Main Arm vs Mullumbimby

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Main Arm, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Main Arm: a median of $2.05 million, against $1.12 million in Mullumbimby, though rent is higher in Mullumbimby. On these figures, Main Arm tends to suit couples, while Mullumbimby suits people living alone and 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Main Arm carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 82/100)
  • Mullumbimby has more childcare (5 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Mullumbimby

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,120,000 vs $2,050,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Main Arm has cheaper rent ($450/wk vs $500/wk)
  • Mullumbimby has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 20%)

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

Commuting to the city

Mullumbimby

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 16/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (492 min vs 499 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (765.3 km vs 772.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mullumbimby

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 16/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • But Main Arm carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 82/100)

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

Investors

Mullumbimby

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.2% vs 9.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Main Arm Mullumbimby
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.

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Walkability 16 / 75
Main Arm — Walkability: 16/100 Mullumbimby — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 42 / 18
Main Arm — Safety: 42/100 Mullumbimby — Safety: 18/100
Low fire risk 40 / 100
Main Arm — Low fire risk: 40/100 Mullumbimby — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Mullumbimby has more residents (4,180 vs 640); Mullumbimby rents higher ($500/wk vs $450/wk).

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Population 640 4,180
+553% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.2% +16.2%
Median age 45
same for both
Median household income $72,956/yr
+3% vs other
 $70,460/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk $500/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Main Arm Mullumbimby
0-4 4.5% / 4.5%
Main Arm — 0-4: 4.5% Mullumbimby — 0-4: 4.5%
5-14 12.0% / 13.2%
Main Arm — 5-14: 12.0% Mullumbimby — 5-14: 13.2%
15-19 5.6% / 6.5%
Main Arm — 15-19: 5.6% Mullumbimby — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 2.5% / 3.3%
Main Arm — 20-24: 2.5% Mullumbimby — 20-24: 3.3%
25-34 10.3% / 10.0%
Main Arm — 25-34: 10.3% Mullumbimby — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 12.5% / 12.6%
Main Arm — 35-44: 12.5% Mullumbimby — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 15.6% / 15.4%
Main Arm — 45-54: 15.6% Mullumbimby — 45-54: 15.4%
55-64 19.8% / 13.8%
Main Arm — 55-64: 19.8% Mullumbimby — 55-64: 13.8%
65-74 13.3% / 12.5%
Main Arm — 65-74: 13.3% Mullumbimby — 65-74: 12.5%
75-84 2.5% / 5.8%
Main Arm — 75-84: 2.5% Mullumbimby — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 0.6% / 2.7%
Main Arm — 85+: 0.6% Mullumbimby — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Main Arm 50.9% couple families
Main Arm — Couple Families: 50.9% Main Arm — Lone Person: 26.7% Main Arm — One Parent Families: 15.5% Main Arm — Group Household: 6.9% Main Arm — Other Families: 0.0%
Mullumbimby 31.7% couple families
Mullumbimby — Couple Families: 31.7% Mullumbimby — Lone Person: 35.9% Mullumbimby — One Parent Families: 21.4% Mullumbimby — Group Household: 9.7% Mullumbimby — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Main Arm 20.0% renting
Main Arm — Owned Outright: 52.6% Main Arm — Mortgage: 27.4% Main Arm — Renting: 20.0%
Mullumbimby 31.3% renting
Mullumbimby — Owned Outright: 39.7% Mullumbimby — Mortgage: 29.0% Mullumbimby — Renting: 31.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Bachelor Degree 13.8% / 15.5%
Main Arm — Bachelor Degree: 13.8% Mullumbimby — Bachelor Degree: 15.5%
Certificate III & IV 13.0% / 11.6%
Main Arm — Certificate III & IV: 13.0% Mullumbimby — Certificate III & IV: 11.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 9.4%
Main Arm — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% Mullumbimby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 4.2%
Main Arm — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Mullumbimby — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 2.1%
Main Arm — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Mullumbimby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.5%).

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.

