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 18,361 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 829 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,532 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 18,357 in June 2025 and an additional 231 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a population density ratio of 6,161 persons per square kilometer, placing Leichhardt in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth of 4.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 4.1%, indicating Leichhardt as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 67.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilised NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Future population trends suggest a median increase nationally, with Leichhardt expected to expand by 1,475 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an overall increase of 8.0% over the 16 years.

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

Leichhardt has averaged around 72 new dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 360 homes were approved, with an additional 27 so far in FY-26. This averages out to approximately 0.5 people moving to the area for each dwelling built over these years.

The new supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of new homes is $182,000, which is under regional levels, indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers. In this financial year, there have been $1.5 million in commercial development approvals recorded, suggesting a predominantly residential focus.

Compared to Greater Sydney, Leichhardt shows moderately higher new home approvals, at 35.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This balance supports buyer choice while maintaining current property values. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. Recent construction comprises 60.0% standalone homes and 40.0% townhouses or apartments, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments offering options across different price points. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current market suggests (39.0% at Census), indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. The location has approximately 628 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. Looking ahead, Leichhardt is expected to grow by 1,471 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Leichhardt 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 32 projects potentially affecting this 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.

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

Leichhardt has an educated workforce with a notable technology sector presence and an unemployment rate of 4.3% as of December 2025. It has 11,178 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation is high at 76.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%.

According to Census responses, 62.3% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Leichhardt specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 5.7%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and November 2025, Leichhardt's labour force decreased by 1.7% and employment decreased by 2.4%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.2%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% increase 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, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Leichhardt SA2 has exceptionally high national income levels. The median assessed income is $82,581 and the average income stands at $113,092. 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 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $91,103 (median) and $124,763 (average) as of March 2026. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Leichhardt rank highly nationally, between the 94th and 96th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that 33.4% of locals (6,132 people) fall into the $4000+ category, unlike regional trends where 30.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. A significant 46.7% earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 19.0% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 92nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Leichhardt displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Leichhardt's dwelling structures, 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 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Leichhardt was at 25.1%, with the rest being mortgaged (35.0%) or rented (39.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,447, higher than Sydney metro's $2,427. The median weekly rent was $600, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Leichhardt's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Leichhardt features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-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 make up the remaining 31.7%, with lone person households at 26.0% and group households comprising 5.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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 exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 53.6% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 33.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.5%). Vocational pathways account for 22.1% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.6% and certificates at 11.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.6% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in primary education, 7.0% in tertiary education, 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 88 active public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These are serviced by 31 routes, providing 7,776 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is excellent with residents typically located 160 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 66%, while 10% walk and 9% use buses. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 62.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,110 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 88 weekly trips per stop.

The level of general health in Leichhardt is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Leichhardt demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts exhibit low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 76% of the total population (13,972 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues impacting 8.8% of residents and asthma affecting 7.4%. A significant majority, 73.4%, declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents show notably healthy outcomes with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 13.7% of residents aged 65 and over (2,520 people), lower than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

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 cultural diversity, with 19.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 29.8% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Leichhardt, comprising 41.0%. Notably, Judaism had a higher representation in Leichhardt at 0.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (23.0%), Australian (19.3%), and Irish (10.5%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Spanish was overrepresented at 0.9% versus the regional 0.6%, Italian at 6.8% compared to 3.4%, and French at 0.8% against the regional 0.5%.

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 percentage of residents aged 45-54 (14.6%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (11.4%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the 15-24 age group has grown from 9.6% to 11.4%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 3.5% to 5.0%. Conversely, the 0-4 cohort declined from 6.7% to 5.3%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 12.5% to 11.5%. By 2041, Leichhardt's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 75-84 group is projected to grow by 56% (511 people), reaching 1,420 from 908. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 66% of the population growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 35-44 age groups.