2022, next phase of 35 lots scheduled for 2025, and planning for the final stage to begin in 2026.
Murwillumbah Schools Upgrades
Upgrades to four public schools in Murwillumbah, including refurbished classrooms, specialist spaces, libraries, canteens, and facilities, after cancelling a merger plan and returning separate identities to Murwillumbah High School, Wollumbin High School, Murwillumbah East Public School, and Murwillumbah Public School.
Budd Park Revitalisation
The revitalisation of Budd Park in Murwillumbah has transformed it into an inclusive, flood-resilient riverside park featuring accessible shelters, barbecues, picnic tables, pathways, bike racks, public art, landscaping, and improved drainage following the 2017 and 2022 floods.
The Ecovillage at Currumbin
An award winning 270 acre masterplanned eco community in Currumbin Valley with about 140 homes and extensive shared facilities. Original blocks are sold and most of the village has been completed for several years, with the Village Centre progressing. First homes were completed in 2006 and the wider development is regarded as complete by the mid 2010s.
Terranora Village Estate
A staged residential subdivision creating 217 residential lots with a conservation lot and associated civil works on a 61.87-hectare site. The Northern Regional Planning Panel determined to refuse the development application (DA25/0011) in August 2025 due to ecological impacts on mapped coastal wetlands and a lack of public utility infrastructure capacity.
Brightview
Brightview is a 126-hectare masterplanned community in Terranora, Northern NSW, by Intrapac Property. The development will feature approximately 750 homesites, extensive open space networks, waterways, sports fields, and a retail village centre. It adjoins Terranora Public School and Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School.
147 McAllisters Road Masterplanned Community Site
A 62-hectare elevated land parcel zoned R1 General Residential within the Bilambil Heights Urban Release Area. The site is proposed for a future masterplanned community featuring between 700 to 1,000 dwellings and a mixed-use retail precinct. It offers 360-degree views of the Gold Coast skyline and Pacific Ocean, positioned 13 minutes from the Gold Coast. The project is currently being marketed for sale via Expressions of Interest to potential developers.
3,292 residents of Murwillumbah are employed, from a labour force of 3,463. Unemployment sits at 4.9%, with participation at 55.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The suburb of Murwillumbah possesses a qualified labor force with strong representation in vital services, an unemployment rate of 4.9%, and an annual employment growth estimate of 2.7% compiled by AreaSearch from local statistical data. By March 2026, employed residents numbered 3,292, with the unemployment rate tracking 0.8% higher than the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, and labor market participation trailing notably at 55.3% versus 60.6% in Regional NSW. Census data indicates a modest 11.4% of residents worked from their homes, though this may have been influenced by pandemic lockdowns.
Resident employment is largely concentrated in healthcare & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. By contrast, the agriculture, forestry & fishing sector employs only 2.8% of local workers, which is below the 5.3% average for Regional NSW. A comparison of the Census working population against resident numbers suggests a shortage of local jobs. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics for the 12 months ending March 2026 indicates that employment expanded by 2.7% while the labor force grew by 3.7%, leading to an increase in the unemployment rate of 0.9 percentage points. Conversely, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 0.9% and the labor force shrink by 0.4%, with its unemployment rate rising by 0.5 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 offer additional context on future demand within the suburb of Murwillumbah. These five and ten-year forecasts are aligned with the local industry profile to estimate future trends. While overall national employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change vary by sector. Applying these specific projections to the local workforce composition suggests employment in the suburb of Murwillumbah will grow by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, using a basic weighted extrapolation that does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Murwillumbah is $1,147 a week (about $60,000 a year), with median personal income at $604 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $41,194 a year against an average of $51,777. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
The latest postcode-level ATO data from AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicates that personal earnings in the suburb of Murwillumbah are below the national average, with a median of $41,194 and an average of $51,777. This compares to a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 across Regional NSW. Factoring in a Wage Price Index rise of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 would be roughly $45,445 for the median and $57,120 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Murwillumbah ranked between the 9th and 12th percentiles across the country.
Looking at the brackets, 28.5% of the population (2,159 individuals) earn between $400 - 799, whereas the metropolitan area is led by the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket at 29.9%. Affordability constraints are significant, with only 79.2% of income remaining after housing costs, placing the area in the 8th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Murwillumbah had 2,972 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 76% detached houses and 16% apartments. 33% are owned with a mortgage, 32% rented and 36% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $346 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,733 a month. Rent absorbs 30.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 34.9%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential structures in the suburb of Murwillumbah at the time of the latest Census consisted of 76.0% detached houses and 24.0% alternative dwellings such as apartments, townhouses, and other formats, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% alternative dwellings in Regional NSW. Home ownership rates in the suburb of Murwillumbah trailed Regional NSW slightly at 36.0%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (32.5%) or renting (31.5%). The median monthly mortgage payment matched the Regional NSW average of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was $346, compared to Regional NSW figures of $1,733 and $330.
