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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Hay (NSW) is $330k, with units at $204k. House values have moved 9.5% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Sales Detail
Hay (NSW) has an estimated 2,317 residents. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Hay (NSW) has a resident population evaluated at approximately 2,317, according to an assessment of broader ABS demographic releases and validated new residential addresses compiled by AreaSearch post-Census. Comparing this with the 2,300 residents recorded during the 2021 Census reveals a gain of 17 people (0.7%). The updated figure is based on AreaSearch's review of the ABS June 2025 ERP data combined with 22 validated new addresses confirmed since Census day. This yields a population density of 1.2 persons per square kilometer, indicating an open environment with considerable personal space.
In recent times, population additions have been underpinned almost exclusively by overseas migration. Projections utilised by AreaSearch for local SA2 regions rely on 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia models starting from a 2022 baseline, supplemented where necessary by 2022 NSW State Government SA2 forecasts based on 2021. Cohort-specific growth trajectories from these datasets are applied across all locations for the 2032 to 2041 timeframe. Under this methodology, demographic patterns point toward a net contraction across the suburb of Hay (NSW), shedding 222 persons by 2041. Even so, certain age segments are set to expand, most notably the 75 to 84 bracket, which is slated to gain 43 people. Further details can be found in the age breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential construction in Hay remains very quiet, averaging 1 dwelling approvals on an annual basis (equating to 8 approvals across five years). These minimal figures align with typical rural settings characterized by subdued dwelling requirements, where building volumes are naturally constrained by local market demand and existing infrastructure. Given such limited volumes, annual rates of change and comparative metrics can fluctuate markedly based on single builds. Volume of new construction in Hay falls substantially below the level observed across Rest of NSW and trails national benchmarks by a wide margin.
In addition, all recent construction consists exclusively of detached houses, underscoring the locality's rural profile with generous land parcels. An estimated ratio of 766 people per residential approval emphasizes the subdued, low-volume nature of local property development. Because demographic projections point toward a stable or shrinking population base, demand pressures on the housing market in Hay are likely to ease, offering favorable conditions for prospective property purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Hay (NSW)
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside Hay (NSW). A further 58 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $9.56 billion. 13 are already under construction and 24 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local capital works, major developments, and strategic planning initiatives play a decisive role in shaping community outcomes. AreaSearch has pinpointed 8 projects poised to influence the locality. Prominent initiatives include the John Houston Memorial Pool Upgrade, Hay Structure Plan, Hay Health Services Redevelopment, and Bishops Lodge Affordable Housing Development, with key details summarized below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Hay Structure Plan
Council-adopted strategic land use framework guiding the future growth of Hay over a 20-year horizon. The plan identifies residential, rural residential and industrial growth areas, infrastructure sequencing, and planning actions to implement the Hay Local Strategic Planning Statement. It continues to inform subsequent housing facilitation and rezoning initiatives.
John Houston Memorial Pool Upgrade
$4.19 million funding for the upgrade of the John Houston Memorial Pool in Hay, part of the Australian Government's Growing Regions Program to build or upgrade social infrastructure.
Hay Health Services Redevelopment
Redevelopment of Hay Health Service, including a new four-bed residential aged care wing, internal refurbishments, new triage area, security improvements, and three new onsite staff accommodation units.
Griffith Southern Industrial Link Road Stage 4a(i)
Major road infrastructure project part of Griffith City Council's 2024/25 capital works program to improve industrial access and traffic flow in the southern industrial area of Griffith.
Kurrajong Avenue Upgrade
Stage 3 of the Griffith Southern Industrial Link (GSIL) involving road rehabilitation, widening and critical drainage upgrades on Kurrajong Avenue between Oakes Road and Bagtown Roundabout. Part of a major infrastructure upgrade to deliver a dedicated Heavy Vehicle Route, keeping large trucks out of the CBD and residential areas. Funded under the Australian Government's Roads to Recovery Program.
