Yass
A 6,763-person regional centre, Yass has a median age of 42 and a housing base shaped by 89.0% separate houses. Car driving reaches 75.8% because daily trips span a low-density 99.73 sq km area, while 13.1% work from home. Age is 2.0 years above the national figure and university attainment is 1.9 percentage points below it. For buyers comparing Yass with nearby Murrumbateman, the 82.8% same-address retention rate points to a more established local base. Household income sits at the 61.0th percentile, above the midpoint, supporting a settled mortgage market.
Population
6,763
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,739/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
105
Yass suits buyers prioritising detached space and manageable household repayments, with current sale prices best checked against recent local transactions. Separate houses account for 89.0% of dwellings; 42.9% have 3 bedrooms and 39.9% have 4 or more, so family-sized stock dominates. A $1,773 monthly mortgage equals 23.5% of household income, while 40.5% of households carry a mortgage and 33.7% own outright. Household income sits at the 61.0th percentile, above the midpoint, helping explain why mortgage stress is not flagged. Compared with nearby Murrumbateman, Yass reads as a more established detached-house choice.
For Buyers
Yass suits buyers prioritising detached space and manageable household repayments, with current sale prices best checked against recent local transactions. Separate houses account for 89.0% of dwellings; 42.9% have 3 bedrooms and 39.9% have 4 or more, so family-sized stock dominates. A $1,773 monthly mortgage equals 23.5% of household income, while 40.5% of households carry a mortgage and 33.7% own outright. Household income sits at the 61.0th percentile, above the midpoint, helping explain why mortgage stress is not flagged. Compared with nearby Murrumbateman, Yass reads as a more established detached-house choice.
For Investors
Yass suits an investor seeking established rental demand rather than a tight, high-growth cycle. Weekly rent is $340, the rental share is 23.9%, and vacancy is 7.9%, so leasing outcomes may vary more than in a severely undersupplied market. Development activity is material at 109 applications over 12 months; examples include a 1-dwelling residential approval, a shed and a modification, so added housing supply should not be assumed from the total alone. The forecast trend is 1.44% annually and migration is Balanced, supporting measured demand. Household income sits at the 61.0th percentile, above the midpoint. Returns still depend on price, upkeep and tenant appeal.
Development Activity
Total DAs
611
Last 12 Months
105
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+20.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Yass
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Yass has an older, relatively settled population profile. The median age is 42, 2.0 years above the national figure, while 82.8% of residents stayed at the same address and turnover was 17.2%. Couples with children make up 43.2% of families and couples without children 39.2%, consistent with an average household size of 2.5. University attainment is 28.2%, 1.9 percentage points below the national level, and overseas-born residents account for 9.8%, 11.8 points below nationally. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 2,838, 947 and 740. Christianity counts 3,740 people versus 2,400 reporting no religion. The aging trajectory matters because senior share has risen 5.0 points while the young share fell 2.0.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.0%
Houses
7.7%
Townhouse
3.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Yass is overwhelmingly a detached-house market: 89.0% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 7.7% semi-detached and 3.1% apartments. The bedroom mix leans large, with 42.9% three-bedroom and 39.9% four-plus homes, while only 2.3% have zero or one bedroom. Tenure is split between 33.7% owned outright, 40.5% mortgaged and 23.9% rented. Housing costs sit at 19.6% of income for renters and 23.5% for mortgage holders, while neither stress flag is active. Compared with nearby Murrumbateman, this is a more established, family-sized housing pattern. The 7.9% vacancy rate gives renters more choice than a severely tight market, but landlords must compete on condition and location.
Mortgage / mo
$1,773
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $340.
$600
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $680
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$867
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.9%
Unoccupied
217
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.2%
Couples with children
39.2%
Couples, no children
16.2%
Single parent
1,827
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration leads at 20.6% and 444 workers, followed by healthcare at 16.5% and 356, education at 11.8% and 255, construction at 11.2% and 240, and professional and technical services at 6.9% and 149. This mix supports stability because government, care, education and building services draw demand from residents and the wider region. Occupations include professionals 606, trades 525, community and personal services 467, clerical and administration 427, and managers 415. Unemployment is 3.1%, participation 60.9%, and household income is $1,739 weekly. SEIFA deciles are 5 for education and occupation, 7 for economic resources, 6 for disadvantage and 5 for advantage. Economic resources rank higher than education and occupation, suggesting household capacity exceeds the suburb's formal skills profile.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
3,320
Unemployed
104
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.0%
Part-time
31.8%
Participation
60.9%
Employed
3,216
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.2%
Postgraduate
6.8%
Born Overseas
9.8%
Dwellings
2,508
Transport to Work
Yass works best for households comfortable with car-based access. Car driving accounts for 75.8% of journeys, compared with 1.1% using public transport, 4.8% walking or cycling and 13.1% working from home. That pattern reflects a 99.73 sq km suburb with density of 67.8 people per sq km, where distance makes private vehicles practical. Families have access to 3 local government schools: 2 primary schools and 1 secondary school. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across the suburb. The IRSAD score is 992 at decile 5, placing Yass around the middle nationally, while household income sits at the 61.0th percentile. A 20.0% volunteering rate adds local participation, although public transport is lower than car dependence.
Drive
75.8%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.8%
Work from Home
13.1%
Population Forecast
+1.44%/yr
(+192 people/yr)
EstablishedYass is forecast to follow an established growth path, with annual growth of 1.44% and Balanced migration rather than a single dominant inflow. Population change across the wider area runs at 22.3% over 10 years, so momentum is positive compared with a flat baseline. The shift trajectory is Aging: senior share rose 5.0 percentage points, young share fell 2.0 and the working share fell 4.0. Affordability worsened from 31.4% in 2011 to 35.4% in 2021, while rents grew 60.0%, which may moderate younger household entry. The forecast gentrification score is 14, staged as Not gentrifying, even though the shift profile records a score of 59 and Active stage. That split points to population and cost change without a clear premium-redevelopment cycle.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+52
Net Internal / yr
+53
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +23% since 2011, Net internal migration +53/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Yass compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yass a good suburb to live in?
Yass suits households seeking detached housing, regional space and a settled community. About 89.0% of homes are separate houses, 75.8% commute by car and the median age is 42, so it fits residents comfortable with driving and an older population profile.
What is the median house price in Yass?
Use recent Yass sales to check the current median house price before making an offer. The housing mix is 89.0% separate houses, 40.5% mortgaged, and the typical monthly mortgage is $1,773, which helps frame affordability without relying on an outdated price point.
What schools are in Yass?
Yass has 3 local government schools: 2 primary schools and 1 secondary school. Check the exact address against enrolment zones, particularly if school access is central to the decision, because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries.
Is Yass safe?
Review current NSW Police crime information and visit the area at different times before deciding. With 6,763 residents spread across 99.73 sq km, conditions can vary by street, lighting and proximity to activity, so the specific address deserves attention.
Is Yass good for property investment?
Yass can suit a long-term investor who values established demand over a speculative growth story. Weekly rent is $340, vacancy is 7.9%, renters are 23.9% of households, and the annual growth trend is 1.44%. Compare purchase price, upkeep and tenant demand before committing.
How is Yass's population changing?
Yass is changing gradually but aging. The median age is 42, the senior share has risen 5.0 percentage points and the young share has fallen 2.0. Population change across the wider area is 22.3% over 10 years, with annual growth forecast at 1.44% and migration described as Balanced.
What development is happening in Yass?
Development activity is active, with 109 applications in the past 12 months. Recent examples include a 1-dwelling residential approval, a shed and a modification to a complying development certificate. Check council approvals and servicing details before assuming every application adds housing supply.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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