Yarram
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Yarram are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Yarram's population was 5,605 as of Aug 2021. By Aug 2025, it is around 5,699, an increase of 94 people (1.7%). This growth is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 5,616 in June 2024 and 77 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 3.0 persons per square kilometer. Yarram's 1.7% growth since the census is within 2.8 percentage points of its SA3 area (4.5%). Interstate migration contributed about 74.2% of recent population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made via weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is forecasted to increase by 1,420 persons, recording a gain of 23.4% in total over the 17-year period.

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

Yarram has averaged approximately 21 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis. Between FY2021 and FY2025, there were 109 dwellings approved in total, with an additional 2 approved so far in FY2026. On average, over these five years, about 1.3 new residents per year per dwelling constructed have been recorded.

This suggests a balanced supply and demand dynamic, maintaining stable market conditions. The average construction cost of new homes is around $426,000, aligning with regional patterns. In FY2026, there have been approximately $5.4 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature.

Comparatively, Yarram exhibits roughly 65% of the construction activity per person relative to the Rest of Vic., and it ranks among the 49th percentile of areas assessed nationally. This results in relatively limited buyer choice, contributing to interest in existing homes. New development predominantly consists of standalone homes (94.0%) with a smaller proportion of medium and high-density housing (6.0%), preserving the area's low-density character and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population density is approximately 397 people per dwelling approval, indicating a quiet, low-activity development environment. Looking ahead, Yarram is projected to grow by around 1,336 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Yarram has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 23rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 25 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Yarram Pool Upgrade, Yarram Energy Park, Gippsland Dawn Offshore Wind Project, and Star of the South. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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

Yarram has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, diverse sector representation, and an unemployment rate of 4.1% as of June 2025. It has 2,496 residents employed, which is 0.3% higher than the Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Yarram lags at 49.3%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing (3.1 times the regional level), health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction shows lower representation at 7.3% versus the regional average of 10.4%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as suggested by Census data.

From June 2024 to June 2025, Yarram's labour force decreased by 0.8%, and employment declined by 1.0%, increasing unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Vic.'s employment fell by 0.9%, labour force contracted by 0.4%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. State-wide, VIC's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year to Sep-25, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Yarram's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.5% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022 shows Yarram's median income among taxpayers is $40,548. The average income is $55,960. This is below the national average. Rest of Vic.'s median income is $48,741 and average is $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Yarram's median income are approximately $44,647 as of March 2025. The average income estimate for the same period is $61,618. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Yarram fall between the 4th and 6th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 29.4% of locals earn between $400 and $799. This differs from metropolitan regions where the predominant earning category is $1,500 to $2,999 at 30.3%. Housing costs are modest in Yarram, with 88.4% of income retained. However, total disposable income ranks at just the 7th percentile nationally.

Yarram is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Yarram, as assessed at the latest Census, consisted of 92.0% houses and 7.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s 91.9% houses and 8.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yarram stood at 55.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.7% and rented dwellings at 16.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,192, below Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,300. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $240, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $260. Nationally, Yarram's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Yarram features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 65.1% of all households, including 20.0% couples with children, 35.9% couples without children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.9%, with lone person households at 32.6% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.3.

Educational outcomes in Yarram fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 13.9%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.4%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.4%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (32.1%). A total of 23.8% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, comprising 9.3% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 1.5% in tertiary education.

Yarram has five schools with a combined enrollment of 617 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 971) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational provision is balanced, with four primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. However, the school places per 100 residents (10.8) are below the regional average (14.6), indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Yarram has nine active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by four different routes that together offer 99 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as limited, with residents typically being located 5699 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 14 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 11 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Yarram is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Critical health challenges are evident across Yarram. A range of health conditions impact both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population, which is around 2,735 people. This figure is lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 12.2 and 8.9% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 58.6% of residents declare themselves as completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.7% across Rest of Vic.. The area has 30.5% of residents aged 65 and over, which totals around 1,735 people. This figure is higher than the 23.5% in Rest of Vic.. However, despite this, the area performs better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Yarram had a cultural diversity level below average, with 88.8% of its population being citizens born in Australia speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Yarram, comprising 45.2% of the population compared to 46.9% across Rest of Vic. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.9%), Australian (32.0%), and Scottish (9.1%).

Notably, Dutch (1.9%) was overrepresented in Yarram compared to the regional average of 2.1%. Similarly, Hungarian (0.3%) and Irish (9.0%) were also overrepresented compared to their respective regional averages of 0.1% and 9.0%.

Yarram ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Yarram is 52 years, significantly higher than Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 and well above the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group is notably over-represented in Yarram at 18.7%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s average, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 8.7%. This concentration of the 65-74 cohort is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 9.2% to 10.3% of the population. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 18.2% to 16.8%, and the 45-54 group has dropped from 12.3% to 11.0%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Yarram, with the 25-34 cohort projected to grow by 54%, adding 282 residents to reach 807. Meanwhile, the 55-64 cohort is expected to grow by a modest 5%, adding 48 people.