Mullaway vs Woolgoolga

Mullaway is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 45 in Woolgoolga. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Mullaway: a median of $1.04 million, against $920,000 in Woolgoolga, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Woolgoolga tends to suit people living alone and older residents.

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

Woolgoolga

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • But Mullaway is already more of a family suburb (67% vs 51%)

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

First-home buyers

Woolgoolga

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($450,000 vs $775,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($920,000 vs $1,036,250)
  • But Mullaway leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 34%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Mullaway leaves renters under less rental stress (23% vs 30%)
  • Woolgoolga has cheaper rent ($360/wk vs $410/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Mullaway is more walkable (37/100 vs 8/100)
  • Woolgoolga sits closer to the CBD (554.9 km vs 561.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Mullaway is more walkable (37/100 vs 8/100)
  • Woolgoolga has more GPs (4 vs 0)

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

Investors

Woolgoolga

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.3% vs 7.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mullaway Woolgoolga
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.

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Walkability 37 / 8
Mullaway — Walkability: 37/100 Woolgoolga — Walkability: 8/100
Safety 38 / 19
Mullaway — Safety: 38/100 Woolgoolga — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 55
Mullaway — Low fire risk: 100/100 Woolgoolga — Low fire risk: 55/100

Demographics

Woolgoolga has more residents (6,151 vs 607); Mullaway has higher household incomes ($91,520 vs $61,880).

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Population 607 6,151
+913% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.1% +16.3%
Median age 40 45
Median household income $91,520/yr
+32% vs other
 $61,880/yr
Median weekly rent $410/wk
+12% vs other
 $360/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mullaway Woolgoolga
0-4 5.9% / 5.3%
Mullaway — 0-4: 5.9% Woolgoolga — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 13.5% / 10.5%
Mullaway — 5-14: 13.5% Woolgoolga — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 6.3% / 4.6%
Mullaway — 15-19: 6.3% Woolgoolga — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 3.5% / 4.1%
Mullaway — 20-24: 3.5% Woolgoolga — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 12.2% / 13.6%
Mullaway — 25-34: 12.2% Woolgoolga — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 14.5% / 11.4%
Mullaway — 35-44: 14.5% Woolgoolga — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 12.4% / 10.6%
Mullaway — 45-54: 12.4% Woolgoolga — 45-54: 10.6%
55-64 15.5% / 13.2%
Mullaway — 55-64: 15.5% Woolgoolga — 55-64: 13.2%
65-74 13.5% / 15.3%
Mullaway — 65-74: 13.5% Woolgoolga — 65-74: 15.3%
75-84 2.1% / 7.9%
Mullaway — 75-84: 2.1% Woolgoolga — 75-84: 7.9%
85+ 1.2% / 3.6%
Mullaway — 85+: 1.2% Woolgoolga — 85+: 3.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Woolgoolga 34.6% couple families
Woolgoolga — Couple Families: 34.6% Woolgoolga — Lone Person: 41.0% Woolgoolga — One Parent Families: 16.4% Woolgoolga — Group Household: 6.8% Woolgoolga — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mullaway 28.0% renting
Mullaway — Owned Outright: 33.8% Mullaway — Mortgage: 38.2% Mullaway — Renting: 28.0%
Woolgoolga 30.5% renting
Woolgoolga — Owned Outright: 45.8% Woolgoolga — Mortgage: 23.6% Woolgoolga — Renting: 30.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Certificate III & IV 21.1% / 14.9%
Mullaway — Certificate III & IV: 21.1% Woolgoolga — Certificate III & IV: 14.9%
Bachelor Degree 13.8% / 10.0%
Mullaway — Bachelor Degree: 13.8% Woolgoolga — Bachelor Degree: 10.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.9% / 8.6%
Mullaway — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.9% Woolgoolga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 2.4%
Mullaway — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Woolgoolga — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.6%
Mullaway — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Woolgoolga — 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.

