Hay (NSW)

Hay has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Hay (NSW) is around 2,298, a decrease of 2 people from the 2021 Census figure of 2,300. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 2,276 in Jun 2024, based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional 22 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 1.2 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

For the years 2032 to 2041, these aggregations indicate an overall population decline of 206 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are projected to grow, notably the 75 to 84 age group, which is expected to increase by 47 people over this period.

The level of residential development activity in Hay is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Hay had minimal residential development activity with 2 dwelling approvals annually over the five-year period ending June 30, 2018, totaling 13 dwellings. This low level of development is typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. Note that due to the small number of approvals, individual projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Hay showed significantly less construction activity than Rest of NSW during this period, with its development pattern also well below national averages. All new constructions were detached dwellings, reflecting the area's rural character where larger properties and space are typical. The estimated population per dwelling approval was 652 people, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment. Population projections show stability or decline in Hay, suggesting reduced housing demand pressures which may benefit potential buyers.

With population projections showing stability or decline, Hay should see reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

Hay has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include John Houston Memorial Pool Upgrade, Hay Structure Plan, Hay Health Services Redevelopment, and Bishops Lodge Affordable Housing Development. 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 drivers in Hay are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Hay's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs, with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate in Hay was 4.9% as of September 2025, higher than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was also higher at 68.6%, compared to 61.5% in Rest of NSW.

According to Census responses, 8.3% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were agriculture, forestry & fishing, retail trade, and construction. Hay had a particular specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 3.2 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance was under-represented at 8.9%, compared to 16.9% in Rest of NSW.

The area offered limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels increased by 1.2% while employment declined by 0.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.3 percentage points in Hay. This compared to Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.5%, labour force contracted by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 estimated that national employment would expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hay's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 5.3% over five years and 11.4% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023 shows Hay suburb had median taxpayer income of $47,060 and average income of $52,663. This is lower than national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 in Rest of NSW. By September 2025, estimated median and average incomes would be approximately $51,230 and $57,329 respectively, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%. According to the 2021 Census, Hay's household, family and personal incomes fall between the 10th and 22nd percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 29.3% of locals (673 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999 annually, similar to surrounding regions at 29.9%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 91.0% income retention, disposable income ranks at the 17th percentile nationally.

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

Hay's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.3% houses and 8.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hay stood at 44.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.2% and rented ones at 30.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $867, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Hay was $175, lower than Non-Metro NSW's $330 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 63.5% of all households, including 21.9% couples with children, 27.9% couples without children, and 12.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 36.5%, with lone person households at 34.8% and group households making up 1.7%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 10.0%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 7.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.8%) and certificates (29.6%). Educational participation is high at 29.1%, comprising primary education (11.5%), secondary education (9.0%), and tertiary education (1.4%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.5% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 1.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Hay indicates five active transport stops currently operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with six individual routes collectively providing sixty weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as moderate, with residents typically residing 570 meters from their nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode of transportation for 86% of residents, while 11% walk to their destinations. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling in Hay.

According to the 2021 Census, only 8.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages eight trips per day, translating to approximately twelve weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Hay 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 Hay. AreaSearch's assessment shows notable prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of the total population (~1,098 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (10.7%) and arthritis (10.3%). A lower percentage of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments (59.7%) compared to Rest of NSW (63.3%). Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Hay has 28.7% of residents aged 65 and over (659 people), higher than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

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

Hay's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with its population being predominantly citizens (85.0%), born in Australia (92.0%), and speaking English only at home (95.6%). Christianity is the main religion in Hay, comprising 70.0% of people, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are English (33.4%), Australian (33.2%), and Irish (7.7%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher than regional average at 6.6%, while Maori is at 0.7% and South African at 0.4%.

Hay hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Hay's median age is 47 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, making up 15.6% of the population, while those aged 35-44 make up a comparatively smaller proportion at 7.6%. Since 2021, the 65 to 74 age group has grown from 11.9% to 15.3%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 11.3% to 9.4% and the 55 to 64 group has dropped from 16.8% to 15.6%. By 2041, Hay is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 24%, reaching 248 people from 199. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 89% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 65 to 74 cohorts.