Jindabyne

Population growth drivers in Jindabyne are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As per AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates and new addresses validated since May 2026, the suburb of Jindabyne's estimated population is around 3,381. This figure reflects a growth of 395 people (13.2%) from the 2021 Census count of 2,986 residents. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 3,354 following their examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 78 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 29 persons per square kilometer. Jindabyne's growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area (3.5%) and SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 55% to overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 using 2021 as the base year for areas not covered by this data. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from these aggregations for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, a significant population increase is forecasted in the top quartile of non-metropolitan areas nationally, with the suburb of Jindabyne expected to expand by 1,003 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 28.9% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Jindabyne among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates that Jindabyne has received around 26 residential property approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 130 homes. As of FY-26, five approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 accommodated about 2.5 new residents per year. The average construction cost value for new homes over this period was $633,000, reflecting a focus on premium properties.

This financial year has seen $7.8 million in commercial approvals registered, indicating the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Jindabyne exhibits 67.0% higher building activity per capita. Recent construction consists of 58.0% detached dwellings and 42.0% townhouses or apartments, offering a range of housing options from family homes to more affordable compact living. With approximately 127 people per approval, Jindabyne is considered a developing area.

Population forecasts suggest that Jindabyne will gain around 976 residents by 2041, according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Development activity appears to be keeping pace with projected growth, although increasing competition among buyers may arise as the population expands.

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

Eleven infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Nugget's Crossing Shopping Centre Expansion, Jindabyne Mountain Bike and Adventure Park, Jindabyne Lakeside, and Lake Jindabyne Foreshore Upgrade. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The exceptional employment performance in Jindabyne places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Jindabyne has a skilled workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate was 0.7% as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data in December 2025. There were 2,290 residents employed, with an unemployment rate 3.2% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was high at 77.5%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census responses showed that 12.6% of residents worked from home. Dominant employment sectors were accommodation & food, arts & recreation, and education & training. Accommodation & food had particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 3.4 times the regional average.

Health care & social assistance had limited presence at 4.9%, compared to Regional NSW's 16.9%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Over a 12-month period, labour force decreased by 3.2% and employment by 2.9%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW had an employment decline of 1.2% and labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differed significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Jindabyne's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.1% over ten years.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Jindabyne had a median income among taxpayers of $48,622. The average income stood at $63,291. This was below the national average of $52,390 and the regional NSW average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $53,640 (median) and $69,823 (average) as of March 2026. From the 2021 Census, incomes in Jindabyne cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 38.8% of locals (1,311 people), falling within the $1,500 - 2,999 category. This is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income. Residents rank within the 73rd percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Jindabyne displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Jindabyne, as evaluated at the latest Census conducted in 2016, comprised 56.1% houses and 43.9% other dwellings including semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings during the same period. Home ownership in Jindabyne was at 26.3%, with mortgaged dwellings accounting for 30.8% and rented dwellings making up 42.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Jindabyne, as of 2016, was $1,636, which is lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure for Jindabyne was recorded at $400, compared to Regional NSW's $330 during the same period. Nationally, Jindabyne's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863 reported in 2016, while rents in Jindabyne exceeded the national figure of $375.

Jindabyne features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 58.9 percent of all households, including 22.7 percent couples with children, 26.7 percent couples without children, and 8.9 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 41.1 percent, with lone person households at 26.4 percent and group households comprising 14.8 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Jindabyne performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Jindabyne's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks, with 26.3% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 32.2% in NSW. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 19.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (29.4%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.2% in secondary education, 8.3% in primary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 37 operational transport stops in Jindabyne, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 18 separate routes, collectively facilitating 745 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically situated 202 meters from the nearest stop. As predominantly residential, most commuters travel outward; car remains the primary mode at 85%, with 10% walking. Average vehicle ownership stands at 1.9 per dwelling, exceeding regional averages. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 12.6% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 106 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly 20 weekly trips per individual stop.

Jindabyne's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics indicates robust performance across Jindabyne.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was slightly lower than the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the total population (around 1,757 people). The most prevalent medical conditions were asthma and mental health issues, affecting 8.0 and 7.6% of residents respectively. Notably, 75.2% of residents reported being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents exhibited low chronic condition prevalence. The area had 11.9% of residents aged 65 and over (402 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Jindabyne ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Jindabyne, as per the findings, exhibited below-average cultural diversity. Its population composition was predominantly Australian citizens at 88.4%, with 84.0% born in Australia and 92.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity emerged as the primary religion in Jindabyne, accounting for 35.0% of its inhabitants.

Notably, Buddhism showed an overrepresentation in Jindabyne, comprising 1.7% compared to the regional average of 0.9%. Regarding ancestry, the top three groups were English at 31.6%, Australian at 27.7%, and Irish at 9.6%. Some ethnic groups demonstrated notable differences: Hungarian was overrepresented at 0.5% in Jindabyne compared to 0.2% regionally, Scottish at 9.6% versus 8.0%, and French at 0.8% against the regional average of 0.4%.

Jindabyne hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Jindabyne has a median age of 31, which is younger than Regional NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 24.8% of Jindabyne's population, compared to Regional NSW, while the 65-74 cohort represents 7.0%. This concentration of 25-34-year-olds is higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between 2021 and the present day, the proportion of Jindabyne's population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 22.0% to 24.8%, while those aged 35 to 44 have risen from 11.8% to 13.4%. Conversely, the proportion of children aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 11.4% to 9.2%, and those aged 45 to 54 have dropped from 13.6% to 11.4%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Jindabyne's age structure, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow by 38%, reaching 1,155 people from its current figure of 838.