Arrawarra Headland vs Mullaway

Mullaway is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 47 in Arrawarra Headland. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Arrawarra Headland, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Arrawarra Headland: a median of $1.25 million, against $1.04 million in Mullaway, though rent is higher in Mullaway. On these figures, Mullaway tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Arrawarra Headland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 62/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Mullaway

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,036,250 vs $1,250,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Arrawarra Headland has cheaper rent ($373/wk vs $410/wk)
  • Mullaway has a bigger rental market to choose from (28% vs 16%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Arrawarra Headland

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 62/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 17%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Arrawarra Headland and Mullaway drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Walkability 35 / 37
Arrawarra Headland — Walkability: 35/100 Mullaway — Walkability: 37/100
Safety 77 / 38
Arrawarra Headland — Safety: 77/100 Mullaway — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Arrawarra Headland — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mullaway — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Arrawarra Headland skews older (47 vs 40).

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Population 615
+1% vs other
 607
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.4% +7.1%
Median age 47 40
Median household income $83,460/yr $91,520/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $373/wk $410/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
0-4 2.3% / 5.9%
Arrawarra Headland — 0-4: 2.3% Mullaway — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 14.6% / 13.5%
Arrawarra Headland — 5-14: 14.6% Mullaway — 5-14: 13.5%
15-19 4.9% / 6.3%
Arrawarra Headland — 15-19: 4.9% Mullaway — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 4.7% / 3.5%
Arrawarra Headland — 20-24: 4.7% Mullaway — 20-24: 3.5%
25-34 7.6% / 12.2%
Arrawarra Headland — 25-34: 7.6% Mullaway — 25-34: 12.2%
35-44 12.7% / 14.5%
Arrawarra Headland — 35-44: 12.7% Mullaway — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 14.6% / 12.4%
Arrawarra Headland — 45-54: 14.6% Mullaway — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 15.1% / 15.5%
Arrawarra Headland — 55-64: 15.1% Mullaway — 55-64: 15.5%
65-74 17.4% / 13.5%
Arrawarra Headland — 65-74: 17.4% Mullaway — 65-74: 13.5%
75-84 5.0% / 2.1%
Arrawarra Headland — 75-84: 5.0% Mullaway — 75-84: 2.1%
85+ 2.1% / 1.2%
Arrawarra Headland — 85+: 2.1% Mullaway — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Arrawarra Headland 45.8% couple families
Arrawarra Headland — Couple Families: 45.8% Arrawarra Headland — Lone Person: 22.2% Arrawarra Headland — One Parent Families: 18.1% Arrawarra Headland — Group Household: 7.6% Arrawarra Headland — Other Families: 6.2%
Mullaway 42.3% couple families
Mullaway — Couple Families: 42.3% Mullaway — Lone Person: 21.8% Mullaway — One Parent Families: 24.6% Mullaway — Group Household: 8.5% Mullaway — Other Families: 2.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Arrawarra Headland 16.5% renting
Arrawarra Headland — Owned Outright: 50.0% Arrawarra Headland — Mortgage: 33.5% Arrawarra Headland — Renting: 16.5%
Mullaway 28.0% renting
Mullaway — Owned Outright: 33.8% Mullaway — Mortgage: 38.2% Mullaway — Renting: 28.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Certificate III & IV 14.5% / 21.1%
Arrawarra Headland — Certificate III & IV: 14.5% Mullaway — Certificate III & IV: 21.1%
Bachelor Degree 16.6% / 13.8%
Arrawarra Headland — Bachelor Degree: 16.6% Mullaway — Bachelor Degree: 13.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 10.9%
Arrawarra Headland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Mullaway — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 1.6%
Arrawarra Headland — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Mullaway — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 1.6%
Arrawarra Headland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Mullaway — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
England 2.4% / 3.5%
Arrawarra Headland — England: 2.4% Mullaway — England: 3.5%
Malaysia 2.6% / 1.6%
Arrawarra Headland — Malaysia: 2.6% Mullaway — Malaysia: 1.6%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.5%
Arrawarra Headland — New Zealand: 1.3% Mullaway — New Zealand: 1.5%
Philippines 2.0% / —
Arrawarra Headland — Philippines: 2.0% Mullaway — Philippines: not among its largest
Vietnam 0.7% / 1.0%
Arrawarra Headland — Vietnam: 0.7% Mullaway — Vietnam: 1.0%
India 1.5% / —
Arrawarra Headland — India: 1.5% Mullaway — India: not among its largest
Taiwan — / 0.7%
Arrawarra Headland — Taiwan: not among its largest Mullaway — Taiwan: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Arrawarra Headland 96.3% houses
Arrawarra Headland — Houses: 96.3% Arrawarra Headland — Flats / Apartments: 1.9% Arrawarra Headland — Townhouses: 1.9%
Mullaway 88.8% houses
Mullaway — Houses: 88.8% Mullaway — Flats / Apartments: 8.7% Mullaway — Townhouses: 2.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Median house price $1,250,000 $1,036,250
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $775,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 76 days
from 7 sales

Zoning mix

Arrawarra Headland has more land zoned for conservation (73% vs 40%); Mullaway has more rural and farming land (43% vs 15%).

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Environmental 73% 40%
Rural and farming 15% 43%
Residential 10% 14%
Parks and recreation 1% 2%
Planning zones cover 99% of Arrawarra Headland and 99% of Mullaway. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
New dwellings approved 356
across Coffs Harbour
same for both
Approvals change year on year +61%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
House price Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Income Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW

Liveability

Arrawarra Headland scores higher overall (56 vs 47).

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Grade B C
Score 56/100 47/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
same for both

Risk profile

Mullaway carries more crime risk (62 vs 23).

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
23/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
24/100
 Low
25/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Arrawarra Headland

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Mullaway

  • Mullaway Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Parks & reserves 3 1
Childcare 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 2 1

Mobility

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Walkability score 35/100 37/100
Distance to Sydney 561.5 km 561.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 370 min 369 min
Public transport score 23/100
Bus
 21/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 5.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 3.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 1.5 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2456
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 59
postcode 2456
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Car (driver) 74.9% / 71.3%
Arrawarra Headland — Car (driver): 74.9% Mullaway — Car (driver): 71.3%
Worked from Home 14.9% / 16.6%
Arrawarra Headland — Worked from Home: 14.9% Mullaway — Worked from Home: 16.6%
Car (passenger) 7.5% / 10.9%
Arrawarra Headland — Car (passenger): 7.5% Mullaway — Car (passenger): 10.9%
Walked Only 2.7% / —
Arrawarra Headland — Walked Only: 2.7% Mullaway — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bicycle — / 1.2%
Arrawarra Headland — Bicycle: not among its largest Mullaway — Bicycle: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.9%).

Setting

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 727 m 550 m
4.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Connectivity score 94/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 76%
267 premises
 25%
274 premises

Climate

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Annual rainfall 1,827 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 10.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.22 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Average residential rate $1,437/yr
same for both
Council Coffs Harbour
same for both

Federal electorate

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Arrawarra Headland Mullaway
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Arrawarra Headland

Acreage Coastal

Mullaway

Acreage Coastal River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Arrawarra Headland

Arrawarra Headland vs Woolgoolga Arrawarra Headland vs Arrawarra

Other comparisons with Mullaway

Mullaway vs Woolgoolga Mullaway vs Safety Beach
Full data on Arrawarra Headland Full data on Mullaway
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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