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, Jindabyne's population is estimated around 3428, reflecting a 14.8% increase from the 2021 Census figure of 2986 people. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 3153 residents in June 2024 and 69 new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density is approximately 30 persons per square kilometer. Jindabyne's growth exceeded the SA4 region (5.2%) and Rest of NSW, indicating it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed around 55% to recent population gains, with all migration drivers being positive factors. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a 2022 base year, and NSW State Government's SA2-level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a 2021 base year.

Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. Projected demographic shifts indicate a significant population increase in the top quartile of non-metropolitan areas nationally, with Jindabyne expected to expand by 1106 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 24.2% over these 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows that Jindabyne has recorded around 26 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 130 homes. So far in FY-26, 4 approvals have been recorded. On average, 3.1 people per year have moved to the area for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25.

The demand significantly exceeds new supply, which typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $633,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In this financial year, $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, offering buyers greater choice.

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. Population forecasts indicate that Jindabyne will gain 831 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

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

Eleven projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly. Notable ones 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 considered 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's workforce is skilled with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate was 0.7%. The area had 2,142 residents in work while its unemployment rate was 3.2% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was high at 77.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. Census responses indicated that 12.6% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Dominant employment sectors included accommodation & food, arts & recreation, and education & training. The area had a notable concentration in accommodation & food with employment levels at 3.4 times the regional average.

Health care & social assistance had limited presence with 4.9% employment compared to 16.9% regionally. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Between December 2024 and November 2025, labour force decreased by 4.5% and employment decreased by 4.2%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced employment decline of 1.2% and labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggested that national employment would expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Jindabyne's employment mix indicated local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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, the suburb of Jindabyne had a median income among taxpayers of $48,622. The average income stood at $63,291 in this period. Both figures are below the national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively for Regional NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $52,930 and an average income of around $68,899 as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census data, household, family and personal incomes in Jindabyne cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. In terms of income distribution, the predominant cohort spans 38.8% of locals (1,330 people) with incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999, which is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income in Jindabyne. Strong earnings rank residents 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 per the latest Census, consisted of 56.1% houses and 43.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is compared to Regional NSW's 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, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Jindabyne was $400, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Jindabyne's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,636 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $400 compared to 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 make up 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

In Jindabyne, 26.3% of residents aged 15 years and over hold university degrees, compared to the state benchmark of 32.2% in NSW as of the latest available data. This indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 19.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 39.7% of residents aged 15 years and over holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas comprise 10.3%, while certificates account for 29.4%.

Educational participation is notably high in the region, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.2% in secondary education, 8.3% in primary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education as of the latest data.

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

Transport analysis shows 37 active transport stops in Jindabyne, consisting of both train and bus services. These stops are served by 18 individual routes, offering a total of 745 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 202 meters from the nearest stop. Most commuting in this primarily residential area is outward-bound, with car being the dominant mode at 85%, and walking at 10%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.9 per dwelling, exceeding the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 12.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 106 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 20 weekly trips per stop.

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

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance across Jindabyne, with AreaSearch's assessment showing very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

Private health cover stands at approximately 52% of the total population (~1,781 people), slightly lagging behind the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 8.0 and 7.6% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 75.2%, report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents exhibit low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 10.9% of residents aged 65 and over (373 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are 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 comprised 88.4% citizens, with 84.0% born in Australia, and 92.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 35.0%.

Buddhism, however, showed an overrepresentation at 1.7%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.9%. In terms of ancestry, the top three 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 younger than Regional NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 25.8%, compared to Regional NSW, while the 65-74 cohort represents 6.6%. This concentration in the 25-34 age group is higher than the national figure of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, Jindabyne's median age has decreased by 1.3 years from 32 to 31, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes include the growth of the 25-34 age group from 22.0% to 25.8%, and the increase of the 35-44 cohort from 11.8% to 13.8%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.6% to 10.8%, and the 5-14 age group has decreased from 11.4% to 9.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Jindabyne's age profile will significantly evolve. Leading this shift, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 32%, reaching 1,169 people from its current figure of 884. In contrast, the 55-64 cohort shows minimal growth of just 5% (16 people).