Katoomba - Leura

Katoomba - Leura is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of February 2026, Katoomba - Leura's population is approximately 13,669, indicating a rise of 321 individuals since the 2021 Census. The population was recorded as 13,348 in the 2021 Census. This increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,438 by June 2024 and an additional 104 validated new addresses post-Census. The population density is around 334 persons per square kilometer. Katoomba - Leura's growth rate of 2.4% since the 2021 Census surpassed the SA3 area average of 1.7%. Overseas migration was the primary driver for this growth.

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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022, using the 2021 Census as the base year, are employed. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Katoomba - Leura's population is projected to increase by approximately 1,384 persons, reflecting an 8.4% growth over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Katoomba - Leura according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Katoomba-Leura has seen approximately 47 dwellings granted development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 236 homes were approved, with an additional 10 approved in FY26 as of now. Despite recent population decline, this level of development activity has been adequate relative to other areas, benefiting buyers seeking affordable housing options, given the average construction cost of new properties is around $260,000, below the regional average.

This financial year has also seen $4.9 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's predominantly residential character. Compared to Greater Sydney, Katoomba-Leura exhibits 75.0% more building activity per capita, offering buyers greater choice. However, this activity remains lower than national averages, suggesting market maturity and potential development constraints. New building activity in Katoomba-Leura comprises approximately 65.0% detached houses and 35.0% medium to high-density housing. This shift from the area's current housing stock (84.0% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and a growing demand for diverse, affordable housing options. With around 319 people per dwelling approval, Katoomba-Leura is characterized as a low-density area.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the region is projected to gain 1,153 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Katoomba - Leura has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects expected to influence the area. Notable projects include the Katoomba Cultural Centre and Civic Precinct Upgrade, Katoomba Town Centre Upgrade, Echo Point Precinct Upgrade, and Lilypad Katoomba. 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.

The employment landscape in Katoomba - Leura presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.7%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Katoomba-Leura has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.7%. As of September 2025, there are 6,493 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is 0.5% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Katoomba-Leura stands at 56.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census data, 42.2% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance (31%), education & training (18%), and accommodation & food (13%). Notably, employment in accommodation & food is 1.9 times the regional level, while finance & insurance has lower representation at 2.2%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.0%, with a 3.1% decline in employment, leading to a 0.9 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Katoomba-Leura's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.9% in five years and 14.3% in ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that median income in Katoomba - Leura SA2 is $48,690 and average income is $66,570. These figures are below the national averages of $60,817 (median) and $83,003 (average) for Greater Sydney. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $53,004 (median) and $72,468 (average). Census 2021 income data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Katoomba - Leura fall between the 16th and 25th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 26.0% of the community (3,553 individuals), similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort represents 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 14th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Katoomba - Leura is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Katoomba-Leura, as per the latest Census, 83.8% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 16.2% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Sydney metro's composition of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Katoomba-Leura stood at 41.1%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 29.5% and rented dwellings making up 29.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Katoomba-Leura was $380, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Katoomba-Leura's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Katoomba - Leura features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 57.1% of all households, including 17.7% couples with children, 27.8% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 42.9%, with lone person households at 38.5% and group households comprising 4.3%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Katoomba - Leura exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Katoomba - Leura is notably higher than broader benchmarks. As of 2016, 37.7% of residents aged 15 and above have university qualifications, compared to 23.9% in the SA4 region and 30.4% nationally. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.2%) and graduate diplomas (4.0%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 32.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding them - advanced diplomas account for 12.8% and certificates for 20.0%.

In total, 24.8% of the population is actively pursuing formal education as of 2016. This includes 7.5% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 4.7% in tertiary education.

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

Katoomba-Leura has 242 operational public transport stops, featuring a blend of train and bus services. These are supported by 48 unique routes that facilitate 4,031 weekly passenger journeys in total. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents on average situated 239 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most inhabitants commute outwards, predominantly by car at 82%, while 10% opt to walk. On average, there are 0.9 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm. Notably, 42.2% of residents work from home (as per the 2021 Census; this figure may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions).

Daily service frequency across all routes averages 575 trips, translating to roughly 16 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, highlighting the 100 nearest stops to the location's central point.

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

Katoomba-Leura faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~7,121 people), which lags behind the average SA2 area's rate of 59.9%. This compares to Greater Sydney's rate of 59.9%. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 11.2% and 9.7% of residents respectively. 62.0% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 30.4% of residents aged 65 and over (4,148 people), which is higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Katoomba - Leura records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Katoomba-Leura, as per the 2016 Census, exhibited above-average cultural diversity with 10.2% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 24.1% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 36.5%. Judaism showed overrepresentation at 0.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, English (29.5%) and Irish (12.2%) were notably higher than regional averages of 19.0% and 6.1%, respectively. Hungarian (0.6%), Scottish (9.7%), and Polish (1.1%) groups also showed notable divergences from regional percentages.

Katoomba - Leura ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Katoomba-Leura's median age is 50 years, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's 37 and the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Katoomba-Leura has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (16.8%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7.8%). This 65-74 concentration is above the national average of 9.5%. Between 2021 and 2026, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 8.0% to 10.7%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 8.9% to 10.3%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort declined from 9.2% to 7.8%, and the 55 to 64 group decreased from 15.7% to 14.6%. By 2041, Katoomba-Leura's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 75 to 84 group will grow by 45%, reaching 2,115 people from 1,459. Residents aged 65 and older will represent 87% of the anticipated growth. Meanwhile, both the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age groups are expected to decrease in numbers.