Hay (NSW)

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According to ABS demographic updates for the surrounding region alongside address verifications conducted by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Hay (NSW) has an estimated occupancy of roughly 2,317 residents in May 2026. This indicates a minor growth of 17 people (0.7%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 2,300 residents. The updated figure of 2,317 was calculated by Districts through analyzing the ABS June 2025 ERP release combined with 22 validated new addresses registered after the Census. This population level yields a density of 1.2 persons per square kilometer, indicating residents enjoy significant personal space. Demographic expansion was almost entirely fueled by international migration, which served as the sole contributor to local population increases in recent times.

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The workforce of the area displays a healthy mix of professional and manual jobs across various sectors, coupled with a 5.5% unemployment rate calculated from aggregated regional statistics. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,196, while the jobless rate stood 1.3% higher than the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%, and the participation rate was solid at 65.1% compared to 60.6% across Regional NSW. Census records indicate that a modest 8.3% of workers operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related restrictions.

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Aggregated taxpayer records from the ATO for the 2023 financial year show that Hay registered a median taxpayer income of $47,060 and an average income of $52,663. These figures sit below the national benchmarks and compare to median and average levels of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively for Regional NSW. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates for March 2026 are roughly $51,917 for the median and $58,098 for the average. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in Hay lie between the 10th and 22nd percentiles across Australia. The largest income bracket contains 29.3% of residents (678 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, which is highly consistent with the wider region where fall into this range. Although living costs are manageable with households keeping of their earnings, the overall disposable income sits at the th percentile nationwide.

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According to the latest Census, standalone houses made up 91.3% of local residential options, while 8.7% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, or other structures, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% alternative options in Regional NSW. Outright home ownership was particularly high at 44.6%, while mortgaged properties accounted for 25.2% and rental properties made up 30.2%. The median monthly mortgage payment of $867 was much lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent of $175 sat below the regional average of $330. Nationally, Hay's home loan payments are far below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are much lower than the national figure of $375.

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Families comprise the majority of local households at 63.5%, consisting of 21.9% couples with children, 27.9% couples without children, and 12.8% single parent households. Non-family households make up the remaining 36.5%, with single person households accounting for 34.8% and group living situations representing 1.7%. The median household size of 2.2 individuals is slightly smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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Academic metrics show significant hurdles for the community, with university completion rates standing at 10.0%, which is well below the NSW state average of 32.2%. This presents both a difficulty and an opportunity for targeted academic programs. Undergraduate degrees are the most common higher qualification at 7.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 1.3% and graduate diplomas at 1.2%. Practical and vocational skills are highly prevalent, with 38.4% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, including 8.8% with advanced diplomas and 29.6% with certificates.

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Local transport networks include 5 active transit stops in the suburb of Hay (NSW), which are serviced by a combination of buses. These stops accommodate 6 distinct routes, facilitating 60 weekly passenger journeys. Commuter convenience is moderate, with residents living an average of 570 meters from the nearest stop. The town is predominantly residential, and most workers commute out of the area; driving remains the primary travel method at 86%, while 11% walk. The average number of vehicles per household is 1.4. A modest 8.3% of workers operated from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been impacted by pandemic conditions.

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Local health outcomes indicate notable difficulties based on Districts reviews of mortality rates and chronic illnesses, which are prevalent in both older and younger age groups, while private health insurance coverage is low at roughly 48% of residents (~1,107 people). This compares to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

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Cultural diversity metrics are below average, with citizens representing 85.0% of the population, 92.0% of residents born in Australia, and 95.6% speaking only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, accounting for 70.0% of local residents, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

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The median age of 47 years is considerably higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the Australian average of 38. Residents aged 55 to 64 are highly represented at 15.4%, while the 35 to 44 cohort is small at 7.7% compared to Regional NSW. Since 2021, the 65 to 74 demographic has increased from 11.9% to 14.7%, and the 85+ cohort grew from 3.7% to 5.0%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 demographic fell from 11.3% to 9.5%, and the 55 to 64 bracket declined from 16.8% to . Significant demographic transitions are expected by . The to cohort is projected to expand by ( people), rising from to . The aging trend is pronounced, with seniors aged + making up of the projected growth, while contractions are forecast for the to and to age groups.

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Hay currently has an estimated 136 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 78 children aged 0-2 and 51 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 1% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 19% by 2041 (to approximately 110 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 183. Birth rates in the area have averaged 14.2 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a high rate (among the top 20% of areas assessed nationally).