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 was around 7,037 as of November 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 274 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,763 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,816 in June 2024 and an additional 158 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 70 persons per square kilometer. Yass's growth rate of 4.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 3.5%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 70.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to expand by 256 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 0.5% 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 over the past five financial years. This totals 147 homes from FY-21 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 17 approvals have been recorded. The average number of new residents arriving per year per new home is 0.3 over these five financial years.

New construction has matched or outpaced demand during this period. The average value of new dwellings developed is $416,000. In FY-26, there have been $9.9 million in commercial approvals.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Yass shows comparable building activity per person, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. Recent construction comprises 85.0% detached houses and 15.0% medium and high-density housing. The location has approximately 208 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Yass is projected to add 35 residents by 2041. Current development patterns suggest that new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Yass has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects likely impacting 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.

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 conditions in Yass demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Yass has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of 2.1% as of September 2025. The unemployment rate is 1.7% lower than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%, while workforce participation is similar at 61.5%. According to Census responses, 12.6% of residents work from home.

Dominant employment sectors include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. Public administration & safety employs 2.3 times the regional level, whereas manufacturing employs only 2.0%, below Rest of NSW's 5.8%. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 5.4% and employment declined by 5.5%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment.

National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to Yass's employment mix.

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 $63,883 and an average income of $77,442 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is notably higher than the national figures, with Rest of NSW having a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. By September 2025, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%, estimated incomes would be approximately $69,543 (median) and $84,303 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Yass are around the 55th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that the largest segment is 33.1% of residents earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. After housing costs, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Yass is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Yass, as recorded in the latest Census, 89.0% of dwellings were houses while 10.9% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This differed from Non-Metro NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yass stood at 34.7%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 40.9% and rented dwellings making up 24.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,773, surpassing Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent in Yass was $340, slightly higher than Non-Metro NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Yass's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also below the national figure of $375.

Yass has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average 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 comprise the remaining 29.1%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households making up 1.6%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

Yass region has 23.0% of its residents aged 15 and above holding university degrees, compared to NSW's 32.2%, indicating potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are prominent with 38.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (27.7%). Educational participation is high at 28.7%, with 11.3% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 3.1% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.3% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, 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

Yass has 147 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 37 individual routes, providing 590 weekly passenger trips collectively. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 193 meters from the nearest stop. Most commutes are outward-bound due to the area's residential nature. Car remains dominant at 92%, while walking accounts for 5%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 12.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 84 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 4 weekly trips per individual stop. The map provided shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Yass is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Health challenges are prominent across Yass, as assessed by AreaSearch through mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Multiple health conditions significantly impact both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 58% of the total population (~4,081 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.2%) and mental health issues (10.1%). Conversely, 59.9% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age residents face substantial health challenges due to higher chronic condition rates. Yass has 21.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,529 people), lower than the 23.0% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some difficulties, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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 score 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 55.9% 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 divergent representations: Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 3.5% compared to the regional average of 4.6%, Scottish representation is slightly higher at 7.9% compared to 8.0%, and Maltese representation is equal at 0.4%.

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 5-14 year-olds are particularly prominent at 13.2%, while the 65-74 group is comparatively smaller at 11.2% than in Rest of NSW. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group 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 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Yass. The 85+ cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 65%, adding 147 residents to reach 373. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 60% of population growth, underscoring trends towards demographic aging. Population declines are projected for the 35 to 44 and 15 to 24 cohorts.