Yass Surrounds
Statistical Area - sa2

Yass Surrounds lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Yass Surrounds' population is approximately 13,563 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 850 individuals, a growth rate of 6.7%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 12,713. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,213 in June 2024 and an additional 324 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2.4 persons per square kilometer. Yass Surrounds' growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area (3.2%) and SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 45.5% to overall population gains during recent periods, with all migration factors being positive contributors.

AreaSearch's projections for each SA2 area are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a 2021 base year are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Nationally, regional areas are projected to have above median population growth, with Yass Surrounds expected to increase by 2,305 persons to 2041 based on the latest numbers, reflecting a total increase of 14.3% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Yass Surrounds among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Yass Surrounds has received approximately 78 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides this data on a financial year basis, totalling 394 approvals from FY21 to FY25, with 17 recorded so far in FY26. Each dwelling built over the past five years has attracted an average of 2.4 new residents per year, indicating strong demand that supports property values. New homes are constructed at an average cost of $720,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

This financial year has seen $6.8 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to Rest of NSW, Yass Surrounds exhibits 51.0% higher construction activity per capita, offering buyers greater choice. Recent construction comprises 99.0% detached houses and 1.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 159 people per dwelling approval, Yass Surrounds exhibits growth area characteristics.

Future projections indicate Yass Surrounds will add 1,939 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

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

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 321 projects likely impacting the region. Key projects include The Valley at Manton, North Murrumbateman Masterplan, Murrumbateman All-Abilities Playground, and Murrumbateman Public School. Below is a list of projects most relevant to the area.

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

Employment performance in Yass Surrounds ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Yass Surrounds has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate as of June 2025 was 1.2%.

In this month, 7,597 residents were employed, which is 2.5% below the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation was at 69.0%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Residents' employment is concentrated in public administration & safety (2.7 times the regional average), agriculture, forestry & fishing, and construction. Health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 8.3% versus the regional average of 16.9%.

Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.6%, employment declined by 3.9%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National forecasts from May 2025 project employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Yass Surrounds' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. Yass Surrounds' median income among taxpayers was $61,829 with an average of $79,062. Nationally, this is extremely high compared to Rest of NSW's median of $49,459 and average of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates as of March 2025 would be approximately $68,383 (median) and $87,443 (average). Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Yass Surrounds, between the 87th and 92nd percentiles nationally. The largest income segment comprises 28.6% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, with 3,879 residents falling into this category, aligning with regional trends where this cohort represents 29.9%. Higher earners make up a substantial presence at 43.4%, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. After housing costs, residents retain 88.0% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Yass Surrounds' dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 99.2% houses and 0.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 93.2% houses and 6.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yass Surrounds stood at 38.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 51.2% and rented ones at 10.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,275, exceeding Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,699. Weekly rent in Yass Surrounds was $400, higher than Non-Metro NSW's $270. Nationally, Yass Surrounds' median monthly mortgage repayment is higher at $2,275 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also higher at $400 against the national figure of $375.

Yass Surrounds features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 82.3% of all households, including 40.8% couples with children, 33.7% couples without children, and 7.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 17.7%, with lone person households at 16.2% and group households comprising 1.5% of the total. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Yass Surrounds exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Yass Surrounds has a higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. 33.6% of residents aged 15+ have university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in Rest of NSW and 22.7% in the SA3 area. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.5%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 34.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.9% and certificates at 22.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.6% in primary education, 9.5% in secondary education, and 4.1% pursuing tertiary education. There are 10 schools operating within Yass Surrounds educating approximately 642 students. The area has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1016) with balanced educational opportunities. All 10 schools focus on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Local school capacity is limited at 4.7 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 12.5, leading many families to travel for schooling. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

The analysis of public transport in Yass Surrounds shows that there are currently 452 active transport stops operating. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. The area is served by 85 individual routes which collectively facilitate 848 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility in the region is rated as moderate, with residents typically located approximately 405 meters away from the nearest transport stop. On average, service frequency across all routes stands at 121 trips per day, equating to roughly one weekly trip per individual stop.

Yass Surrounds's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Yass Surrounds' health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, showing standard levels of common health conditions across both young and older age cohorts. Approximately 59% of its total population (8,056 people) has private health cover, compared to 53.6% in the Rest of NSW.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.2% and 8.1% of residents respectively. 67.9% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, higher than the 63.6% reported across the Rest of NSW. As of 2021, 17.4% of Yass Surrounds' population is aged 65 and over (2,355 people), lower than the 21.4% in the Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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

Yass Surrounds was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 88.1% of its population born in Australia, 92.4% being citizens, and 95.9% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Yass Surrounds is Christianity, which accounts for 52.6% of people, compared to 61.3% across the Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (31.1%), English (31.0%), and Irish (10.0%).

Notably, Scottish representation is higher at 9.1%, compared to the regional average of 8.1%. Croatian and Dutch representations are also notably higher, at 0.8% and 1.5% respectively, compared to the regional averages of 0.4% and 1.0%.

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

The median age in Yass Surrounds is 43 years, matching the figure for the Rest of NSW and surpassing the national average of 38 years. The age distribution indicates that individuals aged 45-54 are notably prevalent at 15.6%, while those aged 25-34 comprise a smaller proportion at 8.6% compared to the Rest of NSW figure. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 11.0% to 12.6%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 17.0% to 15.6%, and the 5-14 age group has fallen from 14.6% to 13.5%. By the year 2041, demographic projections anticipate significant shifts in Yass Surrounds' age structure. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 36%, adding 416 people and reaching a total of 1,580 from its current figure of 1,163. Meanwhile, the 15-24 cohort is expected to exhibit minimal growth of just 2%, with an increase of 36 people.