Griffith Base Hospital Redevelopment
The $250 million redevelopment of Griffith Base Hospital has reached a major milestone with the official opening of the new Clinical Services Building on 26 June 2025. This state-of-the-art four-storey facility centralizes major services under one roof, including an Emergency Department, maternity and paediatric services, operating theatres, medical imaging, and aged care and rehabilitation beds. While the main hospital is operational, final works including the demolition of old structures, construction of a new main entry forecourt, additional car parking, and landscaping are continuing through 2026.
NSW Land and Housing Corporation Social Housing Development
Two-storey, 20-unit apartment complex providing new social housing for up to 35 residents. Features 10 two-bedroom and 10 one-bedroom units with 15 car parking spaces, designed to Livable Housing Australia's silver standard with solar powered lighting and wheelchair accessible units.
Yambil Street Upgrade Stage 4
Road infrastructure upgrade project in Griffith's urban area to improve traffic flow and road safety, including new pavement, drainage, and streetscaping works.
1,198 residents of Hay (NSW) are employed, from a labour force of 1,265. Unemployment sits at 5.3%, with participation at 65.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,799, about 78% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Hay maintains a diversified workforce distributed across white-collar and blue-collar roles in varied industries, with local unemployment sitting at 5.3% as determined by AreaSearch's regional data synthesis. As of March 2026, employed residents total 1,198, with the jobless rate tracking 1.2% higher than the 4.1% recorded for Regional NSW, while labour force participation remains standard at 65.6% versus 60.6% regionally. Census returns showed a modest 8.3% working remotely from home, though this figure was likely influenced by COVID-19 restriction measures. Local workers are predominantly engaged in agriculture, forestry & fishing, retail trade, and construction.
The community exhibits an exceptional concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, where its workforce share is 3.2 times that of the broader region. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for only 8.9%, trailing the regional benchmark of 16.9%. A comparison of the Census working population against local resident numbers points to a constrained supply of jobs within the immediate locality. According to AreaSearch's compilation of SALM and ABS statistics across wider regions, the 12 months to March 2026 saw the local labour pool contract by 4.5% and employment fall by 5.3%, lifting the unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points. In comparison, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in jobs, a 0.4% reduction in the workforce, and a 0.5 percentage points uptick in unemployment. Broader national projections published by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide context for local employment prospects over five and ten-year horizons when weighted against Hay's industry profile. While total Australian employment is modeled to expand by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, trajectories vary across sectors; applying these weightings suggests local employment could rise by 5.3% over five years and 11.4% over ten years (representing an illustrative weighting model that excludes local population forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Hay (NSW) is $1,152 a week (about $60,000 a year), with median personal income at $669 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $47,060 a year against an average of $52,663. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO taxation statistics at the postcode level for financial year 2023 indicate that earnings in the suburb of Hay trail nationwide standards, recording a median income of $47,060 alongside an average income of $52,663. By comparison, Regional NSW registered a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215. Incorporating a 10.32% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 brings current modelled estimates to roughly $51,917 (median) and $58,098 (average) as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census places local personal, family, and household earnings between the 10th and 22nd percentiles across Australia.
The $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is the most prevalent, encompassing 29.3% of local residents (678 people), mirroring the regional rate of 29.9%. Even though low housing costs allow residents to retain 91.0% of their earnings, overall disposable income sits at only the 17th percentile nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Hay (NSW) had 905 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 91% detached houses and 0% apartments. 25% are owned with a mortgage, 30% rented and 45% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $175 a week and the median mortgage repayment $867 a month. Rent absorbs 15.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 17.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The local housing stock at the most recent Census was composed of 91.3% houses and 8.7% other dwellings including apartments and semi-detached properties, whereas Regional NSW recorded 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Outright home ownership in Hay was elevated at 44.6%, outpacing the regional mark, while 25.2% of homes carried a mortgage and 30.2% were occupied by renters. Typical monthly mortgage payments were low at $867 compared to the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent stood at $175 versus $330 regionally. Across Australia, national figures stand at $1,863 for monthly mortgages and $375 for weekly rents, both substantially higher than the figures seen in Hay.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Hay (NSW) counted 905 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.2 people each. 22% are couples with children, fewer than in 81% of areas nationally, against 28% couples without children. 35% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 63.5%, comprising 27.9% couples without children, 21.9% couples with children, and 12.8% single parent families. The remaining 36.5% consist of non-family households, led by single-person residences at 34.8% and group households representing 1.7%. The typical household size stands at 2.2 people, tracking slightly below the Regional NSW benchmark of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
10.0% of adults in Hay (NSW) hold a university qualification, including 7.5% with a bachelor degree and 1.3% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 87% of areas nationally. A further 29.6% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 385 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 948 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Attainment of higher education presents a distinct local challenge, as the share of residents holding university qualifications sits at 10.0%, compared with the NSW benchmark of 32.2%. This disparity highlights a clear focus area for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees account for the largest proportion at 7.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 1.3% and graduate diplomas at 1.2%. Meanwhile, vocational qualifications are widespread, with 38.4% of the population aged 15+ possessing trade or technical credentials, including certificates (29.6%) and advanced diplomas (8.8%). A substantial 29.1% of local residents are actively engaged in formal studies, representing strong overall educational participation.
