Emu Plains - Leonay
Statistical Area - sa2

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

By Aug 2025, Emu Plains - Leonay's population is approximately 14,466. This figure reflects a growth of 552 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,914. The increase is inferred from an estimated resident population of 13,837 in June 2024 and an additional 262 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,049 persons per square kilometer. Emu Plains - Leonay's growth rate of 4.0% since the census is within 1.3 percentage points of the SA4 region's growth rate of 5.3%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 54.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, 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. Based on the latest population numbers and projected demographic shifts, Emu Plains - Leonay is expected to increase by 177 persons by 2041, with a reduction of 3.2% in total over the 17-year period.

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 31 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with around 159 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY20 to FY25. As of FY26, there have been 149 approvals so far. The average construction value for new properties in the area is $625,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, reflecting quality-focused development.

This year has seen approximately $44.1 million in commercial development approvals recorded, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Emu Plains-Leonay records markedly lower building activity, with 63.0% fewer approvals per person than the regional average. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established properties, which is also below the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New development consists of 60.0% standalone homes and 40.0% attached dwellings, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments providing options across different price points, marking a significant departure from existing housing patterns which are currently predominantly houses (88.0%). With around 489 people per dwelling approval, Emu Plains-Leonay shows a developed market. Given the expected stability or decline in population, there should be reduced pressure on housing in the area, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, Emu Plains - Leonay should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities 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 identified 21 projects that could affect the area. Notable ones are Emu Plains Industrial Precinct - Akura Development, Uniting Edinglassie Village Redevelopment, Emu Plains Rail Station Upgrades, and Emu Plains Bus Stop Improvements. Relevant projects are listed below.

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

Employment conditions in Emu Plains - Leonay demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Emu Plains - Leonay has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 1.8%.

In this period, 7,827 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.4% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation is 63.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Leading employment industries include construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area has a strong specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services are under-represented, with only 5.4% of Emu Plains - Leonay's workforce compared to 11.5% in Greater Sydney. Labour force data from June 2024 to June 2025 shows a 2.3% decrease alongside a 2.3% employment decline, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest growth of approximately 6.4%% over five years and 13.3% over ten years for Emu Plains - Leonay, based on its current employment mix.

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

Emu Plains-Leonay had a median taxpayer income of $61,556 and an average income of $71,601 in 2022. These figures are high compared to Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. By March 2025, estimates suggest the median income will be approximately $68,081 and the average income will be around $79,191, based on a 10.6% growth in wages since 2022. Census data shows that incomes in Emu Plains-Leonay cluster around the 73rd percentile nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 31.4% of locals (4,542 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999 per week, similar to the regional average of 30.9%. High weekly earnings exceeding $3,000 are achieved by 32.1% of households, indicating strong consumer spending power. Housing costs account for 14.0% of income, while residents rank in the 76th percentile for disposable income. The area's 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

In Emu Plains-Leonay as of the latest Census, 88.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remainder being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This is higher than Sydney metro's house dwelling percentage of 77.4%. The home ownership rate in Emu Plains-Leonay was 38.7%, compared to mortgaged dwellings at 41.9% and rented dwellings at 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 in Emu Plains-Leonay was $437, higher than Sydney metro's figure of $400. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863, and rents substantially above the national average of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 comprise the remaining 22.4%, with lone person households at 20.8% and group households making up 1.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.8.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 22.0%, significantly below the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the 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 at 11.2% and certificates at 28.2%.

Educational participation is notably 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. A network of 7 schools operates within Emu Plains - Leonay, educating approximately 2,661 students. Emu Plains - Leonay demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1020) with balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with 4 primary and 3 secondary schools serving distinct age groups.

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 serving a mix of train and bus routes. These are covered by 56 individual routes offering 2,539 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 143 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency stands at 362 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 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 younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (around 7,999 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 8.6 and 8.2% of residents respectively. About 67.2% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.5% across Greater Sydney. Around 20.4% of residents are aged 65 and over (around 2,955 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 showed below-average cultural diversity, with 84.5% of its residents born in Australia, 92.6% being citizens, and 93.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 62.4%, compared to 57.9% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (29.4%), English (27.9%), and Irish (9.8%).

Notably, Maltese, Polish, and Dutch ethnicities had higher representations than the regional averages: Maltese at 1.6% vs 2.9%, Polish at 0.9% vs 0.7%, and Dutch at 1.6% vs 1.2%.

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

The median age in Emu Plains - Leonay is 40, which is higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's figure of 38. The 75-84 age cohort is notably over-represented at 8.0%, compared to the Greater Sydney average, while the 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 11.2%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 6.2% to 8.0% of the population. The 15-24 cohort increased from 12.3% to 13.4%, while the 35-44 cohort declined from 13.5% to 11.9%. The 5-14 age group dropped from 13.8% to 12.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Emu Plains - Leonay's age profile. The 85+ age cohort is projected to surge dramatically, expanding by 385 people (110%) from 351 to 737. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 85% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 25-34 and 0-4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.