NSW · Tweed Council

Tumbulgum, 2490

Current weather

17.9°CMainly clear

83% humidity · 12 km/h wind · 20° / 14.3° today · 0 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

35.3/100
Below average

1379th in NSW

78% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • High desirability
  • Green suburb
What Tumbulgum is known for: High desirability, Green suburb

Suburb profile

In Tweed, Tumbulgum keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.

Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Transport options are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield.

The market sits in a sensible middle ground: not cheap, but fair value for the area. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.

The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability and safety holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
454
Median age
41
Median household income / week
$1,985
Dwelling vacancy
6.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
11 of 169
Median monthly mortgage
$1,975
Employment rate
64.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
10 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
18
Against the person
3
Against property
7
Rate per 1,000 residents
39.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 151 residents
State safety percentile
14.8th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-18%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • Domestic Violence Related Assault2
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment2
  • Motor Vehicle Theft3
  • Other Offences3
  • Steal From Motor Vehicle3

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

  • BOCSAR postcode crime statisticsNSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
941
  • Tumbulgum Public SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

10 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Fawcett St After Riverside Dr
  • Riverside Dr Opp Fawcett St
  • Tumbulgum Public School, Bawden St
  • Tumbulgum Public School, Fawcett St
  • Tweed River Chapel, Riverside Dr

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

  • Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0)Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).

40 planning-related records

2026· 9 proposals
  • May 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    44 BAWDEN STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Under Assessment
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    46 BAWDEN STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    38 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Under Assessment
  • April 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    26 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Under Assessment
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    62 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Additional Information Requested
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    18 FAWCETT STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Under Assessment
  • March 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    35-37 IRVING STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • February 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool
    82 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Under Assessment
  • January 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    32-34 Bawden Street, Tumbulgum (5&6/6/1223)Determined
2025· 4 proposals
  • September 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    10 GRAY STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • July 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    2 IRVING STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    8628 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Under Assessment
  • April 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    44 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
2024· 5 proposals
  • November 2024

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    8599 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • October 2024

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    8A BAWDEN STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • September 2024

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    10 GRAY STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • August 2024

  • Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    8582 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • June 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    50 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
2023· 8 proposals
  • December 2023

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external)
    13 BAWDEN LANE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • September 2023

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development
    16 IRVING STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • July 2023

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development
    136 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • May 2023

  • Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development
    8576 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • April 2023

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    8628 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development
    78-80 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Dwelling
    8577 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • March 2023

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs
    156 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
2022· 10 proposals
  • December 2022

  • Other
    3 BAWDEN STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • October 2022

  • Other
    70-72 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    94 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • September 2022

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    53-55 BAWDEN STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • June 2022

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    61 BAWDEN STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • May 2022

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    3 GOVERNMENT ROAD TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • April 2022

  • Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development
    5 GRAY STREET TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Shed
    8844 TWEED VALLEY WAY TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • March 2022

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development
    160 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • January 2022

  • Food and drink premises
    116 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Withdrawn
2021· 2 proposals
  • October 2021

  • Pools / decks / fencing
    104 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • August 2021

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs
    136 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
2020· 2 proposals
  • December 2020

  • Pools / decks / fencing
    146 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined
  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs
    54 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TUMBULGUM 2490Determined

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Faith Mussing/Bandler ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Bushfire hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
1
Parks (OSM)
1

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)

Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover featuresOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability Index

Desirability score
35.3/100 — Below average
National rank
4331st in Australia
State rank
1379th in NSW
Peer rank
#214 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#525 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
78%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime2
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime2
  • Motor Vehicle Theftcrime3
  • Other Offencescrime3
  • Steal From Motor Vehiclecrime3
  • Fawcett St After Riverside Drtransport
  • Riverside Dr Opp Fawcett Sttransport
  • Tumbulgum Public School, Bawden Sttransport
  • Tumbulgum Public School, Fawcett Sttransport
  • Tweed River Chapel, Riverside Drtransport

Data sources & freshness

More in Tweed Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.