Emu Plains - Leonay
Statistical Area - sa2

Emu Plains - Leonay has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Emu Plains - Leonay's population is around 14,476 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 562 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,914 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,834 in June 2024 and an additional 267 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,049 persons per square kilometer. Emu Plains - Leonay's growth rate of 4.0% since the census positions it within 1.5 percentage points of the SA4 region (5.5%). Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 54.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to increase by 177 persons to 2041 based on latest population numbers, with a reduction of 3.2% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Emu Plains - Leonay, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Emu Plains-Leonay has recorded approximately 35 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 175 homes have been approved. By FY26156 homes had already received approval.

Despite a decrease in population during this period, the development activity has been adequate relative to other areas, which could be beneficial for buyers. The average expected construction cost of new dwellings is $516,000, indicating that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26 alone, $44.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Emu Plains-Leonay shows significantly reduced construction activity, with 59.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties. This level is also below the national average, which reflects the area's maturity and could indicate possible planning constraints.

The current new development in Emu Plains-Leonay consists of 60.0% detached houses and 40.0% attached dwellings. This represents a shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 88.0% houses. This change indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects evolving lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The location has approximately 489 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area with stable or declining population forecasts. As a result, Emu Plains-Leonay may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Emu Plains - Leonay has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 23 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include the Emu Plains Industrial Precinct - Akura Development, Uniting Edinglassie Village Redevelopment, Emu Plains Rail Station Upgrades, and Emu Plains Bus Stop Improvements. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Emu Plains - Leonay ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Emu Plains - Leonay has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 1.8% as of June 2025. It has 7,827 residents in work, which is 2.4% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation stands at 63.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Leading employment industries are construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction has a particularly high employment share, at 1.6 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services have limited presence, with only 5.4% employment compared to the regional average of 11.5%.

The area is predominantly residential and may offer limited local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.3%, alongside a 2.3% decline in employment, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with unemployment rising slightly to 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that Emu Plains - Leonay could see local employment growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2022, Emu Plains - Leonay had a median income among taxpayers of $61,556 with average income standing at $71,601. This is above national averages which were $56,994 and $80,856 respectively across Greater Sydney for the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year ended June 2022, current estimates would be approximately $69,318 (median) and $80,630 (average) as of September 2025. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data from 2021, incomes in Emu Plains - Leonay cluster around the 73rd percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that majority of locals, 4,545 people representing 31.4%, fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income category, aligning with regional levels where this cohort also represents 30.9%. Higher earners make up a substantial presence with 32.1% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power in the community. Housing expenses account for 14.0% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 76th percentile for disposable income. Area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Advantage (SEIFA) income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Emu Plains - Leonay is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Emu Plains-Leonay's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 88.4% houses and 11.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 77.4% houses and 22.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Emu Plains-Leonay was at 38.7%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (41.9%) or rented (19.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,200, exceeding Sydney metro's average of $2,167. The median weekly rent figure stood at $437, compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, Emu Plains-Leonay's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Emu Plains - Leonay features high concentrations of family households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households make up 77.6% of all households, including 38.2% couples with children, 26.7% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.4%, with lone person households at 20.8% and group households comprising 1.4%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.8 people.

Educational attainment in Emu Plains - Leonay aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area has university qualification rates of 22.0%, significantly lower than the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.2%) and certificates (28.2%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 4.0% pursuing tertiary education. There are seven schools operating within Emu Plains - Leonay, educating approximately 2,661 students. The area has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1020) with balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with four primary and three secondary schools serving distinct age groups. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments please refer to parent campus.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Emu Plains-Leonay has 134 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 56 individual routes, facilitating 2,539 weekly passenger trips collectively. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 143 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 362 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 18 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Emu Plains - Leonay is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Emu Plains-Leonay faces significant health challenges.

Common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population, which is around 8,005 people. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 8.6 and 8.2% of residents respectively. However, 67.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.5% across Greater Sydney. The area has 20.4% of residents aged 65 and over, totaling 2,957 people, which is higher than the 14.1% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Emu Plains - Leonay ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Emu Plains-Leonay has a cultural diversity below average, with 84.5% of its population born in Australia, 92.6% being citizens, and 93.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, comprising 62.4%, compared to 57.9% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (29.4%), English (27.9%), and Irish (9.8%).

Notably, Maltese (1.6%) and Dutch (1.6%) are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 2.9% and 1.2%, respectively, while Polish is also higher at 0.9%.

Emu Plains - Leonay's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Emu Plains - Leonay is 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 years and Australia's national median age of 38 years. The 75-84 age group makes up 8.0% of the local population, compared to the Greater Sydney average, indicating an over-representation of this cohort. Conversely, the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 11.2%. Between 2021 and the present, the 75-84 age group has increased from 6.2% to 8.0%, while the 15-24 cohort has risen from 12.3% to 13.4%. During this period, the 35-44 age group has declined from 13.5% to 11.9%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 13.8% to 12.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Emu Plains - Leonay's age profile will significantly change. The 85+ age cohort is projected to increase dramatically by 385 people (110%), rising from 351 to 737 individuals. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 85% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Meanwhile, the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.