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Is Living in Yishun Better Than Its Reputation Suggests?

Published 31 March 2026

Is Living in Yishun Better Than Its Reputation Suggests?

Living in Yishun is actually far better than its reputation suggests, and the data backs that up. Property prices in the area keep rising, BTO launches keep drawing healthy numbers, and buyers keep showing up.

And yet, when you mention “Yishun” to most Singaporeans, you are more likely to get a meme reference than a property recommendation. The cat incidents. The Netflix Stranger Things promo. The “Build a wall around Yishun” joke that has somehow survived years of retelling.

So what is everyone who actually lives there seeing that the rest of Singapore isn’t?

Here’s the real story of Yishun, the meme, the neighbourhood, and what it actually means for anyone thinking of buying, renting, or investing in one of Singapore’s most talked-about towns.

TL;DR / Key Summary:

– Yishun is home to approximately 220,000 residents as of 2026, making it the fifth most populous town in Singapore.
– Yishun’s “cursed” reputation started with a series of cat abuse cases in 2015, then snowballed through viral media coverage and Netflix’s Stranger Things promo.
– CNA ranked Yishun 13th out of 28 estates for preventable crimes, not the worst.
– 3-room HDB resale prices in Yishun are up 53.21% between 2020 and 2025, above the national average.
– Yishun is Singapore’s first dementia-friendly town, designated in 2016.

Table of Contents:

How Did Yishun Get Its “Cursed Town” Reputation?

It started with the cats. I know, right? Cats?! Singapore’s most notorious neighbourhood story and it started with cats?? To be fair, it wasn’t just one cat incident.

In late 2015, a series of cat abuse cases in Yishun made national headlines, with 17 cats reportedly found unalived or seriously injured between September and December alone. The cases were brutal enough to be picked up by the BBC internationally. Two suspects were arrested, but the incidents continued, and the local press began calling Yishun “The Devil’s Ring.”

That was the spark. What followed was a feedback loop. An 18-year-old blogger named Lhu Wen Kai set up a site called The Yishun Dream to map every strange incident in the area. Local and regional media covered the site. VICE ran a feature on it. More incidents made the news, not necessarily because Yishun had more of them, but because the meme was already live and any new story slotted neatly into the narrative.

By 2017, the joke had gone fully mainstream. Netflix used Yishun MRT station in a Stranger Things promotional video, captioning it: “Is Yishun cursed, simply unlucky, or struck by something stranger?” The internet lost its mind. Netflix came back with a second Yishun-themed promo for Season 2, this one a full short film titled Stranger Yishun.

By this point, the reputation had taken on a life of its own.

Does Yishun Actually Have a Higher Crime Rate?

Short answer: Not really.

When CNA’s Talking Point investigated, they found that for preventable crimes, Yishun ranked 13th out of Singapore’s 28 estates, sitting behind neighbourhoods like Changi, Geylang, Rochor, and Marine Parade. Hardly the crime capital the internet made it out to be.

So why does Yishun keep getting the villain edit?

IPS senior research fellow Leong Chan-Hoong points to something very human: most people instinctively associate lower-income neighbourhoods with danger, regardless of what the numbers say. A wealthier-looking estate with the exact same statistics would get a farmers’ market, not a meme page.

Yishun, in many ways, became Singapore’s version of the “Florida Man”. Cat abuse cases happen in Tampines and Ang Mo Kio too, but nobody dedicated an entire interactive website to map out every bizarre incident there.

Once the internet decides you’re the weird one, every new incident just becomes more evidence, and the memes basically write themselves from there.

So, What Is Yishun Actually Like to Live In?

Yishun is home to approximately 220,320 residents as of 2026, making it the fifth most populous town in Singapore according to City Population data, far from the ghost town the memes suggest. The town has more going for it than most people give it credit for.

Getting Around Yishun: What Are Your Transport Options?

For a town that supposedly has everything going wrong, the connectivity is surprisingly hard to fault. Yishun runs on multiple MRT lines:

  • Yishun MRT sits on the North-South Line, connecting residents directly to the city.
  • Khatib MRT is the next stop up, also on the North-South Line.
  • Springleaf MRT on the Thomson-East Coast Line serves the northern end of the estate.

Beyond the MRT, Yishun and Khatib bus interchanges run frequent services across the estate and into surrounding towns, so getting around without a car is genuinely manageable day to day.

For drivers, the SLE puts you within comfortable reach of most parts of the island without too much drama.

Where Do Yishun Residents Shop and Run Errands?

Between the big mall, the neighbourhood options, and the wet market, you are not going to run out of places to be.

  • Northpoint City is the anchor, and a big one at that. With over 500 retail shops, a library, a community club, and a direct connection to Yishun MRT, it is one of the most complete integrated hubs in the north.
  • Junction Nine takes care of your everyday neighbourhood errands without the crowd.
  • Wisteria Mall offers a smaller, calmer alternative for a more low-key weekend outing.
  • Chong Pang City remains a beloved local hub with hawkers, a wet market, and a long-standing community feel.

What Healthcare Facilities Are Available in Yishun?

For a town its size, the medical infrastructure is genuinely impressive, and for many families, it is one of the biggest reasons to seriously consider Yishun.

  • Khoo Teck Puat Hospital is a full acute care hospital right in the heart of the estate.
  • Yishun Community Hospital specialises in rehabilitation, sub-acute, and dementia care.
  • Khatib Polyclinic, which opened in 2024, comes with elderly-friendly facilities and telehealth services.

