St Leonards - Naremburn

St Leonards - Naremburn lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

According to calculations by AreaSearch, the population of St Leonards - Naremburn stands at approximately 13,844 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,941 people (16.3%) from the 11,903 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 13,802 combined with 912 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The population density has reached 5,015 persons per square kilometer, placing the location within the highest 10% of areas evaluated across the country, indicating that local land is in extremely high demand. The 16.3% expansion rate recorded in St Leonards - Naremburn since the 2021 census outpaced both the broader SA4 region (5.9%) and the state, establishing it as a regional growth leader. The expansion was primarily fueled by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 69.1% of the overall population rise, although natural increase and interstate migration also made positive contributions.

AreaSearch is applying 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 using 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. As we examine future population trends, a significant population increase in the top quartile of national statistical areas is forecast, with the area expected to grow by 5,220 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting recording a gain of 37.4% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees St Leonards - Naremburn among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

On average, St Leonards - Naremburn registers approximately 48 new residential approvals annually, with a total of 243 dwellings approved over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 12 approvals have been documented. Since an average of 7.4 new occupants arrived for every finished dwelling over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, demand remains far ahead of incoming supply, which typically drives up prices and intensifies buyer competition, while new builds carry an average construction value of $371,000. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $375.7 million this financial year, indicating substantial corporate investment in the local economy.

St Leonards - Naremburn exhibits roughly two-thirds the volume of new home approvals per capita compared to Greater Sydney, ranking in the 41st percentile of locations monitored across the nation, which limits choice for buyers and sustains interest in established properties. High-density structures represent 92.0% of new projects, consisting of apartments and townhouses, while detached houses make up the remaining 8.0%. This emphasis on compact housing designs offers accessible price points for buyers and draws interest from investors, downsizers, and first-time homeowners. Representing a highly established real estate market, St Leonards - Naremburn has approximately 1096 people for each dwelling approval.

Projections indicate that St Leonards - Naremburn will gain 5,178 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. If residential development continues at its historical pace, the volume of new housing may not keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying competition among buyers and upward pressure on property prices.

St Leonards - Naremburn has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and urban planning changes are primary drivers of area performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 67 projects expected to influence the local area. Principal developments include Park Avenue Residences St Leonards, St Leonards Telstra Exchange Mixed-Use Tower, Forum Place by Mirvac, and Waterstone St Leonards, with details provided below for those of highest relevance.

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AreaSearch analysis reveals St Leonards - Naremburn significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

St Leonards - Naremburn has a workforce characterized by high levels of education, with particularly strong representation in the technology industry, an unemployment rate of only 2.9%, and a 2.0% annual increase in local employment. As of March 2026, employed residents total 9,025, with the local unemployment rate sitting 1.3% below the 4.1% recorded across Greater Sydney, while the workforce participation rate of 77.9% is significantly higher than the regional average of 69.1%. Census responses indicated that a substantial 67.3% of residents performed their jobs from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of Covid-19 restrictions.

Local employment is heavily weighted toward professional & technical services, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. The community exhibits a strong specialization in professional & technical services, where the concentration of workers is 1.9 times the regional average. By contrast, the construction sector is underrepresented, employing 4.2% of working residents compared to the 8.6% regional average. The area serves as an employment center, recording 2.9 workers for every resident at the time of the Census, thereby drawing commuters from neighboring suburbs and hosting more jobs than it has working residents.

According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics for the year ending March 2026, the local workforce grew by 1.4% and total employment rose by 2.0%, leading to a 0.6 percentage point decline in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 1.9% and labor force growth of 1.9%, accompanied by a minor decrease in unemployment. National employment projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context regarding future workforce demands in St Leonards - Naremburn. These five and ten-year projections have been aligned with the local industry mix to estimate future employment trends. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary significantly across different sectors. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the employment profile of St Leonards - Naremburn suggests local jobs could grow by 7.7% over five years and 15.2% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation for illustrative purposes that does not account for local population changes.

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

Tax data from the ATO compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year indicates that income levels in the St Leonards - Naremburn SA2 are exceptionally high compared to national standards. Taxpayers in the SA2 recorded a median income of $84,713 and an average income of $121,405, compared to $60,817 and $83,003 respectively for Greater Sydney. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median income of approximately $93,455 and an average income of $133,934 as of March 2026. According to the Census, household, family, and personal incomes in the suburb all rank in the 94th to 98th percentiles nationally. In terms of earnings brackets, 33.8% of residents (4,679 individuals) earn more than $4000 weekly, which contrasts with regional trends where the $1,500 - 2,999 range is the most common at 30.9%. This high concentration of top-bracket earners (47.5% earning over $3,000/week) demonstrates strong local purchasing power. Although high housing costs account for 18.2% of income, strong overall earnings keep disposable income in the 92nd percentile, and the area is positioned in the 10th decile for SEIFA income rankings.

