Chart Color Schemes
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 $314k, with units at $204k. House values have moved 8.4% 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.
Find a Recent Sale
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
According to ABS demographic updates for the surrounding region alongside address verifications conducted by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Hay (NSW) has an estimated occupancy of roughly 2,317 residents in May 2026. This indicates a minor growth of 17 people (0.7%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 2,300 residents. The updated figure of 2,317 was calculated by AreaSearch through analyzing the ABS June 2025 ERP release combined with 22 validated new addresses registered after the Census. This population level yields a density of 1.2 persons per square kilometer, indicating residents enjoy significant personal space.
Demographic expansion was almost entirely fueled by international migration, which served as the sole contributor to local population increases in recent times. Projections for each SA2 region are based on 2024 ABS and Geoscience Australia releases using 2022 as their starting point, with any gaps filled by 2022 NSW State Government SA2 models using 2021 as a base. Projected age-group growth percentages are extended to all sectors for the span from 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographic shifts, forecasts point to a shrinking overall population in the suburb of Hay (NSW), with a projected loss of 219 individuals by 2041 under this approach. Conversely, specific age groups are set to expand, particularly residents aged 75 to 84, who are forecast to grow by 45 people. Refer to the age breakdown for further analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential construction in Hay is very quiet, averaging 1 new dwellings annually, amounting to 9 dwellings over the span of five years. This minimal development is typical for regional localities where housing requirements are stable and building projects remain restricted by local infrastructure and market demand. Because overall approvals are low, single developments can heavily influence yearly statistics and comparisons. Building activity in Hay is considerably slower than in the Rest of NSW, and remains far below national levels. Furthermore, all recent construction projects consisted of standalone houses, matching the regional setting where spacious lots and larger residential boundaries are common.
A ratio of 1532 people per residential approval highlights the calm and quiet nature of local construction. Given that future demographic forecasts indicate stable or shrinking numbers, Hay is likely to experience decreased pressure on residential demand, which should benefit prospective buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Hay (NSW)
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
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 $13.7 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 performance is deeply connected to infrastructure developments, major works, and municipal planning. AreaSearch has highlighted 8 active projects that are expected to influence the community. Prominent developments include the John Houston Memorial Pool Upgrade, the Hay Structure Plan, the Hay Health Services Redevelopment, and the Bishops Lodge Affordable Housing Development, with key details provided 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.
1,196 residents of Hay (NSW) are employed, from a labour force of 1,265. Unemployment sits at 5.5%, with participation at 65.1%. 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
The workforce of the area displays a healthy mix of professional and manual jobs across various sectors, coupled with a 5.5% unemployment rate calculated from aggregated regional statistics. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,196, while the jobless rate stood 1.3% higher than the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%, and the participation rate was solid at 65.1% compared to 60.6% across Regional NSW. Census records indicate that a modest 8.3% of workers operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related restrictions. The primary employment fields for local workers are agriculture, forestry & fishing, retail trade, and construction.
The region shows a strong concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, employing a share 3.2 times the regional average. By contrast, health care & social assistance is underrepresented, making up only 8.9% of the local workforce compared to 16.9% across Regional NSW. Comparing the Census working population against resident workers suggests local job openings are relatively limited. AreaSearch evaluations of SALM and ABS statistics across wider regional sectors show that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the local workforce shrank by 4.5% and employment numbers fell by 5.3%, leading to a 0.8 percentage point rise in unemployment. In comparison, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% contraction in the labour force, and a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment projections from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context regarding future demand. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to estimate future patterns. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sectors will perform differently. Applying these industry forecasts to the local sector distribution suggests employment in Hay could rise by 5.3% over five years and 11.4% over ten years, representing a simple weight-based projection rather than a localized population forecast.
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
Aggregated taxpayer records from the ATO for the 2023 financial year show that Hay registered a median taxpayer income of $47,060 and an average income of $52,663. These figures sit below the national benchmarks and compare to median and average levels of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively for Regional NSW. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates for March 2026 are roughly $51,917 for the median and $58,098 for the average. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in Hay lie between the 10th and 22nd percentiles across Australia.
