South Murwillumbah
An older, detached-home pocket south of Murwillumbah, South Murwillumbah has a median age of 48, with 90.5% of dwellings separate houses and a population of 1,064. Household income sits at the 30.2nd percentile, below national benchmarks, which helps explain sensitivity to mortgage and rent costs. Compared with Murwillumbah, the suburb has a lower-density, more residential profile, with 94.0 people per square kilometre and 74.9% driving to work. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry are prominent, while 11.1% of residents were born overseas, below the national comparison. The result is a settled community shaped more by stability and affordability than rapid demographic change.
Local council: Tweed
Population
1,064
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,292/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
34
For buyers, the strongest fit is likely a household seeking a conventional house rather than an apartment: 90.5% of homes are separate houses, 48.9% have 3 bedrooms and 22.7% have 4 or more. Mortgage repayments average $1,687 a month, while mortgage costs equal 30.2% of household income, a stress flag that makes deposit size and rate buffers important. Outright ownership is 39.8%, above the 33.3% share paying a mortgage, so the suburb has a substantial established-owner base. Rents are $390 a week and 26.0% rent, below the mortgage tenure share. Affordability eased from 60.2% in 2011 to 58.6% in 2021. Compared with Murwillumbah, buyers should focus on exact access, renovation condition and ongoing maintenance across the 11.32 square kilometre area.
For Buyers
For buyers, the strongest fit is likely a household seeking a conventional house rather than an apartment: 90.5% of homes are separate houses, 48.9% have 3 bedrooms and 22.7% have 4 or more. Mortgage repayments average $1,687 a month, while mortgage costs equal 30.2% of household income, a stress flag that makes deposit size and rate buffers important. Outright ownership is 39.8%, above the 33.3% share paying a mortgage, so the suburb has a substantial established-owner base. Rents are $390 a week and 26.0% rent, below the mortgage tenure share. Affordability eased from 60.2% in 2011 to 58.6% in 2021. Compared with Murwillumbah, buyers should focus on exact access, renovation condition and ongoing maintenance across the 11.32 square kilometre area.
For Investors
Investment conditions are mixed. Weekly rent is $390 and the vacancy rate is 8.9%, so investors should allow for leasing variability rather than assume uninterrupted occupancy. Renting accounts for 26.0% of households, below the 39.8% owned outright share, while the 40.0% rent growth recorded in the shift profile points to stronger rental pricing over time. Development activity reached 33 applications in 12 months, above the 20-application threshold for a busy local pipeline, although the listed examples include shed and general-industry works rather than confirmed new dwellings. Forecast growth is 0.75% annually with migration described as Balanced, making this more suited to a selective, established-demand strategy than a high-growth approach. The Aging trajectory, 3.6% rise in senior share and Not gentrifying stage reinforce a property-by-property approach.
Development Activity
Total DAs
190
Last 12 Months
34
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-30.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
South Murwillumbah has an older profile than Australia, with a median age of 48, or 8 years above the national comparison. Average household size is 2.4, slightly below the national figure, and 76.9% of residents stayed at the same address, indicating relatively strong continuity. English ancestry numbers 488 people, followed by Irish at 171 and Scottish at 126, while 11.1% were born overseas, 10.5 percentage points below the national comparison. University qualification attainment is 19.2%, or 10.9 points below the national rate, which aligns with the stronger presence of trades, labouring and community or personal-service roles. No religion accounts for 475 people and Christianity 448. Compared with Murwillumbah, the suburb reads as more settled and Anglo-leaning, with change likely to be gradual because turnover is 23.1%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.5%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
4.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing dominates South Murwillumbah: 90.5% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 4.9% apartments, and the largest bedroom group is 3 bedrooms at 48.9%. Tenure is split between 39.8% owned outright, 33.3% with a mortgage and 26.0% rented, showing a sizeable owner base but also a meaningful rental market. Median household income is $1,292 a week, while rent is $390 and mortgage repayments are $1,687 a month; both rent and mortgage costs sit at 30.2% of income, flagged as stress. Affordability declined from 60.2% in 2011 to 58.6% in 2021, so housing costs remain important even as the suburb sits below the national household-income percentile at 30.2. Compared with Murwillumbah, the lower apartment share supports a more conventional detached-home market, but buyers should price maintenance carefully.
Mortgage / mo
$1,687
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $390.
