Murwillumbah
With 7,616 residents and a median age of 46, Murwillumbah is 6.0 years older than the national profile, shaping demand toward established households and services. Household income sits at the 21.6th percentile, while 76.0% of dwellings are separate houses. Compared with nearby South Murwillumbah and Condong, the town has a settled pattern, with 79.0% staying at the same address and only 14.2% born overseas, 7.4 percentage points below the national figure. Healthcare and education employ 22.6% and 14.4% of workers, reinforcing Murwillumbah's regional service role.
Population
7,616
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,147/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
63
Homebuyers will find a detached-dominant market: separate houses make up 76.0% of dwellings, compared with 16.2% apartments and 7.3% semi-detached homes. The common formats are 3-bedroom properties at 42.8% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 29.8%, which suits families, downsizers and buyers needing space. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,733 compares with weekly rent of $346, but affordability needs close checking because mortgage stress reaches 34.9% of income versus rent stress at 30.2%. The median age of 46 and average household size of 2.4 point to demand for practical layouts over high-density stock.
For Buyers
Homebuyers will find a detached-dominant market: separate houses make up 76.0% of dwellings, compared with 16.2% apartments and 7.3% semi-detached homes. The common formats are 3-bedroom properties at 42.8% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 29.8%, which suits families, downsizers and buyers needing space. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,733 compares with weekly rent of $346, but affordability needs close checking because mortgage stress reaches 34.9% of income versus rent stress at 30.2%. The median age of 46 and average household size of 2.4 point to demand for practical layouts over high-density stock.
For Investors
Investors have a sizeable rental audience, with 30.5% of households renting and weekly rent at $346. Vacancy is 6.3%, so leasing conditions should be assessed against property type and exact location rather than assumed from suburb averages. The near-term pipeline is active, with 63 development applications in the past 12 months, including a 2-dwelling dual occupancy example and a retail premise. Forecast growth is modest at 0.75% annually and migration is Balanced, while rents have grown 40.0%. That combination supports a careful yield and maintenance strategy, especially where 76.0% separate houses create larger upkeep obligations than apartment stock.
Development Activity
Total DAs
374
Last 12 Months
63
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+14.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Murwillumbah
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Murwillumbah's median age of 46 is 6.0 years above the national level, while university attainment is 23.5%, 6.6 percentage points below national. The ancestry profile is led by English at 3,276 people, followed by Irish at 1,125 and Scottish at 919. Christianity is reported by 3,289 residents and no religion by 3,039, making both large reference groups. Overseas-born residents account for 14.2%, 7.4 points below national, and average household size is 2.4, or 0.1 below national. With 79.0% staying at the same address and 18.0% volunteering, the profile is more settled than highly mobile regional centres.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.0%
Houses
7.3%
Townhouse
16.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is weighted toward established ownership: 34.9% of dwellings are owned outright, 31.7% have a mortgage and 30.5% are rented. Compared with the rental share, outright ownership is 4.4 percentage points higher, helping explain the suburb's older, settled profile. Stock is mainly separate houses at 76.0%, with 42.8% three-bedroom and 29.8% four-plus-bedroom dwellings; apartments account for 16.2%. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,733 compares with household income of $1,147 per week, while mortgage stress is flagged at 34.9% and rent stress at 30.2%. The 6.3% vacancy rate gives renters more choice than a tightly constrained market, but affordability remains more sensitive than in higher-income locations.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $346.
$660
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $725
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$604
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.3%
Unoccupied
200
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.2% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.9% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.5%
Couples with children
39.4%
Couples, no children
23.8%
Single parent
2,015
Total families
Economy & Employment
Murwillumbah functions as a service and employment centre. Healthcare leads at 22.6% of jobs with 444 workers, ahead of education at 14.4% and 283; construction is 9.5% and 187, public administration 8.1% and 160, and retail 7.2% and 142. The occupation mix is led by professionals at 545, community and personal service workers at 472, and trades at 471. Unemployment is 5.6% with 51.2% participation, while 50.3% of the labour force works full time. The education and occupation index and economic resources index both sit in decile 3, but disadvantage and advantage/disadvantage indexes fall to decile 2, lower than more advantaged areas. That pattern fits household income at the 21.6th percentile.
Unemployment
5.6%
Labour Force
3,187
Unemployed
177
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.3%
Part-time
43.6%
Participation
51.2%
Employed
3,010
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.5%
Postgraduate
4.4%
Born Overseas
14.2%
Dwellings
2,964
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 77.9% of commuters drive, compared with 0.6% using public transport, while 4.6% walk or cycle and 11.8% work from home. That pattern suits households with cars but makes route planning more important than in transit-led centres. Four nearby government schools cover two primary and two secondary settings, giving families access to both stages; enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Volunteering is 18.0%, and 9.0% of residents need assistance, supporting a service-focused community lens. IRSAD is in decile 2, lower than more advantaged areas, so access to services matters. Check current local safety information before choosing a street because a comparable crime rate is not available.
Drive
77.9%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
4.6%
Work from Home
11.8%
Population Forecast
+0.75%/yr
(+71 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is measured rather than speculative. The annual trend is 0.75%, migration is labelled Balanced, and population change across the wider area reaches 15.3% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 3.6 percentage points while the young share has fallen 2.6 points, so demand is more likely to favour accessible homes, health services and low-maintenance living than rapid family expansion. Gentrification remains limited in the headline forecast, scored 4 and staged Not gentrifying, although the shift measure records a score of 35 and Early signs. Compared with high-growth coastal markets, this points to steady consolidation rather than a rapid repricing cycle.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+37
Net Internal / yr
+14
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +11% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Murwillumbah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Murwillumbah a good suburb to live in?
Murwillumbah suits people seeking a settled regional town with practical services, but car dependence is high. The median age is 46, 77.9% drive to work and 4 government schools cover primary and secondary years. Compare the exact street for transport and service access.
What is the median house price in Murwillumbah?
Check recent local sales before budgeting for a median house price. Murwillumbah has 76.0% separate houses, with 42.8% three-bedroom and 29.8% four-plus-bedroom dwellings, so a suburb-wide figure can conceal differences by size, condition and position.
What schools are in Murwillumbah?
Four government schools serve Murwillumbah across primary and secondary education, with 2 primary settings and 2 secondary settings. Families should compare enrolment zones with the exact address, because practical access can differ between parts of Murwillumbah and nearby communities.
Is Murwillumbah safe?
There is not enough current crime detail to make a reliable suburb-wide safety call, so check NSW Police or council information before choosing an address. For context, 77.9% drive and 0.6% use public transport, meaning street activity and mobility can vary between locations.
Is Murwillumbah good for property investment?
Murwillumbah can suit a careful, income-focused investor, with 30.5% renting, $346 weekly rent and a 6.3% vacancy rate. However, 63 development applications in 12 months and a 0.75% annual growth trend make due diligence important rather than relying on rent alone.
How is Murwillumbah's population changing?
Population change is steady but ageing. The wider area records 15.3% growth over 10 years, while the forecast trend is 0.75% annually and migration is Balanced. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.6 points and the young share down 2.6.
What development is happening in Murwillumbah?
Development activity is noticeable, with 63 applications recorded over 12 months. Examples include a 2-dwelling dual occupancy, a retail premise and alterations to a school building. Buyers should check each application's status, approvals and planning constraints before assuming it will change nearby amenity.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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