Leichhardt (NSW)

Leichhardt has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, as of Nov 2025, Leichhardt's population is estimated at around 15,924. This reflects an increase of 766 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,158. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 15,840 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 218 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 6,124 persons per square kilometer, ranking Leichhardt in the top 10% nationally according to AreaSearch. The area's 5.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded its SA3 area's 3.8%, marking it as a growth leader regionally. Overseas migration contributed approximately 62.0% of overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate a median increase, with Leichhardt expected to grow by 1,412 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall increase of 7.8% over the 17 years.

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

Leichhardt averaged approximately 71 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling around 359 homes. As of FY26, 18 approvals have been recorded. The average population increase per dwelling built in Leichhardt between FY21 and FY25 was 0.4 people. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially driving population growth beyond current projections.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings in Leichhardt is approximately $779,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. In FY26, around $1.5 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Leichhardt has shown 55.0% higher building activity per person. This offers buyers greater choice, although construction activity has recently eased.

New development in Leichhardt consists of approximately 58.0% standalone homes and 42.0% medium and high-density housing. There is an increasing blend of attached housing types, providing options across various price ranges from spacious family homes to more affordable compact dwellings. Notably, developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (37.0% at Census), reflecting strong demand for family homes despite densification trends. Leichhardt has around 530 people per dwelling approval, indicating a developed market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Leichhardt is forecasted to gain approximately 1,235 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, creating favorable 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

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 32 projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable projects include the renovation of Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre, redevelopment of Leichhardt Oval, Oria Annandale (at Lilyfield border), and the redevelopment of 40-76 William Street in Leichhardt. The following list details those projects that are likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The labour market in Leichhardt demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Leichhardt has a highly educated workforce with the technology sector being particularly prominent. Its unemployment rate is 4.2%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, 9,852 residents are employed, aligning with Greater Sydney's 4.2% unemployment rate. Workforce participation in Leichhardt stands at 72.0%, higher than Greater Sydney's 60.0%. The dominant employment sectors among residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Notably, professional & technical jobs are 1.5 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction is under-represented with only 5.6% of Leichhardt's workforce compared to Greater Sydney's 8.6%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work, as indicated by Census data on working population versus local population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.4%, but employment declined by 0.8%, raising the unemployment rate by 1.1 percentage points in Leichhardt. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 2.1% and a labour force growth of 2.4%, with only a 0.2 percentage point increase in unemployment. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 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 grow by 7.3% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does 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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released on June 30, 2023, Leichhardt had a median income among taxpayers of $78,986 and an average income of $110,287. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high compared to the national median of $60,817 and average of $83,003 in Greater Sydney. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since June 30, 2023, current estimates for Leichhardt would be approximately $85,984 (median) and $120,058 (average) as of September 2025. In the Census 2021 income data, Leichhardt's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 93rd and 96th percentiles. Income distribution in Leichhardt shows that 32.4% of locals (5,159 people) earn over $4,000 per week, differing from the surrounding region where the predominant cohort falls into the $1,500 - $2,999 category at 30.9%. The suburb exhibits considerable affluence with 45.9% earning over $3,000 per week, enabling premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 19.4% of income in Leichhardt, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 90th 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

In Leichhardt, as per the latest Census, 36.6% of dwellings were houses while 63.5% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan area's figures of 30.0% houses and 70.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Leichhardt stood at 24.3%, lower than the Sydney metro average, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.8% and rented ones at 40.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,400, below the Sydney metro average of $3,500. Median weekly rent in Leichhardt was $600, matching the Sydney metro figure but significantly higher than the national average of $375. Nationally, Leichardt's mortgage repayments were notably higher at $1,863.

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

Family households account for 67.6% of all households, including 30.9% couples with children, 25.7% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 32.4%, with lone person households at 26.4% and group households comprising 6.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is 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 is notably higher than national and state averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 53.8% possess university qualifications, compared to the Australian average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. This high level of educational attainment positions Leichhardt favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 33.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.5%).

Vocational pathways account for 22.5% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas comprising 10.8% and certificates making up 11.7%. Educational participation is high in Leichhardt, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 7.2% in tertiary education, and 6.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

Leichhardt has 80 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These include both light rail and bus services. There are 31 individual routes serving these stops, collectively providing 7,776 weekly passenger trips.

Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 161 meters to the nearest stop. The service frequency averages 1,110 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 97 weekly trips per individual stop.

Leichhardt's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Leichhardt's health outcomes data shows excellent results, particularly for younger age groups who have a very low prevalence of common health conditions. The area has approximately 70% private health cover (11,205 people), which is higher than Greater Sydney's 80.2%, and the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 8.9% and 7.3% of residents respectively.

A total of 73.5% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, similar to Greater Sydney's 73.2%. Leichhardt has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 13.3% (2,117 people) compared to Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

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 29.8% born overseas and 20.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Leichhardt, accounting for 41.4%. Judaism was slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, with 0.5% of Leichhardt's population identifying as such.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (22.7%), Australian (19.0%), and Irish (10.4%). Notably, Spanish, French, and Hungarian ethnicities showed similar representation in Leichhardt compared to regional averages.

Leichhardt's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Leichhardt's median age stands at 37 years, matching Greater Sydney's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38 years. The 35-44 age group constitutes a strong 18.2% in Leichhardt compared to Greater Sydney, while the 15-24 cohort is less prevalent at 10.9%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.3% to 10.9% of the population, whereas the 0-4 cohort has decreased from 6.7% to 5.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Leichhardt's age structure. Notably, the 75-84 group is projected to grow by 69%, reaching 1,239 people from a previous count of 732. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 71% of the projected growth. Conversely, both the 15-24 and 35-44 age groups are expected to experience population declines.