Hay, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Hay NSW is 2,300 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Hay is $669 per week ($34,788 per year). Median rent in Hay is $175 per week ($758 per month). Hay has a median age of 47 years, older than the national median of 38. Hay has a population density of 1.2 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Hay is New Zealand. The most common religion is Catholic (27.5% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Afrikaans. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Hay is $867.

There were 59 recorded offences in Hay in 2025-26, a rate of 26 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (16 offences).

Population
2,300
Census 2021
Median income
$669/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$175/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
47years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Hay vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Hay is $669 a week, 13% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,486th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $175 a week, $210 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 15.2% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 47, 4 years older than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureHayTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$669/wk$765/wk −13%$766/wk
Household income$1,152/wk$1,704/wk −32%$1,637/wk
Rent$175/wk$385/wk −55%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$867/mo$1,965/mo −56%$1,733/mo
Median age4743 +4 yrs42
Rent share of household income15.2%22.6% −7.4 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Hay, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Hay Population

2,300 residents at the 2021 Census.

Hay Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$669/wk
$34,788 per year
Ranked 6,006 of 14,663
Median Rent
$175/wk
$758 per month
Ranked 7,967 of 14,663
Median Age
47years
9 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$867/mo
Avg household size: 2.2 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Hay Rent Prices & Affordability

15% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,152/wk
Median rent $175/wk
Rent to income 15.2%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Hay against your income

About $4,992 a month
Median rent $175/wk
Left after rent $977/wk
Rent share 15.2%

Hay Map

Hay, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Hay, New South Wales: 34.3783°S, 144.8383°E

Hay Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents

People in Hay

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.0% (1,132) Female 51.0% (1,177)

Population Density

1.2
people per km²
2,300 people · 1946.9 km²

Households

2.2
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,581
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

New Zealand
1.4%
India
0.9%
England
0.8%
Fiji
0.6%
Scotland
0.6%
South Africa
0.5%
Italy
0.4%
Greece
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Afrikaans
0.5%
Italian
0.4%
Malayalam
0.4%
Greek
0.3%
Gujarati
0.3%
Cantonese
0.2%
Mandarin
0.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
41.9%
Australian
41.6%
Irish
9.6%
Scottish
9.4%
Australian Aboriginal
8.2%
Italian
3.1%
German
2.7%
Indian
1.0%
Maori
0.8%
Filipino
0.5%
South African
0.5%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

Catholic
27.5%
No religion
24.6%
Anglican
21.7%
Not stated
12.2%
Presbyterian and Reformed
4.7%
Uniting Church
3.2%
Baptist
1.4%
Hinduism
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

8.7%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
44.8% 860
Separated
3.4% 66
Divorced
8.0% 154
Widowed
8.0% 153
Never married
35.7% 685

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
33.7%
Couple: no children
33.5%
Couple: no children under 15
14.2%
One parent: children under 15
10.0%
One parent: no children under 15
8.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
34.7%
2 persons
35.3%
3 persons
13.2%
4 persons
9.0%
5 persons
5.9%
6+ persons
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Hay

Housing Tenure

Of the 905 occupied private dwellings in Hay at the 2021 Census, 28.3% were rented, 42.1% owned outright and 24.1% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.4% 22 dwellings
Owned outright
42.1% 381 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
24.1% 218 dwellings
Rented
28.3% 256 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
3.3% 30 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
91.6%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
8.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.7%
2 bedrooms
17.4%
3 bedrooms
46.6%
4 bedrooms
26.1%
5 bedrooms
5.9%
6+ bedrooms
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
3.4%
$300-$449/mo
8.7%
$450-$599/mo
6.3%
$600-$799/mo
21.7%
$800-$999/mo
16.9%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
22.2%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
13.0%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
3.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
1.4%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
6.7%
1 vehicle
37.6%
2 vehicles
35.6%
3 vehicles
12.0%
4+ vehicles
8.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Hay

