Yass

An assessment of population growth drivers in Yass reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Yass is around 7,039. This reflects a growth of 276 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,763. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 6,816 following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and an additional 159 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 70 persons per square kilometer. Yass's growth rate of 4.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 3.5%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 71.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb of Yass is projected to grow by 260 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 0.5% in total over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Yass according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Yass shows approximately 29 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, about 147 homes were approved, with 18 more approved so far in FY-26. Over these five years, an average of 0.3 new residents per year was associated with each new home, indicating that supply met or exceeded demand.

The average construction value of these properties was $517,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market segment. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $9.9 million, demonstrating steady investment activity in this sector. Compared to Rest of NSW, Yass has similar development levels per capita, maintaining market balance with the broader area.

Detached houses accounted for 84.0% and attached dwellings for 16.0% of new developments, reflecting the area's low density character and focus on family homes. With around 195 people per approval, Yass indeed reflects a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Yass is projected to gain 37 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Yass has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects likely to impact the region. Notable projects include Crago Mill Precinct, Hamilton Rise Yass, Yarrah - Yass River Masterplanned Community, and Yarrah at Yass River. The following list details 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 conditions in Yass demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Yass has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 1.9% as of December 2025, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. In this month, 3,420 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.0% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Yass was broadly similar to Regional NSW's 61.3%. Census responses indicated that a low 12.6% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The key industries for employment among residents were public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. Yass had particular employment specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share of 2.3 times the regional level.

In contrast, manufacturing employed just 2.0% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.8%. The area appeared to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated from broader statistical areas over a 12-month period, labour force decreased by 4.4% while employment decreased by 4.1%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.3 percentage points. This contrasted with Regional NSW where employment contracted by 1.2%, the labour force fell by 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offered further insight into potential future demand within Yass. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, were mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. National employment was forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Yass's employment mix suggested that local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not take into account localised population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The suburb of Yass has a high national income level according to the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Yass is $61,885 and the average income stands at $76,422. For Regional NSW, these figures are $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for Yass as of September 2025 would be approximately $67,368 (median) and $83,193 (average). Census data from 2021 shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Yass cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. In Yass, 33.1% of residents (2,329 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, similar to the regional figure of 29.9%. After housing expenses, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses. The area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Advantage (SEIFA) income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Yass is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Yass' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.0% houses and 10.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Regional NSW's 89.0% houses and 10.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yass was at 34.7%, with the rest either mortgaged (40.9%) or rented (24.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,773, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent was $340, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Yass' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Yass has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 70.9% of all households, including 31.0% couples with children, 27.6% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.1%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households at 1.6%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Yass aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Educational qualifications in Yass trail region show that 23.0% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to 32.2% in New South Wales (NSW). This indicates a potential for educational development and skill enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 4.8% and graduate diplomas at 3.1%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 27.7%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.3% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 3.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Yass has 147 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 37 individual routes, providing a total of 590 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 193 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Yass being primarily residential. Car remains the dominant mode at 92%, with 5% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 12.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 84 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 4 weekly trips per individual stop. An accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Yass is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Yass faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Notably, common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is high in Yass, at approximately 57% of the total population (~4,020 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.2%) and mental health issues (10.1%). Conversely, 59.9% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 21.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,527 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Senior health outcomes present some challenges, with national rankings broadly aligned with the general population.

Yass is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Yass has a cultural diversity index below the average, with 90.2% of its population born in Australia, 92.5% being citizens, and 95.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Yass, practiced by 59.6% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (33.8%), English (30.2%), and Irish (10.1%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal people are overrepresented at 3.5%, while Maltese and Macedonian populations show notable divergences at 0.4% each compared to regional averages.

Yass's median age exceeds the national pattern

Yass's median age is 42 years, similar to Regional NSW's average of 43 but older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile indicates that those aged 5-14 are particularly prominent at 12.7%, while the 75-84 group is smaller at 7.1% compared to Regional NSW. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has grown from 10.5% to 12.1%, while those aged 5-14 have declined from 13.8% to 12.7%. By 2041, population forecasts suggest substantial demographic changes for Yass. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 85%, adding 167 residents to reach 365. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 60% of the population growth, reflecting demographic aging trends. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 65-74 and 35-44 years.