Yamba, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Yamba NSW is 6,405 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Yamba is $602 per week ($31,304 per year). Median rent in Yamba is $400 per week ($1,733 per month). Yamba has a median age of 57 years, older than the national median of 38. Yamba has a population density of 379 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Yamba is England. The most common religion is No religion (39.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is German. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Yamba is $1,630.

There were 97 recorded offences in Yamba in 2025-26, a rate of 15 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (41 offences).

Population
6,405
Census 2021
Median income
$602/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$400/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
57years
Census 2021

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

Yamba vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Yamba is $602 a week, 21% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,738th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $400 a week, $15 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 36.2% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 57, 14 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.
MeasureYambaTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$602/wk$765/wk −21%$766/wk
Household income$1,106/wk$1,704/wk −35%$1,637/wk
Rent$400/wk$385/wk +4%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,630/mo$1,965/mo −17%$1,733/mo
Median age5743 +14 yrs42
Rent share of household income36.2%22.6% +13.6 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 Yamba, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Yamba Population

6,405 residents at the 2021 Census.

Yamba Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$602/wk
$31,304 per year
Ranked 7,049 of 14,663
Median Rent
$400/wk
$1,733 per month
Ranked 1,854 of 14,663
Median Age
57years
19 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,630/mo
Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

Yamba Rent Prices & Affordability

36% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,106/wk
Median rent $400/wk
Rent to income 36.2%

Rent is more than 35% of household income, a level often described as housing stress.

Median rent in Yamba against your income

About $4,793 a month
Median rent $400/wk
Left after rent $706/wk
Rent share 36.2%

Yamba Schools

3
schools nearby
2
government
1016
avg ICSEA score
573
total students
St James' Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 182 students
1074
ICSEA
Iluka Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 96 students
996
ICSEA
Yamba Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 295 students
978
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Yamba, with a map

Yamba Map

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

Yamba, New South Wales: 29.4337°S, 153.3421°E

Yamba Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (3)

People in Yamba

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.6% (3,047) Female 52.4% (3,358)

Population Density

379
people per km²
6,405 people · 16.9 km²

Households

2.1
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,397
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

England
3.7%
New Zealand
1.8%
Germany
0.4%
Philippines
0.4%
Scotland
0.4%
South Africa
0.4%
Thailand
0.4%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

German
0.4%
Thai
0.3%
French
0.3%
Spanish
0.3%
Italian
0.1%
Urdu
0.1%
Mandarin
0.1%

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

Ancestry

English
45.2%
Australian
39.0%
Irish
13.7%
Scottish
13.2%
Australian Aboriginal
4.6%
German
4.1%
Italian
2.0%
Dutch
1.0%
Welsh
0.9%
Chinese
0.7%
French
0.6%

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

No religion
39.8%
Anglican
19.6%
Catholic
18.3%
Not stated
8.3%
Presbyterian and Reformed
4.2%
Uniting Church
3.0%
Christian (other)
1.4%
Buddhism
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

4.5%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
47.7% 2,661
Separated
3.1% 175
Divorced
13.1% 729
Widowed
8.9% 495
Never married
27.3% 1,521

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
47.4%
Couple: children under 15
28.1%
Couple: no children under 15
9.9%
One parent: children under 15
7.4%
One parent: no children under 15
7.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
31.5%
2 persons
45.6%
3 persons
10.4%
4 persons
8.3%
5 persons
2.8%
6+ persons
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Yamba

Housing Tenure

Of the 2,783 occupied private dwellings in Yamba at the 2021 Census, 27.2% were rented, 51.2% owned outright and 18.1% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.3% 36 dwellings
Owned outright
51.2% 1,425 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
18.1% 503 dwellings
Rented
27.2% 758 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.2% 62 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
81.5%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
12.7%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
5.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.6%
2 bedrooms
23.9%
3 bedrooms
49.7%
4 bedrooms
20.7%
5 bedrooms
2.5%
6+ bedrooms
0.5%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.0%
$300-$449/mo
3.0%
$450-$599/mo
2.3%
$600-$799/mo
5.3%
$800-$999/mo
8.0%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
18.3%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
19.6%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
23.1%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
8.9%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
6.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
5.0%
1 vehicle
48.3%
2 vehicles
35.8%
3 vehicles
8.6%
4+ vehicles
2.3%

