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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Leonay is around 2,542, a decrease of 40 people from the 2021 Census figure of 2,582. This decrease represents a 1.5% change in population. AreaSearch validated this estimate using resident population data from June 2025 and new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 1,029 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed about 54.0% of overall population gains recently.

For projections until 2041, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for covered areas and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 for uncovered areas. By 2041, the suburb is expected to grow by 11 persons, reflecting an increase of 0.2% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Leonay, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Leonay shows approximately 10 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 53 homes. As of FY26, 30 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.6 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were recorded between FY21 and FY25. This indicates that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially driving population growth beyond current expectations.

The average value of new properties being constructed is $625,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY26, there have been $18.6 million in commercial approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Sydney, Leonay shows around 69% of construction activity per person and ranks among the 17th percentile nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing homes. New development consists of 40.0% standalone homes and 60.0% medium and high-density housing, reflecting a shift from the current housing mix of 98.0% houses. This change is likely due to reduced availability of development sites and evolving lifestyle demands and affordability requirements.

With around 875 people per approval, Leonay appears to be a mature, established area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Leonay is expected to grow by approximately 6 residents through to 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

No changes can significantly impact an area's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 0 projects that are likely to affect the area. Notable 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.

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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 2.2%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,388 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.0% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Leonay is on par with Greater Sydney at 68.8%. Census responses indicate that 43.9% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors among residents include construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction shows particularly strong specialization in Leonay with an employment share of 1.6 times the regional level.

Meanwhile, professional & technical services have limited presence 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. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Leonay's labour force decreased by 5.2%, with employment decreasing by 5.1%, while unemployment remained essentially unchanged. This contrasts with Greater Sydney where employment rose by 2.2% over the same period. 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 increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. 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 take into account localised population projections.

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

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023, Leonay's median income among taxpayers is $69,266. The average income in Leonay is $80,570. This places Leonay among the highest income suburbs in Australia. In comparison, Greater Sydney's median income is $60,817 with an average of $83,070. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% from June 2023 to March 2026, current estimates suggest Leonay's median income would be approximately $76,414 and the average would be around $88,885 by that date. According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family, and personal incomes in Leonay rank between the 82nd and 90th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 30.4% of Leonay's population (772 individuals) earn within the $1,500 - $2,999 weekly range, similar to the broader metropolitan region at 30.9%. Notably, 41.2% of residents earn above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity in Leonay. After housing costs, residents retain 87.5% of their income, reflecting robust purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

In Leonay, as recorded in the latest Census, 98.1% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 1.9% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan areas where 55.9% were houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Leonay stood at 42.7%, with mortgaged properties at 47.3% and rented ones at 10.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,339, lower than Sydney's average of $2,427. Weekly rent median was $530, compared to Sydney's $470. Nationally, Leonay's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,339 versus Australia's 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 constitute 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 comprise the remaining 15.3%, with lone person households at 14.2% and group households at 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 at 29.8%, with 11.1% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 4.3% pursuing 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 in Leonay, with residents typically living within 207 meters of the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area, and cars remain the primary mode of transport at 93%. On average, there are 2.0 vehicles per dwelling in Leonay, which is higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 43.9% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes averages 28 trips per day, equating to approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

Leonay's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance across Leonay.

AreaSearch's assessment shows low mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, particularly among younger cohorts. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 59% of the total population (1,493 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.4% and 7.2% of residents respectively. 71.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Leonay has 20.4% of residents aged 65 and over (518 people), higher than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are above average but rank lower nationally than those of 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's population showed low cultural diversity, with 82.8% born in Australia, 93.5% being citizens, and 92.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 60.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's 49.2%. 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%) groups were more represented than the 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, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and slightly above Australia's median age of 38 years. Comparing Leonay's demographics with Greater Sydney's, the 75-84 age group is notably over-represented at 8.6% locally, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 8.7%. Post the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 6.7% to 8.6%, and the 15 to 24 cohort has risen from 12.6% to 14.1%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 age group has decreased from 13.7% to 12.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Leonay's age profile. The 65 to 74 cohort is projected to grow by 22%, adding 55 residents to reach 305. Residents aged 65 and older will represent 77% of the anticipated population growth. However, population declines are projected for the 25 to 34 and 0 to 4 age groups.