$660
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $725
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$589
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.9%
Unoccupied
39
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
30.2% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.5%
Couples with children
34.2%
Couples, no children
23.8%
Single parent
260
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is anchored by healthcare, construction, retail, hospitality and public administration, representing 19.5%, 14.0%, 10.3%, 8.1% and 7.4% of employed industry positions. Healthcare leads with 53 workers and construction follows with 38, matching the occupational mix of 79 trades workers, 76 labourers and 71 community or personal-service workers. The participation rate is 52.9%, unemployment is 7.3% and full-time employment is 48.9%, pointing to a smaller and less continuously engaged workforce than a high-participation suburb. Household income is $1,292 a week and sits at the 30.2nd percentile. SEIFA rankings are IER decile 3, IEO decile 3, IRSAD decile 2 and IRSD decile 2. These lower deciles indicate constrained resources and explain why demand can be sensitive to rent, mortgage and employment conditions.
Unemployment
7.3%
Labour Force
481
Unemployed
35
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
48.9%
Part-time
43.0%
Participation
52.9%
Employed
446
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.2%
Postgraduate
4.4%
Born Overseas
11.1%
Dwellings
391
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented, with 74.9% driving to work, 6.8% walking or cycling and 13.4% working from home. That pattern suits a low-density area of 11.32 square kilometres, but households without a car should check access to shops, services and transport before committing. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address and confirm nearby school availability before moving. Social connection is supported by 12.9% volunteering, while 11.6% of residents need assistance, or 115 people, making accessible housing and care important considerations. SEIFA IRSAD is in decile 2, below the middle of the national scale, indicating that resources and disadvantage may shape day-to-day experience. For safety, check current local advice and visit the specific street at different times. Compared with a denser town-centre setting, convenience depends more heavily on driving.
Drive
74.9%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
6.8%
Work from Home
13.4%
Growth Outlook
Growth is measured rather than explosive: the annual trend is 0.75%, migration is labelled Balanced, and population change across the wider area is 15.3% over 10 years. The shift profile calls the trajectory Aging, with the senior share up 3.6 percentage points and the young share down 2.6 points, so future demand is more likely to favour accessible homes and services than rapid family expansion. Gentrification is rated Not gentrifying with a score of 4, while a separate shift score of 35 is tagged Early signs, suggesting some change without a clear uplift cycle. Real income growth of 17.0% and rent growth of 40.0% are notable, but affordability moved from 60.2% to 58.6%. Compared with a high-growth corridor, South Murwillumbah is better read as an established, aging market where Balanced migration and 33 development applications may support incremental change.
Population trend: Tweed council area
South Murwillumbah sits in the Tweed council area. These are the council area's residents, not South Murwillumbah's.
Residents 2025
101,044
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.8%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.7%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How South Murwillumbah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Murwillumbah a good suburb to live in?
South Murwillumbah may suit residents who prefer established detached housing and a lower-density setting, with a median age of 48. About 74.9% drive to work, so a car is useful, while the IRSAD decile of 2 points to tighter socioeconomic conditions than higher-decile areas. Check exact access to services and transport.
What is the median house price in South Murwillumbah?
Use current settled sales to establish the median house price for South Murwillumbah, as values can vary across the 11.32 square kilometre area. Separate houses make up 90.5% of dwellings, with 48.9% containing 3 bedrooms and 22.7% containing 4 or more bedrooms.
What schools are in South Murwillumbah?
Families should check the exact address against current enrolment zones and nearby school options. With 74.9% of workers driving and the suburb covering 11.32 square kilometres, school runs may be simpler for households with a car. Confirm eligibility directly with each school before signing a lease or contract.
Is South Murwillumbah safe?
Assess safety using current NSW Police information, council updates and a visit at different times, because street conditions can vary. South Murwillumbah has 1,064 residents and a low-density profile of 94.0 people per square kilometre, so buyers and renters should inspect the specific street rather than rely only on suburb-wide impressions.
Is South Murwillumbah good for property investment?
Property investment is selective rather than high-growth. Rent is $390 a week, vacancy is 8.9% and renting accounts for 26.0% of households, while the forecast trend is 0.75% annually with Balanced migration. The 33 development applications in 12 months warrant checking whether nearby works affect supply, access or tenant demand.
How is South Murwillumbah's population changing?
South Murwillumbah has 1,064 residents and an older trajectory: the median age is 48, the senior share rose 3.6 points and the young share fell 2.6 points. Across the wider area, population change is forecast at 15.3% over 10 years, with annual growth of 0.75% and Balanced migration. That points to gradual rather than rapid change.
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).
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