Employment

Employed full-time
36.3% 586 people
Employed part-time
20.5% 331 people
Unemployed
2.7% 44 people
Not in labour force
40.5% 655 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
20.9%
Professionals
17.6%
Managers
16.6%
Community & Personal Service
13.2%
Clerical & Administrative
11.1%
Labourers
9.7%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
5.9%
Sales Workers
4.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.8%
$1-$149/wk
1.5%
$150-$299/wk
2.5%
$300-$399/wk
3.6%
$400-$499/wk
11.2%
$500-$649/wk
7.0%
$650-$799/wk
8.5%
$800-$999/wk
8.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
6.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.9%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
12.5%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.5%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.7%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
1.2%
$4,000+/wk
4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.6%
$1-$149/wk
3.8%
$150-$299/wk
6.8%
$300-$399/wk
5.1%
$400-$499/wk
6.0%
$500-$649/wk
4.9%
$650-$799/wk
11.7%
$800-$999/wk
12.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.8%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
4.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.7%
$3,500+/wk
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
72.1%
Walked only
10.3%
Did not go to work
7.1%
Car (passenger)
6.6%
Truck
1.5%
Bicycle
1.2%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.7%
Other
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
43.1%
Year 10 or equivalent
32.7%
Year 9 or equivalent
12.9%
Year 11 or equivalent
11.3%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
56.9%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.1%
Bachelor Degree
15.5%
Postgraduate Degree
3.8%
Certificate I/II
3.4%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
19.8%
Management & Commerce
14.7%
Education
12.0%
Health
10.8%
Agriculture & Environment
10.4%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
10.2%
Architecture & Building
10.0%
Society & Culture
9.6%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.4%
Information Technology
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
36.3%
Secondary: Government
30.5%
Vocational Education
12.7%
Pre-school
12.4%
Primary: Catholic
5.2%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
1.7%
Secondary: Catholic
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
81.3%
Has need for assistance
7.0%
Need for assistance not stated
11.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
216
Asthma
107
Arthritis
104
Heart disease
82
Diabetes
80
Lung condition
70
Cancer
41
Kidney disease
32
Stroke
28
Dementia
14

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.7% 262
Did not provide
84.3% 1,408

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
24.4% 409
Not a volunteer
75.6% 1,264

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
2.7% 45
Never served
97.3% 1,639

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
23.6%
1 child
13.2%
2 children
29.0%
3 children
23.0%
4 children
10.5%
5+ children
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

1951: 1960
24
1961: 1970
17
1971: 1980
11
1981: 1990
18
1991: 2000
11
2001: 2010
23
2011: 2015
13
2016
6
2018
7
2019
15
2020
12
2021
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

12.8%
moved in the last year
31.9%
moved in the last 5 years
4.4%
unemployment rate (Census)
53.9%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,728
Moved: same area (SA2)
128
Moved from NSW
76
Moved from VIC
18
Moved from overseas
12
Moved from WA
7
Moved from NT
3
Moved from QLD
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
18.8%
5: 14 hours
26.5%
15: 29 hours
12.5%
30+ hours
10.9%
Did not do domestic work
31.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
77.0%
Step family: no other children
14.7%
Blended family: no other children
5.2%
Intact family: other children present
1.6%
Other couple: children only
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Hay Crime Statistics

59 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
16
Other Against Person
15
Theft
13
Assault
8
Property Damage
4
Sexual Offences
1
Drug Offences
1
Weapons
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Coolah
Income: $595/wk Rent: $170/wk $5/wk less rent
Hamilton South
Income: $770/wk Rent: $162/wk $13/wk less rent
Lake Cargelligo
Income: $641/wk Rent: $170/wk $5/wk less rent
Berrigan
Income: $586/wk Rent: $173/wk $2/wk less rent
Grasmere
Income: $543/wk Rent: $116/wk $59/wk less rent

Compare Hay (NSW)

Frequently Asked Questions About Hay

What is the population of Hay NSW?

The population of Hay NSW is 2,300 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1.2 people per km². Hay is ranked #2,827 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Hay?

The median personal income in Hay NSW is $669 per week, or $34,788 per year. The median household income is $1,152 per week. Family income is $1,581 per week. Hay is ranked #6,006 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Hay?

Median rent in Hay NSW is $175 per week ($758 per month). Rent represents 15.2% of household income, which is considered affordable. Hay ranks #7,967 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Hay?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Hay NSW is $867. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Hay?

The median age in Hay NSW is 47 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Hay a good suburb to live in?

Hay is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 2,300. The median income is $669/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (15.2% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 11881. All dollar figures in AUD.