Mullumbimby vs Brunswick Heads

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Brunswick Heads, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Brunswick Heads: a median of $1.8 million, against $1.12 million in Mullumbimby, though rent is higher in Mullumbimby. On these figures, Mullumbimby tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Brunswick Heads suits people living alone.

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

Mullumbimby

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (89% vs 60%)
  • But Brunswick Heads has more parks and reserves (5 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Mullumbimby

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($827,500 vs $2,200,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,120,000 vs $1,805,000)
  • has cheaper units ($890,000 vs $1,160,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Brunswick Heads

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($440/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Brunswick Heads

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (484 min vs 492 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (761.3 km vs 765.3 km)
  • But Mullumbimby is more walkable (75/100 vs 28/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Mullumbimby is more walkable (75/100 vs 28/100)
  • Brunswick Heads has more units and townhouses to downsize into (40% vs 11%)

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

Investors

Mullumbimby

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (16.2% vs 9.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.1% vs 2.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
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.

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Walkability 75 / 28
Mullumbimby — Walkability: 75/100 Brunswick Heads — Walkability: 28/100
Safety 18 / 11
Mullumbimby — Safety: 18/100 Brunswick Heads — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 100 / 42
Mullumbimby — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brunswick Heads — Low fire risk: 42/100

Demographics

Mullumbimby has more residents (4,180 vs 1,905); Mullumbimby rents higher ($500/wk vs $440/wk).

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Population 4,180
+54% vs other
 1,905
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.2% +9.7%
Median age 45 47
Median household income $70,460/yr
+6% vs other
 $66,560/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+12% vs other
 $440/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
0-4 4.5% / 4.7%
Mullumbimby — 0-4: 4.5% Brunswick Heads — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 13.2% / 8.6%
Mullumbimby — 5-14: 13.2% Brunswick Heads — 5-14: 8.6%
15-19 6.5% / 4.6%
Mullumbimby — 15-19: 6.5% Brunswick Heads — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 3.3% / 4.8%
Mullumbimby — 20-24: 3.3% Brunswick Heads — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 10.0% / 11.5%
Mullumbimby — 25-34: 10.0% Brunswick Heads — 25-34: 11.5%
35-44 12.6% / 12.5%
Mullumbimby — 35-44: 12.6% Brunswick Heads — 35-44: 12.5%
45-54 15.4% / 14.1%
Mullumbimby — 45-54: 15.4% Brunswick Heads — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 13.8% / 16.0%
Mullumbimby — 55-64: 13.8% Brunswick Heads — 55-64: 16.0%
65-74 12.5% / 14.0%
Mullumbimby — 65-74: 12.5% Brunswick Heads — 65-74: 14.0%
75-84 5.8% / 7.1%
Mullumbimby — 75-84: 5.8% Brunswick Heads — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 2.7% / 2.4%
Mullumbimby — 85+: 2.7% Brunswick Heads — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mullumbimby 35.9% lone person
Mullumbimby — Lone Person: 35.9% Mullumbimby — Couple Families: 31.7% Mullumbimby — One Parent Families: 21.4% Mullumbimby — Group Household: 9.7% Mullumbimby — Other Families: 1.3%
Brunswick Heads 48.3% lone person
Brunswick Heads — Lone Person: 48.3% Brunswick Heads — Couple Families: 23.2% Brunswick Heads — One Parent Families: 16.7% Brunswick Heads — Group Household: 10.2% Brunswick Heads — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mullumbimby 31.3% renting
Mullumbimby — Owned Outright: 39.7% Mullumbimby — Mortgage: 29.0% Mullumbimby — Renting: 31.3%
Brunswick Heads 40.7% renting
Brunswick Heads — Owned Outright: 40.5% Brunswick Heads — Mortgage: 18.8% Brunswick Heads — Renting: 40.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Bachelor Degree 15.5% / 15.8%
Mullumbimby — Bachelor Degree: 15.5% Brunswick Heads — Bachelor Degree: 15.8%
Certificate III & IV 11.6% / 14.5%
Mullumbimby — Certificate III & IV: 11.6% Brunswick Heads — Certificate III & IV: 14.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 9.0%
Mullumbimby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Brunswick Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 4.3%
Mullumbimby — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Brunswick Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.2%
Mullumbimby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Brunswick Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

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.

