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 May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Yass is around 6,914. This figure reflects a growth of 151 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,763. The increase was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 6,812 in June 2025 and an additional 158 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 69 persons per square kilometer. Yass's growth rate of 2.2% since the census is within 0.3 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 2.5%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 71.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. According to population projections, the suburb is expected to grow by 223 persons by 2041, reflecting an increase of 1.8% in total over the 16-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 around 29 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 147 homes were approved, with an additional 26 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 0.3 new residents arrive per new home each year during this period.

This indicates that supply meets or exceeds demand, offering greater buyer choice while supporting potential population growth. The average construction value of these properties is $517,000, targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. Commercial approvals totalled $9.9 million in FY-26, reflecting steady commercial investment activity.

Compared to Rest of NSW, Yass maintains similar development levels per capita, consistent with broader area market balance. Detached houses comprise 84.0% and attached dwellings 16.0% of new developments, preserving the area's low-density character focused on family homes. With around 195 people per approval, Yass reflects a low-density area. Population forecasts estimate Yass will gain 121 residents by 2041. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should meet demand, providing good 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 that could impact the area. Notable ones are 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.

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Employment conditions in Yass demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Yass has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 1.9%. The area's unemployment rate is 2.0% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation is similar at 60.5%.

According to Census responses, 12.6% of residents work from home. Key industries include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. Yass has a particular employment specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share 2.3 times the regional level. Manufacturing employs only 2.0% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.8%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Between December 2024 and November 2025, labour force decreased by 4.4%, employment decreased by 4.1%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 1.2%, labour force fall by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Yass's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localised population projections.

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

The suburb of Yass had a high national income level according to the latest Australian Taxation Office data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Yass was $61,885 and the average income stood at $76,422. These figures compared to those of Regional NSW, which were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on a 10.32% growth in wages as per the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $68,272 (median) and $84,309 (average). Census data from 2021 showed that household, family, and personal incomes in Yass clustered around the 55th percentile nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominated with 33.1% of residents, which was similar to the regional figure of 29.9%. After accounting for housing costs, 85.6% of income remained for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed 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, comprised 89.0% houses and 10.9% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yass was 34.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.9% and rented ones at 24.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Yass was $1,773, higher than Regional NSW's $1,733. The median weekly rent in Yass was $340, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Yass' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,773 compared to the Australian average of $1,863. Rents in Yass were also lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 constitute the remaining 29.1%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households comprising 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

Yass region's educational qualifications trail NSW state averages. Among residents aged 15+, 23.0% hold university degrees, compared to NSW's 32.2%. This indicates potential for educational development and skill enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%).

Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 27.7%. Educational participation is high, with 28.7% currently enrolled in formal education: 11.3% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 3.1% in 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 covered by 37 routes providing 590 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 193 meters. In this residential area, most commuting is outward-bound, with cars being the dominant mode at 92%, while walking accounts for 5%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 12.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 84 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 4 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, displaying 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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Yass, as assessed by AreaSearch through mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Notably, both younger and older age cohorts exhibit high prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is found to be very high at approximately 57% of the total population (~3,949 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 11.2% and 10.1% of residents respectively, while 59.9% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age population faces significant health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 22.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,527 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line 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 had 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 was the predominant religion in Yass, accounting for 59.6% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (33.8%), English (30.2%), and Irish (10.1%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 3.5% in Yass than the regional average of 4.6%, while Maltese and Macedonian populations were similar to or lower than their respective regional percentages.

Yass's median age exceeds the national pattern

Yass's median age is 42 years, similar to Regional NSW's average of 43 but considerably older than Australia's 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 15-24 are particularly prominent at 12.4%, while the 75-84 group is comparatively smaller at 7.3% than in Regional NSW. Between 2021 and now, the percentage of the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 10.5% to 12.4%. Conversely, the percentage of those aged 5 to 14 has declined from 13.8% to 12.5%, and the percentage of those aged 45 to 54 has dropped from 12.9% to 11.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Yass, with the 85+ cohort projected to show the strongest growth at 73%, adding 156 residents to reach 371. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 56% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. However, population declines are projected for those aged 35 to 44 and 65 to 74.