Yishun

A big, no-nonsense heartland town with an unexpectedly strong park network.

North · large, established, increasingly green

total resident population: 221,610 (2020 census)
HDB-resident population: 201,400 (Yishun, as at 31 Mar 2025 — HDB-resident population only, per HDB Annual Report)
housing mix: HDB 66,773 · Condo/apt 6,902 · Landed 1,496 (of 75,403 total households, 2020 census)

Singapore only publishes a full per-area population breakdown every 10 years at the census. The HDB figure above is the most recent official update available, but it only covers HDB residents — it can't be directly compared to the total population figure.

What it's like to live here

Yishun is a big, practical heartland town that has invested heavily in its park network in recent years — Yishun Nature Park in particular is a genuinely well-designed, award-recognised green space.

Who it suits

Budget-conscious families wanting space and an improving green-space offering. Buyers unfazed by Yishun's sometimes unfair online reputation, which doesn't reflect most residents' day-to-day experience.

Popular schools

Primary

Chongfu School
Naval Base Primary School

Secondary

Naval Base Secondary School
Yishun Town Secondary School

Must-try food

Yishun Park Hawker Centre (Timbre Group-run)
Stalls near Yishun Ave 1

Nature spots

Yishun Pond Park
Yishun Nature Park (800+ trees across 73 species)

Interesting fact

Yishun Nature Park has a dedicated "dipterocarp arboretum" — a planted collection of the towering rainforest tree family that dominates Southeast Asia's old-growth forests — making it one of the most botanically deliberate parks in any HDB town.

MG's honest take

"Yishun gets memed online more than almost any other town, but the parks here are genuinely some of the best-designed in Singapore — I always tell clients to see it for themselves."

Thinking about Yishun? Let's talk through whether it actually fits what you need.

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