Mullumbimby vs Ocean Shores

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Ocean Shores: a median of $1.27 million, against $1.12 million in Mullumbimby.

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

  • Mullumbimby has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • Ocean Shores carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 82/100)

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 $1,270,000)

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

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Mullumbimby

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 16/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (765.3 km vs 767.6 km)

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 16/100)
  • Ocean Shores carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 82/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Mullumbimby and Ocean Shores 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 Ocean Shores
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 Ocean Shores
Walkability 75 / 16
Mullumbimby — Walkability: 75/100 Ocean Shores — Walkability: 16/100
Safety 18 / 56
Mullumbimby — Safety: 18/100 Ocean Shores — Safety: 56/100
Low fire risk 100 / 82
Mullumbimby — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ocean Shores — Low fire risk: 82/100

Demographics

Ocean Shores has more residents (5,777 vs 4,180); Mullumbimby skews older (45 vs 43).

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
Population 4,180 5,777
+38% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.2% +12.5%
Median age 45 43
Median household income $70,460/yr $76,492/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $500/wk $508/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
0-4 4.5% / 5.1%
Mullumbimby — 0-4: 4.5% Ocean Shores — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 13.2% / 11.9%
Mullumbimby — 5-14: 13.2% Ocean Shores — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 6.5% / 5.3%
Mullumbimby — 15-19: 6.5% Ocean Shores — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 3.3% / 4.0%
Mullumbimby — 20-24: 3.3% Ocean Shores — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 10.0% / 11.2%
Mullumbimby — 25-34: 10.0% Ocean Shores — 25-34: 11.2%
35-44 12.6% / 14.2%
Mullumbimby — 35-44: 12.6% Ocean Shores — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 15.4% / 15.1%
Mullumbimby — 45-54: 15.4% Ocean Shores — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 13.8% / 14.5%
Mullumbimby — 55-64: 13.8% Ocean Shores — 55-64: 14.5%
65-74 12.5% / 12.4%
Mullumbimby — 65-74: 12.5% Ocean Shores — 65-74: 12.4%
75-84 5.8% / 4.9%
Mullumbimby — 75-84: 5.8% Ocean Shores — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 2.7% / 1.6%
Mullumbimby — 85+: 2.7% Ocean Shores — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.4%).

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%
Ocean Shores 34.4% lone person
Ocean Shores — Lone Person: 34.4% Ocean Shores — Couple Families: 32.9% Ocean Shores — One Parent Families: 20.8% Ocean Shores — Group Household: 10.8% Ocean Shores — Other Families: 1.0%
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%
Ocean Shores 27.1% renting
Ocean Shores — Owned Outright: 38.1% Ocean Shores — Mortgage: 34.8% Ocean Shores — Renting: 27.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
Bachelor Degree 15.5% / 15.5%
Mullumbimby — Bachelor Degree: 15.5% Ocean Shores — Bachelor Degree: 15.5%
Certificate III & IV 11.6% / 14.3%
Mullumbimby — Certificate III & IV: 11.6% Ocean Shores — Certificate III & IV: 14.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 10.0%
Mullumbimby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Ocean Shores — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 4.4%
Mullumbimby — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Ocean Shores — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.8%
Mullumbimby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Ocean Shores — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

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.

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
England 5.8% / 4.4%
Mullumbimby — England: 5.8% Ocean Shores — England: 4.4%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.1%
Mullumbimby — New Zealand: 2.0% Ocean Shores — New Zealand: 2.1%
Germany 1.7% / 1.1%
Mullumbimby — Germany: 1.7% Ocean Shores — Germany: 1.1%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.7%
Mullumbimby — South Africa: 0.7% Ocean Shores — South Africa: 0.7%
France 0.7% / 0.6%
Mullumbimby — France: 0.7% Ocean Shores — France: 0.6%
Canada — / 0.7%
Mullumbimby — Canada: not among its largest Ocean Shores — Canada: 0.7%

