Young

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

Young's population, as of Feb 2026, is around 11,019. This figure reflects an increase from the 2021 Census total of 11,004 people, a rise of 15 individuals (0.1%). The change is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 10,971 in June 2024 and the addition of 38 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 21 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 98.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is expected to grow by 552 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 4.6% over the 17-year period.

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

Young has seen approximately 32 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 160 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 22 approvals have been recorded. With population decline in recent years, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas. The average construction cost for new properties is $429,000, moderately above regional levels, indicating a focus on quality construction.

In this financial year, $39.9 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Young records about three-quarters the building activity per person and ranks among the 54th percentile nationally, though construction activity has intensified recently. This level is below the national average, indicating the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. Recent construction comprises 83% detached dwellings and 17% attached dwellings, preserving Young's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers.

The location has approximately 285 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts indicate Young will gain around 504 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Young has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 12 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Young Stormwater Infrastructure Upgrades, Apollo Fabrication Group Expansion, Hill Street Subdivision Young, and Burrangong Creek Bridge Duplication. 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.

The labour market performance in Young lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Young has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of 4.4% as of September 2025. There are 4,802 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 0.6% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is lower at 57.1%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%.

According to Census responses, only 8.5% of residents work from home. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area has a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 14.5% compared to Rest of NSW's 16.9%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force decreased by 5.5% and employment decreased by 5.2%, resulting in a fall in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Young's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023, the Young SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $48,207 with the average level standing at $57,520. This is below the national average and compares to levels of $52,390 and $65,215 across Rest of NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from July 2023 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $52,478 (median) and $62,616 (average). According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Young all fall between the 11th and 21st percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows 27.1% of the population (2,986 individuals) fall within the $800 - 1,499 income range, contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 29.9%. After housing costs, 85.9% of income remains, though this ranks at only the 14th percentile nationally.

Young is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Young, as per the latest Census evaluation, 87.9% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 12.0% consisting of other types such as semi-detached and apartments. This differs from Non-Metro NSW where 82.6% were houses and 17.4% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Young was similar to that in Non-Metro NSW, with 39.9% owning their homes, while 30.0% had mortgages and 30.1% rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Young was $1,300, lower than the Non-Metro NSW average of $1,733. Weekly rent in Young was $250 compared to $330 in Non-Metro NSW. Nationally, Young's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,300 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Young features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 66.5% of all households, including 25.1% couples with children, 27.6% couples without children, and 12.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.5%, with lone person households at 31.0% and group households comprising 2.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

Young faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 14.1%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.0%) and certificates (29.5%). Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 11.7% in primary, 9.0% in secondary, and 1.6% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.7% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 1.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Young has 358 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 30 individual routes, collectively providing 349 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 178 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Young's primarily residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode at 93%, with 5% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 8.5% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 49 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately zero weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

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

Health data shows significant issues in Young, based on AreaSearch's assessment using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low, at approximately 48% of the total population (around 5,245 people), compared to 51.9% in the rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 11.0% and 9.4% of residents respectively. However, 62.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in the rest of NSW. Working-age residents face notable health challenges due to higher chronic condition rates. The area has 22.9% of residents aged 65 and over (around 2,524 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally similar to those of the overall population.

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

Young's population was found to be predominantly culturally homogeneous, with 90.1% being citizens, 91.2% born in Australia, and 92.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion in Young, comprising 65.4% of its population, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (34.2%), English (30.4%), and Irish (9.9%).

Notably, Lebanese people made up 1.9% of Young's population, higher than the regional average of 0.2%. Similarly, Australian Aboriginal people comprised 3.9%, compared to 4.6% regionally, and Serbian people accounted for 0.3%, slightly above the regional average of 0.2%.

Young's median age exceeds the national pattern

Young'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 13.4%, while the 65-74 group is comparatively smaller at 11.5% compared to Rest of NSW. Since 2021, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 11.2% to 12.3%. Conversely, the population aged 55-64 has declined from 12.6% to 11.8%. By 2041, significant demographic changes are forecast for Young. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to grow by 24%, adding 214 residents to reach 1,117. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 55-64 and 65-74 cohorts.