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

Work, income and education in Yamba

Employment

Employed full-time
22.1% 1,112 people
Employed part-time
19.0% 954 people
Unemployed
1.8% 91 people
Not in labour force
57.1% 2,870 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
27.5%
Technicians & Trade Workers
15.9%
Managers
14.4%
Community & Personal Service
14.2%
Clerical & Administrative
11.0%
Labourers
8.6%
Sales Workers
5.8%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.6%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.4%
$1-$149/wk
0.9%
$150-$299/wk
1.9%
$300-$399/wk
2.3%
$400-$499/wk
9.0%
$500-$649/wk
7.9%
$650-$799/wk
11.6%
$800-$999/wk
10.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.3%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
8.7%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
4.5%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.5%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
1.8%
$4,000+/wk
4.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.3%
$1-$149/wk
3.9%
$150-$299/wk
7.8%
$300-$399/wk
7.7%
$400-$499/wk
7.4%
$500-$649/wk
6.3%
$650-$799/wk
12.5%
$800-$999/wk
12.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
4.9%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.6%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
5.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.0%
$3,500+/wk
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
69.6%
Did not go to work
13.9%
Walked only
7.4%
Car (passenger)
5.0%
Bicycle
2.2%
Other
0.6%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.5%
Truck
0.5%
Bus
0.3%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
46.2%
Year 10 or equivalent
35.7%
Year 9 or equivalent
9.6%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.5%

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
41.1%
Bachelor Degree
25.4%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
19.8%
Postgraduate Degree
6.1%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.2%
Certificate I/II
3.4%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
18.2%
Society & Culture
15.2%
Health
13.8%
Engineering
13.8%
Education
12.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
9.5%
Architecture & Building
8.3%
Agriculture & Environment
3.8%
Creative Arts
3.3%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.3%
Information Technology
0.7%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
28.7%
Secondary: Government
20.4%
Vocational Education
15.5%
Primary: Catholic
12.8%
Pre-school
10.7%
Secondary: Catholic
6.1%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
3.6%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
2.3%

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
85.5%
Has need for assistance
8.2%
Need for assistance not stated
6.3%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
602
Arthritis
434
Heart disease
276
Asthma
243
Lung condition
233
Diabetes
217
Cancer
192
Kidney disease
138
Stroke
115
Dementia
33

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
13.9% 717
Did not provide
86.1% 4,441

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
18.8% 969
Not a volunteer
81.2% 4,198

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.1% 3
Previously served
5.4% 280
Never served
94.6% 4,911

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
25.7%
1 child
11.5%
2 children
33.5%
3 children
19.2%
4 children
8.1%
5+ children
1.9%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
26
1951: 1960
92
1961: 1970
133
1971: 1980
112
1981: 1990
83
1991: 2000
47
2001: 2010
107
2011: 2015
66
2016
23
2017
16
2018
15
2019
14
2020
8
2021
5

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

Population Mobility

17.8%
moved in the last year
45.9%
moved in the last 5 years
3.8%
unemployment rate (Census)
41.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
4,869
Moved: same area (SA2)
474
Moved from NSW
367
Moved from QLD
105
Moved from VIC
47
Moved from overseas
24
Moved from ACT
8
Moved from NT
6
Moved from WA
5
Moved from TAS
4
Moved from SA
4

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
18.2%
5: 14 hours
29.5%
15: 29 hours
15.8%
30+ hours
10.7%
Did not do domestic work
25.8%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
83.6%
Step family: no other children
10.0%
Blended family: no other children
4.4%
Intact family: other children present
1.3%
Other couple: children only
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Yamba Crime Statistics

97 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
41
Other Against Property
13
Assault
11
Other Against Person
11
Property Damage
11
Sexual Offences
5
Weapons
2
Robbery
1
Domestic Violence
1
Drug Offences
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Nambucca Heads
Income: $499/wk Rent: $280/wk $120/wk less rent
Salamander Bay
Income: $600/wk Rent: $380/wk $20/wk less rent
Mollymook Beach
Income: $681/wk Rent: $380/wk $20/wk less rent
Barham
Income: $571/wk Rent: $185/wk $215/wk less rent
Wentworth (NSW)
Income: $496/wk Rent: $200/wk $200/wk less rent
Narooma
Income: $551/wk Rent: $260/wk $140/wk less rent
Dorrigo
Income: $560/wk Rent: $300/wk $100/wk less rent
Greenwell Point
Income: $600/wk Rent: $300/wk $100/wk less rent

Suburbs near Yamba

The closest suburb to Yamba is Iluka (NSW), 4.2 km away.

Iluka (NSW)
4.2 km away · income $487/wk · rent $300/wk
Maclean
12.2 km away · income $525/wk · rent $330/wk
Gulmarrad
13.6 km away · income $569/wk · rent $450/wk

Compare Yamba (NSW)

Frequently Asked Questions About Yamba

What is the population of Yamba NSW?

The population of Yamba NSW is 6,405 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 379 people per km². Yamba is ranked #1,208 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Yamba?

The median personal income in Yamba NSW is $602 per week, or $31,304 per year. The median household income is $1,106 per week. Family income is $1,397 per week. Yamba is ranked #7,049 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Yamba?

Median rent in Yamba NSW is $400 per week ($1,733 per month). Rent represents 36.2% of household income, which is considered stressed. Yamba ranks #1,854 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Yamba?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Yamba NSW is $1,630. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Yamba?

The median age in Yamba NSW is 57 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Yamba a good suburb to live in?

Yamba is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 6,405. The median income is $602/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as stressed (36.2% 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: 14476. All dollar figures in AUD.