Main Arm Mullumbimby
England 3.1% / 5.8%
Main Arm — England: 3.1% Mullumbimby — England: 5.8%
New Zealand 2.5% / 2.0%
Main Arm — New Zealand: 2.5% Mullumbimby — New Zealand: 2.0%
Germany 1.2% / 1.7%
Main Arm — Germany: 1.2% Mullumbimby — Germany: 1.7%
France 1.2% / 0.7%
Main Arm — France: 1.2% Mullumbimby — France: 0.7%
Malaysia 0.8% / —
Main Arm — Malaysia: 0.8% Mullumbimby — Malaysia: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.7%
Main Arm — South Africa: not among its largest Mullumbimby — South Africa: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Main Arm 96.6% houses
Main Arm — Houses: 96.6% Main Arm — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Main Arm — Townhouses: 3.4%
Mullumbimby 88.6% houses
Mullumbimby — Houses: 88.6% Mullumbimby — Flats / Apartments: 7.8% Mullumbimby — Townhouses: 3.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Median house price $2,050,000 $1,120,000
Median unit price — $890,000
Median land price — $827,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 58 days
from 58 sales

Zoning mix

Main Arm has more land zoned for conservation (26% vs 15%).

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Rural and farming 69% 61%
Environmental 26% 15%
Residential 0% 10%
Other and special use 6% 7%
Parks and recreation 0% 4%
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

Main Arm Mullumbimby
New dwellings approved 129
across Byron
same for both
Approvals change year on year -65%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Houses — 4.1%
$1,000/wk on $1.27M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Main Arm Mullumbimby
House price Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
Income Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 52% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 6% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 76% of NSW

Liveability

Mullumbimby is more walkable (75 vs 16); Mullumbimby scores higher overall (49 vs 28).

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Grade D B
Score 28/100 49/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Main Arm carries more bushfire risk (60 vs 0); Mullumbimby carries more crime risk (82 vs 58).

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Bushfire Moderate
60/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
58/100
 High
82/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Main Arm

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

Schools in Mullumbimby

  • Mullumbimby Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mullumbimby High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Hinterland Christian College Independent · Combined below peers
  • St John's Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 2 12
Parks & reserves 0 2
Childcare 0 5
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 4 13

Mobility

Main Arm sits further from the CBD (772.4 km vs 765.3 km).

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Walkability score 16/100 75/100
Distance to Sydney 772.4 km 765.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 499 min 492 min
Public transport score 23/100
Bus
 70/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 5.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 43.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 2482
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 89
postcode 2482
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.

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Car (driver) 64.0% / 61.1%
Main Arm — Car (driver): 64.0% Mullumbimby — Car (driver): 61.1%
Worked from Home 28.0% / 27.1%
Main Arm — Worked from Home: 28.0% Mullumbimby — Worked from Home: 27.1%
Walked Only 3.7% / 4.8%
Main Arm — Walked Only: 3.7% Mullumbimby — Walked Only: 4.8%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 3.5%
Main Arm — Car (passenger): 4.2% Mullumbimby — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Bicycle — / 3.5%
Main Arm — Bicycle: not among its largest Mullumbimby — Bicycle: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.0%).

Setting

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Elevation 32 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.2 km 5.6 km

NBN connectivity

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Connectivity score 29/100 82/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
222 premises
 52%
2,282 premises

Climate

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Annual rainfall 1,569 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Byron
same for both

Federal electorate

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Main Arm Mullumbimby
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Main Arm

Acreage

Mullumbimby

Acreage River Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Main Arm

Main Arm vs Mullumbimby Creek Main Arm vs Upper Burringbar Main Arm vs Upper Main Arm Main Arm vs The Pocket Main Arm vs Middle Pocket Main Arm vs Palmwoods

Other comparisons with Mullumbimby

Mullumbimby vs Ocean Shores Mullumbimby vs Brunswick Heads Mullumbimby vs Myocum Mullumbimby vs Mullumbimby Creek Mullumbimby vs Wilsons Creek Mullumbimby vs Billinudgel
Full data on Main Arm Full data on Mullumbimby
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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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