Urban Centre · Area profile
Yass
8 km²
A larger-than-average regional hub, Yass is a community where high employment and spacious living define the local character. It is a place of contrast, featuring a significantly higher rate of long-term health conditions alongside a workforce that is more likely to be employed full-time than in most similar areas. With a strong presence of families and a notable population of seniors, the town blends a traditional Australian feel with a growing number of young children.
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The typical resident is 41, making the area noticeably older than the national figure. However, children under 15 make up 19.7% of the population, which is higher than most similar areas.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 85.5% born here. This means the proportion of overseas-born residents is far below the New South Wales and national figures.
English is the primary language for 90.3% of the population. While more people here use another language at home than in most similar areas, this is still far below the state and national averages.
Over half of the population (54.9%) identifies as Christian. Those with no religion make up 35.9%, which is a little below the national figure.
Qualifications are higher than in most similar areas, with 19.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This remains well below the state and national figures.
Incomes are generally higher than in most similar areas; the typical personal weekly income is $834, which is about the same as the national figure.
Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas, with 38% of people living with a long-term health condition—far above the national figure of 27.7%.
Participation is high, with 18% of people volunteering and 13.7% providing unpaid care. There is also a much higher proportion of Defence Force veterans compared to most similar areas.
Family life is central to the town, where 56.4% of households are couples with children. People living alone make up 28.9% of the population, which is well above the national figure.
Housing is dominated by separate houses (86.6%) and large homes, with 80.1% having three or more bedrooms. This is far above the state average.
Cars are essential here, as only 1% of people commute by public transport. Working from home is also far less common than in the rest of the state.
The area has seen significant movement, with 38.9% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 10.1% of the population.
The job market is strong, with an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is lower than most similar areas and the national average. Many residents work in public administration, safety, and health.
Yass is considered somewhat walkable, and 82.3% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, which is far above the state average.