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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Katoomba - Leura's population is around 13,669 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 321 people (2.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,348 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,438 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 104 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 334 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Katoomba - Leura's 2.4% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (1.7%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Regarding demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of national areas is expected, with the area expected to increase by 1,384 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 8.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

Katoomba - Leura has experienced around 47 dwellings receiving development approval each year, with 236 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 11 so far in FY-26. With population declining over recent years, development activity has been adequate in relative terms, which is a positive for buyers, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $260,000—below the regional average—suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. There have also been $4.9 million in commercial approvals this financial year, reflecting the area's residential character.

When measured against Greater Sydney, Katoomba - Leura has 75.0% more building activity (per person), offering buyers greater choice. This activity is likewise lower than nationally, reflecting market maturity and pointing to possible development constraints. New building activity shows 65.0% detached houses and 35.0% medium and high-density housing, showing an expanding range of medium-density options creating a mix of opportunities across price brackets, from traditional family housing to more affordable compact alternatives. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 84.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 319 people per dwelling approval, Katoomba - Leura shows characteristics of a low density area.

Population forecasts indicate Katoomba - Leura will gain 1,153 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good 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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 5 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Katoomba Cultural Centre and Civic Precinct Upgrade, the Katoomba Town Centre Upgrade, the Echo Point Precinct Upgrade, and Lilypad Katoomba, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Katoomba - Leura recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Katoomba - Leura features a well-educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. As of December 2025, 6,382 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is in line with Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation lags significantly (56.3% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%). Based on Census responses, a high 42.2% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and accommodation & food. The area has a particular employment specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level. Conversely, finance & insurance shows lower representation at 2.2% versus the regional average of 7.3%. While local employment opportunities exist in the area, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.7% alongside a 4.4% employment decline, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%, with a marginal rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Katoomba - Leura. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Katoomba - Leura's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Katoomba - Leura SA2 is just below the national average, with the median assessed at $48,690 while the average income stands at $66,570. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's figures of a median income of $60,817 and an average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $53,004 (median) and $72,468 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Katoomba - Leura all fall between the 16th and 25th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 26.0% of the community (3,553 individuals), aligning with the metropolitan region where this cohort likewise represents 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 14th percentile, and 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

Dwelling structure within Katoomba - Leura, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 83.8% houses and 16.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Katoomba - Leura was well beyond that of Sydney metro, at 41.1%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (29.5%) or rented (29.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Sydney metro average at $1,733, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $380, compared to Sydney metro's $2,427 and $470. Nationally, Katoomba - Leura's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are exceeding 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 dominate at 57.1% of all households, comprising 17.7% couples with children, 27.8% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 42.9%, with lone person households at 38.5% and group households comprising 4.3% of the total. The median household size of 2.1 people 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 significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 37.7% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 23.9% in the SA4 region and 30.4% in Australia. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 22.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.2%) and graduate diplomas (4.0%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 32.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.8%) and certificates (20.0%).

A substantial 24.8% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 7.5% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 4.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 242 active transport stops operating within Katoomba - Leura, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 48 individual routes, collectively providing 4,031 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 239 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 82%, with 10% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A high 42.2% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 575 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 16 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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, and the rate of private health cover slightly lags that of the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the total population (~7,121 people). This compares to 59.9% across Greater Sydney.

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 11.2 and 9.7% of residents, respectively, while 62.0% declared themselves as 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 is above average in terms of cultural diversity, with 10.2% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 24.1% born overseas. The main religion in Katoomba - Leura is Christianity, which makes up 36.5% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 0.5% of the population, compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Katoomba - Leura are English, comprising 29.5% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 19.0%, Australian, comprising 20.9% of the population, and Irish, comprising 12.2% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 6.1%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Hungarian is notably overrepresented at 0.6% of Katoomba - Leura (vs 0.3% regionally), Scottish at 9.7% (vs 4.8%) and Polish at 1.1% (vs 0.6%).

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

Katoomba - Leura's median age of 50 years stands significantly above Greater Sydney's 37 as well as well above the 38-year national average. Relative to Greater Sydney, Katoomba - Leura has a higher concentration of 65 - 74 residents (16.8%) but fewer 25 - 34 year-olds (7.8%). This 65 - 74 concentration is well above the national 9.5%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 8.0% to 10.7% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 8.9% to 10.3%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 9.2% to 7.8% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 15.7% to 14.6%. By 2041, Katoomba - Leura is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading the demographic shift, the 75 to 84 group will grow by 45% (655 people), reaching 2,115 from 1,459. Demographic aging continues as residents 65 and older represent 87% of anticipated growth. Conversely, both 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age groups will see reduced numbers.