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
England 5.8% / 4.5%
Mullumbimby — England: 5.8% Brunswick Heads — England: 4.5%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.3%
Mullumbimby — New Zealand: 2.0% Brunswick Heads — New Zealand: 2.3%
Germany 1.7% / —
Mullumbimby — Germany: 1.7% Brunswick Heads — Germany: not among its largest
France 0.7% / 0.5%
Mullumbimby — France: 0.7% Brunswick Heads — France: 0.5%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.5%
Mullumbimby — South Africa: 0.7% Brunswick Heads — South Africa: 0.5%
Canada — / 1.2%
Mullumbimby — Canada: not among its largest Brunswick Heads — Canada: 1.2%
Brazil 0.4% / 0.6%
Mullumbimby — Brazil: 0.4% Brunswick Heads — Brazil: 0.6%
Italy — / 0.6%
Mullumbimby — Italy: not among its largest Brunswick Heads — Italy: 0.6%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mullumbimby 88.6% houses
Mullumbimby — Houses: 88.6% Mullumbimby — Flats / Apartments: 7.8% Mullumbimby — Townhouses: 3.6%
Brunswick Heads 59.7% houses
Brunswick Heads — Houses: 59.7% Brunswick Heads — Flats / Apartments: 34.2% Brunswick Heads — Townhouses: 6.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Median house price $1,120,000 $1,805,000
Median unit price $890,000 $1,160,000
Median land price $827,500 $2,200,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 58 days
from 58 sales
 56 days
from 17 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
3 bed $1.06M / $1.76M
Mullumbimby — 3 bed: $1.06M (64 sales) Brunswick Heads — 3 bed: $1.76M (21 sales)

64 vs 21 sales

4 bed $1.29M / $2.11M
Mullumbimby — 4 bed: $1.29M (38 sales) Brunswick Heads — 4 bed: $2.11M (13 sales)

38 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Brunswick Heads has more land zoned for conservation (48% vs 15%); Mullumbimby has more rural and farming land (61% vs 30%).

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Rural and farming 61% 30%
Environmental 15% 48%
Residential 10% 7%
Other and special use 7% 6%
Parks and recreation 4% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 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

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
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.

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Houses 4.1%
$1,000/wk on $1.27M
 2.5%
$915/wk on $1.88M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
House price Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Income Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
Schools Higher than 52% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 6% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 7% of NSW

Liveability

Mullumbimby is more walkable (75 vs 28); Mullumbimby scores higher overall (49 vs 23).

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Grade B D
Score 49/100 23/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
same for both

Risk profile

Brunswick Heads carries more bushfire risk (58 vs 0).

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
58/100
Crime High
82/100
 High
89/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
17/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 2 0

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

Schools in Brunswick Heads

  • Brunswick Heads Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Supermarkets 3 2
Cafes & restaurants 12 13
Parks & reserves 2 5
Childcare 5 2
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 2 1
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 3 1
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 13 2

Mobility

Mullumbimby sits further from the CBD (765.3 km vs 761.3 km).

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Walkability score 75/100 28/100
Distance to Sydney 765.3 km 761.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 492 min 484 min
Public transport score 70/100
Bus
 51/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 43.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 17.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 2482
 1.2%
postcode 2483
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 89
postcode 2482
 72
postcode 2483

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.

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Car (driver) 61.1% / 62.0%
Mullumbimby — Car (driver): 61.1% Brunswick Heads — Car (driver): 62.0%
Worked from Home 27.1% / 26.4%
Mullumbimby — Worked from Home: 27.1% Brunswick Heads — Worked from Home: 26.4%
Walked Only 4.8% / 5.6%
Mullumbimby — Walked Only: 4.8% Brunswick Heads — Walked Only: 5.6%
Bicycle 3.5% / 3.4%
Mullumbimby — Bicycle: 3.5% Brunswick Heads — Bicycle: 3.4%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 2.5%
Mullumbimby — Car (passenger): 3.5% Brunswick Heads — Car (passenger): 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.0%).

Setting

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.6 km 1.5 km
2.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Connectivity score 82/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
2,282 premises
 33%
1,256 premises

Climate

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
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

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Byron
same for both

Federal electorate

Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Mullumbimby

Acreage River Village Feel

Brunswick Heads

Coastal Premium

More comparisons

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Mullumbimby vs Ocean Shores Mullumbimby vs Myocum Mullumbimby vs Main Arm Mullumbimby vs Mullumbimby Creek Mullumbimby vs Wilsons Creek Mullumbimby vs Billinudgel

Other comparisons with Brunswick Heads

Brunswick Heads vs Ocean Shores Brunswick Heads vs Myocum Brunswick Heads vs New Brighton Brunswick Heads vs Tyagarah
Full data on Mullumbimby Full data on Brunswick Heads
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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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