St Leonards - Naremburn features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

According to the latest Census, the housing composition in St Leonards - Naremburn consists of 16.8% houses and 83.2% other housing types, including semi-detached properties and apartments, compared to the Sydney metropolitan split of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. The rate of home ownership in St Leonards - Naremburn stands at 20.2%, which is lower than the metropolitan average, with the remaining properties occupied by mortgagors (24.5%) or tenants (55.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $3,000 was higher than the Sydney metro average of $2,427, and the median weekly rent of $600 compared to the metropolitan median of $470. On a national scale, mortgage repayments in St Leonards - Naremburn are much higher than the Australian median of $1,863, while rent costs are significantly above the national median of $375.

St Leonards - Naremburn features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up 60.3% of local households, consisting of couples with children at 23.8%, couples without children at 29.6%, and single parent households at 6.0%. Non-family households represent the remaining 39.7% of the total, with single-person households accounting for 34.4% and group households making up 5.3%. The median household size is 2.1 persons, which is lower than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

St Leonards - Naremburn shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Residents of St Leonards - Naremburn achieve educational levels that significantly exceed broader averages; 66.6% of residents aged 15+ have completed university studies, compared to 30.4% nationwide and 32.2% across NSW. This high concentration of tertiary education positions the local workforce well for knowledge-intensive industries. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 41.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 20.9% and graduate diplomas at 3.9%. Vocational qualifications are held by 17.0% of the population aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (9.6%) and certificates (7.4%).

Student representation is substantial, with 25.2% of the local population currently undertaking formal education. Within this cohort, 7.7% are in primary school, 6.6% are in university or tertiary courses, and 4.2% are attending secondary school.

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

Public transport systems in St Leonards - Naremburn include 36 active stops, consisting of a combination of train stations and bus stops. These facilities are serviced by 49 distinct routes, which accommodate 12,540 passenger trips every week. Accessibility is good, with residents living an average of 207 meters from the nearest stop. Because the suburb is primarily residential, the majority of commuters travel out of the area, with private vehicles remaining the most common transit mode at 50%, followed by train travel at 20% and walking at 19%. Car ownership stands at an average of 0.5 vehicles per household, which is below the regional average. A substantial 67.3% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data collected under pandemic conditions.

Service frequencies average 1,791 daily trips across all active routes, which represents approximately 348 weekly services for each transit stop.

St Leonards - Naremburn's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health indicators compiled by AreaSearch reveal strong outcomes for St Leonards - Naremburn, showing low mortality rates and a minimal incidence of chronic illness across all age cohorts, while private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high at approximately 79% of the population (10,909 people). This compares to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues in the area, affecting 6.3% and 6.2% of residents respectively, while 79.2% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Residents aged 65 and over make up 12.1% of the population (1,669 people), which is lower than the 15.5% average for Greater Sydney. Older residents exhibit strong health outcomes, with national rankings that align closely with the broader population.

St Leonards - Naremburn is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

St Leonards - Naremburn exhibits high levels of cultural diversity, with 37.6% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 49.1% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the most common religion, adhered to by 37.4% of the population. The most prominent religious overrepresentation is Judaism, which accounts for 0.9% of residents compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of parent country of birth, the three most common ancestries in St Leonards - Naremburn are English at 19.2%, Australian at 15.4%, and Chinese at 15.3%, which is notably higher than the regional average of 8.4%. Other ethnic backgrounds show higher concentrations than the regional averages, including Russian ancestry at 0.8% of the population (compared to 0.4% regionally), Korean at 1.6% (compared to 1.1%), and Spanish at 0.7% (compared to 0.6%).

St Leonards - Naremburn's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in St Leonards - Naremburn is 37, matching the Greater Sydney average of 37 and sitting close to the national median of 38. The 35 - 44 age bracket is highly represented at 21.4% of the population, whereas the 15 - 24 cohort is less common at 9.1%. This concentration of 35 - 44 year olds is higher than the national average of 14.3%. Since 2021, the 15 to 24 age bracket has risen from 7.2% to 9.1% of the total population, and the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 2.7% to 4.2%. Meanwhile, the 25 to 34 age bracket has decreased from 23.7% to 21.5%. Looking forward to 2041, population projections indicate significant changes in the age profile, with the 45 to 54 group leading the shift by growing 46% (834 people) to reach 2,641, up from 1,806.