Murwillumbah is a major regional centre in New South Wales, in Tweed Council, with mainly mixed commercial and residential development. It is close to the Tweed River and Mount Warning.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Health access is an exceptional strength, well above typical levels for major regional centres. School access is exceptionally strong. Housing costs a little more than in comparable places. Median house prices have risen 13% year on year.
Overall, Murwillumbah suits people prioritising school access and daily services over lower housing costs.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Major regional centre · compared with major regional centres in New South Wales (276)
Strengths
School access is exceptionally strong
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Health-facility access is stronger than in comparable places
Weaknesses
Housing costs a little more than in comparable places
What stands out
Tweed River
Mount Warning
McPherson Range
Tweed Volcano
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★☆☆
Professionals★☆☆☆☆
Retirees★★☆☆☆
Students★★☆☆☆
Budget buyers★★★☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Murwillumbah compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$1.05M
+13% change
Median rent
$650/wk
Houses $790 · Units $510
Population (ERP)
7,736
+0.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.3%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#21
among Country & regional · Mature
Crime rate
40th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
39th
percentile in NSW
Rented dwellings
31%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
64th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
56.9/100 — Good
State standing
Top 15% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
849th in Australia
State rank
310th in NSW
Peer rank
#21 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#33 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
94%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$510
Houses (January to March 2026)
$790
All types (January to March 2026)
$650
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
75
Median house price (October to December 2025)
$1,050,000
Median price change
+12.9%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
+0.0% annual · +0.1% over 5 years · 39th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.0%
5-year growth
+0.1%
Change in 1 year
+1
Change in 5 years
+5
Growth rank in NSW
39th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~8,050), extrapolated at +0.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
7,616
Median age
46
Median household income / week
$1,147
Dwelling vacancy
6.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
200 of 3,171
Median monthly mortgage
$1,733
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$346
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
35.9% / 32.6% / 31.4%
Employment rate
48.3%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
10% / 0.5% / 72.8%
Walked or cycled to work
3.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
2,254 / 215 / 481 (+ 14 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
16.5% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 20.3% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified16.5% · 27.8% NSW
Diploma qualified8.6% · 9.3% NSW
Trade / vocational20.3% · 15% NSW
Year 12 or below54.5% · 47.9% NSW
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce15.9%
Society and culture14.7%
Engineering and related technologies14.2%
Health13.4%
Education11.5%
Architecture and building8%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Tax & income
Median taxable income (2023–24)
$46,488
17th percentile in NSW · -21% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$52,450
14th percentile in NSW · -19% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
13.0%
37th percentile in NSW · -6% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$62,401
37th percentile in NSW · -1% vs Australia
Residents with business income
17.0%
97th percentile in NSW · +64% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 2484 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
11,549
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,535
Median net rent
$4,131
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,961
Taxable income vs state median
-17%
Salary / wages vs state median
-16%
Rental investment vs state median
-7%
Super vs state median
-11%
Business income vs state median
+70%
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in NSW, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary
Community & culture
5.6% speak a language other than English at home; 14.2% born overseas
Language at home
6,644 English only · 397 other
Non-English at home
5.6%
Born overseas
1,016 (14.2%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
287 (3.8%)
Australian citizens
6,823
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
12
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Punjabi35 · 28.2%
Spanish18 · 14.5%
French17 · 13.7%
German12 · 9.7%
Hindi10 · 8.1%
Cantonese9 · 7.3%
Italian6 · 4.8%
Afrikaans4 · 3.2%
Religion
43.2%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 43.2%, while 39.9% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
39.9%
32.8%
Christianity
43.2%
47.6%
Hinduism
3.2%
3.4%
Other / not stated
13.7%
16.2%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
17.8%
22.4%
Anglican
12.8%
11.9%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.6%
1.9%
Christian (not further defined)
2.4%
2.4%
Uniting Church
2.3%
2.1%
Seventh-day Adventist
2%
0.3%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Offence counts are estimated for this suburb from postcode 2484, which is shared with other suburbs.
