Young

An assessment of population growth drivers in Young 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 around the suburb of Young, its population is estimated at around 10,632 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 22 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,610 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 10,526 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025, along with an additional 35 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 29 persons per square kilometer. Young's 0.2% growth since census positions it within 2.3 percentage points of the SA3 area (2.5%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 99.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Anticipating future population dynamics, a population increase just below the median of regional areas nationally is expected, with the suburb of Young expected to grow by 486 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 3.6% in total over the 16 years.

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 shows Young has had approximately 31 new homes approved each year on average over the past five financial years, totalling around 157 homes. As of FY26, 32 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline during this period, development activity has been relatively adequate, favouring buyers while developers focus on premium properties with an average construction cost value of $528,000. Commercial approvals amount to $39.9 million in the current financial year, indicating strong commercial development momentum.

Compared to Rest of NSW, Young records around three-quarters the building activity per person and ranks among the 55th percentile nationally, suggesting established nature and potential planning limitations. Recent construction comprises 83.0% detached houses and 17.0% attached dwellings, maintaining low density with a focus on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The location has approximately 286 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate forecasts Young will gain around 380 residents by 2041.

Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand readily, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 projects likely to influence the area. Notable ones 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.

Young shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Young has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of 4.1%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data as of December 2025. There are 4,611 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 0.2% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is somewhat below standard at 56.7%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%.

Census responses indicate that a low 7.9% of residents work from home. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area shows 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 Regional NSW's 16.9%.

There appears to be limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. In the 12-month period ending December 2025, labour force decreased by 4.5% and employment declined by 3.3%, causing unemployment to fall by 1.1 percentage points. By comparison, Regional NSW recorded an employment decline of 1.2%, labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. 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.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Young suburb had a median taxpayer income of $46,309 and an average income of $55,877. These figures are lower than national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively in Regional NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $51,088 (median) and $61,644 (average). Census 2021 income data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Young fall between the 10th and 20th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that the largest segment comprises 27.1% earning $800 - $1,499 weekly, with 2,881 residents falling into this category, unlike regional trends where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. 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

Young's dwelling structure, as assessed in the latest Census, consisted of 87.5% houses and 12.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Young was 39.4%, similar to Regional NSW, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (29.7%) or rented (30.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Young was $1,300, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Young was recorded at $250, compared to Regional NSW's $330 and the national average of $375. Nationally, Young's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863.

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

Family households account for 66.2% of all households, including 24.9% that are couples with children, 27.3% that are couples without children, and 12.8% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 33.8%, with lone person households at 31.3% and group households comprising 2.5% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches the Regional NSW average.

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 at 28.8%, comprising primary education (11.6%), secondary education (9.0%), and tertiary education (1.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.6% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 1.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The transport analysis indicates that Young has 317 active public transport stops, consisting of both train and bus services. These stops are served by 30 individual routes, offering a total of 349 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in the area is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 172 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential region, most commuters travel outward. The car remains the primary mode of transport at 94%, while walking accounts for 5%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 7.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 49 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately one weekly trip per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the locations of the 100 nearest stops to the area'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 shows significant challenges for Young, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population (around 5,218 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 11.1 and 9.4% of residents respectively. However, 62.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 23.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,487 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 a population that is below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 90.1% being citizens, 91.1% born in Australia, and 92.4% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Young is Christianity, comprising 65.1% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (34.2%), English (30.6%), and Irish (9.8%).

Notably, Lebanese representation is higher at 1.9% in Young than regionally (0.2%), while Australian Aboriginal is slightly lower at 3.9% compared to the regional average of 4.6%, and Serbian representation is similar at 0.3%.

Young's median age exceeds the national pattern

Young's median age is 41 years, which is lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 but higher than the national average of 38. The age group of 5-14 years comprises 13.3% of Young's population compared to Regional NSW, while the 25-34 age group represents 10.4%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 11.3% to 12.3%, and the 55 to 64 age group has decreased from 12.5% to 11.7%. By 2041, Young's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 23%, adding 201 residents to reach 1,095. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 53% of population growth, indicating demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 55 to 64 and 65 to 74 age groups.