Nationally, mortgage costs in the suburb of Murwillumbah sit below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are lower than the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Murwillumbah counted 2,972 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 24% are couples with children, against 25% couples without children. 31% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 65.8%, consisting of couples with children at 23.9%, couples without children at 25.2%, and single parents at 15.9%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 34.2%, with single-person households at 31.1% and group homes at 2.9%. The median household size of 2.4 individuals matches the Regional NSW average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
20.7% of adults in Murwillumbah hold a university qualification, including 14.6% with a bachelor degree and 3.4% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 29.8% hold a vocational qualification. 9 schools serve the area, with 2,775 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,012 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The suburb of Murwillumbah experiences some educational disparities, with university graduation rates at 20.7%, which is well below the NSW average of 32.2%. This situation presents an opportunity for targeted educational support. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 14.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 3.4% and graduate diplomas at 2.7%. Vocational qualifications are prominent, with 40.6% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 29.8%. Engagement in learning is high, with 30.6% of the population enrolled in an educational institution.
This is made up of 11.7% in primary school, 9.1% in high school, and 3.3% in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Murwillumbah reaches 182 stops on 58 routes, timetabled for about 880 services a week. The typical home sits about 110 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.2 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Analysis of transit options indicates 182 transport stops are available in the suburb of Murwillumbah, consisting of bus services. These stops are utilized by 58 different routes, offering 881 weekly passenger journeys. Accessibility is excellent, with residents living an average of 112 meters from their nearest stop. Because of the residential nature of the area, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars being the primary mode at 92%, and 5% of people walking. Car ownership averages 1.2 per household, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 11.4% of residents worked from home, based on 2021 Census data, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.
Service frequency averages 125 daily trips across all routes, which is about 4 weekly runs for each individual stop. The map shows the 100 closest stops to the center of the area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
62.7% of residents in Murwillumbah report no long-term health condition. 8.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
The suburb of Murwillumbah shows notable health challenges based on AreaSearch analysis of mortality rates and chronic illnesses, which affect both younger and older cohorts, combined with a very low private health insurance rate of roughly 47% of the population (around 3,596 people). This compares to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%. Mental health conditions and arthritis are the most prevalent diagnoses, affecting 10.2 and 10.0% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 62.7% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW.
Chronic illness rates are elevated among working-age individuals, and residents aged 65 and over make up 25.2% of the population (1,909 people), exceeding the Regional NSW proportion of 23.4%, with national health vulnerability rankings higher than the general public.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Murwillumbah is largely Australian-born, at 85.8% of residents, with 5.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (31.8%) and Australian (28.0%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in the suburb of Murwillumbah is lower than average, with 85.8% of residents born in Australia, 89.6% holding citizenship, and 94.4% using only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 48.5% of the population. The most notable statistical variance is in the Other category, which accounts for 1.7% of residents compared to 0.8% across Regional NSW. Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the primary groups represented in the suburb of Murwillumbah are English at 31.8%, Australian at 28.0%, and Irish at 10.9%. There are also distinct differences in other groups: French heritage is overrepresented at 0.7% (compared to 0.4% regionally), Scottish is at 8.9% (compared to 8.0%), and Welsh is at 0.6% (compared to 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Murwillumbah is 46, older than 82% of areas nationally. 21.2% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
With a median age of 46, the suburb of Murwillumbah is older than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the national average of 38. The 45 - 54 age bracket is highly represented at 12.4% compared to Regional NSW, while the 25 - 34 bracket is less common at 9.8%. Post-2021 Census updates indicate that the 15 to 24 age bracket grew from 9.6% to 11.4%. In contrast, the 55 to 64 group declined from 13.9% to 12.6% and the 85+ demographic fell from 5.0% to 3.8%. By 2041, the age distribution is expected to shift, led by a 27% growth in the 75 to 84 bracket (adding 183 people) to reach 850 from 666, while the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 demographics are projected to shrink.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Murwillumbah
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month all 4 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 45 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (7,616 at the 2021 Census → 7,577 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL12877). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.