Leeton

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

Leeton's population was around 10,523 as of Feb 2026. This reflected an increase of 193 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,330 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,336 in June 2024 and an additional 159 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 28 persons per square kilometer. Leeton's growth rate of 1.9% since the census was within 2.4 percentage points of the SA4 region's growth rate of 4.3%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 51.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted 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 were used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, based on latest annual ERP population numbers, Leeton's population was expected to increase by 33 persons, reflecting a decrease of 1.5% in total over the 17-year period.

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

Leeton has approved approximately 22 new homes annually over the past five financial years, totaling 114 homes. As of FY-26, 12 approvals have been recorded. Despite a decrease in population during this period, development activity has been relatively adequate, which is beneficial for buyers, with an average dwelling construction cost value of $367,000. In FY-26, there have been $17.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, Leeton shows around 56% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 31st percentile nationally, resulting in relatively limited buyer choice and supporting interest in existing properties. This level is below the national average, suggesting an established area with potential planning limitations. New building activity comprises 72.0% standalone homes and 28.0% medium to high-density housing, maintaining Leeton's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 547 people, reflecting its quiet development environment.

With a stable or declining population expected, Leeton should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially presenting buying opportunities.

Leeton has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified six projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Roxy Community Theatre Redevelopment, 98 Cassia Road Subdivision, CBD Enhancement Stage 3 - Chelmsford Place Town Square, and Sorelli Estate. The following 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.

Employment conditions in Leeton remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Leeton has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Over the past year, employment grew by an estimated 3.8%. As of September 2025, 4,849 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.6% compared to Rest of NSW's 3.8%.

Workforce participation is at 61.5%, the same as Rest of NSW. Census data shows that 6.8% of Leeton residents work from home. Key industries include manufacturing, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Manufacturing is particularly strong, with an employment share 3.1 times higher than the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is relatively under-represented at 10.1%, compared to Rest of NSW's 16.9%. Many Leeton residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.8% while labour force grew by 4.8%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.5% and labour force decline of 0.1%, with a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment rate. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Leeton's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 4.9% over five years and 11.3% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Leeton SA2 has a median taxpayer income of $51,668 and an average income of $58,275 based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is lower than the national average, with Rest of NSW having a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% suggest the median income will be approximately $56,246 and the average income will be around $63,438. According to census data, household, family, and personal incomes in Leeton rank modestly, between the 30th and 37th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 32.2% of the population (3,388 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, which is consistent with the surrounding region's trend of 29.9% in the same category. Housing costs are manageable with 87.8% retained, but disposable income is below average at the 35th percentile.

Leeton is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Leeton's residential structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 86.5% houses and 13.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Leeton was at 36.8%, with the rest being mortgaged (33.3%) or rented (29.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Leeton was $250, significantly lower than Non-Metro NSW's $330 and the national figure of $375.

Leeton has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 69.3% of all households, including 28.0% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 30.7%, comprising 28.2% lone person households and 2.4% group households. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Leeton faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 13.9%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 37.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 7.2% and certificates at 30.5%. Educational participation is high, with 31.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.4% in secondary education, 11.2% in primary education, and 1.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Leeton has 306 active public transport stops, served by 25 routes offering 247 weekly trips. Residents are typically 168 meters from the nearest stop. Most commute outward using cars (94%), with 4% walking. Average vehicle ownership is 1.6 per dwelling. Only 6.8% work from home (2021 Census). Service frequency averages 35 trips daily, equating to approximately 0 weekly trips per individual stop.

A map shows the 100 nearest stops to Leeton's location centrepoint.

Health performance in Leeton is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Leeton faces substantial health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 48% (~5,072 people) have private health cover, compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common conditions are asthma (10.5%) and arthritis (9.0%). Around 64.8% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Working-age residents face notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Leeton has 18.9% (1,984 people) aged 65 and over, lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

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

Leeton's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.1% of its population being citizens, 87.7% born in Australia, and 89.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Leeton, comprising 69.3% of people, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (29.1%), English (27.6%), and Irish (8.5%).

Notably, Italian ethnicity is overrepresented at 7.7%, compared to the regional average of 2.1%. Australian Aboriginal ethnicity is also slightly higher at 5.0% versus 4.6%, while Samoan ethnicity is notably higher at 0.4% compared to 0.1% regionally.

Leeton's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Leeton is 36 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 years, and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 15-24 age group comprises 14.9% of Leeton's population, compared to the Rest of NSW figure, while the 65-74 cohort makes up 9.7%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has increased from 13.6% to 14.9%, and the 35-44 cohort has risen from 11.0% to 12.1%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 11.6% to 9.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Leeton. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 40%, reaching 417 people from 297, leading the demographic shift. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 61% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 35-44 and 65-74 cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.