Leichhardt

An assessment of population growth drivers in Leichhardt reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Leichhardt's population was around 18,302 as of November 2025. This reflected an increase of 770 people from the 2021 Census figure of 17,532, which was inferred from ABS estimated resident population data and validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio was 6,141 persons per square kilometer, placing Leichhardt in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Between 2021 and 2025, Leichhardt's growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area, driven primarily by overseas migration contributing approximately 62.0% of overall population gains. For future projections until 2041, AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041.

By 2041, Leichhardt is expected to increase by approximately 1,606 persons, reflecting an 8.3% total increase over the 17-year period.

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

Leichhardt has averaged approximately 72 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 360 homes were approved, with an additional 16 approved so far in FY-26. The average population growth per year for each dwelling built over these five years has been around 0.5 people.

This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for future population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new homes being built is $779,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, there have been $1.5 million in commercial development approvals recorded, indicating a predominantly residential focus.

Compared to Greater Sydney, Leichhardt shows moderately higher new home approvals, averaging 35.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This balance of buyer choice supports current property values while building activity has slowed in recent years. Recent construction comprises 60.0% standalone homes and 40.0% townhouses or apartments. The growing mix of townhouses and apartments provides options across different price points, from family homes to more affordable compact living. Notably, developers are building more traditional houses than the current market share suggests (39.0% at Census), indicating strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. Leichhardt has approximately 628 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Leichhardt is expected to grow by 1,513 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Leichhardt has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 33 projects likely affecting the area. Notable projects include Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre Renovation, Leichhardt Oval Redevelopment, Oria Annandale (Lilyfield border), and Redevelopment of 40-76 William Street, Leichhardt. 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 labour market in Leichhardt demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Leichhardt has a highly educated workforce with a notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 4.3%, with an estimated employment growth of 3.4% over the past year.

As of June 2025, there are 11,524 residents employed, aligning with Greater Sydney's unemployment rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Leichhardt stands at 71.8%, exceeding Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Major employment industries include professional & technical services, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area has a significant concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction employs only 5.7% of local workers, lower than Greater Sydney's 8.6%. Although employment opportunities exist locally, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 3.4%, while the labour force grew by 4.2%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.8 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6% over the same period. State-wide, NSW experienced a slight contraction in employment of 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs) by Nov-25, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is favourable compared to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 indicate overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Leichhardt's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, although these estimates are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. Leichhardt SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $78,986 and an average of $110,287, placing it in the top percentile nationally. This compares to $56,994 and $80,856 across Greater Sydney respectively. By September 2025, current estimates based on a 12.61% Wage Price Index growth project median income at approximately $88,946 and average income at around $124,194. The 2021 Census shows Leichhardt's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 94th and 96th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate 33.4% earn over $4,000 weekly (6,112 residents), differing from regional levels where 30.9% fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 category. High earners make up a substantial presence with 46.7% exceeding $3,000 weekly. Housing costs consume 19.0% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 92nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Leichhardt displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Leichhardt's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 39.3% houses and 60.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 30.0% houses and 70.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Leichhardt stood at 25.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.0% and rented ones at 39.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,447, below Sydney metro's average of $3,500. The median weekly rent figure was $600, matching Sydney metro's figure. Nationally, Leichhardt's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Leichhardt features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 68.3% of all households, including 31.8% couples with children, 25.6% couples without children, and 9.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 31.7%, with lone person households at 26.0% and group households comprising 5.8%. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.3.

Leichhardt demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Leichhardt's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 53.6% hold university qualifications compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. University graduates form the largest group at 33.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifiers (15.7%) and graduate diploma holders (4.5%). Vocational pathways account for 22.1% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.6% and certificates at 11.5%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.6% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in primary, 7.0% in tertiary, and 6.7% pursuing secondary education.

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

Leichhardt has 54 active public transport stops, consisting of both lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 31 different routes that together facilitate 6,696 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 162 meters to the nearest stop.

The service frequency across all routes is 956 trips per day, which translates to approximately 124 weekly trips per individual stop.

Leichhardt's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Leichhardt's health outcomes show excellent results across both young and elderly age groups, with low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is notably high at approximately 75% (13,781 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 80.5%. Nationally, the average is 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in Leichhardt, affecting 8.8 and 7.4% of residents respectively. A total of 73.4% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to Greater Sydney's 73.2%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 13.4% (2,448 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Health outcomes among seniors in Leichhardt are particularly strong, mirroring the overall population's health profile.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Leichhardt was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Leichhardt's population showed high linguistic diversity, with 19.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Additionally, 29.8% were born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 41.0%.

Judaism was slightly overrepresented in Leichhardt compared to Greater Sydney, with 0.5% versus 0.7%. The top three ancestry groups were English (23.0%), Australian (19.3%), and Irish (10.5%). Spanish (0.9%) and Italian (6.8%) populations were notably higher than regional averages of 0.6% and 4.8%, respectively, while French remained similar at 0.8%.

Leichhardt's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Leichhardt is 38 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Leichhardt has a higher proportion of residents aged 45-54 (14.9%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (11.1%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.6% to 11.1%, while the 75-84 cohort has risen from 3.5% to 4.5%. Conversely, the 0-4 age group has decreased from 6.7% to 5.8%. By 2041, Leichhardt's age composition is expected to change notably. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 71%, reaching 1,413 people from 827. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 70% of the population growth. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 35-44 age groups.