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
455
Against the person
108
Against property
190
Rate per 1,000 residents
58.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 71 residents
State crime-rate percentile
40.4th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-4.4%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
78
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
10.08
Most common offence types
Breach Bail Conditions51
Fraud24
Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment29
Malicious Damage To Property47
Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault30
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
Schools within 2 km
9
Median school ICSEA (9 schools)
1,039
Median ICSEA percentile
64th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
5
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
2
School list
Murwillumbah High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 950 · 25th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 347 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
Murwillumbah Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 959 · 28th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 149 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
Tweed Valley Adventist CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1039 · 64th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 381 students · Top SEA quarter 21% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
Sathya Sai CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1046 · 67th percentile · LBOTE 18% · 280 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
Mount St Patrick CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1071 · 76th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 823 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
Mount St Patrick Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1061 · 72th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 373 students · Top SEA quarter 25% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
The Small SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1071 · 76th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 67 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
St Joseph's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1011 · 52th percentile · LBOTE 1% · 161 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
Wollumbin High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 938 · 20th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 161 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
Crystal Ck PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Dungay PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Murwillumbah EPSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Murwillumbah HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Murwillumbah PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Stokers Siding PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Wollumbin HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Data sources & freshness
NSW government school intake zones — NSW Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Places of worship
3 places of worship within ~1.5 km
All Saints Anglican Church
Murwillumbah Sikh Temple
Sacred Heart Catholic Parish
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Usual max / min
28° / 18°
Rainfall
493 mm · ~62 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
25° / 14°
Rainfall
343 mm · ~43 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
20° / 7°
Rainfall
144 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
25° / 12°
Rainfall
249 mm · ~31 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise
6-10 WHARF STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
35 BYANGUM ROAD MURWILLUMBAH 2484Under Assessment
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
57 ROUS RIVER WAY MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Residential Accommodation
157 MURWILLUMBAH STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Under Assessment
August 2026
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School
10 KING STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Under Assessment
Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Fences; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
21 EYLES AVENUE MURWILLUMBAH 2484Under Assessment
July 2026
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external)
22 MYRTLE STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Under Assessment
June 2026
Demolition; Hotel or motel accommodation; Commercial development; Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation
15 QUEEN STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Under Assessment
Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers; Supporting Development
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
5 EWING STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Withdrawn
Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Carport
56 RIVERVIEW STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Fences; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
5 ROUS STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Under Assessment
April 2026
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
178B BYANGUM ROAD MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
March 2026
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
67 CASTLE FIELD DRIVE MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
21 TUMBULGUM ROAD MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
15 HARTIGAN STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
178C BYANGUM ROAD MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
31 DORSET STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Under Assessment
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport
7 MYRTLE STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Advertising and signage; Retail Premise
42-56 WOLLUMBIN STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
22 PRINCE STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
182 COMMERCIAL ROAD MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Supporting Development
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Supporting Development
32 TUMBULGUM ROAD MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Subdivision
7 PLATINUM PLACE MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport
57 ROUS RIVER WAY MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Business premises; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Funeral home; Mortuary
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport
38 RIVERVIEW STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
6 EMERALD PLACE MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
23 THE PLATEAU MURWILLUMBAH 2484Withdrawn
Erection of a new structure; Registered club; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Recreation facility (outdoor)
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
28 CONDONG STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Subdivision
2 JOSHUA STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Minor building alterations (external)
34 GEORGE STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Swimming pool; Supporting Development
10 CORAL FERN CIRCUIT MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
November 2025
Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
29 WEST END STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Supporting Development
7 ROUS STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
55 JAMES STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
28 EWING STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Withdrawn
Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces
25 MYRTLE STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
October 2025
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
8 PRINCE STREET MURWILLUMBAH 2484Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping. Flood cover uses NSW flood planning polygons against the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Bushfire and flood hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
Federal electorate
Richmond
Member of Parliament
Justine ELLIOT (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
126,814
Turnout (2025)
89.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+1.8 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.0%Labor 60.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 10.3 km away).
Coalition 37.9%Labor 62.1%
2.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +1.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
MurwillumbahLabor 64.1% · Coalition 35.9% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
Murwillumbah WestLabor 60.3% · Coalition 39.7% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
Murwillumbah EastLabor 62.1% · Coalition 37.9% TPP (2025)2.7 km away
DungayLabor 54.8% · Coalition 45.2% TPP (2025)4.5 km away
Crystal CreekLabor 50.2% · Coalition 49.8% TPP (2025)5.6 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)