NSW · Tweed Council

Tumbulgum, 2490

Est. population · Jun 2025

474

Growth (1 yr)

+0.8%

Growth (5 yr)

+6.0%

Median age

41

Median income

$1,985/wk

Employment rate

64.4%

University qualified

17.6%

Work from home

11.9%

Languages at home

2.4%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

42.2/100
Average

1314th in NSW

Verified 92% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Rural living
What Tumbulgum is known for: Rural living

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Tumbulgum, NSW suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

Cite this suburb snapshot

Suburb Guide, “Tumbulgum, NSW Suburb Guide”, updated 1 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/nsw/tumbulgum

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Suburb profile

Tumbulgum is a rural locality in New South Wales, in Tweed Council.

Open-space access is exceptionally strong, placing it among the highest-ranked rural localities. Household incomes sit well above the peer median, with household incomes 40% above the peer median, and population growth is a very strong feature of the suburb, with population growth 69% above the peer median, and university qualifications are a relative strength, with university qualifications 28% above the peer median. The clearer weaknesses are thinner local amenities and higher recorded crash rates relative to resident population.

Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising open space and university qualifications over local amenities.

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

Rural locality · compared with rural localities in New South Wales (2685)

Strengths

  • Open-space access is exceptionally strong
  • Household incomes sit well above the peer median
  • Population growth is a relative strength
  • University qualifications are a relative strength

Weaknesses

  • Local amenity access is relatively limited
  • Recorded crashes relative to resident population are elevated

What stands out

Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyers

Housing, growth and risk

How Tumbulgum compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$350/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

474

+0.8% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

6.5%

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

#122

among Country & regional · Emerging

Crime rate

16th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

62nd

percentile in NSW

Rented dwellings

17%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

6/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

22nd

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
42.2/100 — Average
National rank
3831st in Australia
State rank
1314th in NSW
Peer rank
#122 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#501 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
92%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

474(June 2025)

+0.8% annual · +6.0% over 5 years · 62th percentile in NSW

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.8%
5-year growth
+6.0%
Change in 1 year
+4
Change in 5 years
+27
Growth rank in NSW
62th 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 (~500), extrapolated at +0.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
454
Median age
41
Median household income / week
$1,985
Dwelling vacancy
6.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
11 of 169
Median monthly mortgage
$1,975
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$350
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
33.3% / 49.4% / 17.3%
Employment rate
64.4%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
11.9% / 0% / 65.6%
Walked or cycled to work
4.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
155 / 0 / 0

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.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Qualifications

17.6% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 29.1% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified17.6% · 27.8% NSW
  • Diploma qualified12% · 9.3% NSW
  • Trade / vocational29.1% · 15% NSW
  • Year 12 or below41.3% · 47.9% NSW

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Engineering and related technologies18.5%
  • Architecture and building14.1%
  • Society and culture13.7%
  • Education11%
  • Management and commerce11%
  • Health8.8%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 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)
$55,750

49th percentile in NSW · -5% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$60,825

45th percentile in NSW · -6% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
13.0%

43rd percentile in NSW · -6% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$77,712

60th percentile in NSW · +23% vs Australia

Residents with business income
14.0%

87th percentile in NSW · +35% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 2490 — 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
421
Taxpayers reporting net rent
56
Median net rent
$5,492
Taxpayers reporting business income
61
Taxable income vs state median
0%
Salary / wages vs state median
-3%
Rental investment vs state median
-7%
Super vs state median
+10%
Business income vs state median
+40%

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

2.4% speak a language other than English at home; 11.1% born overseas

Language at home
409 English only · 10 other
Non-English at home
2.4%
Born overseas
45 (11.1%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
34 (7.5%)
Australian citizens
399

Religion

44.7%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 44.7%, while 44.5% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion44.5%32.8%
Christianity44.7%47.6%
Other / not stated10.8%19.6%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic21.1%22.4%
Anglican17.8%11.9%
Uniting Church4.4%2.1%

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 2490, which is shared with other suburbs.

