South Murwillumbah vs Tygalgah

Tygalgah is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 48 in South Murwillumbah. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In South Murwillumbah, most households own their home. In Tygalgah, about half of households rent and about half of households are couple families. On these figures, South Murwillumbah tends to suit people living alone, while Tygalgah suits renters, families with children, and couples.

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

Tygalgah

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (83% vs 51%)
  • carries lower crime risk (63/100 vs 91/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 90%)
  • But South Murwillumbah has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Tygalgah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (11% vs 30%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Tygalgah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (49% vs 26%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 30%)

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

Commuting to the city

South Murwillumbah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (798.9 km vs 806.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • South Murwillumbah has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 17%)
  • Tygalgah carries lower crime risk (63/100 vs 91/100)

Weighs 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

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

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
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.

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Walkability 19 / 26
South Murwillumbah — Walkability: 19/100 Tygalgah — Walkability: 26/100
Safety 9 / 37
South Murwillumbah — Safety: 9/100 Tygalgah — Safety: 37/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
South Murwillumbah — Low fire risk: 100/100 Tygalgah — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

South Murwillumbah has more residents (1,064 vs 116); Tygalgah has higher household incomes ($119,548 vs $67,184).

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Population 1,064
+89% vs other
 116
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -4.5% -7.9%
Median age 48 39
Median household income $67,184/yr $119,548/yr
+78% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk $400/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
0-4 4.8% / 3.4%
South Murwillumbah — 0-4: 4.8% Tygalgah — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 9.8% / 25.0%
South Murwillumbah — 5-14: 9.8% Tygalgah — 5-14: 25.0%
15-19 6.9% / 5.2%
South Murwillumbah — 15-19: 6.9% Tygalgah — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 5.0% / 4.3%
South Murwillumbah — 20-24: 5.0% Tygalgah — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 7.4% / 11.2%
South Murwillumbah — 25-34: 7.4% Tygalgah — 25-34: 11.2%
35-44 12.0% / 12.1%
South Murwillumbah — 35-44: 12.0% Tygalgah — 35-44: 12.1%
45-54 15.2% / 12.9%
South Murwillumbah — 45-54: 15.2% Tygalgah — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 14.8% / 16.4%
South Murwillumbah — 55-64: 14.8% Tygalgah — 55-64: 16.4%
65-74 14.0% / 12.1%
South Murwillumbah — 65-74: 14.0% Tygalgah — 65-74: 12.1%
75-84 6.4% / 5.2%
South Murwillumbah — 75-84: 6.4% Tygalgah — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 3.6% / —
South Murwillumbah — 85+: 3.6% Tygalgah — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

South Murwillumbah 31.7% couple families
South Murwillumbah — Couple Families: 31.7% South Murwillumbah — Lone Person: 41.0% South Murwillumbah — One Parent Families: 19.7% South Murwillumbah — Group Household: 6.0% South Murwillumbah — Other Families: 1.6%
Tygalgah 48.3% couple families
Tygalgah — Couple Families: 48.3% Tygalgah — Lone Person: 17.2% Tygalgah — One Parent Families: 34.5% Tygalgah — Group Household: 0.0% Tygalgah — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

South Murwillumbah 26.2% renting
South Murwillumbah — Owned Outright: 40.2% South Murwillumbah — Mortgage: 33.6% South Murwillumbah — Renting: 26.2%
Tygalgah 48.6% renting
Tygalgah — Owned Outright: 22.9% Tygalgah — Mortgage: 28.6% Tygalgah — Renting: 48.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
England 2.9% / 2.6%
South Murwillumbah — England: 2.9% Tygalgah — England: 2.6%
New Zealand 2.6% / 2.6%
South Murwillumbah — New Zealand: 2.6% Tygalgah — New Zealand: 2.6%
South Africa 0.7% / —
South Murwillumbah — South Africa: 0.7% Tygalgah — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines 0.5% / —
South Murwillumbah — Philippines: 0.5% Tygalgah — Philippines: not among its largest
Thailand 0.5% / —
South Murwillumbah — Thailand: 0.5% Tygalgah — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.9%).

Qualifications

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

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Certificate III & IV 19.2% / 20.7%
South Murwillumbah — Certificate III & IV: 19.2% Tygalgah — Certificate III & IV: 20.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 8.6%
South Murwillumbah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Tygalgah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Bachelor Degree 7.2% / 3.4%
South Murwillumbah — Bachelor Degree: 7.2% Tygalgah — Bachelor Degree: 3.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 4.3%
South Murwillumbah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Tygalgah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.3%
Postgraduate Degree 2.2% / —
South Murwillumbah — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2% Tygalgah — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Murwillumbah 89.6% houses
South Murwillumbah — Houses: 89.6% South Murwillumbah — Flats / Apartments: 10.4%
Tygalgah 100.0% houses
Tygalgah — Houses: 100.0% Tygalgah — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Median house price $835,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 48 days
from 14 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Tygalgah has more rural and farming land (92% vs 73%); South Murwillumbah has more industrially zoned land (15% vs 0%).

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Rural and farming 73% 92%
Industrial 15% 0%
Environmental 4% 6%
Residential 5% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 0%
Parks and recreation 1% 2%
Other and special use 1% 0%
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

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
New dwellings approved 331
across Tweed
same for both
Approvals change year on year -50%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
House price Higher than 29% of NSW —
Income Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 56% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW

Liveability

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Grade D —
Score 25/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

South Murwillumbah carries more crime risk (91 vs 63).

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
91/100
 Moderate
63/100
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 4
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in South Murwillumbah

  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Schools in Tygalgah

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

Amenities in the suburb

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 5 0
Childcare 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 6 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Tygalgah sits further from the CBD (806.1 km vs 798.9 km).

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Walkability score 19/100 26/100
Distance to Sydney 798.9 km 806.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 520 min 522 min
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2484
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 76
postcode 2484
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.

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Car (driver) 74.9% / 63.0%
South Murwillumbah — Car (driver): 74.9% Tygalgah — Car (driver): 63.0%
Worked from Home 13.4% / 19.6%
South Murwillumbah — Worked from Home: 13.4% Tygalgah — Worked from Home: 19.6%
Walked Only 5.7% / 6.5%
South Murwillumbah — Walked Only: 5.7% Tygalgah — Walked Only: 6.5%
Bicycle 1.1% / 10.9%
South Murwillumbah — Bicycle: 1.1% Tygalgah — Bicycle: 10.9%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / —
South Murwillumbah — Car (passenger): 4.9% Tygalgah — Car (passenger): not among its largest

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

Setting

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Elevation 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.2 km 14.5 km

NBN connectivity

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Connectivity score 71/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
956 premises
 0%
51 premises

Climate

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
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

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Average residential rate $1,745/yr
same for both
Council Tweed
same for both

Federal electorate

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

South Murwillumbah Tygalgah
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

South Murwillumbah

Acreage

Tygalgah

Family Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Murwillumbah

South Murwillumbah vs Murwillumbah South Murwillumbah vs Dunbible South Murwillumbah vs Condong South Murwillumbah vs Fernvale South Murwillumbah vs Kielvale South Murwillumbah vs Wardrop Valley

Other comparisons with Tygalgah

Tygalgah vs Murwillumbah Tygalgah vs Tumbulgum Tygalgah vs Condong Tygalgah vs North Tumbulgum Tygalgah vs Eviron Tygalgah vs Urliup
Full data on South Murwillumbah Full data on Tygalgah
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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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