If you have young children or elderly parents at home, having all of this within the same town is a real and practical advantage.

What Schools are in Yishun?

Families with school-going children will find Yishun well-covered across every level, with no need to travel across the island for school runs.

  • Primary Schools: Northland Primary, Chongfu School, North View Primary, Huamin Primary, Ahmad Ibrahim Primary, Yishun Primary
  • Secondary Schools: Yishun Town Secondary, Yishun Secondary, Naval Base Secondary, Chung Cheng High School (Yishun), Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary, Orchid Park Secondary, Northland Secondary
  • Post-secondary: Yishun Innova Junior College

What Can You Actually Do in Yishun On a Weekend?

This is the part Yishun does not get nearly enough credit for. Between the reservoir parks, the waterfront activities, and the open green spaces, it is one of the more liveable towns in the north once you actually spend time there.

At Lower Seletar Reservoir Park, you can:

  • Go kayaking or dragon boating through the reservoir with PA Water-Venture.
  • Fish off the jetty, where snakeheads and tilapias are common catches.
  • Jog along the 1.3km waterfront track at your own pace.
  • Bring the kids to the water play area on a hot afternoon.
  • Walk the Heritage Bridge, a kelong-inspired structure extending into the reservoir with unobstructed views of the water.

When you want something quieter, Yishun Pond Park has a spiral viewing tower that looks out over the pond. On a weekend morning, it barely feels like you are in Singapore.

13 Types of Neighbours Every HDB Resident Has Had

One Thing Yishun Got Right That the Rest of Singapore Followed

In January 2016, Yishun was designated Singapore’s first dementia-friendly town. Around 2,000 residents were trained to identify and assist elderly people with dementia, HDB blocks were repainted with distinctive colours to help residents navigate, and businesses like Northpoint and local McDonald’s outlets participated in the initiative.

It’s an unusual distinction, but one that says something about the kind of community Yishun actually is.

What Does the Property Market Actually Say About Yishun?

If people were genuinely worried about Yishun, you’d expect prices to reflect that. They don’t.

For instance, between 2020 and 2025, the average price per square foot for 3-room HDB flats in Yishun rose by 53.21%, from around S$389 to over S$597 per square foot, according to reports. That growth rate outpaced the national average of 46.79% over the same period, which is a notable result for a non-mature estate.

And despite that growth, Yishun still sits among the more affordable towns in Singapore for HDB resale flats, making it one of the few estates where prices are rising and entry points remain accessible at the same time.

Yishun also consistently ranks among the most actively transacted towns, appearing as one of the top towns for resale volume according to data through 2025. New BTO launches in Yishun, including Yishun Glade and Chencharu Grove in the October 2025 exercise, also drew healthy application numbers.

For buyers on a budget, Yishun also remains one of the most accessible towns for newer, recently MOP-ed flats. The combination of affordability, strong amenities, and improving connectivity is making it increasingly attractive to young families and HDB upgraders alike.

13,480 HDB Flats Reaching MOP in 2026 — What This Means for Buyers and Sellers

Yishun at a Glance

🚇 MRT Access

Yishun MRT (North-South Line) and Springleaf MRT (Thomson-East Coast Line)

🛍️ Major Mall

Northpoint City, the largest mall in northern Singapore, with over 500 shops

🏥 Healthcare

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Yishun Community Hospital, multiple polyclinics

📚 Education

Multiple primary and secondary schools, Yishun Innova Junior College

🏆 Notable Distinction

Singapore’s first dementia-friendly town, designated in 2016

🌳 Green Spaces

Lower Seletar Reservoir Park, Yishun Pond Park, Khatib Bongsu Nature Park

Planning to Buy a Property in Yishun or Exploring More Options?

Buy your next homein Yishun or anywhere across Singapore with Ohmyhome. Our Super Agents are equipped with MATCH, Ohmyhome’s data-powered matching technology, to find you the most suitable property based on your budget, needs, and preferences.

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And if you want to know what your current home is worth before you make any moves, you can use HomerAI to give you an instant estimate.

WhatsApp our Super Agentstoday and let’s get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Yishun a good place to live?

Yes, Yishun is a good place to live. The town is well-connected, well-served with amenities, and considerably safer than its online reputation suggests. Property prices have also been rising consistently, reflecting genuine demand from families and buyers who have looked past the memes.

2. Which primary school is the best in Yishun?

Northland Primary is widely regarded as one of the most popular primary schools in Yishun, consistently drawing strong demand during the P1 registration exercise. Other well-regarded options include North View Primary and Huamin Primary. The best school ultimately depends on your child’s needs, your home address, and proximity, so it is worth checking the latest MOE balloting data before deciding.

3. Where to find affordable rental apartments in Yishun?

Affordable rental apartments in Yishun can be found across a range of HDB flat types, generally at more competitive rates compared to more central estates in Singapore. Ohmyhome can help you find a rental unit in Yishun or other locations that fits your preferences and budget.

4. Does Yishun have the highest crime rate?

No, Yishun does not have the highest crime rate in Singapore. When CNA’s Talking Point investigated, Yishun ranked 13th out of 28 estates for preventable crimes. The town’s reputation is largely driven by media coverage and confirmation bias rather than actual crime statistics.