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
18
Against the person
3
Against property
7
Rate per 1,000 residents
38
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 151 residents
State crime-rate percentile
16.4th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-21.5%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
20
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
42.19

Most common offence types

  • Domestic Violence Related Assault1
  • Motor Vehicle Theft2
  • Other Offences2
  • Sexual Assault1
  • Steal From Motor Vehicle2

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
941
Median ICSEA percentile
22th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
3
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
2
School list
  • Tumbulgum Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 941 · 22th percentile · LBOTE 16% · 19 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
  • Banora Pt HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Murwillumbah EPSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Murwillumbah HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Terranora PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Tumbulgum PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_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

Public transport

10 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Fawcett St After Riverside Dr
  • Riverside Dr Opp Fawcett St
  • Tumbulgum Public School, Bawden St
  • Tumbulgum Public School, Fawcett St
  • Tweed River Chapel, Riverside Dr

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

  • Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

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
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Sporting clubs

1 named sporting club in this suburb

  • Tumbulgum Rangers Soccer Club

    Soccer

Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap sporting clubs — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Geofabrik australia-latest.osm.pbf

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Faith Mussing/Bandler ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
0.1%
Woodland / forest cover
0%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
2
Parks (OSM)
2
Typical summer maximum
29°C

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

Health access

Nearest hospital
Murwillumbah Hospital (8.7 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
14
Participants per 1,000 residents
29.5

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.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

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
29° / 20°
Rainfall
628 mm · ~78 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
26° / 17°
Rainfall
552 mm · ~69 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
21° / 10°
Rainfall
240 mm · ~30 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
25° / 15°
Rainfall
282 mm · ~35 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.

2026· 12 proposals
  • September 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    8750 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Under Assessment
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Stairway
    12-14 IRVING STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Under Assessment
  • August 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    8599 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • May 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    44 BAWDEN STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Under Assessment
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    46 BAWDEN STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    38 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • April 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    26 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    62 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    18 FAWCETT STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • March 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    35-37 IRVING STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • February 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool
    82 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • January 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    32-34 Bawden Street, Tumbulgum (5&6/6/1223)Determined
2025· 4 proposals
  • September 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    10 GRAY STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • July 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    2 IRVING STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    8628 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Under Assessment
  • April 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    44 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
2024· 5 proposals
  • November 2024

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    8599 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • October 2024

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    8A BAWDEN STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • September 2024

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    10 GRAY STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • August 2024

  • Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    8582 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • June 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    50 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
2023· 8 proposals
  • December 2023

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external)
    13 BAWDEN LANE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • September 2023

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development
    16 IRVING STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • July 2023

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development
    136 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • May 2023

  • Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development
    8576 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • April 2023

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    8628 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development
    78-80 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Dwelling
    8577 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • March 2023

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs
    156 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
2022· 10 proposals
  • December 2022

  • Other
    3 BAWDEN STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • October 2022

  • Other
    70-72 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    94 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • September 2022

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    53-55 BAWDEN STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • June 2022

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    61 BAWDEN STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • May 2022

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    3 GOVERNMENT ROAD TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • April 2022

  • Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development
    5 GRAY STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Shed
    8844 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • March 2022

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development
    160 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • January 2022

  • Food and drink premises
    116 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Withdrawn
2021· 2 proposals
  • October 2021

  • Pools / decks / fencing
    104 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • August 2021

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs
    136 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
2020· 2 proposals
  • December 2020

  • Pools / decks / fencing
    146 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs
    54 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary

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 9.0 km away).

Coalition 40.4%Labor 59.6%

0.4 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +5.1 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • TumbulgumLabor 61.4% · Coalition 38.6% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
  • TerranoraLabor 47.0% · Coalition 53.0% TPP (2025)5.1 km away
  • BilambilLabor 58.5% · Coalition 41.5% TPP (2025)6.8 km away
  • ChinderahLabor 61.8% · Coalition 38.2% TPP (2025)8.4 km away
  • Murwillumbah EastLabor 62.1% · Coalition 37.9% TPP (2025)8.5 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.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

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%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

More in Tweed Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.