Moving to Cumbalum NSW 2478
What the official numbers say about living in Cumbalum — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $610 a week, against a median household income of $2,170 a week.
About 81% of homes are owner-occupied and 18% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Cumbalum grew 81% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (1,221 → 2,211 people).
Around 86% of households are families, averaging 3.0 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, India; most spoken languages besides English: Spanish, Hindi, Mandarin.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Cumbalum sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 9 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (81% of workers), while 18% work from home.
Nearest bus interchange: Byron Byron Gateway Airport Tour Operators, 2.8 km south-east.
Nearest ferry wharf: Burns Point Ferry, 5.8 km south.
Nearest airport: Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, 3.1 km south-east.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 603 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 3 schools · 1 cafe or restaurant — see them all on the Cumbalum profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Richmond Christian College 3 km · Teven-Tintenbar Public School 4.4 km · Emmanuel Anglican College 4.5 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Cumbalum, most often seen first: Pacific Black Duck · Rainbow Lorikeet · Torresian Crow · Welcome Swallow · Noisy Miner · Lewin's Honeyeater.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Cumbalum, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumbalum here | 2,211 | — | 9/10 | 40% |
| West Ballina | 3,230 | — | 2/10 | 18% |
| Ballina | 9,735 | — | 3/10 | 43% |
| Lennox Head | 7,687 | — | 10/10 | 28% |
| East Ballina | 5,882 | — | 7/10 | 34% |
| Skennars Head | 1,303 | — | 8/10 | 34% |
| Alstonville | 5,912 | — | 5/10 | 32% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Ballina — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Richmond — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2478 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Cumbalum profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $610 a week, and about 18% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 81% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 1,221 people to 2,211. It sits about 603 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line. Local government is Ballina council, and the federal seat is Richmond.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Cumbalum vs West Ballina · Cumbalum vs East Ballina.
Nearby guides: West Ballina · Ballina · Lennox Head · East Ballina · Skennars Head · Alstonville.
Keep an eye on Cumbalum
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