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 of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Jindabyne is around 3,428, reflecting a growth of 442 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 14.8% rise from the previous population count of 2,986. The AreaSearch validation of new addresses, along with examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, shows an estimated resident population of 3,153. This growth is equivalent to a density ratio of 30 persons per square kilometer. Jindabyne's population growth exceeded that of its SA4 region (5.2%) and Rest of NSW during this period. Overseas migration contributed approximately 55% of overall population gains, with other factors such as interstate migration also being positive contributors.

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 released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the former data. By 2041, the suburb is projected to have increased its population by 1,122 persons, reflecting a total increase of 26.2% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Jindabyne among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Jindabyne recorded around 26 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, totalling an estimated 130 homes. As of FY-26, four approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling built gained three new residents per year in Jindabyne during this period. The average construction value for new homes was $633,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

In FY-26, $7.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Jindabyne shows 71.0% higher building activity per person. Recent construction comprises 58.0% detached dwellings and 42.0% townhouses or apartments, providing options across different price points. With around 129 people per approval, Jindabyne reflects a developing area with projected population growth of 898 residents by 2041, as estimated in the latest AreaSearch quarterly report.

Development is keeping pace with projected growth, but increasing competition among buyers is expected as the population expands.

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

AreaSearch has identified 11 infrastructure projects that could impact 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.

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.

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. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 0.8%. This is below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%, with workforce participation at 79.7% compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%.

According to Census responses, 12.6% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are accommodation & food, arts & recreation, and education & training. Accommodation & food has a notable concentration with employment levels at 3.4 times the regional average. Health care & social assistance has limited presence with 4.9% employment compared to 16.9% regionally.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data on working population vs resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, labour force decreased by 5.1%, and employment decreased by 5.1%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.5% and labour force decline of 0.1%, with a rise in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Jindabyne's employment mix suggests 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 on June 30, 2023, the suburb of Jindabyne had a median income among taxpayers of $48,622 with the average level standing at $63,291. This is below the national average and compares to levels of $52,390 and $65,215 across Rest of NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $52,930 (median) and $68,899 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Jindabyne cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. Looking at income distribution, the predominant cohort spans 38.8% of locals (1,330 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 73rd percentile for disposable income and 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

In Jindabyne, as per the latest Census evaluation, 56.1% of dwellings were houses while 43.9% consisted of other types such as semi-detached properties and apartments. This is compared to Non-Metro NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Jindabyne stood at 26.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.8% and rented ones at 42.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,636, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Jindabyne was $400, higher than the Non-Metro NSW figure of $330. Nationally, Jindabyne's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,636 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $400 against the national average of $375.

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

Family households constitute 58.9% of all households, including 22.7% couples with children, 26.7% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 41.1%, with lone person households at 26.4% and group households making up 14.8%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of 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 NSW's 32.2%. The gap suggests 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

The analysis of public transport in Jindabyne shows that there are 37 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. The stops are served by 18 individual routes, which collectively provide 745 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 202 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward using different modes of transportation. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 85%, while 10% of residents walk to their destinations.

The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.9, which is higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 12.6% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 106 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 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 shows strong performance throughout Jindabyne.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was approximately 52% of the total population (~1,781 people), slightly lagging behind the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions were asthma and mental health issues, impacting 8.0 and 7.6% of residents respectively. A total of 75.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. The area had 10.9% of residents aged 65 and over (373 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with 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's cultural diversity was found to be below average. Its population comprised 88.4% citizens, 84.0% born in Australia, and 92.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, with 35.0% of people identifying as Christian.

However, Buddhism was overrepresented at 1.7%, compared to 0.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (31.6%), Australian (27.7%), and Irish (9.6%). Notable divergences included Hungarian (0.5% vs regional 0.2%), Scottish (9.6% vs 8.0%), and French (0.8% vs 0.4%).

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

Jindabyne's median age is 31, which is lower than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's national median age of 38. The 25-34 age group comprises 24.9% of Jindabyne's population compared to Rest of NSW, while the 65-74 cohort makes up 6.6%. This concentration in the 25-34 age group is higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, the median age has decreased by 1 year from 32 to 31, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. During this period, the 25-34 age group grew from 22.0% to 24.9%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 11.8% to 13.3%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 13.6% to 10.7%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 11.4% to 9.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Jindabyne's age profile will change significantly. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 36% (305 people), reaching 1,159 from 853. In contrast, the 55-64 cohort shows minimal growth of just 6% (19 people).