Young

An assessment of population growth drivers in Young 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 Young is around 10,629, reflecting an increase of 19 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a growth rate of approximately 0.2%. The population was estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and validation of 37 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 29 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Overseas migration contributed approximately 99.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

For future projections, 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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Young is anticipated to grow by 534 persons by 2041, reflecting an increase of approximately 4.5% in total over the 17-year period. This growth rate aligns with lower quartile growth rates projected for national regional areas.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Young shows around 31 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years ending June 2021, an estimated 158 homes were approved. By August 2026, 22 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline, development activity has been adequate relative to previous years.

Average dwelling construction cost is $528,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. This financial year, $39.9 million in commercial approvals were registered, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Rest of NSW and nationally, Young records about three-quarters the building activity per person, placing it around the 55th percentile of areas assessed. Recent construction comprises 83% detached houses and 17% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's low density nature.

There are approximately 282 people per dwelling approval in Young. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 479 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, potentially facilitating further population growth.

Young 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 11 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Young Stormwater Infrastructure Upgrades, Apollo Fabrication Group Expansion, Burrangong Creek Bridge Duplication, and Hill Street Subdivision Young. 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 labour market performance in Young lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Young's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate is 4.5%, based on AreaSearch data from September 2025. There are 4,610 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 4.5% compared to Rest of NSW's 3.8%.

Workforce participation is lower at 56.8% versus Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 7.9% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Young has a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 14.5% compared to Rest of NSW's 16.9%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population versus resident population count. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, Young's labour force decreased by 5.5%, and employment declined by 5.1%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.3 percentage points. Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.5%, labour force decline of 0.1%, with unemployment rising 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 Young's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Young had a median taxpayer income of $46,309 and an average of $55,877. Nationally, these figures are lower at $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). In Rest of NSW, they stand at $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 are approximately $50,412 (median) and $60,828 (average). Census 2021 data places Young's household, family, and personal incomes between the 10th and 20th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 27.1% of residents earn $800-$1,499 weekly, compared to 29.9% in the region earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly. After housing costs, 85.6% of income remains, ranking at the 13th percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Young, as per the latest Census, consisted of 87.5% houses and 12.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Young was at 39.4%, similar to Non-Metro NSW's figure. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (29.7%) or rented (30.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Young was $1,300, lower than the Non-Metro NSW average of $1,733 and the national average of $1,863 recorded in 2021. The median weekly rent figure in Young was $250, significantly lower than Non-Metro NSW's $330 and the national figure of $375 as of the same year.

Young features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 66.2 percent of all households, including 24.9 percent couples with children, 27.3 percent couples without children, and 12.8 percent single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.8 percent, with lone person households at 31.3 percent and group households comprising 2.5 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average in the Rest of NSW.

Young faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 13.7%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.0%) and certificates (29.7%). Educational participation is high, with 28.8% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes primary education (11.6%), secondary education (9.0%), and tertiary education (1.6%).

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

Young has 317 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 30 routes, providing 349 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is high, with residents typically living 172 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards, primarily using cars (94%), while 5% walk. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 7.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 49 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly one weekly trip per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

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

Health data indicates significant health challenges for Young, based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be substantial across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 49% of the total population (~5,216 people) had private health cover, compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were arthritis (11.1%) and asthma (9.4%). 62.3% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Young's working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 23.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,455 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Young was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 90.1% of its population being citizens, 91.1% born in Australia, and 92.4% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Young is Christianity, comprising 65.1% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups in Young are Australian (34.2%), English (30.6%), and Irish (9.8%).

Notably, Lebanese (1.9%) and Serbian (0.3%) populations are relatively higher than the regional averages of 0.2% each, while Australian Aboriginal representation is slightly lower at 3.9%, compared to the regional average of 4.6%.

Young's median age exceeds the national pattern

Young's median age is 41 years, which is lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 but higher than Australia's national average of 38. The 5-14 age group comprises 13.3% of Young's population, compared to the Rest of NSW figure. However, the 25-34 cohort makes up only 10.6%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group has increased from 11.3% to 12.3%, while the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 14.0% to 13.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Young's age profile. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 23%, adding 199 residents to reach 1,071. Conversely, population declines are expected for the 55-64 and 65-74 cohorts.