Yass

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, as of November 2025, the estimated population of Yass is around 7,045. This reflects an increase of 282 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,763. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 6,818 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024, and an additional 158 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 70 persons per square kilometer. Yass's growth rate of 4.2% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 3.9%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 71.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, lower quartile growth is anticipated for locations outside capital cities. The suburb of Yass is expected to grow by 256 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 0.4% in total over the 17 years.

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 indicates approximately 29 new homes approved annually in Yass. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 147 homes were approved, with an additional 14 approved so far in FY-26. Over the past five financial years, an average of 0.3 new residents per year arrived per new home.

This supply meets or exceeds demand, offering greater buyer choice and potential for population growth above projections. The average construction cost value of new properties is $517,000. In FY-26, $9.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting balanced commercial development activity.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, Yass maintains similar development levels per person, consistent with broader market balance. New development consists of 84.0% detached houses and 16.0% attached dwellings, preserving Yass's traditional low density character focused on family homes. With around 195 people per approval, Yass reflects a low-density area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Yass is expected to grow by 27 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily 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 to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that may impact this region. Notable initiatives 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.

The employment environment in Yass shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Yass has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 2.4%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, there are 3,465 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.2% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation stands at 60.9%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries for employment among residents include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. Notably, public administration & safety employs 2.3 times the regional level in Yass.

Manufacturing, however, employs only 2.0% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.8%. Over a 12-month period ending June 2024, labour force decreased by 3.6% and employment by 4.3%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.7 percentage points in Yass. This contrasts with Rest of NSW, where employment contracted by 0.1%, the labour force grew by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Yass's employment mix indicates 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 account for localised population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

Yass' income level is very high nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. Yass' median income among taxpayers is $61,885 and average income stands at $76,422, compared to Rest of NSW's figures of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $69,689 (median) and $86,059 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Yass cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. The data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 33.1% of residents (2,331 people), mirroring the region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. After housing, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Yass is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Yass, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 89.0% houses and 10.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had a dwelling structure of 93.2% houses and 6.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yass was at 34.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.9% and rented ones at 24.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,773, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,699. The median weekly rent figure for Yass was $340, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $270. Nationally, Yass's median monthly mortgage repayment is lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while the median weekly rent is less than the national figure of $375.

Yass has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 70.9% of all households, consisting of 31.0% couples with children, 27.6% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for 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 aligns with the average in the Rest of NSW.

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

Educational qualifications in Yass trail behind regional benchmarks, with 23.0% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 32.2% in NSW. This gap suggests potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (27.7%).

Educational participation is 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. Yass's four schools have a combined enrollment reaching 1,353 students as of the latest data available. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1005) with balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with three primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. As of the most recent statistics, the area functions as an education hub with 19.2 school places per 100 residents – significantly above the regional average of 12.4 – attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Transport analysis in Yass shows 136 active transport stops operating. These comprise a mix of train and bus services. There are 62 individual routes servicing these stops, collectively offering 681 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 193 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 97 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately five weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data shows significant issues in Yass, with common health conditions prevalent in both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is high at approximately 57% of the total population (around 4,024 people), compared to 53.6% in the rest of NSW.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 11.2% and 10.1% of residents respectively. However, 59.9% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.6% in the rest of NSW. As of 2021, 21.7% of Yass' population is aged 65 and over (around 1,528 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

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 lower cultural diversity, with 90.2% born in Australia, 92.5% being citizens, and 95.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, comprising 59.6%, compared to 61.3% across Rest of NSW. Top ancestry groups are Australian (33.8%), English (30.2%), and Irish (10.1%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 3.5% in Yass versus 2.9% regionally, Maltese at 0.4% versus 0.3%, and Macedonian at 0.1%.

Yass hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Yass's median age is 42 years, similar to Rest of NSW's average of 43 but older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 5-14 are prominent at 13.2%, while the 65-74 group is smaller at 11.2% compared to Rest of NSW. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 10.5% to 11.6%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has decreased from 12.9% to 12.2%. By 2041, Yass's demographic is projected to change significantly. The 85+ cohort is expected to grow by 65%, adding 147 residents to reach 373. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 61% of population growth, indicating aging trends. Meanwhile, populations in the 35-44 and 15-24 age groups are projected to decline.