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%
Ocean Shores 83.4% houses
Ocean Shores — Houses: 83.4% Ocean Shores — Flats / Apartments: 7.2% Ocean Shores — Townhouses: 9.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
Median house price $1,120,000 $1,270,000
Median unit price $890,000 $930,000
Median land price $827,500 $740,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 58 days
from 58 sales
 41 days
from 71 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 Ocean Shores
2 bed $890K / $1M
Mullumbimby — 2 bed: $890K (18 sales) Ocean Shores — 2 bed: $1M (10 sales)

18 vs 10 sales

3 bed $1.06M / $1.19M
Mullumbimby — 3 bed: $1.06M (64 sales) Ocean Shores — 3 bed: $1.19M (77 sales)

64 vs 77 sales

4 bed $1.29M / $1.44M
Mullumbimby — 4 bed: $1.29M (38 sales) Ocean Shores — 4 bed: $1.44M (38 sales)

38 vs 38 sales

5 bed $1.48M / $1.49M
Mullumbimby — 5 bed: $1.48M (8 sales) Ocean Shores — 5 bed: $1.49M (12 sales)

8 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Mullumbimby has more rural and farming land (61% vs 12%); Ocean Shores has more land zoned for conservation (47% vs 15%).

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
Rural and farming 61% 12%
Environmental 15% 47%
Residential 10% 23%
Parks and recreation 4% 10%
Other and special use 7% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 1%
same for both
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 Ocean Shores
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 Ocean Shores
Houses 4.1%
$1,000/wk on $1.27M
 4.1%
$1,050/wk on $1.33M
Units — 3.9%
$590/wk on $785K

Ranking within NSW

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
House price Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Income Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Schools Higher than 52% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 20% of NSW

Liveability

Mullumbimby is more walkable (75 vs 16); Mullumbimby scores higher overall (49 vs 44).

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
Grade B C
Score 49/100 44/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Ocean Shores carries more bushfire risk (18 vs 0); Mullumbimby carries more crime risk (82 vs 44).

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
18/100
Crime High
82/100
 Moderate
44/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
13/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 2 1

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 Ocean Shores

  • Ocean Shores Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Ocean Shores sits further from the CBD (767.6 km vs 765.3 km).

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
Walkability score 75/100 16/100
Distance to Sydney 765.3 km 767.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 492 min 491 min
Public transport score 70/100
Bus
 53/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 43.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 17.2
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 Ocean Shores
Car (driver) 61.1% / 67.0%
Mullumbimby — Car (driver): 61.1% Ocean Shores — Car (driver): 67.0%
Worked from Home 27.1% / 26.0%
Mullumbimby — Worked from Home: 27.1% Ocean Shores — Worked from Home: 26.0%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 4.2%
Mullumbimby — Car (passenger): 3.5% Ocean Shores — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 4.8% / 2.0%
Mullumbimby — Walked Only: 4.8% Ocean Shores — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bicycle 3.5% / 0.6%
Mullumbimby — Bicycle: 3.5% Ocean Shores — Bicycle: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.0%).

Setting

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 -1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.6 km 1.8 km
3.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
Connectivity score 82/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
2,282 premises
 53%
2,662 premises

Climate

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
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 Ocean Shores
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Byron
same for both

Federal electorate

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mullumbimby Ocean Shores
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

Ocean Shores

Coastal Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mullumbimby

Mullumbimby vs Brunswick Heads Mullumbimby vs Myocum Mullumbimby vs Main Arm Mullumbimby vs Mullumbimby Creek Mullumbimby vs Wilsons Creek Mullumbimby vs Billinudgel

Other comparisons with Ocean Shores

Ocean Shores vs Brunswick Heads Ocean Shores vs South Golden Beach Ocean Shores vs New Brighton Ocean Shores vs Billinudgel Ocean Shores vs Wooyung Ocean Shores vs Yelgun
Full data on Mullumbimby Full data on Ocean Shores
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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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