Yass

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 is approximately 7,045 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 282 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,763. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,818 in June 2024 and an additional 158 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 70 persons per square kilometer. Yass's growth rate of 4.2% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area at 3.9%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 70.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts and latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is expected to expand by 256 persons to reach a total of approximately 7,299 by 2041. This reflects an increase of 0.4% in total over the 17-year period.

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

Over the past five financial years, Yass has recorded around 29 residential properties granted approval annually, totalling 147 homes. In FY-26 so far, 14 approvals have been recorded. The average number of new residents arriving per new home over these years is approximately 0.3 per year. This indicates that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing buyers with more options and potentially enabling population growth beyond current expectations.

The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings during this period is $517,000. In FY-26, there have been $9.9 million in commercial approvals, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Yass has similar levels of development per person, supporting market stability and aligning with regional patterns.

Recent construction comprises 85% detached houses and 15% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes. The location has approximately 208 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Yass is forecasted to gain 27 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 likely impacting the area. Notable ones 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.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

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

Yass has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 2.4%.

As of June 2025, there are 3,465 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 1.2% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation stands at 60.9%, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Dominant employment sectors include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. Notably, public administration & safety employs 2.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, manufacturing employs only 2.0% of local workers, lower than Rest of NSW's 5.8%. Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.6%, and employment declined by 4.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 0.7 percentage points. Meanwhile, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%. State-level data from Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03%, with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Yass's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.5% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

The Yass SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $61,885 and an average of $76,422 in the financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is notably higher than the national figures for Rest of NSW, which had a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $69,689 (median) and $86,059 (average). The 2021 Census figures indicate that household, family, and personal incomes in Yass cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. Income distribution data shows that the largest segment comprises 33.1% of residents earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which is similar to the surrounding region where 29.9% fall within this range. After accounting for housing costs, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses. 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's residential structures, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 89.0% houses and 10.9% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro NSW which had 93.2% houses and 6.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yass stood at 34.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.9% and rented ones at 24.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,773, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,699. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $340, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $270. Nationally, Yass's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 account for 29.1%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

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

Yass's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks, with 23.0% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to NSW's 32.2%. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (27.7%).

Educational participation is notably 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.

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

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

The report rates transport accessibility as excellent, with residents typically located 193 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 97 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately five weekly trips per 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 high prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 58% (~4,072 people) have private health cover, higher than the Rest of NSW's 53.6%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.2%) and mental health issues (10.1%). Conversely, 59.9% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.6% in the Rest of NSW. As of 2021, 21.7% (~1,530 people) are aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly aligned 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 has a cultural diversity index below the average, with 90.2% of its population born in Australia, 92.5% being citizens, and 95.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Yass, accounting for 59.6% of the population, compared to 61.3% across the Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups in Yass are Australian (33.8%), English (30.2%), and Irish (10.1%).

Notably, certain ethnic groups have varying representations: Australian Aboriginal is higher at 3.5% in Yass compared to 2.9% regionally, Scottish is slightly lower at 7.9% versus 8.1%, and Maltese is marginally higher at 0.4% compared to 0.3%.

Yass's median age exceeds the national pattern

Yass's median age is 42 years, similar to Rest of NSW's average of 43 but considerably older than Australia's 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 5-14 are particularly prominent at 13.2%, while the 65-74 group is comparatively smaller at 11.2% compared to Rest of NSW. Since 2021, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 10.5% to 11.6%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 12.9% to 12.2%. Population forecasts for Yass indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 85+ cohort is projected to show strong growth of 65%, adding 146 residents to reach 373. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 60% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. However, population declines are projected for the 35 to 44 and 15 to 24 cohorts.