Leonay

Leonay is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Leonay's population is estimated at around 2,696 as of February 2026, reflecting an increase of 114 people since the 2021 Census. The suburb had a population of 2,582 in the 2021 Census. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of Leonay's resident population at 2,635 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 11 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 1,091 persons per square kilometer, relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Leonay's growth rate of 4.4% since the census positions it within 2.1 percentage points of the SA4 region (6.5%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 54.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in the suburb.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Anticipating future population dynamics, lower quartile growth is anticipated, with the suburb expected to increase by 4 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a decline of 2.1% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Leonay is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Leonay averaged around 10 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, an estimated 53 homes were approved, with a further 29 approved so far in FY26. Despite population decline, new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering good choice to buyers.

The average value of new homes being built is $625,000, suggesting developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. This financial year has seen $18.6 million in commercial approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Sydney, Leonay shows approximately 67% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 19th percentile nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice, supporting interest in existing homes. New development consists of 40.0% standalone homes and 60.0% medium and high-density housing, providing accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This shift from the area's existing housing (currently 98.0% houses) reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options.

With around 858 people per dwelling approval, Leonay reflects a highly mature market. Given the expected stable or declining population, Leonay should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Leonay has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

No factors impact an area's performance more than changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that may affect this area. Key projects include Nepean River Masterplan Precinct (Emu Plains Side), Mulgoa Road / Castlereagh Road Corridor Upgrade, Westfield Penrith Entertainment Expansion, and M12 Motorway - Western Package (M12 West). 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.

Leonay ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Leonay has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.1%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,422 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.0% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Leonay is somewhat lower at 67.3%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. Census responses indicate that 43.9% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training sectors. Leonay shows strong specialization in construction with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 6.3% compared to the regional average of 11.5%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.7%, while employment declined by 4.6%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Leonay. These projections suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with significant variations between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Leonay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

The suburb of Leonay had a median taxpayer income of $69,266 and an average income of $80,570 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures are notably high compared to Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,073 in the same period. As of September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $75,403 (median) and $87,709 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023. In Leonay, household, family, and personal incomes ranked highly nationally, between the 82nd and 90th percentiles, according to the 2021 Census. The income distribution showed that 30.4% of residents (819 people) fell into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, which was consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region at 30.9%. Economic strength in Leonay was evident with 41.2% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retained 87.5% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 8th decile.

Leonay is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Leonay's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 98.1% houses and 1.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Leonay stood at 42.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 47.3% and rented ones at 10.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,339, below the Sydney metro average of $2,427. Median weekly rent was $530, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Leonay's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Leonay features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 84.7% of all households, including 44.6% couples with children, 29.7% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 15.3%, with lone person households at 14.2% and group households making up 0.8%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Leonay exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 26.5%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.7%) and certificates (25.9%). Educational participation is high, with 29.8% currently enrolled in formal education: 11.1% in primary, 9.4% in secondary, and 4.3% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 4.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Leonay has 22 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 15 different routes that together facilitate 196 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is considered good, with residents on average located 207 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards due to Leonay's predominantly residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 93% of residents. On average, there are 2.0 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 43.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 28 trips per day, resulting in approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Leonay's health outcomes show notable results based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are low, particularly for younger cohorts. Approximately 59% of Leonay's total population (1,583 people) has private health cover, which is exceptionally high. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.4 and 7.2% of residents respectively. A majority, 71.8%, report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Leonay has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 20.9% (563 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.4%. While health outcomes among seniors in Leonay are above average, they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Leonay ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Leonay had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 82.8% of its population born in Australia, 93.5% being citizens, and 92.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Leonay, comprising 60.1%, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestral groups were Australian (27.4%), English (26.6%), and Irish (10.1%).

Notably, Maltese (1.9%) Polish (1.1%) and French (0.8%) ethnicities were overrepresented in Leonay compared to regional averages of 1.0%, 0.6%, and 0.5% respectively.

Leonay's median age exceeds the national pattern

Leonay's median age is 41 years, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and slightly above Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Leonay has a notably over-represented 75-84 age group (8.8% locally) and an under-represented 25-34 cohort (8.7%). Post the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 6.7% to 8.8%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 12.6% to 13.9%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort declined from 13.7% to 12.2%, and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 15.5% to 14.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Leonay's age profile will change significantly. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 101%, adding 57 residents to reach 114. Residents aged 65 and older represent 86% of anticipated growth. However, population declines are projected for the 25-34 and 0-4 cohorts.