The largest income bracket contains 29.3% of residents (678 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, which is highly consistent with the wider region where 29.9% fall into this range. Although living costs are manageable with households keeping 91.0% of their earnings, the overall disposable income sits at 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
According to the latest Census, standalone houses made up 91.3% of local residential options, while 8.7% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, or other structures, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% alternative options in Regional NSW. Outright home ownership was particularly high at 44.6%, while mortgaged properties accounted for 25.2% and rental properties made up 30.2%. The median monthly mortgage payment of $867 was much lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent of $175 sat below the regional average of $330. Nationally, Hay's home loan payments are far below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are much lower than the national figure of $375.
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 comprise the majority of local households at 63.5%, consisting of 21.9% couples with children, 27.9% couples without children, and 12.8% single parent households. Non-family households make up the remaining 36.5%, with single person households accounting for 34.8% and group living situations representing 1.7%. The median household size of 2.2 individuals is slightly smaller than the Regional NSW average 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
Academic metrics show significant hurdles for the community, with university completion rates standing at 10.0%, which is well below the NSW state average of 32.2%. This presents both a difficulty and an opportunity for targeted academic programs. Undergraduate degrees are the most common higher qualification at 7.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 1.3% and graduate diplomas at 1.2%. Practical and vocational skills are highly prevalent, with 38.4% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, including 8.8% with advanced diplomas and 29.6% with certificates. Academic enrollment is notably strong, with 29.1% of the population currently engaged in study.
This group is divided into 11.5% in primary schools, 9.0% in secondary institutions, and 1.4% attending tertiary education.
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
Local transport networks include 5 active transit stops in the suburb of Hay (NSW), which are serviced by a combination of buses. These stops accommodate 6 distinct routes, facilitating 60 weekly passenger journeys. Commuter convenience is moderate, with residents living an average of 570 meters from the nearest stop. The town is predominantly residential, and most workers commute out of the area; driving remains the primary travel method at 86%, while 11% walk. The average number of vehicles per household is 1.4. A modest 8.3% of workers operated from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been impacted by pandemic conditions.
Transit routes run at an average frequency of 8 trips per day, which translates to roughly 12 weekly services for each 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
Local health outcomes indicate notable difficulties based on AreaSearch reviews of mortality rates and chronic illnesses, which are prevalent in both older and younger age groups, while private health insurance coverage is low at roughly 48% of residents (~1,107 people). This compares to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%. Asthma and arthritis are the most prevalent health issues locally, affecting 10.7% and 10.3% of the community respectively, while 59.7% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents face distinct health issues, marked by higher rates of chronic illness.
The suburb has 28.2% of its population aged 65 and over (653 people), which exceeds the 23.4% regional average. Senior health metrics present several difficulties, with national rankings for this cohort sitting higher than the general population.
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
Cultural diversity metrics are below average, with citizens representing 85.0% of the population, 92.0% of residents born in Australia, and 95.6% speaking only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, accounting for 70.0% of local residents, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the three most common heritages are English at 33.4%, Australian at 33.2%, and Irish at 7.7%. There are also distinct variations in several other ethnic backgrounds: Australian Aboriginal residents are highly represented at 6.6% of the population (compared to 4.6% regionally), Maori at 0.7% (compared to 0.3%), and South Australian at 0.4% (compared to 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Hay (NSW) is 47, older than 85% of areas nationally. 23.3% 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 median age of 47 years is considerably higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the Australian average of 38. Residents aged 55 to 64 are highly represented at 15.4%, while the 35 to 44 cohort is small at 7.7% compared to Regional NSW. Since 2021, the 65 to 74 demographic has increased from 11.9% to 14.7%, and the 85+ cohort grew from 3.7% to 5.0%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 demographic fell from 11.3% to 9.5%, and the 55 to 64 bracket declined from 16.8% to 15.4%.
Significant demographic transitions are expected by 2041. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to expand by 23% (46 people), rising from 196 to 243. The aging trend is pronounced, with seniors aged 65+ making up 87% of the projected growth, while contractions are forecast for the 65 to 74 and 0 to 4 age groups.
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 Aug 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month 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 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 May 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 May 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.