Leabrook

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

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Leabrook is around 1,579 people. This figure reflects a decrease from the 2021 Census population of 1,605 people, indicating a drop of 26 individuals (1.6%). The current resident population estimate of 1,575 is based on AreaSearch's analysis of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,506 persons per square kilometer for Leabrook, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade (2012-2022), Leabrook has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.9%, outperforming the SA3 area. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during this period.

AreaSearch's projections for Leabrook are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024, using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. According to these projections, the suburb of Leabrook is expected to grow by 342 persons to reach a total population of 1,921 by 2041, reflecting an increase of 28.6% over the 17-year period.

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

Leabrook has seen minimal dwelling approvals in recent years, with an estimated total of 3 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25. As of FY-26 so far, no new dwelling approvals have been recorded. This limited supply, averaging 29.3 new residents per year for every home built in the past five years, is outpacing demand, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers.

Developers are focusing on the premium market, with an average construction cost value of $594,000 for new homes being built. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Leabrook has significantly less development activity, 94.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. Recently, however, construction activity has intensified in the area, which is also below national average levels, reflecting its maturity and possible planning constraints.

Leabrook has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting this region: UniSA Magill Campus Redevelopment (Magill Project), along with others such as SA Water Capital Work Delivery Contracts, Unley Cultural Hub, and Adelaide Level Crossings Congestion and Safety.

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Employment conditions in Leabrook rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Leabrook has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 0.5% as of September 2025. This rate is lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%.

The area experienced an estimated employment growth of 3.1% over the past year, based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025764 residents were in work while the unemployment rate was 3.4%, and workforce participation was at 55.5%. This is lower than Greater Adelaide's participation rate of 66.4%. According to Census responses, 18.5% of residents worked from home.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. Leabrook shows strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 2.1 times the regional level. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 5.4% compared to the regional average of 8.7%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.1%, and labour force increased by 3.1%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with unemployment falling by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Leabrook's employment should increase by 7.7% over five years and 15.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 30, 2023 shows median income in Leabrook suburb was $57,764 and average income was $94,608. This contrasts with Greater Adelaide's median income of $54,808 and average income of $66,852 for the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2025, estimated median income in Leabrook would be approximately $62,847 and average income $102,934 by September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 75th percentile ($966 weekly) and household income at the 46th percentile in Leabrook. Income brackets indicate that 27.4% of residents (432 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket. After housing costs, residents retain 87.7% of their income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Leabrook displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

According to the latest Census, in Leabrook, 40.5% of dwellings were houses while 59.5% were other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This is different from Adelaide metro's dwelling composition which was 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Leabrook stood at 47.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.8% and rented ones at 26.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,140, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent in Leabrook was $308, lower than Adelaide metro's figure of $375. Nationally, Leabrook's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Leabrook features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 53.9% of all households, including 20.7% couples with children, 26.9% couples without children, and 4.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 46.1%, with lone person households at 44.3% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Leabrook shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Leabrook's residents aged 15+ have a higher university qualification rate of 48.0%, compared to South Australia's 25.7% and Greater Adelaide's 28.9%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 30.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%). Vocational pathways account for 19.3%, with advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 8.5%. A total of 22.6% are actively pursuing education, including 6.8% in secondary, 6.3% in primary, and 5.7% in tertiary education.

A substantial 22.6% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 6.8% in secondary education, 6.3% in primary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Leabrook has 13 active public transport stops serving mixed bus routes. These stops are covered by 7 different routes offering a total of 428 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents located an average of 142 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward, primarily using cars (84%), followed by buses (8%) and cycling (6%). The area has below-average vehicle ownership at 1.0 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 18.5% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 61 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 32 weekly trips per stop.

Leabrook's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Leabrook's health metrics are close to national benchmarks based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The level of common health conditions among the general population is somewhat typical but higher than the nation's average among older cohorts. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 64% of the total population (1,015 people), compared to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and heart disease, impacting 12.5 and 7.0% of residents respectively, while 60.7% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. The area has 40.7% of residents aged 65 and over (642 people), which is higher than the 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than those of the broader population.

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

Leabrook's population showed higher cultural diversity compared to most local areas, with 26.7% born overseas and 16.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Leabrook, accounting for 55.5%. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented at 0.4%, higher than Greater Adelaide's 0.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (29.9%), Australian (21.2%), and Irish (8.2%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: French (0.7% vs regional 0.4%), Italian (5.1% vs 5.2%), and Serbian (0.4% vs 0.4%) had similar representation in Leabrook as the region.

Leabrook ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Leabrook's median age is 55 years, significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Leabrook has an over-representation of the 85+ cohort at 13.0%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 8.3%. The 85+ concentration in Leabrook is well above Australia's national average of 2.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has increased from 10.0% to 11.8%, and the 75-84 cohort has risen from 15.7% to 17.0%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 9.7% to 8.2%, and the 65-74 group has dropped from 12.0% to 10.7%. By 2041, Leabrook's age composition is expected to shift significantly. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 100%, adding 204 people and reaching a total of 410 from the current 205. This growth will be led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 70% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 5-14 age group is expected to grow by a modest 5%, adding just 5 people.