Within this group, 11.5% attend primary schools, 9.0% are enrolled in secondary education, and 1.4% are undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Hay (NSW) means driving: households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Hay's public transit network comprises 5 active transport stops that accommodate bus services. These facilities are connected by 6 individual routes that provide a total of 60 weekly passenger trips. Commuter accessibility is moderate, with dwellings situated an average of 570 meters from their nearest stop. Reflecting its residential nature, outward travel is common, with private cars serving as the primary transport mode at 86%, while 11% walk. Household vehicle access stands at an average of 1.4 per dwelling, with 8.3% of workers operating from home as recorded at the 2021 Census (which may reflect prevailing COVID-19 impacts).
Across all transit routes, service frequency averages 8 trips per day, which translates to roughly 12 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
59.7% of residents in Hay (NSW) report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 87% of areas nationally. 7.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Assessment of mortality figures and chronic illness prevalence highlights significant health hurdles in Hay, with widespread incidence of common ailments evident across both younger and older cohorts, alongside a low rate of private health insurance coverage at approximately 48% of residents (~1,107 people). This compares to 51.9% across Regional NSW and a nationwide benchmark of 55.7%. Asthma and arthritis represent the primary health conditions in the community, affecting 10.7 and 10.3% of the population respectively, while 59.7% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW.
Working-age adults experience notable health burdens driven by higher rates of chronic ailments. Furthermore, seniors aged 65 and over make up 27.4% of the population (634 people), exceeding the regional proportion of 23.3%, with health metrics for older residents tracking above national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Hay (NSW) is largely Australian-born, at 92.0% of residents, with 4.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (33.4%) and Australian (33.2%). 6.6% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Hay exhibits lower levels of cultural diversity compared to broader standards, with Australian citizens making up 85.0% of the community, 92.0% having been born in Australia, and 95.6% using only English at home. Christianity is the predominant faith, accounting for 70.0% of residents in Hay relative to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Examining parental country of birth, the primary ancestries in Hay are English (33.4%), Australian (33.2%), and Irish (7.7%). There is also pronounced variation among other cultural backgrounds, with Australian Aboriginal representation at 6.6% in Hay (compared to 4.6% across the region), Maori at 0.7% (versus 0.3%), and South Australian at 0.4% (versus 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Hay (NSW) is 47, older than 85% of areas nationally. 23.8% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age profile in Hay is older overall than that of Regional NSW. Older residents and retirees (65+) represent 27.4% of the local population as at August 2026, compared to 23.3% across the wider region, while young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) comprise only 19.7% locally against 23.5% regionally. The median age is estimated at 47 as at August 2026, matching the 2021 Census figure, which was 4 years older than the Regional NSW median of 43 and higher than the Australian Census median of 38. Among age brackets, middle aged and young retiree cohorts (45 - 64) have decreased from 28.1% at the Census to an estimated 24.4%.
Looking ahead to 2041, senior cohorts are projected to experience the strongest expansion, adding 41 people (6%) to reach 676, whereas youth and young to middle aged adults are forecast to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Hay (NSW)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 3 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 22 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,300 at the 2021 Census → 2,317 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL11881). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.