Mullaway Woolgoolga
India — / 10.7%
Mullaway — India: not among its largest Woolgoolga — India: 10.7%
England 3.5% / 3.5%
Mullaway — England: 3.5% Woolgoolga — England: 3.5%
Malaysia 1.6% / 1.0%
Mullaway — Malaysia: 1.6% Woolgoolga — Malaysia: 1.0%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.0%
Mullaway — New Zealand: 1.5% Woolgoolga — New Zealand: 1.0%
Taiwan 0.7% / 0.5%
Mullaway — Taiwan: 0.7% Woolgoolga — Taiwan: 0.5%
Germany 0.5% / 0.6%
Mullaway — Germany: 0.5% Woolgoolga — Germany: 0.6%
Vietnam 1.0% / —
Mullaway — Vietnam: 1.0% Woolgoolga — Vietnam: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mullaway 88.8% houses
Mullaway — Houses: 88.8% Mullaway — Townhouses: 2.4% Mullaway — Flats / Apartments: 8.7%
Woolgoolga 82.2% houses
Woolgoolga — Houses: 82.2% Woolgoolga — Townhouses: 13.2% Woolgoolga — Flats / Apartments: 4.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Median house price $1,036,250 $920,000
Median unit price — $640,000
Median land price $775,000 $450,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 76 days
from 7 sales
 32 days
from 56 sales

Zoning mix

Woolgoolga has more rural and farming land (77% vs 43%); Mullaway has more land zoned for conservation (40% vs 8%).

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Rural and farming 43% 77%
Environmental 40% 8%
Residential 14% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 4%
Parks and recreation 2% 3%
Planning zones cover 99% of Mullaway and 100% of Woolgoolga. 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

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

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Houses — 3.7%
$700/wk on $987K
Units — 3.7%
$490/wk on $688K

Ranking within NSW

Mullaway Woolgoolga
House price Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
Income Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 11% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 52% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 56% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 15% of NSW

Liveability

Mullaway is more walkable (37 vs 8); Mullaway scores higher overall (47 vs 19).

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Grade C D
Score 47/100 19/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Woolgoolga carries more bushfire risk (45 vs 0); Woolgoolga carries more crime risk (81 vs 62).

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
45/100
Crime Moderate
62/100
 High
81/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
25/100
 Moderate
58/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Mullaway

  • Mullaway Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Woolgoolga

  • Woolgoolga Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Francis Xavier Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Woolgoolga High School Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 10
Parks & reserves 1 9
Childcare 1 4
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 1 28

Mobility

Mullaway sits further from the CBD (561.2 km vs 554.9 km).

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Walkability score 37/100 8/100
Distance to Sydney 561.2 km
+1% vs other
 554.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 369 min 370 min
Public transport score 21/100
Bus
 71/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 3.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 65.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1.5 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 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.

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Car (driver) 71.3% / 76.6%
Mullaway — Car (driver): 71.3% Woolgoolga — Car (driver): 76.6%
Worked from Home 16.6% / 9.8%
Mullaway — Worked from Home: 16.6% Woolgoolga — Worked from Home: 9.8%
Car (passenger) 10.9% / 8.4%
Mullaway — Car (passenger): 10.9% Woolgoolga — Car (passenger): 8.4%
Walked Only — / 4.2%
Mullaway — Walked Only: not among its largest Woolgoolga — Walked Only: 4.2%
Bicycle 1.2% / 0.6%
Mullaway — Bicycle: 1.2% Woolgoolga — Bicycle: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.6%).

Setting

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Elevation 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 62 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 550 m
4.7 km to a named beach
 3.4 km
4.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mullaway Woolgoolga
Connectivity score 62/100 59/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 25%
274 premises
 22%
3,566 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Mullaway Woolgoolga
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Mullaway

Acreage Coastal River

Woolgoolga

Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mullaway

Mullaway vs Safety Beach Mullaway vs Arrawarra Headland

Other comparisons with Woolgoolga

Woolgoolga vs Sandy Beach Woolgoolga vs Emerald Beach Woolgoolga vs Corindi Beach Woolgoolga vs Safety Beach Woolgoolga vs Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga vs Bucca
Full data on Mullaway Full data on Woolgoolga
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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