Young Surrounds

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

Young Surrounds' population is approximately 7,809 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 132 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 7,677. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,803 in June 2025 and 49 validated new addresses added since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1.3 persons per square kilometer. Young Surrounds' 1.7% growth rate since the census is within 0.8 percentage points of the SA3 area's 2.5%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Interstate migration contributed approximately 61.2% of recent population gains in the area.

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 are used, 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. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, Young Surrounds is expected to increase by approximately 844 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 10.7% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Young Surrounds recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Young Surrounds has received approximately 16 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 82 homes. As of FY-26, 10 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling has accommodated around 2.8 new residents per year between FY-21 and FY-25. The average construction cost value of these new homes is $336,000.

This financial year, $14.7 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Young Surrounds has roughly half the building activity per person and ranks among the 44th percentile nationally, leading to relatively limited buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings. Development activity has picked up recently, though it remains below the national average, suggesting established nature and potential planning limitations. New development consists of 93.0% standalone homes and 7.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

The area has an estimated 391 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Young Surrounds is forecasted to gain 838 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Young Surrounds has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 0thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 29 projects that could impact the area. Notable projects include Harden to Boorowa Pipeline, Smart Water Meter Replacement Program, Young Stormwater Infrastructure Upgrades, 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 in Young Surrounds demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Young Surrounds has a balanced workforce consisting of both white and blue collar jobs. The unemployment rate as of December 2025 is 2.8%. There are 3,578 residents employed with an unemployment rate that is 1.1% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Young Surrounds is at 57.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 19.0% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing (6.2 times the regional average), health care & social assistance (11.0%), and education & training. Between December 2024 and November 2025, labour force decreased by 4.5% while employment declined by 3.9%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate of 0.6 percentage points.

In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 1.2%, labour force fall by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May-25 project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Young Surrounds's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.1% over five years and 11.3% 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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Young Surrounds SA2 had a median income of $47,604 and an average of $58,135. This is lower than the national average. Regional NSW had a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 during this period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 would be approximately $52,517 (median) and $64,135 (average). Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Young Surrounds fall between the 11th and 18th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 26.9% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, with this bracket also dominant in the region at 29.9%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 90.3% income retention, total disposable income ranks at just the 18th percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Young Surrounds, as per the latest Census, consisted of 95.6% houses and 4.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Young Surrounds stood at 52.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.1% and rented ones at 18.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Young Surrounds was $220, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Young Surrounds' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Young Surrounds features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 66.6% of all households, including 23.8% couples with children, 33.7% couples without children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.4%, with lone person households at 31.2% and group households comprising 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 16.0%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 39.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 29.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.3% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Young Surrounds has 445 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are serviced by 52 individual routes, providing 1,016 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 261 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily, primarily using cars (89%). Walking accounts for 8% of trips. The area has an average vehicle ownership of 1.7 per dwelling, higher than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 19.0% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 145 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly two weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Young Surrounds 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 Young Surrounds, as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were notable across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover was found to be low, at approximately 48% of the total population (around 3,763 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were arthritis and asthma, affecting 12.4 and 9.0% of residents respectively. However, 61.4% of residents reported being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors, with 26.3% of residents aged 65 and over (around 2,056 people), compared to 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

The latest Census data sees Young Surrounds placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Young Surrounds was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 89.2% of its population being Australian citizens, 92.6% born in Australia, and 96.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Young Surrounds, making up 71.6% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (33.2%), English (32.9%), and Irish (12.1%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 3.6%, Serbian at 0.3%, and Lebanese at 0.3%, compared to regional averages of 4.6%, 0.2%, and 0.2% respectively.

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

Young Surrounds has a median age of 49, which is higher than Regional NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Comparing with the regional average, those aged 55-64 are notably over-represented in Young Surrounds at 15.8%, while individuals aged 25-34 are under-represented at 8.9%. Between 2021 and present, the population of those aged 75 to 84 has increased from 8.4% to 9.2%. Conversely, the age group of 45 to 54 has decreased from 12.7% to 11.7%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Young Surrounds' age structure. The 85+ cohort is projected to increase by 151 people (78%), rising from 193 to 345. In contrast, population declines are projected for those aged 55-64 and 15-24 years old.