Hay (NSW)

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

Based on ABS population updates for the Hay (NSW) statistical area (Lv2), and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the population is estimated at around 2,298 as of November 2025. This reflects a decrease of 2 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,300 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2,276 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 22 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1.2 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are utilised. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to this methodology, projections indicate a decline of 212 persons by 2041. However, growth is anticipated in specific age cohorts, led by the 75 to 84 age group, projected to increase by 49 people.

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 on average over the five-year period from 2016 to 2020, totalling 13 dwellings. This low level of development is characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It should be noted that due to the small number of approvals, individual development projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Hay showed significantly less construction activity than Rest of NSW during this period. The development pattern was 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 density was 652 people per dwelling approval, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment.

Population projections showed stability or decline, suggesting reduced housing demand pressures in Hay, which could benefit potential buyers.

Hay has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence performance. Eight AreaSearch-identified projects may impact the region. Notable initiatives are: John Houston Memorial Pool Upgrade, Hay Structure Plan, Hay Health Services Redevelopment, and Bishops Lodge Affordable Housing Development. Below lists 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 September 2025 was 5.0%.

Over the past year, employment stability has been relative. As of September 2025, 1,246 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, 1.2% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is lower at 54.1%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, retail trade, and construction.

Hay has a particular specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 3.2 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 8.9%, compared to Rest of NSW's 16.9%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force levels increased by 1.2% while employment declined by 0.2%, raising the unemployment rate by 1.4 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5%, labour force contract by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs) with a state unemployment rate of 3.9%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project national growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.3% over five years and 11.4% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Hay suburb had median taxpayer income of $47,060 and average income of $52,663. These figures are lower than national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively in Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes for Hay as of September 2025 would be approximately $51,230 and $57,329 respectively. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Hay fall between the 10th and 22nd percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 29.3% of locals (673 people) have incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999, similar to surrounding regions where 29.9% fall into this bracket. While housing costs are modest with 91.0% of income retained, total 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). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 92.7% houses and 7.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hay stood at 44.6%, similar to Non-Metro NSW's figure. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (25.2%) or rented (30.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $867, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,179. The median weekly rent was recorded at $175, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $200. Nationally, Hay's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 constitute the remaining 36.5%, with lone person households at 34.8% and group households comprising 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

In the region, university qualification rates are significantly lower than the NSW average, standing at 10.0%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent among qualifications, with a rate of 7.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are held by a significant portion of residents aged 15 and above, with 38.4%.

Advanced diplomas account for 8.8% while certificates make up 29.6% of these vocational credentials. Educational participation is notably high in the area, 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 that there are five active transport stops currently operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with six individual routes providing service to these locations. In total, these routes facilitate sixty weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport in Hay is rated as moderate, with residents typically residing 570 meters away from their nearest transport stop. On average, across all routes, there are eight trips per day, which equates 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 shows significant issues in Hay with high prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% (~1,098 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (10.7%) and arthritis (10.3%). Conversely, 59.7% reported no medical ailments, lower than Rest of NSW's 65.8%. Hay has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.9% (~641 people), compared to Rest of NSW's 22.9%. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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 85.0% of its population being citizens, born in Australia (92.0%), speaking English only at home (95.6%). Christianity is the main religion in Hay, comprising 70.0%, compared to 57.0% 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 at 6.6% in Hay versus the regional average of 5.9%, Maori representation is higher at 0.7% compared to 0.3%, and South African representation is higher at 0.4% compared to 0.1%.

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

Hay's median age at 47 years is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, comprising 15.6%, while the 35-44 age group is comparatively smaller at 8.1% than in Rest of NSW. Between 2021 and present, the 65 to 74 age group has grown from 11.9% to 14.1% of the population, and the 85+ cohort has increased from 3.7% to 4.8%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 11.3% to 9.8%, and the 55 to 64 group has dropped from 16.8% to 15.6%. By 2041, Hay's population is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the 75 to 84 age group will grow by 21 people, reaching 251 from 206. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 99% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 25 to 34 and 0 to 4 age cohorts.