Yass
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Yass reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Yass's population was around 6,944 as of Aug 2025. This reflected an increase of 181 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,763 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,817 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 118 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 69 persons per square kilometer. Yass's 2.7% growth since census positioned it within 0.5 percentage points of the SA3 area (3.2%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 70.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilised NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth of national regional areas was anticipated. The area was expected to expand by 256 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, reflecting an increase of 1.8% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Yass according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Yass has recorded approximately 29 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis: 147 dwellings were approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with 5 approvals so far in FY-26. On average, 0.3 new residents arrive per new home each year over these five financial years. This indicates that new construction is matching or outpacing demand, providing more buying options and potentially enabling population growth exceeding current expectations.

The average development value of new dwellings is $517,000. Commercial approvals this financial year totalled $9.9 million, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Yass has similar development levels per person, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns.

Recent construction comprises 85.0% detached houses and 15.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space. There are approximately 208 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts project Yass will gain 128 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Yass has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that may impact the area. Notable projects include Crago Mill Precinct, Hamilton Rise Yass, Yarrah - Yass River Masterplanned Community, and Yarrah at Yass River. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Employment performance in Yass exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Yass has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.4%.

As of June 2025, 3,465 residents are employed, which is 1.2% below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Yass is 60.9%, slightly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 56.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. Notably, public administration & safety employs a significantly higher proportion of workers compared to regional levels, at 2.3 times the norm.

Conversely, manufacturing employs only 2.0% of local workers, lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 5.8%. Over the year ending June 2025, labour force levels in Yass decreased by 3.6%, while employment declined by 4.3%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced a slight employment decline and labour force growth during this period. State-level data from Sep-25 shows that NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%, slightly lower than the national average of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Yass's current employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.2% over ten years.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

Yass shows a median taxpayer income of $61,885 and an average of $76,422 according to latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is high nationally, contrasting with Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $68,445 (median) and $84,523 (average) as of March 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Yass cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. Distribution data shows the largest segment comprises 33.1% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (2,298 residents), reflecting patterns seen in surrounding region where 29.9% similarly occupy this range. After housing, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Yass is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Yass' dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 89.0% houses and 10.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro NSW had 93.2% houses and 6.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yass was at 34.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.9% and rented ones at 24.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Yass was $1,773, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,699. Median weekly rent in Yass was $340, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $270. Nationally, Yass' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents lower at $375.

Yass has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 70.9% of all households, including 31.0% couples with children, 27.6% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.1%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households comprising 1.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

Educational attainment in Yass aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Educational qualifications in Yass trail regional benchmarks with 23.0% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 4.8% and graduate diplomas at 3.1%. Trade and technical skills are prominent with 38.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 27.7%. Educational participation is high, with 28.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education including 11.3% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 3.1% pursuing tertiary education.

Yass's 4 schools have a combined enrollment of 1,353 students while the area functions as an education hub with 19.5 school places per 100 residents – significantly above the regional average of 12.5. This attracts students from surrounding communities.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The public transport analysis shows that there are 136 active transport stops in Yass. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. They are serviced by 62 individual routes, collectively providing 681 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 193 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, there are 97 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately five weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Yass is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Yass, with notable prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 58% of the total population (4,013 people), compared to 53.6% across the Rest of NSW.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 11.2 and 10.1% of residents respectively. A total of 59.9% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.6% in the Rest of NSW. Yass has 21.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,508 people). Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Yass is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Yass, surveyed in 2016, had a population with 90.2% born in Australia, 92.5% being citizens, and 95.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 59.6% of Yass' population, compared to 61.3% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (33.8%), English (30.2%), and Irish (10.1%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation in Yass was higher at 3.5%, compared to the regional average of 2.9%. Scottish representation was also slightly higher at 7.9% versus 8.1%, while Maltese representation was notably lower at 0.4% compared to the region's 0.3%.

Yass hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Yass has a median age of 42 years, comparable to Rest of NSW's average of 43 but higher than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 5-14 make up 13.2% of the population, while those aged 65-74 comprise 11.2%. Between 2021 and the present day, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 10.5% to 11.6%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 12.9% to 12.2%. By 2041, demographic changes are projected for Yass. The 85+ cohort is expected to grow by 67%, adding 150 residents to reach a total of 373. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 57% of population growth, indicating a trend towards demographic aging. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 55 to 64 age groups.