Yea
An older, low-density township of 1,789 residents, Yea has a median age of 56, which is 16 years above the national median, and a density of 10.1 people per square kilometre. Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 97.1% separate houses, while household income sits at the 14.9th percentile. Compared with a larger nearby centre such as Alexandra, Yea has a more township-scale, land-oriented profile, supported by 52.9% outright home ownership. The main trade-off is an aging resident base and limited scale, rather than a shortage of space.
Local council: Murrindindi
Population
1,789
Median Age
56.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,046/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$598K
October to December 2025
Yea suits buyers seeking detached housing and a quieter township setting, but affordability needs to be tested against local incomes. A typical mortgage payment of $1,408 per month is associated with mortgage costs at 31.1% of income, so borrowing capacity may be tighter than the headline price suggests. The housing mix is unusually house-focused, with 97.1% separate houses, including 52.9% with 3 bedrooms and 26.2% with 4 or more. Compared with an apartment-led market, Yea provides more land and detached stock, but fewer compact entry options.
For Buyers
Yea suits buyers seeking detached housing and a quieter township setting, but affordability needs to be tested against local incomes. A typical mortgage payment of $1,408 per month is associated with mortgage costs at 31.1% of income, so borrowing capacity may be tighter than the headline price suggests. The housing mix is unusually house-focused, with 97.1% separate houses, including 52.9% with 3 bedrooms and 26.2% with 4 or more. Compared with an apartment-led market, Yea provides more land and detached stock, but fewer compact entry options.
For Investors
Yea presents a lower-cost regional investment profile, with a median weekly rent of $300 and only 17.3% of households renting. That limited renter share can reduce depth of tenant demand compared with areas where renting is more common, while the 12.3% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly held rental market and may increase letting risk. Rent growth has reached 50.0% across the measured period, which supports the income case, but investors should allow for uneven demand and longer vacancy periods. Only 3 development applications were recorded over 12 months, suggesting limited near-term construction pressure. Balanced migration may help maintain demand, although the aging trajectory points to a narrower tenant pool than in younger growth suburbs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
17
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Yea
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Sacred Heart School
Yea Primary School
Yea High School
Demographics
Yea has an older and more settled population profile than Australia overall. The median age is 56, or 16 years above the national comparison, while the average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below the national figure. University attainment is 18.6%, which is 11.5 percentage points below the national comparison, and overseas-born residents account for 11.3%, 10.3 points below the national level. English ancestry is prominent, with 835 people reporting it, alongside 252 Scottish and 251 Irish responses. Population stability is also notable: 81.5% stayed at the same address over the reference period and turnover was 18.5%. Compared with larger regional centres, this creates a more settled, Anglo-heritage-oriented social profile, with couples without children forming 52.4% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.1%
Houses
0.9%
Townhouse
0.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Yea's housing market has delivered long-term growth but has pulled back from its recent peak. Compared with the 2013 market, homes are substantially more expensive, even after the recent decline. Tenure is stable, with 52.9% owned outright, 27.7% under mortgage and 17.3% rented. The stock is strongly detached, with 97.1% separate houses, and is concentrated in 3-bedroom homes at 52.9%, followed by 4 or more bedrooms at 26.2%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,408
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$580
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.3%
Unoccupied
108
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.1% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.5%
Couples with children
52.4%
Couples, no children
17.6%
Single parent
471
Total families
Economy & Employment
Yea's economy is anchored by essential services and practical industries. Healthcare is the largest industry at 17.3%, or 79 workers, followed by construction at 14.9% and 68 workers, education at 13.4% and 61 workers, public administration at 9.4% and 43 workers, and agriculture at 7.2% and 33 workers. The occupational mix supports that pattern, led by trades at 134 people, professionals at 114 and managers at 99. Labour force participation is 48.4%, with 748 people in the labour force and unemployment at 5.2%. A median age of 56 and 686 people outside the labour force help explain the lower participation rate compared with younger employment centres. Personal weekly income is $580 and household income is $1,046, placing household income at the 14.9th percentile. SEIFA results sit around the middle in IEO, IER and IRSD decile 5, while IRSAD is lower at decile 4, indicating relative disadvantage is more evident in access and advantage than in education or employment alone.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
748
Unemployed
39
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.8%
Part-time
38.6%
Participation
48.4%
Employed
709
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.6%
Postgraduate
3.2%
Born Overseas
11.3%
Dwellings
766
Transport to Work
Yea's practical livability is shaped by car dependence, local services and a small school network. Car driving accounts for 71.5% of travel to work, compared with 6.1% walking or cycling, while 19.2% work from home, so access to a vehicle is more important than in a pedestrian-oriented urban centre. Three local schools provide a mix of 2 primary and 1 secondary option across government and Catholic sectors; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Recorded crime totalled 130 incidents, including 78 property and deception offences and 31 crimes against the person, equating to 72.7 incidents per 1,000 residents. Social participation is supported by a volunteering rate of 24.3%, while 7.3% of residents, or 121 people, need assistance. IRSAD is at decile 4, below the middle decile 5 recorded for several other SEIFA measures, so service access and household resources deserve attention.
Drive
71.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
6.1%
Work from Home
19.2%
Growth Outlook
Yea has an established growth outlook with a trend of 1.3% annually and Balanced migration as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is forecast at 23.3% over 10 years, while the trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased by 7.1 percentage points, the young share has fallen by 2.4 points and the working-age share has declined by 5.4 points. This means growth is more likely to reinforce an existing township than create a younger commuter market. Gentrification is assessed at 31 with an Early signs stage, while the shift indicators record a score of 48 and an Active stage. Real income growth of 16.8% and rent growth of 50.0% may support renewed housing interest, but the aging profile and balanced migration point to steadier change than a high-growth corridor.
Population trend: Murrindindi council area
Yea sits in the Murrindindi council area. These are the council area's residents, not Yea's.
Residents 2025
15,648
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.0%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.6%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
130
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
72.7
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Yea compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yea a good suburb to live in?
Yea can suit people seeking detached housing, a quieter township environment and established local services. It has 1,789 residents, a median age of 56 and 97.1% separate houses. Car access matters because 71.5% of workers drive, while the aging profile may suit downsizers more than households seeking a large younger peer group.
What schools are in Yea?
Yea has 3 local schools covering 2 primary options and 1 secondary option. The sector mix includes 2 government schools and 1 Catholic school. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone and year-level availability for an address, as school access can vary across township and surrounding rural areas.
Is Yea safe?
Yea recorded 130 offences at a rate of 72.7 incidents per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 78 incidents, while crimes against the person accounted for 31. Safety can vary by street and circumstance, so prospective residents should review current local crime information and inspect the immediate area before deciding.
Is Yea good for property investment?
Yea may suit investors comfortable with a small regional rental market. Median rent is $300 per week, but the 12.3% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly held market and only 17.3% of households rent. Rent growth of 50.0% supports the income case, while just 3 development applications suggest limited near-term new supply.
How is Yea's population changing?
The wider-area outlook indicates 1.3% annual growth and 23.3% population change over 10 years, with Balanced migration as the primary driver. Yea's trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen by 7.1 percentage points while the young share has fallen by 2.4 points. Growth is therefore likely to reinforce an older township profile.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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